Changed my valve cover gasket...

[jlh92]

... and somehow managed to break both my 3/8 Craftsman ratchet and Craftsman torque wrench.

I wasn't even using them hard, obviously. Ratchet descided it didn't want to tighten bolts anymore as it would rather spin freely in both directions. The torque wrench was fine at 80 inch pounds, but I'm pretty sure the internals let go at 96. The handle now just moves up and down freely.

I'll probably go with HF for the torque wrench as I hardly ever use one. I'm about to just sell all my Craftsman ratchets, I have a bad habit of breaking 1/4 ones than seems to have spead to 3/8. I've been thinking of switching to Armstrong for a while.

Feel free to share your opinions of non-Craftsman ratchets. That or tell your own story of how you broke your poorly made tools while using them safely in their intended limits.

 

[devoncoolman]

Sk is a very nice option for ratchets. I sold off all my craftsmans there junk in my opinion.

 

[Askme42]

The armstrongs are sweet. You won't regret it.

 

[exmaxima1]

... and somehow managed to break both my 3/8 Craftsman ratchet and Craftsman torque wrench.

Seems strange that bolts that were torqued to 80 inch-pounds could break a 3/8 ratchet. That's less than 7 ft-lbs, and almost doable with a fat screwdriver......

 

[jlh92]

Seems strange that bolts that were torqued to 80 inch-pounds could break a 3/8 ratchet. That's less than 7 ft-lbs, and almost doable with a fat screwdriver......

The ratchet actually broke on my spark plugs. A bit higher torque, but still reasonable for any 3/8 ratchet.

 

[jlh92]

Sk is a very nice option for ratchets. I sold off all my craftsmans there junk in my opinion.

I have an old SK 1/2dr ratchet that I love, but they're a bit pricey new.

The armstrongs are sweet. You won't regret it.

What's the best place to buy them? Amazon seems the cheapest.

 

[erty67]

If you're just a DIYer, check out the HF composite ratchets. you'll love them and they're cheap.

 

[southalabama]

Never broke a craftsman ratchet. Seen dad use them as hammers.

But after using s&k they collect dust in the tool drawer.

 

[Askme42]

I got mine off amazon. I'd probably give my money to epsteins now.

Your looking for flexheads or standard?

 

[Jim C.]

Wow, that's tough breaking two tools during the same job. Were they older or newer tools? I've been using older Craftsman ratchets and a Craftsman ratcheting torque wrench exclusively for decades with only one problem. Several years ago I broke a 1/2" drive ratchet torquing down a lag bolt. I replaced the ratchet's guts with a repair kit and it's still going strong. I'm still a fan of older Craftsman tools.

Jim C.

 

[rusty65]

Well there is always flukes heck I broke my brand new williams round head ratchet the second time using it.


Sent directly from the Snap On Kool Aid factory.

 

[exmaxima1]

Never broke a craftsman ratchet. Seen dad use them as hammers.

50 years ago, saw my dad put a cheater pipe on his CM 3/8 ratchet and tighten head bolts---made it most of the way until it broke

 

[lightning02]

I use to break my 1/4 cm all the time as well. Only size that would give out for some reason. I'm also getting rid of my cm ratchets. There are much better affordable stuff out there nowadays. Plus new USA made cm isn't that great either nowadays.

 

[beatcad]

what kinda car are you working on?
it's been a while, but i recall valve covers being around 15 inch lbs.
thats vintage cars of course.

 

[fearthebeard]

I turn a wrench for a living and the kobalt are pretty tough. But I swear that some of the toughest ratchets out there are the regular looking hf ones. I have all tool truck ratchets i use normally but I also have 3 (1/2, 3/8 1/4) harbor freight ones iv had for several years that just will not die. The 1/2 has no joke had every ounce of my 265 lbs on a 6 ft cheater pipe tons of times

 

[1950mercury]

Good luck selling the craftsman. If theh are the taised panel wirh the plastic switching lever they are about worthless. If your looking for cheap and fairly nice the hf pro are nice. Or armstrong for locking flex heads. Best ratchets i own are so dual 80's are they worth the money? Ill let u decide that. The sk round heads are super strong but after using a slimmer fine tooth pear shaped ratchet they just sit and collect dust.

