Wow, I love this ratchet

[ToocoolZ28]

I just got this new Armstrong 1/4 drive ratchet, I love this thing. This is 100 times better than the old Craftsman ratchet that I have been using for the last 35 years. I have mostly Craftsman tools and really never had many complaints about them but there is a huge difference in these ratchets.
http://www.tooltopia.com/armstrong-10-992.aspx

 

[alan camby]

I have had that ratchet for a few years. I don't know if mine is the 60 tooth or the new 80 something tooth.
Bought it to test out and if I liked it was going to get the 3/8" and 1/2"

It has not been a good ratchet for me. The thing locks up on me from time to time.
It does look nice. Ended up going with SO dual 80's for all sizes.

 

[Askme42]

I have all 3 size flex heads. They are my go to ratchets b

 

[toolaholic]

I have the armstrong aero as well. Really nice ratchet!

 

[jim1987]

You never know how bad your cman rp ratchet is, until you get something else.

 

[Forsythe04]

You never know how bad your cman rp ratchet is, until you get something else.

too much cman hate in this joint

 

[devoncoolman]

too much cman hate in this joint

Anybody that says a craftsman rp ratchet is good is an idiot or a shut in. Once you use any quality ratchet you will never go back.

 

[Forsythe04]

Anybody that says a craftsman rp ratchet is good is an idiot or a shut in. Once you use any quality ratchet you will never go back.

well.ok.

 

[Ih8ants]

Sorry for the probably stupid question but what is "rp" ?

Thanks

 

[Spinaker01]

Raised Panel

 

[rapid robert]

You never know how bad your cman rp ratchet is, until you get something else.

I really believe cm rp ratchets are fine...and i have used mine for 30 plus years...but once you use a premium ratchet it opens your eyes to how good things can be.

 

[aaronrkelly]

rp = Crafstman raised panel ratchet

I have an Armstrong 88 3/8 ratchet, they are smooth.

In 1/4 inch I use the Bahco version of the SnapOn dual 80.....but Id be just as happy with the Armstrong.

 

[Askme42]

too much cman hate in this joint

The RP are terrible. Their pro ratchets are awesome though.

 

[CAOS]

The RP are terrible. Their pro ratchets are awesome though.

I spent a lot of money on the Craftsman Pro ratchets, they lock up, so much so I never use them anymore.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Anybody that says a craftsman rp ratchet is good is an idiot or a shut in. Once you use any quality ratchet you will never go back.

I am pretty sure ANYTHING is better than those raised panel ratchets, I got a really cheap great neck ratchet and I like it more than those raise panels. I would rather have those hf ratchets that come in the $4 socket sets than a cman raised panel.

 

[Banjorear]

Anybody that says a craftsman rp ratchet is good is an idiot or a shut in. Once you use any quality ratchet you will never go back.

Really? C'mon, bro. Chill out. They are not that bad. Their new high tooth US made is actually really top notch.

 

[Tronyadorable]

I use a ton of 1/4' ****. My ratchets go to are Hazets and........UH OHHH Harbanging Fright composite.
Just bought an old MAC flex head off fleaboy.
Got a http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TITF9E/?tag=atomicindus08-20 in the cart.I'll let y'all know.

 

[mrjaw14]

I have all 3 maxx locking flex ratchets myself. I really like them! I too came from craftsman raised panel rats. Older ones were finished better, newer ones have lots of roughy machining marks inside and mine were bone dry. Super lubed they work better, but the armstrong maxx flex heads are just in anther league. They are actually matco 88 locking flex with a different handle and a 60 tooth mechanism. It'll actually take a matco 88 rebuild kit.

 

[tweedlestan]

I use a ton of 1/4' ****. My ratchets go to are Hazets and........UH OHHH Harbanging Fright composite.
Just bought an old MAC flex head off fleaboy.
Got a http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TITF9E/?tag=atomicindus08-20 in the cart.I'll let y'all know.

What model Hazets?

 

[Askme42]

I spent a lot of money on the Craftsman Pro ratchets, they lock up, so much so I never use them anymore.

I think I'd warranty that

 

[Askme42]

Really? C'mon, bro. Chill out. They are not that bad. Their new high tooth US made is actually really top notch.

Those are the pros not the RP.

 

[Tronyadorable]

What model Hazets?

863F and the new 863-1
The old one is FAR superior to me.I don't need to screw around with a twist handle when I have a hand full of pork fat.

 

[devoncoolman]

Those are the pros not the RP.

This. The craftsman pros are a different story. The raised panel ratchets **** balls.

 

[MaineGuide]

It seems some of the 1/4 Maxx ratchets have had some quality control issues at some point in their production.

I love mine, as many do, but there are a few mentions of them locking up or binding on people. I don't think that should be expected of a premium ratchet, but if you can get one that doesn't have those issues, it's a great ratchet.

 

[XxToolAholicxX]

This is the same thing as Matco 88 tooth but just cost a whole lot less.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am a Toolaholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the Toolman wont give me no credit

 

[SCscoutguy]

I spent a lot of money on the Craftsman Pro ratchets, they lock up, so much so I never use them anymore.

