Kudos for SK

[KEH]

Sent a SK WAYNE 1/2 drive standard length ratchet in for warrenty since it was cracked across the gear case. NO marks on the knurled handle from cheater pipes, hammers, etc. Internals were good. Just got back a new ratchet, so kudos to SK! New one is just as smooth as old ones. Finish is first class. After the USA marking on the handle there are 2 letters, AA. Wonder what those mean. I'm a long time SK fan and am glad this company is making good tools.

My dealer kept it a long time waiting for a factory rep to come buy for warrenty since they were not sure about warrenting a SK Wayne, but finally told me to send it in. I called, they said send it in, so I did.



KEH

 

[lbgradwell]

Good for them. Honourable...

 

[Jawn]

I wonder if the "AA" may be a date code?

 

[PRND3L]

Good to hear. I recently sent a socket with flaked chrome to them for replacement <fingers crossed>.

 

[Toolhorder]

Did they sent the ol' warranty statement with laminated examples??

 

[SMKS]

I've also had good warranty service from the new SK.

 

[SCscoutguy]

I am glad that that the new Ideal owned SK did that for you. When Facom owned them I sent in a couple of extensions and two ratchets for warranty and the ratchet and extension that were SK Wayne they sent back and said that they didn't honor SK Wayne tools Warranty.

 

[JASTECH]

That is excellent, I have a SK torque wrench with broken case around the head. Once it's located again amungst my tool disaster I will take pic and send it in.

 

[SCscoutguy]

That is excellent, I have a SK torque wrench with broken case around the head. Once it's located again amungst my tool disaster I will take pic and send it in.

I don't know of any company that will warranty torque wrenches. I seriously doubt that SK will.

 

[KEH]

Toolhoarder and group: They did not send any warrenty statement or examples, just sent the tool with routing papers. Hope everyone else has good luck with their tool warrenties.

KEH

 

[KEH]

Well, that's a new one on me. Today I received another SK ratchet. I called the company and offered to ship it back, but they said keep it and Merry Christmas. I know that's saving them book work and for advertising purposes and the advertising part works, I'm already thinking about how to turn that ratchet into more SK tools, maybe a win-win for both of us.

KEH

 

[Exceller8]

That is great to hear. If I were to start over buying tools it would probably be S-K.

 

[KEH]

Well, I turned the extra SK 1/2 ratchet into more SK stuff. I had seen a Rotohead 3/8 ratchet NOS in the local dealer's store, and thanks to the extra ratchet and a little cash I now have a 43875 ratchet. Sweet ratchet, I count 68 clicks. Everything works smooth, finish is nice. I think it is discontinued.

KEH

 

[lbgradwell]

Let's see photos of the two "new" ratchets...

 

[KEH]

I haven't myself energized enough to learn to post pics. The 1/2 drive is the common standard SK ratchet of long standing, the 43875 is pictured in the thread "SK 3/8 dr Roto Ratchet"

KEH

 

[KEH]

Edit Should read "I haven't got myself energized..."

KEH

 

[SMKS]

Let's see photos of the two "new" ratchets...

I'm obviously not the OP, but I got a ratchet directly from the "new" SK as a warranty replacement. It also had the "AA" marking not found on the pre-Ideal ratchets.

The one I got looked great.

Pics in this thread:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1974441

 

[John316]

I do wish they would go back to the old knurling... kills it for me on the ratchets. Although, I do love S-K and appreciate what they are doing...

 

[SMKS]

I do wish they would go back to the old knurling... kills it for me on the ratchets.

That seems a little overboard to me. Have you felt the new knurling? It's done well and offers a good grip, and it's a little easier on the hands than the old sharper knurling.

I just went back and re-read my old thread and the comments on the knurling are strange.

Evidently, some members feel like this:
Slippery, fully polished ratchet handles = good
Sharp knurling = good
Flatter, more comfortable knurling = bad

That doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[Hank McMauser]

you are going to love the ratchet mechanism on that roto-head they are super smooth & I think it's a 72 tooth count

 

[indyokie]

Guessing here,

In my line of work -AA after a part number is used with ISO 9001 ( or what ever it is now ) to show what generation that part number is. Pretty cool since you can tell quickly what generation the product is.
AA- never changed
AB- changed but just package not product
BA- product changed but not dimentions - or part number

Some product never gets beyond AA - some get to GG - just depends on life span and type of product, issues or QA improvements made that changes enough of the product.

 

[John316]

That seems a little overboard to me. Have you felt the new knurling? It's done well and offers a good grip, and it's a little easier on the hands than the old sharper knurling.

I just went back and re-read my old thread and the comments on the knurling are strange.

Evidently, some members feel like this:
Slippery, fully polished ratchet handles = good
Sharp knurling = good
Flatter, more comfortable knurling = bad

That doesn't make much sense to me.

Of course it is personal preference. I like knurled ratchets as well as smooth, but when I grab a knurled ratchet, I like it to actually be knurled.
I do have some of the new SK ratchets and the knurling is like a cosmetic pattern that really offers little in the way of a non slip grip and actually looks sloppy and cheap as well. It's functionally and cosmetically a step backwards for me.

I own a lot of SK and I really love the old style better. Even the spring tension on the new ratchets seems to have changed, so the mechs are not as tight. They feel looser on the 5 newer style I have owned than any of my Wayne or Diamond ratchets. I actually have sold all my newer style ratchets except one.

Despite this, I do applaud what Ideal is doing with SK and will support them wherever I can. Just my opinion, although many will disagree with my admittedly picky opinions on this ;-)

 

[Mastermind]

so, calling them on split head warranty is the way to do it huh? my email to them got the standard take it to grainger response, as that seems to be the only place to warranty in my state. however i cant afford to take a half day off work to warranty a ratchet, plus i'm sure walking in somewhere for the first time to get something replaced is unofficially frowned upon, as in grainger never seen a dime of my money, at least sk got something outta the original purchase.

 

[PRND3L]

Good to hear. I recently sent a socket with flaked chrome to them for replacement <fingers crossed>.

Follow up: Received replacement socket yesterday.

 

[KEH]

Finally used 3/8 roto ratchet I mentioned in post above. Used it on oil change. Drain plug is in a position that requires use of an extension on a regular ratchet but was able to use the roto ratchet by it self. It is so smooth I had trouble noticing the clicks. I've counted clicks, it has 72 teeth. Don't know why they have dropped it from the line, maybe they will bring it back. It's long enough for pretty good leverage.

KEH

 

[AL`]

I've also had good warranty service from the new SK.

Diddo.

Good tools, good value, and made in USA. What's not to like? Their ratchets aren't my preference though I can't really fault their function. But I like my roundhead Williams superratchet better.