View Full Version : Bonney Ratchets and Breakers
We talk a lot about the wrenches on here, but does anyone have a collection of Bonney ratchets and breaker bars? I am especially curious about the ratchet style that has the smooth, tapered grip that then transitions to the straight metal shaft of the tool.
I have a model A722 15" 1/2 breaker coming my way with that style handle. :bounce:
Hiball
11-04-2009, 10:25 PM
Im not real familiar with Bonney ratchets but i decided to take my John Deere 1/2 Drive ratchet apart just to do a little investigating. The thing that facinated me with this ratchet was that being 15-20 years old and it would be considered a fine tooth ratchet taking 72 clicks to make a full revolution. Most of my older ratchets are 30-36 tooth, so this is a rarity in my old drawer. Anyways Im not even sure if my John deere ratchet is bonney made but do to its uniqueness to me ive decided to keep it and remove it from the classifieds. LOL... its hard to sell a tool you like. Here is some pics for you guys to help maybe identify its origin. Thanks..:thumbup:
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac242/hiball76/DSC00861.jpg
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac242/hiball76/DSC00864.jpg
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac242/hiball76/DSC00858.jpg
Mickey O
11-04-2009, 11:12 PM
Don't have any now, I had a fine tooth 3/8" Bonney ratchet that I recently sold. I wasn't a big fan of the handle, now the wrenches that's a different story. I might have a picture of it somewhere, if I find it I'll post it.
old salvage
11-04-2009, 11:58 PM
Hiball.
I've got a 1/4" and a 3/8" like yours that are Bonneys.
Where are the Bonney peeps at? :headscrat
caper
11-05-2009, 05:25 PM
I think I have the style your talking about Bull but I can't seem to find a pic of any of my Bonney's.
PowderKeg
11-05-2009, 08:11 PM
Quick 'n dirty, so they're not the best pics, but here are my 1/2" Bonney and Bon-E-Con:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/GPJ68/Bonney1-2Medium.jpg
And the 3/8" Bonney and Bon-E-Con:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/GPJ68/Bonney3-8Medium.jpg
Surprisingly, no 1/4" (yet).
Glad you asked about them - I found out I hadn't added two of them to my list - now I'm just 15 ratchets shy of 300. :bounce:
KLars1
11-05-2009, 08:27 PM
- now I'm just 15 ratchets shy of 300. :bounce:
:shocking: :bowdown:
And Powderkeg saves the thread! Awesome collection.
We can see clearly in your pics the ratchet that looks just like the John Deere that Hiball had listed for sale here last week...definitely a Bonney.
Now, some questions:
In the first pic, the 4th ratchet from the top, what is the model number? What is the action like/how many teeth? That handle style is what I just bought in a 15" Bonney breaker...I think it looks pretty cool.
The Bon-E-Con line: what are your impressions?
And the 3/8 Zenel...is the head stamped? Are the guts removable for service? That gear selector lever is about the simplest I've ever seen.
Again, great collection and thanks for kickstarting the thread!
PowderKeg
11-05-2009, 10:17 PM
Now, some questions:
In the first pic, the 4th ratchet from the top, what is the model number? What is the action like/how many teeth? That handle style is what I just bought in a 15" Bonney breaker...I think it looks pretty cool.
You have vary good taste, that's an A701. It's a double pawl and feels/sounds very similar to the venerable Craftsman/Easco RHFTQR double pawl ratchet. IMHO it feels better/smoother and is better balanced than the polished round head double pawl on the bottom. I can get @ 45 clicks out of it in 180 degrees. It's also one of my favorites in the "collection" - a very classy look. :thumbup: I've got another one - same head with a different plain-Jane handle - branded for Vlchek, and I've seen a third branded for Dayton - kicked myself for a few days (and still occasionally) for missing it on fleabay...
The Bon-E-Con line: what are your impressions?
