You can tighten the selector screw just a touch and it will help. I greased mine and it was somewhat too tight for my liking. Backed it off and back being loose now.
new professional grade harbor freight ratchets
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- Start date
I almost never go to HF unless I am visiting my brother. I went there yesterday and grabbed a long 3/8 composite ratchet of the new style and one of the old style 1/2 composites. I played with the new "professional" flex heads, too.
For the money, it's hard to go wrong with these. And I am totally cool with Taiwan stuff.
I need to do a water pump on my Firebird, so I'll use the 3/8 composite for that and report back.
For the money, it's hard to go wrong with these. And I am totally cool with Taiwan stuff.
I need to do a water pump on my Firebird, so I'll use the 3/8 composite for that and report back.
alinc100
Well-known member
In the Garage Sale thread I eluded to the fact that I grabbed a few of these ratchets today.Just got done lubing up the 1/4" flex and the 3/8" flex standard length with superlube. I will take them to work tomorrow and try and use them whenever possible.My disclaimer is I am not a professional mechanic,I am a carpenter/cabinetmaker but we serve the auto industry(think large new car auto shows) so I sometimes get to mess with cars/engines etc. like this:
These are Ford Ecoboost 1.0l engines
These are Ford Ecoboost 1.0l engines
Exceller8
Well-known member
Still looking for the 1/4" flex head. 
Boredmechanic
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It was 94$ for whole set?
Yeah. I used 25 percent coupons for all of them this past weekend. I have two locations nearby. My girlfriend helped me purchase two a day (fri,sat,sun). I'll post some receipts shortly.
bobbycos
Well-known member
going tonite to try and find the 1/4" pro flex
454cid
Well-known member
My store still doesn't have them. In talking with an employee he said that HF has two warehouses. East coast and west coast. Our local store is supplied by the east coast. I haven't kept track of locations here, but it could be that you guys buying the wrenches are shopping at stores supplied by the west coast.
Virgil Cain
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- Feb 26, 2011
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HF stores in north Alabama have these wrenches now. I would assume they are stocked by the east coast warehouse.
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
I just made a trip to HF to check these new ratchets out in person. Between the guy getting robbed in the parking lot and the smell of dirty immigrants and cheap rubber, I was reminded of why I hate going to HF.
First off, the new composite ratchet was the winner of the group. The action was very good, and would probably be really nice with some lubricant. I didn't like the selector, but it was a pretty nice tool overall. I really like the new profile much better than the older phallic shaped composite ratchets. Ultimately, I couldn't figure out a use for it so I didn't buy it. I think a 1/4" drive version would make it's way into my toolbox for doing battery changes, but the 3/8" head is just too bulky for what I work on.
The new "Professional" flex head ratchets left me underwhelmed. The action was pretty nice (could also be improved with lube), but that's about all I liked in it. The selector was sloppy and didn't have a positive feel. The grips felt really large, especially on the 1/2" drive ratchets (this may be a positive feature from those with large hands). The flex joint was also really large, and rather tight. Fit and finish was on par with other tools at HF, which is slightly lower in quality than other "premium" Taiwan tools.
Comparing these new ratchets to Snap On Dual 80's is like comparing a high end Kia to a BMW. I wanted to spend some money today, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it on these ratchets. With that said, I'm spoiled by a complete set of Dual 80's (non-comfort grips), so I'm not in need of another ratchet. I think they are priced fair at the "sale" price, but I sure as hell wouldn't spend the money on them at "retail" price. I'm a buy once cry once kind of guy, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these to a person who doesn't share my same philosophy.
First off, the new composite ratchet was the winner of the group. The action was very good, and would probably be really nice with some lubricant. I didn't like the selector, but it was a pretty nice tool overall. I really like the new profile much better than the older phallic shaped composite ratchets. Ultimately, I couldn't figure out a use for it so I didn't buy it. I think a 1/4" drive version would make it's way into my toolbox for doing battery changes, but the 3/8" head is just too bulky for what I work on.
The new "Professional" flex head ratchets left me underwhelmed. The action was pretty nice (could also be improved with lube), but that's about all I liked in it. The selector was sloppy and didn't have a positive feel. The grips felt really large, especially on the 1/2" drive ratchets (this may be a positive feature from those with large hands). The flex joint was also really large, and rather tight. Fit and finish was on par with other tools at HF, which is slightly lower in quality than other "premium" Taiwan tools.
