What Happened to Round Head Ratchets

[dnschmidt]

When I first started to collect tools (this is back when dinosaurs ruled the Earth) most ratchets were round headed. The only exceptions to this rule that I knew of at the time were Snap-On and Proto. Indestro, S-K, Wright, Blackhawk, Bonney and my favorite ratchet of all time the Williams SuperRatchet where all round headed. Now everything is pear headed. Why? What happened to cause this change? I'm keeping my SuperRatchets until I die and if there's a way to take them into the afterlife they're coming with me. Why are pear shaped heads the current favorite?

 

[bobcatdan]

Round heads are still.around. SK is all round head. SO has nice ones. An evolution of super ratchets are still made by Williams. Wright is almost all round heads. Gearwrench even has round heads in their roto heads. I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

 

[Tim37]

I never liked the way you have to turn the back on a round style i like the little levers. I'm guessing I'm not alone

 

[nicksmurf111]

My opinion is that everyone liked the Craftsman selector. Then, everyone fell in love with more comfortable handles. So round head ratchets with knurled handled went out of style. I always equated them with junk when I was a kid, now just to figure out that there are some real nice ones that were made before I was around.

 

[RedneckWelder]

It's a lot easier for me to flick the lever one handed than to change the selector of a round head ratchet.

And yes, in dad's toolbox, almost all of the ratchets are round heads, only a couple are pear heads, so growing up I mostly used the round heads.

 

[Tanro]

Selectors are harder to use. Plus if get at the 1-2$ cheapos they are round head. To me round head = junk.

 

[1950mercury]

Round heads are usually thicker and can **** in tight spots. I have some but they just sit

 

[Fordman7795]

I never liked the way you have to turn the back on a round style i like the little levers. I'm guessing I'm not alone

Absolutely agree. I have zero round head ratchets

 

[Gmonkee]

Facom action RH ratchets are one finger push to reverse. And they are not cheaply made nor low priced.

Those are my best and many of the rest were sold. Bulk can be an issue but reliability and wobble extensions make up all the difference.
Cheap RH are not even worth looking at, older good brands from dad's time still hold some gems for us if that tooth count thing isn't a factor.

 

[countryroad82]

My idiot brother is what happened to one of my RH. Idiot got in my work truck couple weeks back grabbed my 3/8" set of SKs and proceeded to take off a car tire. He claims he didn't but I know the rest of the story. Btw I read the title just thought that was a good one to throw this story in lol. I'm a mixed kinda guy, for my day job I use RH pretty much exclusively, in my shop I prefer pear head ratchets. Mainly due to one hand reversing, although if you're good you can reverse a good round head with your thumb.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

They are still around, S-K makes them and Snap-On makes great ones. The round-head is one of my favorites I have both a super-ratchet and a Snap-On use them almost every day.

 

[exmaxima1]

Round heads are still.around. SK is all round head. SO has nice ones. An evolution of super ratchets are still made by Williams. Wright is almost all round heads. Gearwrench even has round heads in their roto heads. I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

Facom makes a very slick version. I own the Proto-branded flex version with the plain handle.

 

[zbyler]

I would imagine the change from round head to lower profile pear-shaped ratchets is due to manufacturing costs/efficiency as well as the evolution of ratcheting mechanisms (i.e. dual pawl, dual 80, increased tooth count, etc.). Companies have found a way to make the overall ratchet profile smaller, but at the same time, increased the efficiency of the ratcheting mechanism. Less material = lower cost.

I personally prefer a small, easy to reach selector switch found on a pear shaped ratchet compared to the larger switch/turning mechanism found on a round head ratchet.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Idiot got in my work truck couple weeks back grabbed my 3/8" set of SKs and proceeded to take off a car tire. He claims he didn't but I know the rest of the story.

I would have hoped he used a tire spoon instead.

As for lug nuts, I never had a problem using a 3870 for them except with a multi-foot cheater. So I would assume there's more to the story.

 

[espyking83]

If people think that the selectors on round heads are too difficult to use maybe they shouldnt be working on ****. I couldnt imagine working on planes without my 1/4 SK ratchet. Really comes in handy when you have to ratchet in tight spaces.

 

[Kirbot]

Facom action RH ratchets are one finger push to reverse. And they are not cheaply made nor low priced.

These are the only round heads I like. (actually, I love them)

They're still slower to reverse than a pear head, but the absolutely tiny head size makes up for it.

