Kobalt tools failure

[theamcaddict]

This 18" 3/8" drive flex ratchet was a warranty replacement for a JH Williams produced 11" 3/8" drive Kobalt ratchet. The USA made williams kobalt lasted almost ten years , The current Taiwan produced kobalt offering lasted one use.

 

[pendragon1998]

Well, what did you do to it?

 

[OEXL16B]

Never cheep out on a ratchet. Ask yourself which ratchet would you want to have if you were working at Antarctica (the south pole) for 6 months and there's no way to get a replacement...

 

[Fast LT1]

I have a lot of kobalt ratchets and i haven't broken any. I'm very pleased with them, i chose them a lot of the time over my matco 88 tooth ratchets. I have the mini head with the finger grove handle, i like the finger clearance.

 

[theamcaddict]

I tightened a 21mm bolt . It was not used to break loose any bolts. I was able to finish the job with my 3/8 SK ratchet.

 

[Bull]

Never cheep out on a ratchet. Ask yourself which ratchet would you want to have if you were working at Antarctica (the south pole) for 6 months and there's no way to get a replacement...

Something forged by Hephaestus himself, then.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I hope companies see the problems people are having with cheap versions of previously quality USA made tools. The OP's ratchet clearly failed, plain and simple.

 

[theamcaddict]

Never cheep out on a ratchet. Ask yourself which ratchet would you want to have if you were working at Antarctica (the south pole) for 6 months and there's no way to get a replacement...

My SK 3870 is my go to ratchet usually and that is what was needed to finish a very simply job after this failure.

 

[neonnblack]

handle looks really dirty for one use

 

[theamcaddict]

handle looks really dirty for one use

dust.

 

[Jason280]

Take it back and exchange it, problem solved.

 

[Vibrolux]

I'll take it off your hands.

 

[greasemonkey44]

lol; somebody let that one get too brittle, bad heat treat
21 is the edge of 3/8 territory for breaking loose but not for tightening

 

[Dillithium]

I've broken loose 22mm axle nuts on my dirtbike with a 3/8th kobalt flexhead, though not the 18'' one, one size smaller than that. It had no problem with it, or any of the other things I've used it with.

Bad batches happen, go get a new one.

 

[Jason280]

21 is the edge of 3/8 territory for breaking loose but not for tightening

Is there really that much of a difference, as far as stress applied to the ratchet?

 

[RedFordTruck]

Ive had bad experiences with Kobalts Chinese Blue handle pliers.

Handles coming off. Rivets either breaking out or unscrewing(Yes unscrewing). Locking pliers wont hold anything.

As far as the new taiwan line of ratchets/sockets/wrenches I only own a few small sets that I got on 50-60% sale just to have basic tools in places where i need them. Ive never really used them to do much heavy work, and right off the bat I noticed there was not a drop of grease in the ratchet head.

 

[shoturtle]

I would not use 3/8dr on anything larger the 19mm. Wrong tool for the job.

 

[theamcaddict]

I would not use 3/8dr on anything larger the 19mm. Wrong tool for the job.

Not even a 36mm oil filter cap that uses a 3/8 drive socket? This was a low-medium torque situation that this ratchet made easier to accomplish. If I needed more torque I would have used a 1/2" drive LONG flex ratchet. But in most cases your rule would apply.

 

[theamcaddict]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21HBWSRHCQL.jpg

 

[shoturtle]

Oil filters are a different story. But on nuts and bolts, I would not use 3/8dr over 19mm. I rarely use 3/8 on 19mm, I normally go with 1/2 when working above 18mm.

But like it was mention, exchange it. I have had Williams ratchet fail at work along side proto and other brands. even snap on fail at times. You may have gotten one with a micro fracture or bubble in the steel, that spread over uses.

 

[Displaced Hokie]

Exchange it and duplicate the failure mode and report back. If you snap a second one, we've got a problem.

Keep in mind that people are skeptical as you killed a Williams-built ratchet first, which many consider a "lifetime" tool.

 

[Dave.R]

Something forged by Hephaestus himself, then.

Lightning bolt ratchet?

 

[buening]

My opinion, if they make a 21mm in a 3/8" socket then the ratchet should not have had issues. Now if you were using a 1/2" reducer on a 1 1/2" socket on the ratchet, then it'd be a different story.

Typical cheap junk that replaced decent US tools, moral of the story. The JH Williams stuff was pretty good stuff, but what they sell now is iffy at best

 

[Brownsfan]

Ive had bad experiences with Kobalts Chinese Blue handle pliers.

Handles coming off. Rivets either breaking out or unscrewing(Yes unscrewing). Locking pliers wont hold anything.

As far as the new taiwan line of ratchets/sockets/wrenches I only own a few small sets that I got on 50-60% sale just to have basic tools in places where i need them. Ive never really used them to do much heavy work, and right off the bat I noticed there was not a drop of grease in the ratchet head.

I went and returned ALL the Kobalt pliers I had because of this. I returned like 14. I replaced them with Channellock. I havesome Kobalt ratchets and have had zero issues.

 

[theamcaddict]

My opinion, if they make a 21mm in a 3/8" socket then the ratchet should not have had issues. Now if you were using a 1/2" reducer on a 1 1/2" socket on the ratchet, then it'd be a different story.

