Metric Extra-Long (XL) Flex Head Ratcheting Metric Box & Ratcheting End Wrench Set Help

[JHKNVY02]

I think I've found the end of the internet, but want to verify and get the insight and advice of those who have experience. ). I'm leaning toward the Tone, but even with filling in gaps there's quite a few missing. Not a total deal breaker, but not ideal either. Open to any other ideas or brands I've missed,, but need something 8mm and larger with the features described.

Bottom Line Up Front: Looking to get a set of box / ratcheting Extra Long (XL) wrenches.

• Offset (Required)
• Length: 12.4" on 10mm or greater (Required)
• 12 point (Desired)
• Direction Lever (Desired)
• Locking or indexing head (Desired)
• No skips (Desired

Background: I purchased the Tekton Long Flex Head 12-Point Ratcheting Box End Wrench Set (13-Piece) Item Number # WRB96002, plus some extended sizes. Other than 3-4 being loose and the bolts stripped, they work great and I'll warranty those. Very smooth, but I've run into a couple scenarios they don't work. Firstly, too short. Secondly, lack of offset is usually an advantage, but sometimes I need that offset to get on some tight engine bay areas to get on to the fastener, therefore I need both options. Thirdly, the lack of index or lock on the head can be a challenge when trying to get the wrench where I need it. Fourthly, I'd like a non-ratcheting 6 or 12 point box end to break fasteners loose. For those reasons I am looking to add another (longer) set to augment the very nice Tekton wrenches. Overall length by Tekton WRB96002 wrench is below for reference. I'd like to have about 1/2" longer wrenches to add to the set.

• 6x7: 11.9"
• 8x10: 12"
• 9x11: 12.5"
• 12x14: 15.6"
• 13x15: 15.9"
• 16x18: 16.6"
• 17x19: 17.8"

Thank You in advance for the help.
Jay!

Tone Ultra-Long Oscillating Ratchet Box Wrench Set Ratchet Ring Wrench, Long, Flex Headset
https://www.tonetool.co.jp/product/detail.php?no=RMA400L&bk=search
Note 1: 12 Point
Note 2: Indexing Flex Head
Note 3: No 9, 15, 16, or 18mm available
Note 4: Longest Length

• 8mm: 12.0"
• 10mm: 12.8"
• 12mm: 14.7"
• 13mm: 15.6"
• 14mm: 16.5"
• 17mm: 18.8"
• 19mm: 17.8"

Matco 10 Piece 0° Flex Ratcheting Extra Long Wrench Set Part Number (No) SRFBZLM102TA
https://www.matcotools.com/catalog/...piece-0-flex-ratcheting-extra-long-wrench-set
Note 1: Spline
Note 2: Reportedly better fit on fasteners than the GearWrench

• 10mm: 12.4"
• 11mm: 13.0"
• 12mm: 13.75"
• 13mm: 15.0"
• 14mm: 15.6"
• 15mm: 16.0"
• 16mm: 16.6"
• 17mm: 17.2"
• 18mm: 17.6"
• 19mm: 18.1"

GearWrench 10 Piece 120XP™ Universal Spline XL Flex Head GearBox Ratcheting Metric Wrench Set Part No 86126
gearwrench 120xptm-universal-spline-xl-flex-head-gearboxtm-ratcheting-metric-wrench-set
Note 1: Spline

• 10mm: 12.4"
• 11mm: 12.9"
• 12mm: 13.8"
• 13mm: 15.0"
• 14mm: 15.9"
• 15mm: 16.3"
• 16mm: 16.7"
• 17mm: 17.1"
• 18mm: 17.7"
• 19mm: 18.1"

 

[Fedwrench]

https://www.jbtools.com/vim-tools-deep-spline-flex-xl-wrench-set-metric-dfxl100a/

https://www.jbtools.com/vim-tools-deep-spline-flex-head-wrench-set-metric-dfxl150/

The features you want will be a compromise across sets and brands.

Have you considered Vim NORAS?

VIM Tools NORA 150 Bundle 8-19mm with FREE H6 Handle (NORA150 and NORA

**Includes a FREE Nora H6 3/8 handle** The 3/8" Drive 6 Piece 12-Point Nano Flex Offset Ratcheting Attachment Set transforms your standard extension into a versatile ratchet. Designed for 3/8" square drive chucks, this set allows you to create any length handle needed for the job, making it...

tumbleweedtool.com

The problem I have with Tone is no USA Footprint and that type of wrench will fail regardless of the brand so, easy warranty is a desirable feature to me.

The NORAs allow you to create almost any length wrench depending on your selection of extensions. I prefer to use locking extensions. You could get a set of zero offset XL boxed end wrenches to break stuff loose.

I would also consider Astro Nano sockets to get the offset you want.

 

[Johnny chaos]

I have been very pleasantly surprised by this $50 set from Amazon? I use them almost daily, abusively....I have no idea how/why they have held up so well?

