very fine tooth ratchets any good?

[ekd663]

The swing is great. Pretty close to zero play in the rotation.

There's a little bit of wiggle in the drive. I don't have much experience with round head ratchets, but it wiggles a little more than a KD round head I've got. Doesn't seem like anything excessive.

Overall it's good enough that the tolerances on the bolt/socket/extension will matter a lot more than the ratchet.

 

[ekd663]

It's hard to make out, but it looks like it says "twin pawl" on the back of the head? That would likely mean my guess is on the right track.

yeah it says twin pawl. Above "twin pawl" looks like an H with a circle around it.


More mediocre cell phone pics. It's pretty much dry inside, maybe a tiny bit of dried dirty grease. Each side of each pawl has 15 teeth. I counted about 20 teeth in about 1/8 of the body, so 168 seems about right.

 

[Chris_L]

Most of the fine tooth ratchets are actually stronger because they engage a greater area. Not saying that's the case for all but I never understood the perception that coarse tooth ratchets are stronger.

 

[oldldh]

A house cat has the same number of teeth as a tiger...

But I'd wager the bigger teeth will chomp with a lot more force...

Bigger is usually stronger...

 

[Skin]

A house cat has the same number of teeth as a tiger...

But I'd wager the bigger teeth will chomp with a lot more force...

Bigger is usually stronger...

contact surface area is what matters when it comes to shear strength.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Whoa, those look like some mega-fine teeth in the head and on the pawls.

I'm just guessing here, but I would say that shows what some of us had been guessing, that this is made by one of the pretty-good OEM Taiwanese manufacturers.

This is made by a company called: "Lih Cherng Hydraulic Co". Only company I see offering them on the import site and this is the only ratchet they manufacture.

 

[ekd663]

This is made by a company called: "Lih Cherng Hydraulic Co". Only company I see offering them on the import site and this is the only ratchet they manufacture.

Looks like it was probably made for them by Williams Tools, mentioned earlier in the thread.

With that curved handle and push-release design, the OEM is probably Williams Tools: http://www.wtools.com.tw/Ratchet-Handles-Curved.shtml#01

Here's the normal 72 tooth version branded for Toptul.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1800421&postcount=8795

 

[2oolhound]

If you look at machinery threads the fine threads are stronger than the coarse threads in any given size. There are more of them and they don't stick out off the base metal so far so they have a strong base anchor area.

That is almost scary though, no room for slop there but look how nicely finished it is under the pawls. It looks like a bearing race.

I'd love to know what happens when you crank on it till something gives. Will the handle bend or break 1st, maybe the square drive stub. Maybe it is designed so when you bear down hard on it the tolerance doesn't matter because the force is directed to the pawls against the teeth.

Thanks for dissecting your new ratchet.

 

[Skin]

i'd be willing to bet the drive will twist off long before the gear goes, especially considering its a quick release.

 

[MJB24]

An update on the 1/2" drive I bought. I have amazon prime, the ratchet showed as being in Tennessee for 6 days. I contacted Amazon and they confirmed yesterday it wont be delivered. There is also no longer any available.

They gave me a 5 dollar amazon promotional credit and extended my prime for 2 months.

So i cant be mad at Amazon. I really wanted the 1/2" ratchet.

I seen last night the 1/4" was also not available. There was only 2 3/8" left so I ordered one even though I dont need it. The bonus was it was essentially 5 dollars off.

 

[superautobacs]

yeah it says twin pawl. Above "twin pawl" looks like an H with a circle around it.


More mediocre cell phone pics. It's pretty much dry inside, maybe a tiny bit of dried dirty grease. Each side of each pawl has 15 teeth. I counted about 20 teeth in about 1/8 of the body, so 168 seems about right.

Wow, that's some really fine teeth. Amazing. I wonder what the height of the teeth are.

 

[2oolhound]

I hope everyone who picks one of these up keeps the thread going. I don't buy much off shore stuff but this is one of the few things I'd consider buying if they don't skip in use after they get broken in. Use the **** out of them guys and post back in a month or so to let us know how the hold up after being broken in.

 

[tbaggz]

Arent breaker bars for breaking bolts loose first?thats what I do to not have a ratchet "explode".but I assemble new oilfield fracs and double pumps.but im paid hourly so its in my best interest to drag a job out.hope my boss aint reading this.lol.no lean manufacturing here.
.

 

[Chuck122]

i'd be willing to bet the drive will twist off long before the gear goes, especially considering its a quick release.

A fair point indeed!
The main concern I'd have with super fine tooth ratchets would not be their strength, but rather that it would fail if grit got in it. To engage, these small tooth have very little margin and I guess it would not take much to throw it off.
Anyway, if you manage to strip the tooths out of a ratchet, you are probably going gorilla on if.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Arent breaker bars for breaking bolts loose first?thats what I do to not have a ratchet "explode".but I assemble new oilfield fracs and double pumps.but im paid hourly so its in my best interest to drag a job out.hope my boss aint reading this.lol.no lean manufacturing here.
.

Depends on the torque of the fastener. Usually, if the torque is somewhat higher I'll just size up on the ratchet and sockets and it won't be an issue. Never bothered to buy a long handled 3/8 breaker so...I guess I could use a 1/2 breaker but a 1/2 ratchet will get it off anyway.

 

[MJB24]

I have used the 3/8 quite a few times now. I like it for the price I paid. I don't abuse ratchets so I haven't tested it too hard. It is smooth.