First sign of the G2 Icon ratchets ….

[Hakeem]

Found the image on the Reddit:


The new, second generation ICON ratchets. Who knows when they’ll be released but they were planned for next year so it’s surprising to see them being listed already. They’re supposed to feature smaller heads, dual-pawl design with less backdrag, and longer handles & locking flex-heads. As you can see, they have a 20” 3/8 drive … from what I recall, a 25” 1/2 drive and a 12” 1/4 drive are planned as well, in fixed and locking flexhead variants.

 

[d.mcfarland]

IF they are drastically better, I predict a whole lot of "broken" first gen models get returned. People love their no questions asked harbor freight warranty.

 

[M635_Guy]

I don't see them on the site or on the app. Guessing it's an employee showing the placeholder or similar.

 

[Hakeem]

I don't see them on the site or on the app. Guessing it's an employee showing the placeholder or similar.

Yeah supposedly they came up when you searched ‘G2’ on the site but it never worked for me.

IF they are drastically better, I predict a whole lot of "broken" first gun models get returned. People love their no questions asked harbor freight warranty.

Hopefully not but I know there will be some unscrupulous actors who will.

They must be confident in their mechanisms to offer such lengthy ratchets + easy warranty. Either that, or most people that buy these never really use them that heavy.

 

[rust in the eye]

Not a fan of soft handles. That said a 1/4" locking flex head with that long a handle seems good value and interests me but will have to wait until I can try it in hand. If able to exploit coupons it might only be forty bucks or so.

 

[gizardlizard]

Not a fan of soft handles. That said a 1/4" locking flex head with that long a handle seems good value and interests me but will have to wait until I can try it in hand. If able to exploit coupons it might only be forty bucks or so.

I agree. I gat

 

[gizardlizard]

Not a fan of soft handles. That said a 1/4" locking flex head with that long a handle seems good value and interests me but will have to wait until I can try it in hand. If able to exploit coupons it might only be forty bucks or so.

I agree. I hate soft handles as well. In tight spots they’re in the way, and then they get nicked and tore up. No thanks.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I might be in for the extra long handle ratchets if they come in a flex design. Add me to the list that doesn't gravitate towards the soft grips.

 

[Professor Gascan]

Seems like HF offers their current Icon ratchets in soft grip and chrome handle in all but the roto head, hopefully they offer the same with the gen 2 lineup.

Depending on the head size, I could see a 1/4 flex head in my future.

 

[David99]

I agree. I hate soft handles as well. In tight spots they’re in the way, and then they get nicked and tore up. No thanks.

I don't like them either, mostly because when they get old they get sticky (unless they've fixed that little issue).

 

[Firebrick43]

IF they are drastically better, I predict a whole lot of "broken" first gun models get returned. People love their no questions asked harbor freight warranty.

They replace the whole ratchet for warranty instead of just giving the customer a rebuild kit?

 

[ecotec]

I agree. I hate soft handles as well. In tight spots they’re in the way, and then they get nicked and tore up. No thanks.

They are awesome for roto ratchets. Other than those, I prefer bare metal ratchets.

The 1/4” swivel handle without a soft handle *****. I added heat shrink to mine.

 

[liliysdad]

They replace the whole ratchet for warranty instead of just giving the customer a rebuild kit?

That’s funny.

 

[impactims]

I agree. I hate soft handles as well. In tight spots they’re in the way, and then they get nicked and tore up. No thanks.

That’s why you are supposed to have both.

Hard handle when you need the clearance and the soft handle will get tore up by hitting things.

Soft handle for when clearance is not an issue and the handle will stay safe.

I personally have both. Soft handle is nice in the hand. But there are times that it shouldn’t be used.

 

[mngundog]

They replace the whole ratchet for warranty instead of just giving the customer a rebuild kit?

Correct, just as Craftsman did.......this isn't some second rate truck ratchet.

 

[d.mcfarland]

They replace the whole ratchet for warranty instead of just giving the customer a rebuild kit?

Yes. It's Harbor Freight. Not Sears in the 1970's. Stanley Black and Decker has the same policy as harbor Freight at their current Craftsman distributors.

 

[Firebrick43]

Correct, just as Craftsman did.......this isn't some second rate truck ratchet.

Craftsman just rebuilt the ratchets themselves to hand to the next guy for it to slip and bust his knuckles.

I just guessed that if they sold them as "compare to snap on" that they would provide rebuild kits like all the professional tool companies do.

 

[mngundog]

Really can't fault snapon for trying to save a buck.

 

[mikey03]

I agree. I hate soft handles as well. In tight spots they’re in the way, and then they get nicked and tore up. No thanks.

Seems like everyone hates soft handles but that’s all snap on makes these days.

 

[Firebrick43]

Really can't fault snapon nearly all pro tool companies for trying to save their customers a buck.

FIFY

 

[d.mcfarland]

FIFY

Not at all. Providing repair kits is to save THEM money.

That's why round head ratchets aren't widely produced any longer. The teeth wearing require full replacement.

 

[Firebrick43]

Not at all. Providing repair kits is to save THEM money.

That's why round head ratchets aren't widely produced any longer. The teeth wearing require full replacement.

Maybe cheap round head ratchets?

Wright, Proto, Facom, Williams, and snap on all still produce a lot of round head ratchets that are very strong

I have put kits in my wrights and facom era sk ratchets. I dont recall if my b52 has had a kit or not? Most of the time the pawls are just worn or springs/anvil sheared off. I have never worn out any of the internal teeth of my round head ratchets in 20 years but have put several kits in them.

