Gear Wrench Spline Drive- thoughts, experiences, boom! (gearwrench)

[tarbellb]

This damn forum..... I never really thought I needed new wrenches but here I am posting my latest purchase.

Gearwrench Spline Drive XL combos- both made in Taiwan

Metric set - #86426 14 pcs 120xp XL spline set ~$110 shipped (cpo/amazon)

SAE set - #86450 11 pcs 120xp XL spline set ~$75 shipped (ebay)

I only found a few comments about the Spline drive (universal), but all seemed pretty positive. That coupled with the mostly positive feedback about Gearwrench in general made me pull the trigger.

These are supposed to be good on all sorts of fasteners, but really I just wanted decent wrenches that would cover 90% of what I do. What do I do, mostly custom furniture, but recently did a complete suspension swap on my Tacoma. My furniture is mostly SAE, and my Toyota is Metric.

What I had in my box before.... 90's era Craftsman RPs. They always seemed good enough, but over the years I have lost a few sizes, and broken a few smaller ones.

Thoughts- they seem amazing so far. Finish is outstanding, the drive mech is super clean, and the form is very minimal. Almost to skinny? But I like the extra length.

Time will tell, but for my modest wrenching needs this set seems pretty boss for ~$200.

Anybody else have these? Like, meh, hate?

 

[ADSR]

Man, now i have to drop the coin on them too.

Thanks OP.

 

[nicksnothereman]

I'm not a fan of spline in general but those are nice looking wrenches. I do buy (what I consider) gimmicky stuff but never goes main use for me. But then again I don't like 12 point so there's no way I'd like spline. I'm curious about the "flower" 12 points I've seen and how they wouldn't round fasteners, with spline it shouldn't be much of an issue.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I have Proto splines and like them a lot. I wouldn't hesitate to try out those GearWrenches if I was in the market.

 

[Angry welder]

Did you paint the sizes on the wrenches or did they come that way? If you painted them what did you use to paint it with, it looks sweet and I may do that to mine if it was pretty easy to do.

 

[Jarhead0408]

^^^ Nah man, they come like that from the factory. Pretty snazzy if you ask me.

 

[pauls_workshop]

I like you wanted to get some splines for when I really needed them. Instead of the wrench route though, I got some spline sockets. A 3/8 metric and sae in SK brand. While that wouldn't cover pass through type needs which a wrench could do, I figure I'm 90% covered for any spline needs with a set like this the rest of my life. I have some other GearWrench wrenches and they are good finish and function for most people, although people tend to prefer the Taiwan COO rather than Chine COO on them. I think most are made in China now but you may find some Taiwan out there if you look hard. - Paul

 

[General Geoff]

I have the old Facom-produced SK spline socket set. I'm mildly annoyed that it's no longer produced (can't be warrantied except for equivalent size six of twelve point, according to SK customer service). Otherwise they've been wonderful. I've found that the spline sockets are much more effective on square fasteners than 12-point. They also work nicely on partially rounded sockets.

 

[Buckgnarly]

I have the 120 XL flex heads and am pretty happy with the spline. I used them a few times so far, and they really grip far from the corners and have a great bite. Not sure I'd replace my 6 point sockets and 12pt non ratcheting combos, but I would certainly not avoid them.

 

[tarbellb]

Couple of responses from some good people on here. Thanks for the feedback all.

LORDDiESEL- pretty sure Ive bought something youve posted, so we are even.

nicksnothereman- the idea behind these is basically the same behind Flank Drive, they are designed to grab the sides, not corners. We will see.

Angry welder- Jarhead is correct, these come from the factory color coded. I love it, from someone who isnt constantly looking/grabbing/using my wrenches this is a nice time saver feature to me.

pauls_workshop - good info there. I dropped a few Benjamin's on the Craftsman 300pc socket set.... and a 120xp GW ratchet set. So now I have no excuses for not wrenching on my own stuff, or not having the correct size...

 

[jonjon1]

I don't have them exact gw's, they look really nice. I have the old gw's and when I use them they work, not a fan of the open end on mine, but it looks like they fixed that a bit, and with my set i have noticed they use the same blank for every couple wrenches, so sy the 16 and 17mm wrenches are the same size, so it kind of ***** to have the smaller size but still a larger wrench if you are trying to fit it somewhere tight...

good luck with the new purchase, they look good, thats half the battle...

