new professional grade harbor freight ratchets

[paramud]

I like mine. Wish it had a socket release and possible a non flex head version also.

Why use a ratchet with a cheater on it? Everyone should have a 1/2 breaker bar. I just work on my truck and motorcycles and I use it once a month or so.

 

[Smokeshow69]

I used my 3/8th's short that I bought and it worked great. The action was smooth and for the $17 I paid I would highly recommend it. I will definitely be going back with some more coupons to get the 3/8ths long as well as the 1/2 one as well! Well played harbor freight/gear wrench!

 

[kctyphoon]

Oh my God!! A twenty dollar ratchet failed when used with a three foot cheater bar on the hardest bolt in the automotive world to remove. Big time air impacts fail to remove that bolt. Breaker bars from Snap-On have broken trying to remove that bolt with a cheater bar. Any equivalent Snap-On flex head ratchet trying to remove that bolt would also likely fail.

Harbor Freight could make **** out of titanium and somebody would be disappointed after paying $10 for it. These are FABULOUS ratchets for the price. Use them for what they are intended to be used for and they will last a lifetime. Use them in any manner and they will last longer than $20 will. If this exact same thing happened to a Snap-On flex head somebody would say, "Well that's way beyond what it was designed to do" and furthermore defend Snap-On when they refused to warrantee it. Take this abused tool back to Harbor Freight and you'll be out of the store with a new one in under two minutes. Sometimes I can't believe what I read here.

Glad someone else typed all this out and Saved my fingers from this iPad screen

 

[John in OH]

Oh my God!! A twenty dollar ratchet failed when used with a three foot cheater bar on the hardest bolt in the automotive world to remove. Big time air impacts fail to remove that bolt. Breaker bars from Snap-On have broken trying to remove that bolt with a cheater bar. Any equivalent Snap-On flex head ratchet trying to remove that bolt would also likely fail.

Harbor Freight could make **** out of titanium and somebody would be disappointed after paying $10 for it. These are FABULOUS ratchets for the price. Use them for what they are intended to be used for and they will last a lifetime. Use them in any manner and they will last longer than $20 will. If this exact same thing happened to a Snap-On flex head somebody would say, "Well that's way beyond what it was designed to do" and furthermore defend Snap-On when they refused to warrantee it. Take this abused tool back to Harbor Freight and you'll be out of the store with a new one in under two minutes. Sometimes I can't believe what I read here.

Amen, brother!

 

[fsdogwood]

Are these available in all stores or just some? Could not find them at my local store (Greensboro)

They are in the Durham, and Raleigh, NC, stores

 

[fsdogwood]

It was the fuel sadly.

Couldn't agree more

funny you say that. I know someone that bought HF 1/2 earthquake impact and a pancake compressor with 1/4in air hose trying to take off a crank bolt and then blamed it on the impact was a pos lol

1/4" hose definitely will affect the impact performance.
Besides, the air pressure matters. 90psi, it may or may not work. 135psi,
if you can get it (at home), it'll definitely help

On the other hand, even a 3 gal compressor may work, if the pressure and
hoses are good enough

 

[Hiball]

Oh my God!! A twenty dollar ratchet failed when used with a three foot cheater bar on the hardest bolt in the automotive world to remove. Big time air impacts fail to remove that bolt. Breaker bars from Snap-On have broken trying to remove that bolt with a cheater bar. Any equivalent Snap-On flex head ratchet trying to remove that bolt would also likely fail.

Harbor Freight could make **** out of titanium and somebody would be disappointed after paying $10 for it. These are FABULOUS ratchets for the price. Use them for what they are intended to be used for and they will last a lifetime. Use them in any manner and they will last longer than $20 will. If this exact same thing happened to a Snap-On flex head somebody would say, "Well that's way beyond what it was designed to do" and furthermore defend Snap-On when they refused to warrantee it. Take this abused tool back to Harbor Freight and you'll be out of the store with a new one in under two minutes. Sometimes I can't believe what I read here.

Why are you getting so Worked up? The Guy had a Cheater on a Ratchet, **** Happens. Mind you, I don't warrant a lot of Tools but my Local Snap on dealer has never balked on a Claim, And im No big spender by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[Show7d3]

I bought a 3/8 flex head a month ago and have been using it at work (I'm a lawn and garden equipment mechanic) and I really like using that ratchet. Yesterday I bought another one to use at home. Used a 20% off coupon for both purchases

 

[David W]

Based on the video, I just got this today. You guys are a bad influence on my tool addiction that pre-dates my GJ days.

 

[Deafautotech]

I already got a 1/4 flex ratchet, 3/8 and 1/2 drive long flex ratchets... I has use it at my work and it is work pretty.

 

[kctyphoon]

I already got a 1/4 flex ratchet, 3/8 and 1/2 drive long flex ratchets... I has use it at my work and it is work pretty.

I have them all, and have absolutely no need for any of them..

