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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PGho9CQ47Os3MrzsigMNRamWQY/pK6IZA+t6ew7ANfxfJiBVU1yi2ykaK1pdZC04
 5dm4FoFdQdKwYdZ++K5cvQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000891109-04-000113.txt : 20040813
<SEC-HEADER>0000891109-04-000113.hdr.sgml : 20040813
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040813143300
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000891109-04-000113
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040811
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040813

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EATON CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000031277
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISC INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT [3590]
		IRS NUMBER:				340196300
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		EATON CTR
		STREET 2:		1111 SUPERIOR AVE
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44114-2584
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2165235000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1111 SUPERIOR AVENUE
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44114

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EATON YALE & TOWNE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19710822

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SELL ROBERT L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001168779
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			A6
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-56644
		FILM NUMBER:		04973567

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MOORE CORP LIMITED
		STREET 2:		ONE CANTERBURY GREEN 6TH FLOOR
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06901
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2034063700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CANTERBURY GREEN, 6TH FLOOR
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06901
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000031277</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EATON CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ETN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001168779</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SELL ROBERT L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>EATON CORPORATIONEATON CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>EATON CENTEREATON CENTER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLEVELAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44114</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP-Chief Information Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>256.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>61.98</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12544.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>241.86</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By trustee of ESP</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were delivered to the issuer to pay for the applicable withholding tax due upon vesting of certain shares of restric
ted stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Eaton Savings Plan</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert L. Sell, by Claudia J. Taller, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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