I bought the 3/8 version last year because I had a gift card and I had the same thing happen to the first one I had. It kept on locking up so I took it back and exchanged it for a new one and it has been perfectly fine since then. I wonder if they had a bad batch or something?

 

[stage20]

Really? C'mon, bro. Chill out. They are not that bad. Their new high tooth US made is actually really top notch.

he is referring to the raised panel ratchets only.
ive got a full set of the 84 teeth. they are great ratchets.

i sold off 10 craftsman raised panels to help fund the purchase of the new professional flex heads from HF. i have been more than pleased.

 

[oldldh]

Just thought I'd throw some more gas on the Craftsman RP fire...

Went from RP's to Gearwrench 120 teeth...Got the four piece flex head set from Santa...

Just a smidge better...

 

[mrjaw14]

It seems some of the 1/4 Maxx ratchets have had some quality control issues at some point in their production.

I love mine, as many do, but there are a few mentions of them locking up or binding on people. I don't think that should be expected of a premium ratchet, but if you can get one that doesn't have those issues, it's a great ratchet.

What they had was a mix up of the 60t mechanism and the matco/aero 88t mechanism. Poor assembly practice, but quality is great. Armstrong oems these for matco, which as we all know is the main competitor to snap on

 

[Toymeister]

Meanwhile...
Back to the topic, the Armstrong 1/4 drive ratchet.

I have three of these now, I can't say I use them much, I'll have to evaluate them closer once I get a chance.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

too much cman hate in this joint

Craftsman is not universally hated. The USA produced tools, with the exception of the raised panel ratchet, are generally well liked. And the older raised panel ratchets aren't all that bad, merely mediocre.

 

[BK13]

I don't use 1/4" stuff much, but I like my Armstrong ratchet just fine... I also have a couple of the 3/8" Armstrongs nd like them as well?

I will have to take a look at the Hazet that Tonyadorable mentioned, though...

 

[GirchyGirchy]

Good thing you didn't get one of the round head ones...I haven't been too impressed with mine. It was branded as an Allen and I think I used it twice before I had to tear it apart, clean it, and relube. The sliding pawl would just sit in the middle and the ratchet would spin either direction.

It's fine now but I wonder how much longer it'll last before goobering up again.

 

[cheechi]

too much cman hate in this joint

I'd say it's an appropriate amount of cman hate in this joint, if you look across all threads and not just one.

Just thought I'd throw some more gas on the Craftsman RP fire...

Went from RP's to Gearwrench 120 teeth...Got the four piece flex head set from Santa...

Just a smidge better...

This needs some qualification. What was so good about the RP's that the 120xp was only a little better? or what is so bad about the 120's? That's too vague to be useful and only serves to stir things up.

Considering many days this is The Ratchet Journal, and you can get better ratchets (in every way, shape, and form) from HF than the RP's, yes basically anything would be an upgrade. The Armstrongs are not the best but they are among the top tier of ratchets.

There have been many that have had issues that are easy to warranty out, from the 84T GW/Cmans, these armstrongs, the several others since finer teeth became the norm. Just warranty it and quit bitching. Ironically, never hear any claims of locking up from the ubiquitous 72t taiwan mechanism. Either they aren't having these issues or the people that have them just warranty it, go on about their day and don't complain too loud.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Everything in the thread has been covered 10 times in the past month.

 

[warweapon762]

I spent a lot of money on the Craftsman Pro ratchets, they lock up, so much so I never use them anymore.

This, nothing pisses me off more than the lock up issues i've had with cman ratchets lately.

 

[Loscaldazar]

What they had was a mix up of the 60t mechanism and the matco/aero 88t mechanism. Poor assembly practice, but quality is great. Armstrong oems these for matco, which as we all know is the main competitor to snap on

There were several issues with the 84T ratchets.

Some of the craftsman ones were shipped with either a 60T, 84T, or 88T gear, and a 60T, 84T, or 88T pawl. Made for some interesting combos (none of which worked).

There were still some USA made Craftsman 84T ratchets that would lock up and self reverse even with the proper matching 84T gear/pawl. And this is where it gets interesting.

The Taiwan made gearwrench 84T ratchets had the same problem (locking up and self reversing) even with the proper matching gear/pawl.

2 ratchets produced in different factories both having the same problem? Screams design flaw/tolerance issues to me.

Now, with all that said, once you get a 84T ratchet that works out of the box (and the first few times you put it under load), they never seem to fail after that.

Also worth noting that neither the 60T or 120XP ratchets gearwrench sells suffer from this same problem.

 

[alan camby]

I took my ratchet apart last night.
Mine is one that locks up. It appears to have a 88 (tooth) on the pawl.

 

[Ruger_556]

Good thing you didn't get one of the round head ones...I haven't been too impressed with mine. It was branded as an Allen and I think I used it twice before I had to tear it apart, clean it, and relube. The sliding pawl would just sit in the middle and the ratchet would spin either direction.

It's fine now but I wonder how much longer it'll last before goobering up again.

I have one of those with the other handle, I really like it I think its only 40 teeth or so but really smooth and low back drag.

 

[herfalerf]

I've got a Matco 88t 1/4 and 3/8 ratchets. The 3/8 is nice, but the 1/4 is buttery smooth. Much less back drag then anything else I have used. Nice choice.