Comparing these new ratchets to Snap On Dual 80's is like comparing a high end Kia to a BMW. I wanted to spend some money today, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it on these ratchets. With that said, I'm spoiled by a complete set of Dual 80's (non-comfort grips), so I'm not in need of another ratchet. I think they are priced fair at the "sale" price, but I sure as hell wouldn't spend the money on them at "retail" price. I'm a buy once cry once kind of guy, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend these to a person who doesn't share my same philosophy.
Boost Creep
Well-known member
not sure which hf you went to but i stopped by the grand rapids one today and they had all the new ones. brought home the long handle 3/8 to try out.
I didn't have a t9. Used t8. Screws are very soft so be creful. They aren't that tight o begin with o not much issue
jcbarry
Well-known member
Went by my local HF and they had these ratchets. I was pretty impressed with them. Granted they aren't as nice as my Snap On or Matco ratchets but they cost a whole lot less. The action seemed pretty smooth and they felt like a quality tool when held. If I didn't have 1000 ratchets already I would have picked up a 1/4 and 3/8 flex head.
Boredmechanic
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Speaking of matco ratchets. My co worker bought a set of the 88's. Would not listen to reason and order the armstrongs
i dont know if this has been posted in here with all the bickering.
pretty stout if you ask me. could probably put the flex bar in the vise and tighten it back up where it wasnt so loose.
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4309868#post4309868
pretty stout if you ask me. could probably put the flex bar in the vise and tighten it back up where it wasnt so loose.
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4309868#post4309868
^^ had a 3/8 tekton 15010 ratchet with same internals as these HF ratchets, pretty much same thing happened to me when I put it to the test, if I go down to the US, I wouldn't mind picking up some of these ratchets
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=215633
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=215633
Emmo213
Active member
Never had a flex head before so I picked up the 3/8" one tonight because why not. Ratchet seems well built so no complaints there. Tried it on a few bolts on the old tractor and it seems like the flex head wants to have it pop off and round off the bolts. I cranked down on the torx connector to try and tighten up the floppiness but to no avail. I'll try using it again but maybe I should be sticking with fixed head.
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Acuratechva
Well-known member
This is why i am not a fan of flex head. Only a few times when its easy, rest of the time youre fighting to keep the socket on straight and not round it off.
I'd pick up a quarter inch one if it was plain straight comfort grip ...or maybe i'll pick it up anyway. I use 1/4 so rare in the last 10 years i've managed to deal with craftsman garbage, im due for something decent.
been using the long 3/8ths for a week and it's been great exept for the fact it stay's pretty floppy even after tightening the screw... we will have to try some mods to fix that, i'll try squezing the end down in a vise first, if not maybe i can source one of the small rings that go in that portion of an SO flex head.
Ign
Well-known member
I know, right? I have one, seems nice, but the head is tall. You can't have it all I guess, but it's a drawback worth mentioning more than once since some people are getting carried away thinking these units have zero faults.
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
I think they are called a spring washer. Might be able to find them at Ace Hardware. McMaster would probably have them as well.
There is another term but I can't think f it. Curved something or other.
Jarhead0408
Well-known member
Not talking about a wave washer are you?
Emmo213
Active member
If you find a good way to reduce the floppiness please post it here. It'd be appreciated.
Dave.R
Well-known member
This is why I like the bent handle variety. I have a Gearwrench and a Tekton bent handle style. With the head clicked in towards the bent side it lets your hand be in line with the fastener better. since your hand is at the same "plane" as the fastener, that twist off tendency is reduced.
Here's the two ratchet's I'm talking about.
Gearwrench Tune-Up Ratchet 81213F
Tekton Bent Handle 14967
Some ratchets use a spring wire that looks like a locking washer but it's made of a wire and is round versus flat like a washer. Although with that setup there almost needs to be a machined section in the head to accept it, as its thicker than a typical spring washer setup.
MagnumForce
Well-known member
Anyone try an o ring?
It might work for a day or two.. I would think if the tolerances are decent any friction washer (wavy or spring) would provide enough friction to keep the head from flopping around. Maybe add a little Loctite to the adjustment screw? Is it backing off?
I wish they made that in an XP120.
thesilverone
Well-known member
yeah cause 84 teeth isn't enough