Typical cheap junk that replaced decent US tools, moral of the story. The JH Williams stuff was pretty good stuff, but what they sell now is iffy at best

The williams kobalt got a lot of use and I do not have anything negative to say about it other than I was not able to get a rebuild kit. If I was able to get a rebuild kit this thread would have never existed.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Just carry it back to lowes and get a new one. Tools can and will break regardless of who or where they're made. Thats life.

 

[Stuey]

I hope companies see the problems people are having with cheap versions of previously quality USA made tools. The OP's ratchet clearly failed, plain and simple.

Actually, in chats with Kobalt product managers last Fall I was told that they switched from their current supplier (Danaher) to one overseas b/c they just wasn't getting the quality they wanted. I don't know whether this is true or not, but I have seen complaints about the last generation of USA-made Kobalt tools.

I'd say head in to Lowes and swap it for a free replacement. If the second one fails as easily, it's a general quality issue. If it doesn't, the issue is likely a random flaw. These things do happen.

 

[BFBOB]

My only Kobalts: three hammers (16 oz curved-claw nail hammers) bought for no better reason than those blue-gray handles really look sharp!
Smack stuff, it stays smacked.
I haven't tried using them for heavy prying/demolition yet; that story might have a different ending.

 

[SMKS]

Since the ratchet broke on its very first use, I think it was probably defective. Try to warranty it and see how the next one performs.

But, perhaps they had a bad run. I wonder if your store would have similar ratchets from the same production run that may have the same problem?

This same or very similar ratchets are sold under the Kobalt, EZ Red, and Titan brands, as well as others. If they all failed so easily, I would think there would be more posts about them. I don't personally own them, but I think quite a few people here have the EZ Red version and perhaps the Titan version.

 

[ndoran]

I have the Titan version in all three drive sizes - no problems. They have worked very well so far. I still prefer my snap on long handled flex ratchets but they do not have the same reach

 

[64merc]

Actually, in chats with Kobalt product managers last Fall I was told that they switched from their current supplier (Danaher) to one overseas b/c they just wasn't getting the quality they wanted. I don't know whether this is true or not, but I have seen complaints about the last generation of USA-made Kobalt tools.

My guess is that it is true. Aside from the fact that it is imported, I'd much rather have a new imported Kobalt ratchet versus the last generation of USA made ratchet. They were just sloppy ratchets IMO. The earlier USA ratchets (post Williams) were not bad though.

As the others have stated, my guess is that the OP just got a bad one. Those things are everywhere under multiple brands.

 

[Hootbro]

**** happens sometimes. Get the replacement and then see if it is a trend or fluke.

 

[DFW-LSX]

I have a lot of kobalt ratchets and i haven't broken any. I'm very pleased with them, i chose them a lot of the time over my matco 88 tooth ratchets. I have the mini head with the finger grove handle, i like the finger clearance.

Same here, never broke any building a few engines and doing cam/head swaps. Im slowly going all Snap On but not for any other reason than I have a little extra scratch layin around

Something forged by Hephaestus himself, then.

This is the post of the day

I would not use 3/8dr on anything larger the 19mm. Wrong tool for the job.

I have to agree with shoturtle on this one.

Just carry it back to lowes and get a new one. Tools can and will break regardless of who or where they're made. Thats life.

THIS!

Since the ratchet broke on its very first use, I think it was probably defective. Try to warranty it and see how the next one performs.

I would be willing to bet this is the case, just because a tool isnt truck brand doesnt make it a *************, warranty it and give it another go.

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

I would not use 3/8dr on anything larger the 19mm. Wrong tool for the job.

agreed, 19mm and above is 1/2 territory

 

[RedFordTruck]

I went and returned ALL the Kobalt pliers I had because of this. I returned like 14. I replaced them with Channellock. I havesome Kobalt ratchets and have had zero issues.

Yeah ive got Channellock/craftsman/USA Vise grips now.

I warrantied several Kobalt tongue and groove pliers as the "rivet" is nothing more than a fancy screw that works its way loose very easily.

No problems with channellock though

 

[OEXL16B]

Lowes Link

That ratchet is selling for $59.97 at my local Lowes!!

Take it back and get your money. Then go to eBay and buy a Snap-on FHLF80. Problem solved.

 

[shoturtle]

Even snap on fails and a defective one gets out to the customer. So should people that suffer from the out of then norm snap on failure return it and get Gedaro.

 

[Hiball]

Lowes Link

That ratchet is selling for $59.97 at my local Lowes!!

Take it back and get your money. Then go to eBay and buy a Snap-on FHLF80. Problem solved.

I have those ratchets in Ez red form and I think I bought 1/4 and 3/8 flex (72 tooth) together for less than that. As others said, I suspect you just got a lemon. I also agree with ^^^^^ that I think there are better options when your talking about sinking $60 bucks into a 3/8 flex. On a side note.. When your talking about 18" of leverage in 3/8 drive, if there is a weakness it will surely find it.

 

[theamcaddict]

It was a warranty replacement. When it broke the quick release parts came flying out. The quick release part definitely take from the strength of the drive end. I would never pay $60 for this thing.

 

[theamcaddict]

On a seperate note the handle slides right off with minimal effort.