No more Snap-on Metric 4-way flankdrive

[garfunkle24]

I have all my metric 4-way angle wrenches in flankdrive up to 19. The young guy who works for me just tried to get them and they are discontinued. They're not in the 1000 catalog but were in the 800. The number just changes up to the non flankfrive version on the website. I had my Snappy guy check into it and he says it seems true, but he might be able to get some out of the old stock.

Think it is the same for the standard wrenches too.

If you want some (and I love mine), you'd better get them from the trucks while you can.

 

[Merkava_4]

Think it is the same for the standard wrenches too.

They discontinued the Flank Drive Plus in the extra long combo wrenches, but they're still being made in the standard lengths.

 

[garfunkle24]

***** on bouth accounts.

Why would they take that feature away from certain wrenches? They obviously already have the tooling in place and they're still going to be using that tooling on their existing flankfrive lines. It seems that flankdrive wrenches are made indentically to non flankdrive models, so it's not like they're removing the need to do certain processes or use certain materials.

Among technicians I know, the 4-way angle head wrenches (in both flankdrive and non varieties) are extremely popular.

And don't they think the guys needing specialty wrenches for awkward access situations would be the kind of guys needing the flankdrive feature?

 

[wilbilt]

They obviously already have the tooling in place and they're still going to be using that tooling on their existing flankfrive lines. It seems that flankdrive wrenches are made indentically to non flankdrive models, so it's not like they're removing the need to do certain processes or use certain materials.

Maybe the tooling is not in place in the facilities they are moving production of those tools to. Just a wild guess.

 

[joenero]

Flankdrive plus=Gimmick

Let's face it, if you don't have a wrench on something properly or it's the wrong size it's going to slip, period, flankdrive or not. I cannot think of a situation where the feature will really make that much of a difference. It might help with a rounded off bolt a little bit. However I highly doubt it will make enough of a difference to justify "needing" a wrench with flankdrive.

 

[Merkava_4]

I cannot think of a situation where the feature will really make that much of a difference.

They're suppose to be for fasteners that have rounded off corners.

 

[dxdexter]

Manufacturers are in the business to make money. If the product doesn't sell than it gets turfed. This is more than likely the reasoning behind the move.

 

[eschoendorff]

Flankdrive plus=Gimmick

Let's face it, if you don't have a wrench on something properly or it's the wrong size it's going to slip, period, flankdrive or not. I cannot think of a situation where the feature will really make that much of a difference. It might help with a rounded off bolt a little bit. However I highly doubt it will make enough of a difference to justify "needing" a wrench with flankdrive.

I own some flank drive plus stuff... and I agree. It is more marketing than anything else. If I have a fasteners that is rounded, I sure as hell am not going to use an open end wrench on it! My Craftsman Professional wrenches turn fasteners just as well as my Snap On flank drive plus.

In fact, I don't think that our Snap On dealer even stocks the flank drive plus wrenches.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I don't see any advantage in Flank Drive Plus. However, i do see a big advantage in buying Elora instead of Snap-on wrenches and saving some money.

 

[Fedwrench]

The flankdrive plus teeth on the open end are well worth the extra money in certain sizes. Front end work and loosening outer tie rod jam nuts are one example where the flank drive plus wrench has more than paid for itself time after time. Your results may vary. I can understand why snap on would can the extra long versions as they were really only an inch longer than the standard length wrench, and that was an expensive inch.

 

[olds88]

soooooo does this mean I should snap up th SOEXLM wrenches on my dealers truck tommorrow???

 

[ImportTuner]

I really like my Snap On Flank Drive Plus wrenches ... well worth every cent I spent on them.

 

[billymade]

Maybe our Snap-On dealer in residence can fill us in the availability situation on these wrenches.... pedro?