 

[rayh91]

I'm with y'all on using the right tool. I usually break them loose with my 1/2" HF breaker bar with the same cheater pipe which I did so after I broke that ratchet.

I don't care that I broke the ratchet. I wasn't expecting much, I just wanted to see what it can do myself after seeing that stress test video.
I know those crank pulley bolts take a lot of force to break loose. I've never seen a 1/2" air impact break loose a higher mileage Honda V6.

 

[David W]

FYI, when using a cheater with these ratchets, make sure it goes all the way down the handle. The steel portion of the handle is rather short.

I would like this better if the handle was longer so a guy can get better leverage.
It did at least hold together in the ratchet head.

 

[454cid]

FYI, when using a cheater with these ratchets, make sure it goes all the way down the handle. The steel portion of the handle is rather short.

I would like this better if the handle was longer so a guy can get better leverage.
It did at least hold together in the ratchet head.

Would you consider cutting the rest of the plastic off, for us?

 

[SCscoutguy]

FYI, when using a cheater with these ratchets, make sure it goes all the way down the handle. The steel portion of the handle is rather short.

I would like this better if the handle was longer so a guy can get better leverage.
It did at least hold together in the ratchet head.

You know HF sells really nice breaker bars as well right?

 

[monomach]

I've used my long composite quite a bit and my 1/4 flex a little. Pretty happy so far.

Of course, I'm not throwing a cheater on them and hanging from it.

 

[stage20]

Would you consider cutting the rest of the plastic off, for us?

Id love to see it. Hard o tell by the pic....looks round

 

[NC-Shaun]

I am gonna chime in on this one. I hope they dont discontinue the old grey/black composite ratchets as they have been the nicest ratchets I have ever owned. They work well for finished projects and minimize the chance of scratching surfaces of chrome, paint, arcing on batterys etc....during final assembly on my motorcycles,

The new longer composite ratchets have a slimmer handle which many guys seem to like, for me that makes my old hands hurt more when pulling on a stubborn bolt, but thats what my 1/2 extendable ratchet is for.

Regardless the new long handle composite ratchets look very nice as well as the flex head style ( I have never owned flex heads in 20 years wrenching) I agree the flex head feature should have the locking feature but that is splitting hairs.

These ratchets are a value no matter how you spin it, but I like to keep my toolbox simple as possible so for me I own 4 ratchets. All 3 grey/black short composite Pitt Pro and 1 1/2 Extendable Pitt Pro.

 

[Hiball]

FYI, when using a cheater with these ratchets, make sure it goes all the way down the handle. The steel portion of the handle is rather short.

I would like this better if the handle was longer so a guy can get better leverage.
It did at least hold together in the ratchet head.

I wonder why they didn't run the steel handle the full length of the grip? That seems odd to me.. Maybe it's specific the shorter 3/8 flex? I have the longer model, but without destruction I don't know if can tell. Maybe it was done that help balance it out?

 

[bigbearcraig]

Has the plastic handle been removed to verify that the steel handle is short?

 

[454cid]

I am gonna chime in on this one. I hope they dont discontinue the old grey/black composite ratchets....

Me, too. I only have the 3/8ths, and I really like it. The new one, looks nice, but I think the handle might be longer than what I'd want on what I consider a ratchet for light duty use.

 

[454cid]

You know HF sells really nice breaker bars as well right?

They do? The ones I've seen seem to have wobbly knuckles/joints. Maybe the shorter ones are better. I've been looking at the long 1/2" drive breaker bars. Maybe I'm just spoiled by my 24" Snap On breaker bar....... the only Snap On tool I've purchased new off of a truck.

 

[bpjr]

I bought the 3/8 flex a couple of weeks ago and it was ok doing a 4.6 intake manifold. The only thing I don't like is the flex is a little loose for my preference, so I took the head off to see if I could tighten it up a little more. The retaining screw was bottoming out and not letting it pull in tighter on the head so I threaded one more turn on the retaining screw. It tightened up considerably after extending the threads but I plan on threading one more row to help get it tighter. I looked at adding a thicker washer but there is no clearance to do it.

I'm really interested in seeing it without the rubber handle too.

bpjr

 

[Caparris]

Finally found a few at the local store. Wanted a 3/8 and 1/2 long / flex version, but they only had a 1/2 left. That's the one I needed most anyways, so fine by me

It feels a lot heavier than I expected. Pictures don't do it justice. We'll see how it does long term though

 

[David W]

Has the plastic handle been removed to verify that the steel handle is short?

this is the best I can do, I've already attached a permanent cheater to the handle. I should've gotten a pic with the handle removed, I just didn't think to do it.
I want to stress that I don't think this ratchet is a POS and there is no way that the steel portion bent at the break point.

 

[stage20]

this is the best I can do, I've already attached a permanent cheater to the handle. I should've gotten a pic with the handle removed, I just didn't think to do it.
I want to stress that I don't think this ratchet is a POS and there is no way that the steel portion bent at the break point.

