So, How many of you guys/gals use.....

Uncle Buck · Sep 15, 2007

Speeder Handles, I have one or more in the three common drive sizes and I would bet I have never use any one more than once or twice, ever! I think they are a tool that is still sold that just does not get the volume of use it did say 50-60 years ago. I have used the 1/2" to run down head bolts to contact.

ImportTuner · Sep 15, 2007

I have a 3/8 Craftsman speeder handle what I bought 30+ years ago; have not used it in 25+ years ...

dxdexter · Sep 15, 2007

I have a 1/2" SO and absolutely never use it. At one time I even removed it from my box because it was in the way, but put it back when I got a bigger box.

tweety652 · Sep 15, 2007

yeah. air ratchets took their place i believe, but i pull them out every so often just for fun. maybe you guys(girls) should try it once in awhile.

wythors · Sep 15, 2007

I've used them a time or two for top of the engine stuff: intake manifolds, valve cover gaskets and the like. As tweety652 said, air ratchets do most of that stuff now. My 1/4" air ratchet is my go-to for that kind of work these days.

wilbilt · Sep 15, 2007

I have 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2".

I used to use them daily. I don't like air ratchets.

ColdDuckTime · Sep 15, 2007

I broke a valve cover the last time I used one. I've kept it all these years as a sign of ignominy.

wrenchr · Sep 15, 2007

Engine assembly...They are a must!!

MAD · Sep 15, 2007

wilbilt said:
I have 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2".

I used to use them daily. I don't like air ratchets.

I'm with wilbilt on this one. The only time I even consider using an air ratchet is for removing a zillion oil pan bolts. When Installing parts I Prefer to be able to feel what I am doing. Combine that with the noise, the stupid hose, and the ****** knuckles to make the air ratchet one of my least favorite tools.

Most often I use my 1/2" speeder for running up wheel lug nuts before using a torque wrench. I use the 3/8" speeder for removing and installing the sparkplugs on our A2 jettas. The plugs are right up front with nothing in the way so a speeder makes short work of it.

v8garage · Sep 15, 2007

Every tool nut must have a full set of speed handles. Doesn't matter if you use them or not because if you don't have them........well
you just wouldn't have them. That means if you are reading this you need a complete set because if you aren't a tool nut why are you reading this? :headscrat

tweety652 · Sep 15, 2007

all i lack is 1/4 and im looking to get that one soon

Major Ramifications · Sep 15, 2007

If I didn't have one, I'd want one. That is just how it is with us tool guys. I have at least one, but I can't ever remember using it. Maybe if I would have had it when I was a teenager, I would have used it quite a bit, who knows?
I also don't like air ratchets, as they were not available to me when I was growing up, so I got used to doing everything by hand. I like the feedback that you get from hand tools. I remember spending more than one day trying to remove one of those big Chrysler crankshaft bolts without an impact wrench because an impact wrench was just a fantasy to me. Not something that I could actually OWN (or even borrow from a friend, because they didn't have one either). Boy, have times changed.

On the plus side, I am putting together an engine for my truck, so I will try to remember to whip out the speed handle for things like the oil pan bolts and such.

Canadian Charlie · Sep 15, 2007

I have a 3/8" and a 1/2" and they hardly see any use, guess air ratchets took over

epmills · Sep 15, 2007

I use a cordless drill with a bit adapter or a cordless impact set on a low torque setting for running bolts and nuts down, much faster. Then torque them down to spec by hand.

OctaneMotorsports · Sep 15, 2007

I have one in 3/8" drive. I've had it for years. Never used it.

wilbilt · Sep 15, 2007

MAD said:
I'm with wilbilt on this one. The only time I even consider using an air ratchet is for removing a zillion oil pan bolts. When Installing parts I Prefer to be able to feel what I am doing. Combine that with the noise, the stupid hose, and the ****** knuckles to make the air ratchet one of my least favorite tools.

