Ratchet design question

[bchee]

If you made a lower ratchet profile by shortening the square drive (by a minimal amount), how much strength would be lost?

I realize that sockets are standardized to accommodate the detent ball at a certain length, so changing the square drive would require changing the sockets and won't likely happen. (btw what is the name of the groove in the socket that accepts the detent ball??)

 

[davestlouis]

I don't see how you would gain anything...the height is determined by the socket, not the drive post.

 

[olds88]

I don't think that would work, i think the sockets would still bottom out at the same place

 

[Delray]

The length of the shaft should not matter, The breaking point would be between the face of the ratchet and the back side of the socket where it meets the ratchet and that's not changed. A poor socket may fail as it will get more force in a smaller area. I don't see why it would not work with a quality high strength socket.

 

[Delray]

As Olds88 says no gain with a regular socket. You would need very shallow sockets to match this ratchet to make a system.

 

[Merkava_4]

Are you related to the guy who decided bolt heads need to be thin too? Can we please have the bolt heads the same thickness as the wrench open end?

 

[Stanger]

You want that drive to be a decent size. The more surface area that comes in contact with the socket, the stronger it is. You would gain more by designing a smaller socket.

 

[FuriousGeorge]

It sounds like your looking for something like GW's Vortex sockets.

 

[olds88]

Are you related to the guy who decided bolt heads need to be thin too? Can we please have the bolt heads the same thickness as the wrench open end?

Another thing I love about VWs........

 

[chammyman]

has anyone ever seen a ratchet head square drive fail? I haven't, its always been the actaul ratchet mecanism not the square head.

I can think of time when a shorter square would be usefull, a burried bolt, you need the length of the standard socket but the profile of the head is to big to fit in the gap and go on the socket. Then I just use a narrower profile ratchet, but in extreme sots yes it could be usefull.

 

[paramudduck]

Actually yes I have. In fact the last time I was at the Swap day's a dealer had about 40 Snap on ratchets with the drives twisted off.

 

[chammyman]

well there we go then. I have seen busted snap ons and they have always burts the ratchet mechanism. I remember the othe rChris in the work broke his 3/8th. He was up the hospital for ages getting stitches after it

 

[Merkava_4]

I like the ratchets square drives just the way they are now; leave well enough alone.

 

[eschoendorff]

I don't see how you would gain anything...the height is determined by the socket, not the drive post.

/thread.

 

[Delray]

If you use a Craftsman wrench socket like my mm set #42801 and a ratchet wrench or open end for that matter you can get in some really tight places.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Another thing I love about VWs........

I've only ever run into low-profile hex head bolts on rear brake calipers.

 

[Stanger]

I can think of time when a shorter square would be usefull, a burried bolt, you need the length of the standard socket but the profile of the head is to big to fit in the gap and go on the socket. Then I just use a narrower profile ratchet, but in extreme sots yes it could be usefull.

You're still not gaining anything because no one makes sockets that accept a drive that shallow. You would need completely custom sockets to gain anything.

 

[Elroy]

If you need additional "head" clearance do what Elroy did:

 

[billymade]

Thats exactly what I was thinking! LOL! Yeah, use the junky Craftsman sockets; you could always get a warranty replacement later if you wanted to!

 

[Stanger]

OT: Elroy, what happened to our offset ratchet discussion? You disappeared.

 

[Elroy]

OT: Elroy, what happened to our offset ratchet discussion? You disappeared.

He's right here. Elroy can't go back and forth for ever. If you have a single specific question, Elroy would be glad to address it but he can't really conduct a class in "statics" here.

 

[wrenchr]

has anyone ever seen a ratchet head square drive fail? I haven't, its always been the actaul ratchet mecanism not the square head.

I can think of time when a shorter square would be usefull, a burried bolt, you need the length of the standard socket but the profile of the head is to big to fit in the gap and go on the socket. Then I just use a narrower profile ratchet, but in extreme sots yes it could be usefull.

I have sheered them off!! Quick release ratchets are prone to this.

 

[Stanger]

He's right here. Elroy can't go back and forth for ever. If you have a single specific question, Elroy would be glad to address it but he can't really conduct a class in "statics" here.

Well, my last post contained quite a few specific questions/rebuttals on the subject. Its cool though, we can let it go. The basic, primary concept was established so that's enough.

 

[Elroy]

Ok Ok, Give Elroy a few minutes and he'll look it over and respond.

Fair enough?

 

[Stanger]

Ok Ok, Give Elroy a few minutes and he'll look it over and respond.

lol, really, its ok. I'm following your concept, I'm just trying to define it in the terms taught in class. If you want to reply, ok, if not, also ok.

 

[wells4]

anyone here with an extra craftsman 42801 set wanting to sell PM Me

 

[shockwave]

I swear by this on even nuts and bolt the strength of the bolt is the width of the bolt so make sure it has 3/8 depth and you will be fine

 

[Off-Street Parking]

I don't see how you would gain anything...the height is determined by the socket, not the drive post.

/thread.

Not so fast... This 2008 thread isn't done quite yet!


The way you gain from shortening the drive on the ratchet is that you can then shorten the back of the socket.

Normal shallow sockets can only go to a certain point, before the hex end is the same depth as the fastener head, and the fastener head is right against the end of the square drive. That end of the socket can't get any shorter. But if you shorten the square drive, you can then shorten the back of the socket, and gain some additional clearance.