 

[amolaver]

back in november i picked up the Gearwrench 86229 12 Pc metric flex spline set and they have become my primary wrenches. the ratcheting mechanism is amazingly smooth and the finish is great. their FD+ type open end works well but as with most of these designs, they can mar the fastener if that matters to you. still love my wrightgrip (non-ratcheting) wrenches more than any others, but when a ratcheting wrench makes sense, these are the best i've used. i think i've got at least a half dozen sets of older gearwrench ratcheting wrenches (and a few non-ratcheting) and i've had great luck with all of them. i've heard some complaints of lockups / autoreversing, but i've had zero instances of it across ALL of mine. that said, all of my sets are non-reversible, and the complaints i've read all seem to pertain to the reversible type.

i also really dig the colored size markings and mine have held up to brakleen, wd40, silicone sprays, etc. like i said, they are my primary wrench set now - i dig 'em.

ahm

 

[amolaver]

forgot one thing... i have an older XL set that is similar to what you got but non-spline and i think it might be the only wrench set i've gotten that has stayed in its supplied wrench wrack (wrightgrip's came in a denim roll that also works well). the new rack that the splines come with (not sure if others as well) ***** donkey nuts IMO. sorry to say i'm referring to what you've provided pictures of. super cheap plastic, dumb retaining system. using ernst for most of my wrench racks now, but plan to replace the provided storage system.

ahm

 

[devoncoolman]

I have the new 120xp spline xl double box wrenches and kinda hate them. The sizing is all wrong. They don't fit right they are too loose. They round off bolts easily. Regret ever buying them.

 

[tlpatter]

guess the price went up on the metric set. They're 139.99 from cpo now.

 

[cheechi]

I'm not a fan of spline in general but those are nice looking wrenches... I don't like 12 point so there's no way I'd like spline.

100% agreement.

the 120xp's they came out with last year or so are tasty. These look nicer but I bet the mechanism is the same minus the pawls.

 

[Fedwrench]

I have the new 120xp spline xl double box wrenches and kinda hate them. The sizing is all wrong. They don't fit right they are too loose. They round off bolts easily. Regret ever buying them.

What are you using them on? are you using metric but need sae or vic versa. Spline is a really good boxed end design. However, it's critical to use the right size wrench on the correct fastener to prevent the spline from digging in and damaging the fastener.

I have the metric set pictured along with the xxl flex head/fixed boxed end set. I haven't had any issues with their performance. I do wish that on the combination set, Gearwrench would have maintained the same thickness throughout the edge of the wrench. I just like thicker beams. I also wished for a number of years now, that they offered the flex head ratcheting end/fixed box end on the other side wrench in A STANDARD LENGTH SERIES OF WRENCHES How hard can it be? Sometimes those xxl wrenches are too long to use.

Any way, great chrome, nice large color coded size markings, good balance and feel. What's not to love?

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I have the new 120xp spline xl double box wrenches and kinda hate them. The sizing is all wrong. They don't fit right they are too loose. They round off bolts easily. Regret ever buying them.

I'm with Fedwrench. You must be doing something "wrong". No **** talking here, something's just not correct.

The splines catch further back on the flat, making it seem like it fits loose, but this is actually better.

I love spline. Those are my go to wrenches now, and I have the complete set of SO spline sockets.

 

[devoncoolman]

What are you using them on? are you using metric but need sae or vic versa. Spline is a really good boxed end design. However, it's critical to use the right size wrench on the correct fastener to prevent the spline from digging in and damaging the fastener.

I have the metric set pictured along with the xxl flex head/fixed boxed end set. I haven't had any issues with their performance. I do wish that on the combination set, Gearwrench would have maintained the same thickness throughout the edge of the wrench. I just like thicker beams. I also wished for a number of years now, that they offered the flex head ratcheting end/fixed box end on the other side wrench in A STANDARD LENGTH SERIES OF WRENCHES How hard can it be? Sometimes those xxl wrenches are too long to use.

Any way, great chrome, nice large color coded size markings, good balance and feel. What's not to love?

I'm with Fedwrench. You must be doing something "wrong". No **** talking here, something's just not correct.

The splines catch further back on the flat, making it seem like it fits loose, but this is actually better.

I love spline. Those are my go to wrenches now, and I have the complete set of SO spline sockets.