I rate air ratchets in the same category with gas-powered leaf blowers. Too much noise created in relation to the amount of work getting done. I can spin fasteners down by hand, and I can rake/sweep/bag leaves in less time than it takes to herd them around with a blower.

jimvannoy · Sep 15, 2007

I have them in 3 sizes. In 25 or so years I think I have used them 2 or 3 times.

russlaferrera · Sep 15, 2007

I use my 3/8 when I work on 1-2 cyl engines and transmissions. Sometimes late at night I go out to the shop to work on something and do not want to turn on the compressor because of noise.

I just modified a 3/8 speed handle by adding a 3/4 rod at the crank to give it more weight to spin easy / faster.

bmwpower · Sep 15, 2007

I have a 3/8" and a 1/2". I don't think I've ever seen a 1/4" one, but then again, I haven't gone out of my way to look.

I have used mine for tasks that require quick tightening action with a lot of "feel" - oil pan bolts with the engine out of the truck, for example. Once you lay that sealant and gasket on the surface, you only have a couple of minutes to get everything in place. It's the quickest way with the most amount of safety. Using a regular ratchet is slow. Using an air ratchet is asking for trouble

Deafautotech · Sep 15, 2007

i own craftsman 3/8dr and 1/2dr speed handles but i was think about buy 1/4dr speed handle but snap on have combo speed handle and ratchet in one piece (TSLF936)....

eschoendorff · Sep 15, 2007

epmills said:
I use a cordless drill with a bit adapter or a cordless impact set on a low torque setting for running bolts and nuts down, much faster. Then torque them down to spec by hand.

That's what I do. And for the record, I am one of the air ratchet haters.....

Deafautotech · Sep 15, 2007

i did use cordless drill to run the bolts down before torque it on specific... but i had to use air ratchet to pull bolts or nuts out to do disassembly... time is money at dealership.....

MarkH · Sep 15, 2007

Air ratchet if I do not really need to feel what is happening or for loosining.

Speed Wrench if I do and there is a need to tighten more than a few items. Will just use the ratchets for that.

So both in all sizes do get used enough to have them.

plinker · Sep 15, 2007

I use a old snap-on 1/2 drive speeder when changing tires, I have seen 1/4 drive ones on tv used for aircraft assembly.

kartracer55 · Sep 15, 2007

I have a "vintage" snap on. I rarely use it, I prefer air ratchets. I DO however use it for certain assembly purposes when I dont like the way a bolt felt during removal. I also used mine when I helped a buddy do an oil pan gasket at his house (no compressor). Other than that, air tools have sort of taken their place, but they arnt TOTALLY obsolete.

Jim

jimmycrackcorn · Sep 15, 2007

I do use mine for ******, and engine assembly, before the final torque application.

Thumper · Sep 15, 2007

I have all of them 1/4 ,3/8 & 1/2 drives. I use them quite often ( or did before I retired) 3/8th was used on valve covers and transmission pans. 1/2 was used for running down head bolts before final torque. 1/4 inch was bought for.....well hell because I wanted one ! It's too easy to overtighten a valve cover or trans pan with a air rachet.

mulepackin · Sep 16, 2007

Just as most others that use them have said: Comoponent reassembly or in a situation where I don't have air, but would otherwise use an air tool. I don't own an air ratchet, just impacts. Also just used one last week pulling hinges off the shed doors I'm building, my friend had borrowed my cordless drill, so I used a 3/8 speeder, 1/4" socket and #2 phillips driver.

PAToyota · Sep 16, 2007

I used to use one more, but it seemed that I was less and less in a position where I had room to use one. So I got an air ratchet and found myself using it more. Some of that also has to do with the joints in my fingers and wrists not being what they were twenty years ago or more... Seems like I can pick up aches and pains a lot easier than I used to... But even with the air ratchet I'll use it to remove nuts or run a nut on but still use a hand-held ratchet to tighten it.

So, How many of you guys/gals use.....

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