 

[jlh92]

If you're just a DIYer, check out the HF composite ratchets. you'll love them and they're cheap.

Looking at how cheap they are I may pick up a set as well as get Armstrongs. I really like the look and feel of chromed tools.

Never broke a craftsman ratchet. Seen dad use them as hammers.

I've used my 1/2 as a breaker bar a few times and never had any issue with it. It's a bit older than my other Craftsman ratchets.

Wow, that's tough breaking two tools during the same job. Were they older or newer tools?

That's why I always keep spares. I had to use my old Great Neck ratchet in it's place. I actually like the GN far better than any other ratchet I've owned.

The ratchet was a resent warranty exchange and the torque wrench was a couple years old but only used a handful of times.

what kinda car are you working on?
it's been a while, but i recall valve covers being around 15 inch lbs.
thats vintage cars of course.

'06 Corolla. 15 inch pounds? Had to have been ft pounds. I don't know how 15 inch pounds could create a oil seal or not vibrate out.

 

[jlh92]

I got mine off amazon. I'd probably give my money to epsteins now.

Your looking for flexheads or standard?

I've never had a time when I needed a flex head, so probably just standard.

 

[lightning02]

http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-t...ragejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=264209

http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-t...ragejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=264209

http://www.harborfreight.com/21-Pc-...ragejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=264209

i got these and use them all the time. same insides as the HF composite ratchets(i also have). the sockets are also VERY good. get a couple 20 or 25% off coupons. little lube and your on your way.

 

[Karl_B]

I like these Proto Premium Ratchets. I have them in 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" drivers. They are a bit heavy, but very stout feel good in the hand. I would also like the longer versions.

I also have an Armstrong 11-994 locking flex head ratchet. It's quickly earned it's place as the first ratchet I grab when I need a flex handle, odd fixed angle, or long handle.

I have a few other ratchets I really like, but they are out of production.

I broke a craftsman 1/4" and a MAC ratchet trying to get at a 12mm headed bolt in a tight spot. I'm really wanting to test my Proto ratchet in the same application, but since the drive sheared on the other two, I expect the Proto to do the same. Even with the really short handle on the MAC, I was able to put enough force on it with just my hands to break it.

 

[mykvr6]

I have a couple older raised panel craftsman ratchets. The 1/2" one is one of the older ones that has the little oil hole on top. I hadn't used it for years until recently because it had gotten gunked up and would slip all the time. My raised panel 3/8" and full polished 1/4" would all slip and I just recently learned about cleaning and lubing them and damned if they don't all work like a dream now.

But I'll tell you what I use the most out of my ratchets. I use my 3/8" snap on flex head soft grip long handled ratchet probably the most since I bought it. Its a little older so its a 36 tooth not a dual 80, but it gets used ALOT. And has been abused and probably torqued on a lot more than I should have with no issues. I've never put a cheater bar on anything. I've usually been able to break most stuff loose with either my air impact or my snap on long handled flex head 1/2" ratchet. I use it like a breaker bar, which is probably not very smart but its been tough as nails so its been worth every penny as well. Its a 36 tooth as well. I have a couple of dual 80 3/8" ratchets I recently bought but have yet to really use them. The older 36 series have been rock solid though and I love the feel of them. That being said you could pick up used 36 series snap ons for less than the newest dual 80's or new williams ratchets which have the 36 series guts. I recently picked up a Williams 1/2" ratchet/socket set and the ratchet is great. Identical to my flex head 1/2" long handled ratchet and my soft grip long handled 1/2" snappy ratchet.

For 1/4", I've been using my Facom palm control pretty much exclusively since a buddy gave me one years ago. Love the feel of that thing. Great fine tooth ratchet. I do have an older long handle locking flex head snap on 1/4" ratchet if the facom cant get into a certain spot (the head is a bit fat) but it hardly get used. The facoms arent that expensive either.