My original question about replace whole tool vs kit was just that, a question that can be answered with a yes or no. Why did it have to devolve into ripping on every other tool company?

 

[Fedwrench]

There's a thread here somewhere that has a photo of all the new Harbor Freight G2 ratchets laid out on a table at SEMA. If I remember correctly, Harbor Freight offered every G2 ratchet aside from the stubbies, in your choice of comfort grip or a metal handle. That should make the comfort grip haters happy
Reddit linked a Harbor Freight Instagram post that shows most of the G2 versions and says they'll be out next month. Time will tell. Hopefully the G2s won't be plagued with the issues that the new Snap on 100 tooth ratchet has.

 

[mikey03]

There's a thread here somewhere that has a photo of all the new Harbor Freight G2 ratchets laid out on a table at SEMA. If I remember correctly, Harbor Freight offered every G2 ratchet aside from the stubbies, in your choice of comfort grip or a metal handle. That should make the comfort grip haters happy

some people won’t be happy honestly until they make bare steel handle with spikes in it so it’s as umcomfortle as possible.

 

[liliysdad]

Craftsman just rebuilt the ratchets themselves to hand to the next guy for it to slip and bust his knuckles.

I just guessed that if they sold them as "compare to snap on" that they would provide rebuild kits like all the professional tool companies do.

I’d hope they’d work on fattening up the catalog and offering open stock before they mess with rebuild kits….but I’m not holding my breath for any of the three.

 

[Model A Fan]

Seems like everyone hates soft handles but that’s all snap on makes these days.

Soft handle is nice if you have to work on stuff in winter or cold and wet environments (WA State is one of those).

 

[d.mcfarland]

Wright, Proto, Facom, Williams, and snap on all still produce a lot of round head ratchets that are very strong

I was more referring to tool trucks, but I guess I didn't specify. The companies you mentioned aren't making (or losing) a killing on ratchets.

I am going to bow out of the discussion. This is a hill you are willing to die on, just like the profitability of the round head ratchet itself.

 

[demarpaint]

It looks like a good ratchet for the money.

 

[swsman]

Soft handle is nice if you have to work on stuff in winter or cold and wet environments (WA State is one of those).

Composite ratchets are good for that concern. Summer or winter my go to ratchets are all hard handle - easy to clean and I have not had issues with hand slipping off.

 

[FigN⋅m]

Composite ratchets are good for that concern. Summer or winter my go to ratchets are all hard handle - easy to clean and I have not had issues with hand slipping off.

Oddly enough, my main trouble is actually things getting super dusty and then getting slippery.
The chrome tools tend to get slick with the fine moon dust that gets all over the vehicles.
I am tolerant of either grip style and have both at the ready, but at least dusty soft grips clean easy!

 

[Model A Fan]

Craftsman just rebuilt the ratchets themselves to hand to the next guy for it to slip and bust his knuckles.

I just guessed that if they sold them as "compare to snap on" that they would provide rebuild kits like all the professional tool companies do.

I wish they still sold rebuild kits. I have several sets my dad bought for me when I was and when they wear out, I'll be left without a functioning ratchet unless I find rebuild kits, scavenge from some other ratchet, or resign it to the display shelf. Some people get sentimental attachment to some of their tools. I traded in my flex head 3/8 wrench when the gear stripped and they just handed me an electropenciled one with some other guy's name on it. I wish I had asked for the rebuild kit.

Really can't fault snapon for trying to save a buck.

Keeps costs down I guess.

 

[L.Cheapo]

some people won’t be happy honestly until they make bare steel handle with spikes in it so it’s as umcomfortle as possible.

Still wouldn't be as bad as this ergonomic abomination with less teeth than the average meth head:

 

[Shoreline_]

What are these? Chinese dual 80s?

 

[Hakeem]

It looks like a good ratchet for the money.

Agreed. It’ll be nice to be able to buy specialty ratchets like these in a brick-&-mortar store.

What are these? Chinese dual 80s?

Lol more or less. The most interesting feature is the extended length handles:

 

[M635_Guy]

What are these? Chinese dual 80s?

Most Icon tools are made in Taiwan

 

[Shoreline_]

Most Icon tools are made in Taiwan

Oh excuse me sorry. Are these just imitation dual 80s for a lot less money made by extorted poor labor overseas?

I guess if they work just as good that's great.

 

[cody1325]

Maybe cheap round head ratchets?

Wright, Proto, Facom, Williams, and snap on all still produce a lot of round head ratchets that are very strong

I have put kits in my wrights and facom era sk ratchets. I dont recall if my b52 has had a kit or not? Most of the time the pawls are just worn or springs/anvil sheared off. I have never worn out any of the internal teeth of my round head ratchets in 20 years but have put several kits in them.

My original question about replace whole tool vs kit was just that, a question that can be answered with a yes or no. Why did it have to devolve into ripping on every other tool company?

I saw that roto-head SK at my local mine supply a couple months back. Given tools sell poorly there, I need to go ahead and buy the thing. The Tuff-1s are my favorite US-made ratchets, and they were a huge upgrade over the older 45170.

 

[Madjik Man]

So only locking flex head in the extra long varieties?

 

[milky2k]

Are these genuinely dual 80 style with two separate pawls? I saw a video of a scaled up ratchet demo and it looked like it had one pawl but with a gap in the middle. IDK if it was supposed to be two separate pawls or not.

 

[M635_Guy]

Oh excuse me sorry. Are these just imitation dual 80s for a lot less money made by extorted poor labor overseas?

I guess if they work just as good that's great.

You apparently do not understand Taiwan