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Uncle Buck

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I am not keen on the way the head of that ratchet looks, or for that matter the handle either, but I guess it really does not matter much since I cannot afford one anyway!
 
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W

wrenchr

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I was not sure either but when I looked at it on the truck the quality was there!! Can't say that about the other mac ratchets!!
 
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eschoendorff

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Feb 6, 2005
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Michigan
I hate teh only MAC ratchet I have. It's a floppy head XR11F. I hope to replace it with an FX80 soon....


That being said, I have an S*K palm control which seems to be the same as those MAC ratchets. I got mine pretty cheap as I remember.....
 
T

TNToy

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Oct 11, 2006
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West Tennessee
Played with one. Meh. Dual-80 Snappys still wipe the floor with it, but less so than with other Mac ratchets.
 
M

Merkava_4

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Dec 26, 2007
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Mr. Schoendorff, why don't you just box up that MAC flex head and send it in? Every time we have a MAC thread, I gotta hear about how much you hate your MAC ratchet. :wtf:
 
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paramudduck

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May 24, 2007
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ohio
I kind of enjoy his rants about that ratchet. It is so nice after the Snap On whorship comments. I have the same ratchet as he does. But mine is the spark plug model you know, bent handle XR11FS.

It is one of my favorite ratchets. I like being able to just swing the handle around things. It's all a matter of taste. Could they be better absolutely!

I still have to admit I've had more Snap On stuff fail on me then Mac. Your milage may vary.
 
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wrenchr

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I used it today to change the spark plug on the weedwhip.

100_1008.jpg
 
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paramudduck

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May 24, 2007
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Welcome to the club. It's probably some thing a marketing droid dreamed up thats caught on.

If I remember right at one time they called them obstruction ratchets.
 
M

Merkava_4

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bchee said:
I still haven't figured out why they call the bent handle ones 'spark plug' ratchets.
Click to expand...

Some engines (not all of them) are configured in the shape of a V. The spark plugs are often times pointing straight out or towards the firewall. A straight ratchet won't work because with the angle of the V, it'll be banging on either the shock tower or the inner fender well.

So now you get yourself a flex head. Now you can pull back towards the engine; but wait, now you're bumping into the valve covers!

Now you get yourself a bent flex head. Ahhhh, that's just right; you got your flex head to get you away from the shock tower; and you got your bent handle to get you away from the valve covers. :thumbup:
 
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eschoendorff

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Merkava_4 said:
Mr. Schoendorff, why don't you just box up that MAC flex head and send it in? Every time we have a MAC thread, I gotta hear about how much you hate your MAC ratchet. :wtf:
Click to expand...

I did already. The one I am complaining about is BRAND NEW. It is a design flaw.
 
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Merkava_4

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eschoendorff said:
I did already. The one I am complaining about is BRAND NEW. It is a design flaw.
Click to expand...

Send the new one in too. The MAC flex head is suppose to have a spring loaded plunger ball in the bar that engages with one of the six dimples on the ratchet head; if it's not holding steady, send it in.
 
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eschoendorff

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Merkava_4 said:
Send the new one in too. The MAC flex head is suppose to have a spring loaded plunger ball in the bar that engages with one of the six dimples on the ratchet head; if it's not holding steady, send it in.
Click to expand...

Like I said, I did already. I just don't like teh design. That and teh extremely coarse ratcheting mechanism leaves a lot to be desired.
 
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paramudduck

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The Mac site claims the XR11's are like 30 tooth. So it would seem very course to someone used to the 60 and 80 tooth designs.

Mine is a medium stiff with the detent ball. I have a 1/4 MR5F that will just flip every where like a loose breaker bar.
 
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wrenchr

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paramudduck said:
The Mac site claims the XR11's are like 30 tooth. So it would seem very course to someone used to the 60 and 80 tooth designs.

Mine is a medium stiff with the detent ball. I have a 1/4 MR5F that will just flip every where like a loose breaker bar.
Click to expand...

This does not show up on the online catalog, this has like 72 teeth.:thumbup:
 
E

eschoendorff

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paramudduck said:
The Mac site claims the XR11's are like 30 tooth. So it would seem very course to someone used to the 60 and 80 tooth designs.

Mine is a medium stiff with the detent ball. I have a 1/4 MR5F that will just flip every where like a loose breaker bar.
Click to expand...

That's how my XR11F is... both the one I sent in and the brand new one sent to me in the package...

I think I'll keep it... but I'll get an FX 80 to actually use in the meantime.
 
S

stricht8

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Apr 20, 2008
Messages
1,714
That's true. That is a very fine ratchet. Extremely high quality. It is actually made by FACOM. I have four of those but they are FACOMS. Identical to the MAC except for the MAC logo and maybe some subtelties on the rubber grip.

wrenchr said:
All your mac ratchet horror stories will not apply to this baby!!!
Click to expand...
 
Z

Zeroek

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Jan 19, 2008
Messages
1,091
Location
Indiana
I own a lot of mac stuff. Never owned any of their ratchets beside a 1/4" drive that I never like using much. Sockets I do like along with my 3/8" drive air ratchet from them. I own a Mac Tech 1000 box. Gonna be my at home box as soon as I can get my snap on to work. Also bought the a Mac 1/2" Impact and 3/8" drive impact. I like both of those well. But the 1/2" is built on the ingersol rand TI model I think. So that's why that's probably bad *** as it is. I buy from mac sometimes but not as often as I do Snap on.
 
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