Ratchet Basics: teeth / pawl / head designs

[superautobacs]

I'm wanting to learn why there are a myriad of different ratchet designs with different tooth numbers and pawl designs. Asides from differing working degrees, why should one go with a 30-tooth ratchet instead of a 72-tooth ratchet, or anything in between for that matter?

Do tooth numbers dictate the ratchet head design: compact, round, tear drop, etc?

Is a particular design more prone to damage from over-torquing? Besides personal preference in 'feel' playing a factor here, would you rather use a 72-tooth 1/4" ratchet over a 36-tooth one?

[old salvage]

More teeth = better for use in confined spaces.
Less teeth= stronger but need more room to work.
For a fascinating night go to Google and do a patent search for 'ratchet wrench'.
Tooth numbers do not dictate head design.

[Deafautotech]

i am rather to use FLF80 instead FLF936 because it has 80 tooth with 7 tooth contacts while 36 tooth with 2 tooth contact... i tried to break FLF80 but i couldn't!! even worse is i use craftsman 36 tooth long ratchet same with FLF80 and craftsman ratchet broke really fast...

[a390st]

Round head designs have the teeth cast or forged into the head, while teardrops/pear heads do not. The significance is that when a round head ratchet has teeth break, they cannot be replaced. The other styles have a large gear which can be replaced if teeth ever break on it. It means that once a round head ratchet is shot, it is done. The other style can be rebuilt more completely.

[daveblank]

More teeth = better for use in confined spaces.
Less teeth= stronger but need more room to work.
For a fascinating night go to Google and do a patent search for 'ratchet wrench'.
Tooth numbers do not dictate head design.


Actually with the Matco ratchets. The higher # tooth count means more teeth are enguaged with the reverse pawl. Therefore it is less likely to slip, thus it is stronger.

[bchee]

also, a higher tooth count does not always equate to a finer 'feel' or lower ratcheting resistance. I think the shape of the teeth, as well as the spring that holds the pawl against the gear, play a large role.

[kartracer55]

Kind of depends on personal preference. I really like SK 36 tooth "pro" ratchets. Compare them to snap on 36 tooth standard high strength sealed head ratchets, and it is like night and day. Same number of teeth, the SK has one additional tooth engaged, but has far less resistance when trying to "ratchet" compared to the Snap On.

I think tear drops are inherently stronger, just by nature of the design. the pawl gets jammed against the "structure" of the ratchet when in use, compared to a round head.

[superautobacs]

Thanks for the responses everyone.


Actually with the Matco ratchets. The higher # tooth count means more teeth are enguaged with the reverse pawl. Therefore it is less likely to slip, thus it is stronger.

I'm not sure if I'm using the right tool lingo here, but what you're saying is, the finer the gear tooth are, the more teeth there should be on a pawl to maintain strength?

Do you know how many teeth the pawl on a Matco ratchet has?

Is that Matco's way of maintaining an acceptable maximum torque rating on their high-tooth-count ratchets?

[Fedwrench]

Do you know how many teeth the pawl on a Matco ratchet has?

The Matco 60 tooth ratchets engage with 8 teeth on the pawl. This is the same number of teeth found on other Danaher produced 60 tooth ratchets such as the Craftsman thin profile series, the Napa Next Gerneration ratchet, and Gearwrench ratchets.

[kartracer55]

Thanks for the responses everyone.




I'm not sure if I'm using the right tool lingo here, but what you're saying is, the finer the gear tooth are, the more teeth there should be on a pawl to maintain strength?

Do you know how many teeth the pawl on a Matco ratchet has?

Is that Matco's way of maintaining an acceptable maximum torque rating on their high-tooth-count ratchets?


Basically, but just because two ratchets have the same number of teeth doesn't make them stronger. Gotta take into account the actual size of the teeth too.

But for the record, just use the right drive size and it shouldn't be a concern. I do keep big toothed ratchets around as well as fine tooths depending on the job.