Socket retensioning

[Cliff Schecht]

I reused a 9-pin socket that turned out to be intermittent. It would be a bitch to replace the socket (which looks fine anyways) so that's out of the question (for now). What method/tools do you guys use to retension sockets?

[ToneMerc]

I very carefully use a 6" #4 s/s dental pick.

TM

[dynaman]

I use an awl with a very fine tip.

If there's not a lot of solder/components, some pins can be pushed enough to allow the use of pliers. That usually requires having to poke the retaining barb in. Works on sockets with replaceable pins. Dontcha wish pins were sold separately?

[Cliff Schecht]

I just jammed some fine tweezers in there and bent the two retention pieces towards each other a bit. Seems to have worked fine, the tube seats well and it doesn't spaz out anymore. I need to find myself a good set of dental picks eventually though.

[Aurora]

A cheap set of jewellers/watchmakers screwdrivers.....they also often have a little awl included. The actual blades are often not very good, but the shaft extension of the blades should do the trick....
( picks-at least that's what I used them for once I've twisted the blade... ?

[Phil_S]

I've used the smallest flat blade jewler's screw driver that came in the set. It's marked 1/32". You just want to nudge the thing so the hole is a little smaller. Easy does it. Sometimes, the metal has lost all it's spring, in which case, the result is not satisfactory.