So you are saying by removing the plastic handle the ratchet will become shorter in length? Since the steel doesn't go to the end of the handle...................

 

[General Geoff]

Hmm, no full tang...

 

[mmack66]

this is the best I can do, I've already attached a permanent cheater to the handle. I should've gotten a pic with the handle removed, I just didn't think to do it.
I want to stress that I don't think this ratchet is a POS and there is no way that the steel portion bent at the break point.

Okay. Did the steel break or not. It's a little hard to believe that half of the handle is just rubber/plastic.

 

[stage20]

Okay. Did the steel break or not. It's a little hard to believe that half of the handle is just rubber/plastic.

same here but i sure dont see any on the right hand side of the handle....

 

[David W]

Okay. Did the steel break or not. It's a little hard to believe that half of the handle is just rubber/plastic.

That's exactly how far it goes into the handle, about half way.

 

[Caparris]

I've been using the long 1/2" drive flex version the last two weekends to remove/install the drivetrain in one of my cars, so I thought I'd give some thoughts on it now that I've been able to put it through at least a little bit of abuse

I have been VERY happy with it so far. For the guy not wanting to spend what the tool truck guys charge (especially for a ratchet of this size), I'd be surprised if there is a better option than this ratchet. That's not to say it's the same quality as the snap on version..because it's not. You can tell it's made slightly "looser" on the internal components as there is a small amount of play where my snap on ones have none. The flex part was very loose when I got it.. I tried using it like that but got pretty annoyed with it and tightened it up. I was surprised (maybe I shouldn't have been) that the bolt holding the handle to head was basically loose. I tightened it up and that helped considerably and stopped the head from flopping around. I'd recommend putting some medium threadlock on this bolt to keep it from coming back out. The ratcheting mechanism is not as smooth as my snap on, but, I've also put a dab of assembly lube in the snap on one which significantly improved it's smoothness. I may do the same for this one, but haven't gotten around to it yet

The direction switch is backwards from most ratchets, which was pretty annoying. I kept hitting it on stuff somehow and it'd get knocked over to the wrong way. This was probably my biggest annoyance today

I've been pretty rough on it so far. I've pulled on it with about everything I had while bracing my feet on something so I could really tighten something up.. it didn't have any trouble with that. Put a pipe on the end of it once, didn't have any problems with that either. It's been throw, drug around, used as a hammer and hasn't missed a beat. This is only two weekends of work, so we'll see how it works out over the longer term, but I'm glad I bought it so far

Overall, I really don't think you can beat these things for the price. Very comfortable use (especially in the cold weather) and it did not have any problems with doing everything I asked of it

 

[RedneckWelder]

I've used the hell out of my 3/8 long handle since I've gotten it.

Only thing I have to say even remotely bad about it is you gotta tighten up the flex head screw occassionaly.

This ratchet will more than satisfy till I can get some locking flex heads in my box. Then I'll take it home and keep it in my home box.

 

[Caparris]

I've used the hell out of my 3/8 long handle since I've gotten it.

Only thing I have to say even remotely bad about it is you gotta tighten up the flex head screw occassionaly.

This ratchet will more than satisfy till I can get some locking flex heads in my box. Then I'll take it home and keep it in my home box.

I think i'm going to pick up a 3/8 version next..

I wish they sold a 1/4" drive version. That's really what I need next

 

[lightning02]

I think i'm going to pick up a 3/8 version next..

I wish they sold a 1/4" drive version. That's really what I need next

they do sell a 1/4 drive version. i have one.

 

[bobbycos]

I think i'm going to pick up a 3/8 version next..

I wish they sold a 1/4" drive version. That's really what I need next

they do sell a 1/4 drive version. i have one.

I think Caparris is wishing for a long handle 1/4" which HF does not have currently.

BTW my ratchets are doing well with the way I use them

 

[lightning02]

oh ok.

i dont blame them for not making one of those. i know there will be some people putting way to much leverage on it since it will have a long handle.

 

[kctyphoon]

You guys do realize that almost all the 72 tooth ratchets are harbor freight are exactly the same right? Even the composites?. They are all the same internals just placed in a different style handle.. You can take them out of one and put them in any other..
See...

 

[Caparris]

they do sell a 1/4 drive version. i have one.

Well ****. Somehow I missed that. Thanks!

I think Caparris is wishing for a long handle 1/4" which HF does not have currently.

BTW my ratchets are doing well with the way I use them

I'd prefer a long handled one.. but I'd settle for a regular one for now.

Time to spend some more money

 

[lightning02]

If you do get the 1/4 use a oil type of lube. Not a grease type. Just my .02

 

[monomach]

You guys do realize that almost all the 72 tooth ratchets are harbor freight are exactly the same right? Even the composites?. They are all the same internals just placed in a different style handle.. You can take them out of one and put them in any other..
See...

And Kobalt and Tekton and Genius and William and Performax and Crescent and just about everything else 72t from Taiwan.