 

[JHKNVY02]

https://www.jbtools.com/vim-tools-deep-spline-flex-xl-wrench-set-metric-dfxl100a/

https://www.jbtools.com/vim-tools-deep-spline-flex-head-wrench-set-metric-dfxl150/

The features you want will be a compromise across sets and brands.

Have you considered Vim NORAS?

VIM Tools NORA 150 Bundle 8-19mm with FREE H6 Handle (NORA150 and NORA

**Includes a FREE Nora H6 3/8 handle** The 3/8" Drive 6 Piece 12-Point Nano Flex Offset Ratcheting Attachment Set transforms your standard extension into a versatile ratchet. Designed for 3/8" square drive chucks, this set allows you to create any length handle needed for the job, making it...

tumbleweedtool.com

The problem I have with Tone is no USA Footprint and that type of wrench will fail regardless of the brand so, easy warranty is a desirable feature to me.

The NORAs allow you to create almost any length wrench depending on your selection of extensions. I prefer to use locking extensions. You could get a set of zero offset XL boxed end wrenches to break stuff loose.

I would also consider Astro Nano sockets to get the offset you want.

Absolutely agreed on Tone, I'm in a slightly different position in that I travel to Japan routinely so I'm willing to take the risk on the breakage / warranty (if you can call it that). No argument or disagreement that these are relatively frequent warranty items, if there was an equivalent option, I would take it, 100%.

Again, 100% agreed, but I already have a full set of the 1/4 and 3/8 Nano sockets and the associated Astro ratchets in the various lengths for them, great (really great) tools, but I see these as slightly different use cases. The Astro also doesn't have the indexing head or reversible direction, which I would prefer if possible.

I'll take a look at the VIM NORAs, but prefer it to be a single wrench instead of adapters.

I have been very pleasantly surprised by this $50 set from Amazon? I use them almost daily, abusively....I have no idea how/why they have held up so well?

Thank You, but I have a set of Tekton Double Ratcheting Extra-Long as mentioned above, I'm looking for one end with a 12 point box to break fasteners loose.

 

[M.Jay]

The problem I have with Tone is no USA Footprint and that type of wrench will fail regardless of the brand so, easy warranty is a desirable feature to me.

At the current JPY exchange rate, I wouldn't care about the warranty at all.

 

[ecotec]

I have the ICON ones. I got them when they had a 30 or 40% off coupon for ICON wrench sets. They have been great so far.

I have both extra long ICON sets. I have the ones with fixed box on one side and ratcheting box on the other and the ones with each end is a ratcheting flex of a different size.

They are made by KABO, like at least 10 other brands of similar wrenches.

 

[JHKNVY02]

At the current JPY exchange rate, I wouldn't care about the warranty at all.

Agreed - especially if you're there and not paying the tariff / tax as well. Hard to beat that discount.

I have the ICON ones. I got them when they had a 30 or 40% off coupon for ICON wrench sets. They have been great so far.

I have both extra long ICON sets. I have the ones with fixed box on one side and ratcheting box on the other and the ones with each end is a ratcheting flex of a different size.

They are made by KABO, like at least 10 other brands of similar wrenches.

The reason I didn't include Icon is due to the length, they're shorter than my current Tekton wrenches. If they made an equivalent to the Matco or Tone I would pick them up.

ICON Extra-Long Professional Metric Double Box Ratcheting Wrench, 10-Piece (SKU Part Number 56653)​

https://www.harborfreight.com/extra...ble-box-ratcheting-wrench-10-piece-56653.html



10mm - 10-1/8 in
11mm - 10-5/8 in
12mm - 11-1/8 in
13mm - 11-1/2 in
14mm - 13-1/8 in
15mm - 13-5/8 in
16mm - 14-1/8 in
17mm - 14-5/8 in
18mm - 15-1/8 in
19mm - 15-5/8 in

 

[DarryT]

The Taiwanese wrench sets are the way to go: Mountain, Icon or Tekton.

 

[ecotec]

The Taiwanese wrench sets are the way to go: Mountain, Icon or Tekton.

Mountain was the one that a lot of us knew about first.

The ICON appealed to me because of the warranty and because there is a Harbor Freight about a mile from my house.

 

[JHKNVY02]

The Taiwanese wrench sets are the way to go: Mountain, Icon or Tekton.

I think all the wrenches above are made in Taiwan, even the Tone. Snap-On, Mac, etc. may be the only non-Taiwan (Made in USA) versions I could find, but both Snap-On an d Mac were shorter than Tone, GearWrench, and Matco so not on my list.

Mountain was the one that a lot of us knew about first.

The ICON appealed to me because of the warranty and because there is a Harbor Freight about a mile from my house.

Understood, those aren't critical to me. I have enough backup wrenches and ratchets, that I'm not hyper critical on the warranty. More important to me is the capability, dimensions, and performance vs ease of return.

 

[Zewnten]

I had the Icons and they work well. What job are are you doing that requires an even longer wrench in so many sizes?