My ratchets are almost all Facom/Proto round heads, or Gearwrench pear heads.
In 1/4" drive I only use the Gearwrenches.

 

[d.mcfarland]

The round heads were the original fine tooth. I think the benefits of round heads and box/pear heads were merged slowly to form the current offerings seen almost anywhere.

I think a torque test is needed on brand new pear head vs round head ratchets. Maybe there is more to the story than we know.

 

[stage20]

I have a ton of name brand round heads. Mainly for my collection. I do use my sk 3/8 in a 1/4 body for tight spots. Its a flex head and will go anywhere. Not easily reversed, which is good for what I use it for..

 

[GuyllFyre]

I have three round head Craftsman ratchets.
Two in 1/2" and one in 1/4"
I hate them. I've hated them since I got them.
They have been unreliable since I got them. I tried clean and lube, not much help.
They switch back and forth and get jammed all the time.
Here's a pic of them. The one with the adapter on it is the one I'm using right now since it seems to be behaving reasonably on this job.
I'd trade all three for one of each size of the new HF professional ratchets they just came out with.
Probably going to make a run to Sears and replace them today.

 

[bonneyman]

I just scored a Wright Tootsie Roll roundhead in 3/8" that I'm just loving. About as much as my go-to SK's.

Although, the one-handed Craftsman LLTD rat I have is gaining in popularity around here all the time.

 

[Dust Devil]

Because round head ratchets ****.....thats why.

 

[thightower]

I miss the round heads. For my experience they were more reliable. But the newer tear drops I've been using aren't to bad. I grew up with round heads. Still having a hard time getting used to the tear drops.

 

[RedneckWelder]

If people think that the selectors on round heads are too difficult to use maybe they shouldnt be working on ****.

I don't think round head selectors are too difficult to use, but when you are snaked up into a tight space on a machine and it's greasy as hell it's easier to flick the lever on a pearhead.

SK makes some nice roundheads but I wish they'd make some pear heads to go along with it to give the end consumer some choice.

But hey, keep on with that attitude!

 

[Dust Devil]

If people think that the selectors on round heads are too difficult to use maybe they shouldnt be working on ****. I couldnt imagine working on planes without my 1/4 SK ratchet. Really comes in handy when you have to ratchet in tight spaces.

LOL round head ratchets are garbage. Just cause you like them makes you some kind of bad *** wrench ?? LOL.

Another Airframer that thinks he is the ****....

 

[Fedwrench]

They grew up into pear head ratchets

There are still plenty of round heads out there to choose from. From the classic SK to the updated snap on versions, to the Proto Palm control Facom clones,to the 100 tooth roto head models sold by many.

SK is even coming out with a new ratchet based on their new X Frame ratcheting wrench design. I think there are more choices in the pages of today's tool catalogs than ever before.

 

[exmaxima1]

They grew up into pear head ratchets

There are still plenty of round heads out there to choose from. From the classic SK to the updated snap on versions, to the Proto Palm control Facom clones.....

Not sure what you mean by "clones". My Proto IS a Facom and made in Europe (France or Italy, can't remember which).

 

[sonvolt]

I like my roundhead ratchets, oh well. I have dual 80's and GearWrench 120 tooth, yet I always grab my SK. For most applications I run into 45-60 teeth are fine.

 

[Kirbot]

Not sure what you mean by "clones". My Proto IS a Facom and made in Europe (France or Italy, can't remember which).

Italy most likely. Made in the same factory as Facom.
You can even get Facom ratchets with knurled grips that are 100% exactly the same.

Normally the comfort grip is the only difference.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Wow. Some crazy comments here.

I like both PH and RH ratchets just fine. There are many RH still manufactured and a lot of older RH on eBay for very little money.

 

[Thegratenate]

I have two types of cman round heads, the fine tough ones are absolutely amazing, but the 24 tooth RH ratchets have grown on me. Definitely not my go to ratchets, but handy to have and get used a lot when I don't need the leverage our fine teeth my Armstrong's have.

 

[Triple macs]

Round head ratchets were the original compact head and fine tooth ratchets. Early pear heads were not exactly small and their tooth count was relatively low. Round heads typically were smaller, albeit thicker, and were finer toothed. Pear heads were marketed as better sealed and having repair kits to fully replace all components. Although the teeth machined in the heads of RH's aren't replaceable or repairable, it usually takes a lot of wrenching to wear them out.