Not doing anything wrong here. Been a tech for a very long time i know what size i need. Let me elaborate more. Its happened to me at least 20 times or more. They fit very loose on nuts and bolts of the correct size. And ive rounded off perfectly good fasteners with these things. Grab a 12 mm for a caliper bolt boom round it right off. Go grab a 12 mm regular wrench fits perfect. Grab a 12mm ezred spline wrench same thing fits perfect and removes the bolt no hassle. I try again on the other side same deal the gear wrenches are very loose and round the bolts off.

Don't get me wrong these wrenches are very nice the chrome is great. The ratchet feels great. But the fitment blows donky dong. I don't know if these things are made wrong or what. But its happened with a bunch of the different sizes not just 1.

 

[LordPsychon]

I have a set of spline wrenches (gift from Dad) and they work out just fine for me. I'd like the ratcheting versions from GW as seen above but I need to see if there's a reversible version because I like not having to take my wrench off a fastener to change directions.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Not doing anything wrong here. Been a tech for a very long time i know what size i need. Let me elaborate more. Its happened to me at least 20 times or more. They fit very loose on nuts and bolts of the correct size. And ive rounded off perfectly good fasteners with these things. Grab a 12 mm for a caliper bolt boom round it right off. Go grab a 12 mm regular wrench fits perfect. Grab a 12mm ezred spline wrench same thing fits perfect and removes the bolt no hassle. I try again on the other side same deal the gear wrenches are very loose and round the bolts off.

Don't get me wrong these wrenches are very nice the chrome is great. The ratchet feels great. But the fitment blows donky dong. I don't know if these things are made wrong or what. But its happened with a bunch of the different sizes not just 1.

I'd check them out, mine (double box flex XLs) fit awesome. I was wary of spline until I got them, seems like the wrench would break before rounding out.

 

[tarbellb]

amolaver- yeah the case for these, if you want to call it that is useless. The plastic is so soft that it will literally bend in half if you pick it up wrong. And the retention *****. But they will be in a drawer soon enough.

tlpatter- I got a little lucky and found what I think was a misprint from CPO on Amazon, had it listed for the SAE price I believe. But I paid the price in getting a SAE set first then having to wait for a direct ship from GW for the correct set...

devoncool- perhaps you got a early run? Wonder if you can compare it to another (newer) set?

 

[tarbellb]

Oh, in case anybody dont know. The double box end splines are more like a XXL, they are much longer then the combo splines.

 

[devoncoolman]

amolaver- yeah the case for these, if you want to call it that is useless. The plastic is so soft that it will literally bend in half if you pick it up wrong. And the retention *****. But they will be in a drawer soon enough.

tlpatter- I got a little lucky and found what I think was a misprint from CPO on Amazon, had it listed for the SAE price I believe. But I paid the price in getting a SAE set first then having to wait for a direct ship from GW for the correct set...

devoncool- perhaps you got a early run? Wonder if you can compare it to another (newer) set?

Thats what i was thinking. I don't know theres something wrong with them. And its all of them not just one.

 

[tarbellb]

Hey guys, cruising the Bay and found a seller offering the SAE for cheap.

Has qty 5? at $57 or best offer w/ free shipping

Ebay listing- Gear Wrench # 86450, SAE 11pc Spline drive ratchet set
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321753930528...:MEBIDX:IT

Ebay item # 321753930528

 

[bry@n]

I offered $50 and they accepted. Thought that was a great deal since it included free shipping.

 

[bry@n]

Only one left.

 

[GTO]

Only one left.

I got it,they accepted $50 including shipping,got them yesterday..

 

[BaxterT]

Not doing anything wrong here. Been a tech for a very long time i know what size i need. Let me elaborate more. Its happened to me at least 20 times or more. They fit very loose on nuts and bolts of the correct size. And ive rounded off perfectly good fasteners with these things. Grab a 12 mm for a caliper bolt boom round it right off. Go grab a 12 mm regular wrench fits perfect. Grab a 12mm ezred spline wrench same thing fits perfect and removes the bolt no hassle. I try again on the other side same deal the gear wrenches are very loose and round the bolts off.

Don't get me wrong these wrenches are very nice the chrome is great. The ratchet feels great. But the fitment blows donky dong. I don't know if these things are made wrong or what. But its happened with a bunch of the different sizes not just 1.

I think I know whats happening cause the same thing happened to me. If you look closely at the non-ratcheting box end you will notice a hairline crack through the sidewall... You've broken the wrench and never realized. Also, the set you are referring to is probably 12pt not spline.

Good luck finding someone who will let you trade in your broken wrenches.


PS. I have a double box spline set from matco and it grips tighter than a boa