That being said the HF ratchets seem very nice and are dirt cheap compared to the above mentioned stuff. I like the Kobalts as well but are comparable to the HF stuff and cost more. You can get those above mentioned HF ratchet/socket sets for the price of the ratchet alone at Lowes, actually cheaper with coupons/sales.

 

[Tronyadorable]

Get yourself a few good Taiwanese ratchets. Overpriced American imports have been problematic recently.
Here's a nice and affordable trio
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GEARWRENCH-...1712047752&pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr

 

[Stooge]

I own a handful of new SO and older 936 snappies and love them, but for me and what i usually work on, i am almost always using an SK round head.just absolutely bulletproof and I must have atleast a dozen of them and sort of started collecting them after inheriting a few from my grandfathers collection. Cheapest place i have found SK for is from tooltopia.com, i think as much as $40 cheaper than even amazon for some socket sets.

 

[mykvr6]

As far as torque wrenches I swiped an old Great Neck my dad bought and used it as a breaker bar sometimes and it is still in my tool box. I don't really use it but it never broke. I got 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 snap on torque wrenches a while back and have been using them exclusively since then without issue.

There was a thread about what tools you have broken and honestly I can't remember breaking much. I broke a socket once years ago trying to break some bolts loose on my toyota pickup leaf springs assembly. I just remembering really torquing on it and it just gave way. I though the socket had slipped but it cracked right down the side. Craftsman socket. Even cheap stuff I haven't really broken anything. I bent one of my snap on flat head screwdrivers being dumb lol. Seems like the bolt always breaks first or rounds off before I break a ratchet or socket anymore. Of course I live in Texas and all the cars I work on aren't rusted to hell underneath.

 

[lightning02]

I have a couple older raised panel craftsman ratchets. The 1/2" one is one of the older ones that has the little oil hole on top. I hadn't used it for years until recently because it had gotten gunked up and would slip all the time. My raised panel 3/8" and full polished 1/4" would all slip and I just recently learned about cleaning and lubing them and damned if they don't all work like a dream now.

funny you say that. one day i had nothing to do and lubed one of my CM RP ratchets just for the hell of it since i never lubed them bc i dont use them anymore. the ratchet worked fine before hand and then after the clean and lube it would not work. that fucker would slip and skip lol it was smooth as butter but it didnt work worth a **** anymore. i pit very little lube to bc i didnt want to waste it on a ratchet i dont use but i wanted to see how smooth it would get. it got smooth alright. to the point it didnt work anymore LOL

 

[Flivver250]

I like Wright tool for quality and price. As tough as SO but priced low.

 

[BFHtime]

If your tool brand access is limited you may want to look into craftsman premium ratchets. They are not cheap, and are US made. These are similar to Matco in design. If I did not have Snap-On ratchets I would give these a try. The craftsman ratchets you broke are notorious for breaking if you look at it the wrong way. The premium have a high tooth count and are smooth.

 

[Danglerb]

Lotta times its not what you are working on when it breaks, but the previous 10 jobs.

 

[Askme42]

I've never had a time when I needed a flex head, so probably just standard.

This I find kind of funny but it all comes down to personal preference. Some people just don't care for the flexheads at all. They can't get used to using them or have used a fixed head so long it's awkward.

I'm the opposite I got flexheads almost immediately after I started doing a little wrenching. I would say I either have it unlocked or in a locked position other than straight over 90% of the time. There's just almost always a position other than straight that's more comfortable to me. Not that I actaully NEED the flexhead but certainly prefer them.

 

[Askme42]

If your tool brand access is limited you may want to look into craftsman premium ratchets. They are not cheap, and are US made. These are similar to Matco in design. If I did not have Snap-On ratchets I would give these a try. The craftsman ratchets you broke are notorious for breaking if you look at it the wrong way. The premium have a high tooth count and are smooth.

Smooth like butter for sure. I grab them everytime I'm in Sears. Can't bring myself to spend that much when I already have armstrongs.

 

[JDon99]

For Armstrongs, take a look at Trident Supply, Epsteins is another good place, but you will pay sales tax in MO. Good people at Trident.