 

[AJHD]

I don't want to thread jack, but if anyone has a recommendation for larger sizes (21mm, 22mm, 24mm, etc.) of these style wrenches with a flex head or non-flex, let me know.

 

[bonneyman]

I've got one labeled "MOUNTAIN" that has been quite helpful. 13mm x 15mm. Got it for $10 at a pawn shop, one end didn't function. Managed to get that end apart, cleaned and lubed, straightened the retainer spring a bit. Popped it back together and it seems to work fine. Nice and long, flex head, frankenstein-style reversible.
Here's a shot of the working end.

 

[WPSTECH714]

I have the Icon flex head set and while they do work great, one caveat is the reverse button is very easy to engage in a tight area. That said, they can be a game changer in some cases and worth every penny.

 

[JHKNVY02]

I've got one labeled "MOUNTAIN" that has been quite helpful. 13mm x 15mm. Got it for $10 at a pawn shop, one end didn't function. Managed to get that end apart, cleaned and lubed, straightened the retainer spring a bit. Popped it back together and it seems to work fine. Nice and long, flex head, frankenstein-style reversible.
Here's a shot of the working end.

Great idea! Mountain wrenches are the same length as the Tekton I already have, and looking for something slightly longer with a fixed 12 point box end (offset). Most Mountain sets I’ve seen are double flex offset.

I have the Icon flex head set and while they do work great, one caveat is the reverse button is very easy to engage in a tight area. That said, they can be a game changer in some cases and worth every penny.

Agreed, but they’re also shorter than the Tekton I already have (see post 7 above). If they were 12.5” I would jump on them, but looking for something longer than the Icon set.

 

[Zewnten]

I don't want to thread jack, but if anyone has a recommendation for larger sizes (21mm, 22mm, 24mm, etc.) of these style wrenches with a flex head or non-flex, let me know.

These work?

 

[JHKNVY02]

If possible, please start a new post instead of deviating from the OP.

Thank You

I don't want to thread jack, but if anyone has a recommendation for larger sizes (21mm, 22mm, 24mm, etc.) of these style wrenches with a flex head or non-flex, let me know.

These work?

 

[bonneyman]

Great idea! Mountain wrenches are the same length as the Tekton I already have, and looking for something slightly longer with a fixed 12 point box end (offset). Most Mountain sets I’ve seen are double flex offset.

Sorry - I missed that!

 

[Steel_Rain]

Eh, I have many sets of these. I use the mountains at work and have a backup “EZ Red” beaters. The Matco guy keeps telling me the set you linked is on back order and he never has a set on the truck. That said, I WILL owe a set of them at some point.

For longs at home, I have the Icons, the full set of TONE and a set of the V-series Craftsman (along with some other random KTC non-ratcheting long pattern stuff):




The TONE set is beautiful and has held up for me:

 

[JHKNVY02]

Eh, I have many sets of these. I use the mountains at work and have a backup “EZ Red” beaters. The Matco guy keeps telling me the set you linked is on back order and he never has a set on the truck. That said, I WILL owe a set of them at some point.

For longs at home, I have the Icons, the full set of TONE and a set of the V-series Craftsman (along with some other random KTC non-ratcheting long pattern stuff):


The TONE set is beautiful and has held up for me:

Thanks Brother - this IS perfect!

Sounds like we have similar inventory. I can grab some Matco used locally or get the Tone when I'm in Tokyo on the cheap. Would you recommend the Tone over the Matco - or - both?

Thank You again,
Jay

 

[Steel_Rain]

One of the other guys in the shop has the full set of Matco’s. They are nice, but I like the balance and finish of the Tone stuff better. It’s also cheaper and I think the box end fitment is really good.

I will own both soon enough, but life is good with the TONE in my application.

 

[JHKNVY02]

Done! TONE it is! Just put my order in with my tool truck guy in Tokyo and I'll pick up when I get there.

Thank you so much!

 

[M.Jay]

For longs at home, I have the Icons, the full set of TONE and a set of the V-series Craftsman (along with some other random KTC non-ratcheting long pattern stuff):

Holy, thats an awesome wrench drawer! Looking at these photos is satisfying my OCD.

 

[Steel_Rain]

Holy, thats an awesome wrench drawer! Looking at these photos is satisfying my OCD.

My "home" box is way more clean and organized compared to my "work" box.

 

[Zewnten]

If possible, please start a new post instead of deviating from the OP.

Thank You

As far as I am concerned the question asked still pertained to your question as did the answer. Threads deviat, its part of what they are.

 

[bonneyman]

My "home" box is way more clean and organized compared to my "work" box.

Probably because the wife makes you keep it clean! What you do at work is your business.

 

[Steel_Rain]

Probably because the wife makes you keep it clean! What you do at work is your business.

You’re ******** right!

 

[captmoto]

Okay guys, where do you use a 9mm? Aside from a powder actuated hole punch? The only place I've found one is in EZGO with a Subaru Robin motor valve tappet lock nut. I've always been able to cover 11mm with a 7/16'wrench or socket. I actually have the special tool for adjusting the tappet.