Mostly, the same basic ratchet/ratchet action as the Bonney branded counterparts, just a difference in finish (chromed vs satin), or a different handle shape. The oddball is the 1/2" round head ZA 700 on top - it has a decent action (46 tooth), but I don't care for the knob reverse. I'd rather have a lever or bar/tri-wing that can be switched with one hand/thumb.
And the 3/8 Zenel...is the head stamped? Are the guts removable for service? That gear selector lever is about the simplest I've ever seen.
Well I hate to admit it, but which one are you referring to? I think I've seen the top two 3/8" styles referred to as Zenel in the past, but neither one is stamped "Zenel". The top Bon-E-Con ZT700 has screws that can be removed to pull the cover off, while the similar Bonney T35 below is riveted or uses peened over pins - grind the rivets/pins down and it would likely come apart, but then you'd have to re-rivet/pin it back together. The similar 1/2" 4098 one (third from top 1/2") is also riveted/pinned together, but it's put together backwards - the reverse lever (same style as the two 3/8"s) is on the same side as drive stud, and the handle is hollow. All three have coarse 20 tooth gears.
If you happen to be referring to the 3/8" ZT707 round head "B-in-a-shield" one, it has an internal snap-ring on the drive stud side holding the guts in. It's another (but lesser) favorite because of the unique style.
If you happen to be referring to the 3/8" ZT707 round head "B-in-a-shield" one, it has an internal snap-ring on the drive stud side holding the guts in. It's another (but lesser) favorite because of the unique style.
Yessir, that is the one I was referring to. I did not check AA to make sure I was correct in calling it a Zenel, but I seem to recall a picture of that style and with that shield design in the Zenel section of the Bonney page...the "Z" in the part number seems to suggest it, too.
GREAT details in your most recent reply, thank you. I need to find me one of those A701s now. The breaker bar I bought is an A722.
That A701 must be from the same era as their "streamline" wrenches...the scalloped part of the handle and the oval Bonney logo are on those wrenches, too, as I recall.
PowderKeg
11-05-2009, 11:00 PM
That A701 must be from the same era as their "streamline" wrenches...the scalloped part of the handle and the oval Bonney logo are on those wrenches, too, as I recall.
Yeah, I'd like to find a set of those wrenches as well. Bonney definitely had some classy designs then.
Joe H
11-05-2009, 11:02 PM
Im not real familiar with Bonney ratchets but i decided to take my John Deere 1/2 Drive ratchet apart just to do a little investigating. The thing that facinated me with this ratchet was that being 15-20 years old and it would be considered a fine tooth ratchet taking 72 clicks to make a full revolution. Most of my older ratchets are 30-36 tooth, so this is a rarity in my old drawer. Anyways Im not even sure if my John deere ratchet is bonney made but do to its uniqueness to me ive decided to keep it and remove it from the classifieds. LOL... its hard to sell a tool you like. Here is some pics for you guys to help maybe identify its origin. Thanks..:thumbup:
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac242/hiball76/DSC00861.jpg
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac242/hiball76/DSC00864.jpg
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac242/hiball76/DSC00858.jpg
Am I missing something. I only counted 36 teeth on that ratchet. :headscrat
PowderKeg
11-06-2009, 09:24 PM
Am I missing something. I only counted 36 teeth on that ratchet. :headscrat
It's a double pawl ratchet - one set of pawl teeth grab , then with slight movement the other set grab while the first set moves just off - essentially doubles the number of available teeth on the ratchet body and reduces the arc the ratchet has to swing to engage a pawl . May not be the best description, but that's basically how a double pawl gut set works.
Joe H
11-06-2009, 09:25 PM
Oh ok. For a minute I thought I was losing it. lol
Hiball
11-06-2009, 09:46 PM
Decided to pick up this 1/2 drive bonney ratchet kit off ebay for like $13 bucks total, I will keep it just incase my John deere ratchet ever craps out. I didnt know how plentiful the rebuild kits were or there availability so its cheap insurance. The seller has a 3/8 kit if someone needs one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140354967163&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
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