 

[bonneyman]

Round head ratchets were the original compact head and fine tooth ratchets. Early pear heads were not exactly small and their tooth count was relatively low. Round heads typically were smaller, albeit thicker, and were finer toothed. Pear heads were marketed as better sealed and having repair kits to fully replace all components. Although the teeth machined in the heads of RH's aren't replaceable or repairable, it usually takes a lot of wrenching to wear them out.

Agreed!

 

[Codyyy]

I have a mixture of both. I prefer the pearhead selector because it is easier to flip the switch than twist it in some cases, but I have also found that unless properly lubricated the round heads seem to have a bit of "play" until they reach the grabbing point, making it easier for them to strip before fully engaging. The 1/4" Craftsman ratchets, even though they are the pearhead type, still strip out easily IMO. Now I've gone to the S-K round head type and use them a lot. Lately I've been using the S-K "Frankenstein" ratchets. I have a 1/2" one and use it a lot more, will probably buy another in a 3/8" flavor to match.

 

[elmwood]

Probably going to make a run to Sears and replace them today.

I have those same ratchets. Mine seem to work okay, but they feel primitive and "clanky", like what I'd expect from some heavy-duty 3/4" drive ratchet. They were supposedly made in Taiwan. It was part of a tool set I bought in the 1980s for my dad, that included some otherwise excellent made-in-the-USA EE-series sockets.

Let me know what Sears replaces them with. If they give you Chinese raised panel ratches, it would seem like a downgrade.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I have those same ratchets. Mine seem to work okay, but they feel a bit primitive. They were supposedly made in Taiwan. It was part of a tool set I bought in the 1980s for my dad, that included some otherwise excellent made-in-the-USA EE-series sockets.

Let me know what Sears replaces them with.

Correct. Made in Taiwan and a lawsuit was lost by Stanley because of it.

Sears will replace them with raised panel ratchets, unless you can get a manager to give you fully poslihed instead. Both China and both use the same mechanism.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

FWIW, those are some of the worst RH ratchets ever made, and probably one of the worst C-Man ratchets to ever crawl out of the 1980s, made in taiwan by Stanley.

I have three round head Craftsman ratchets.
Two in 1/2" and one in 1/4"
I hate them. I've hated them since I got them.
They have been unreliable since I got them. I tried clean and lube, not much help.
They switch back and forth and get jammed all the time.
Here's a pic of them. The one with the adapter on it is the one I'm using right now since it seems to be behaving reasonably on this job.
I'd trade all three for one of each size of the new HF professional ratchets they just came out with.
Probably going to make a run to Sears and replace them today.

 

[zkling]

I never liked the way you have to turn the back on a round style i like the little levers. I'm guessing I'm not alone

As much as I like SK ratchets, I agree. Then again it is also hard to accidentally bump in the opposite direction.

 

[elmwood]

Correct. Made in Taiwan and a lawsuit was lost by Stanley because of it.

Sears will replace them with raised panel ratchets, unless you can get a manager to give you fully poslihed instead. Both China and both use the same mechanism.

That's good to know, because mine seem to be working okay, but I'd like to swap them out for something a bit nicer. ("They're my dad's ratchets" sentiment doesn't seem to justify holding on to bad tools.)

No Sears or Kmart near me; they closed a couple years ago. Think Ace Hardware will replace them? Any information online with more details about the lawsuit and return policy?

 

[rowerwet]

My dads SK set from the 70's showed me the difference when I got my SO ratchets, round head is a pain to reverse, clunky, and just not as stiff when guiding a long extension.
Of course I mostly use a sort of round head ratchet the most, the SO swivel head 1/4", it can be reversed with the thumb most of the time.

 

[KEH]

Basically agree with Guyllfrye and Sam's auto parts, though I haven't really used the 3 I have enough to form a firm opinion. The best Craftsman RH was the v code 44977, in 1/2 drive, which has pushbutton release, and a grooved spinner disc just above the square drive. It has 44 clicks, presumabely 44 teeth since the clicks don't sound like the dual pawl design like on the williams Superratchet. It has a nice, smooth action and I'll rate it as the best RH just ahead of the Williams Superratchet. The Superratchet with the dual pawls feels like it has 80 teeth, at least in the S52 I have. The SK Are very close and they may fell better than the others, or maybe I've just used them more. The Williams S52A, made by Snap on with a SO date code, has a different action than the S52, as stated above, but is a very nice ratchet. It also has 80 clicks also as near as i can tell.

KEH