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3/8 drive head in 1/4 ratchet body

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C

Cope

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slip knot said:
Heres a couple of pictures of the wright 3/8 in a 1/4 body that I got from epstiens. Have used it a couple of times. works very well in confined spaces. This was my first Wright ratchet and I was impressed.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

I have the same ratchet re-branded as Matco. It is a sweet ratchet.
 
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pi_guy

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In my ratchet drawer I have
TM70B 1/4 inch ratchet with 3/8 drive
FCF72 flexible 1/4 inch drive size with 3/8
FK720 old ratchet shorter than TM70b but with larger head 3/8 drive
& my newest ratchet
SKF80A a 1/2 inch drive in a flexible ratchet body that is about an inch longer than FCF72
 
T

trever

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Well looks like I blew it. I bought the conversion kit on ebay that says it's for a 936 ratchet. When I got home from work and dug out my old ratchet looks like it's a 831 and the kit doesn't fit. I don't want to waste anymore money can anyone give me the williams flexhead ratchet part # that this kit fits.
 

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ADSR

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trever

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I was was going to order the same williams ratchet from amazon but the pic shows the selector has a screw going thru it and the selector in the kit doesn't ????
 
I

ihateminimumwage

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trever said:
I was was going to order the same williams ratchet from amazon but the pic shows the selector has a screw going thru it and the selector in the kit doesn't ????
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No screw going through the Williams USA ratchet selector. Didn't see one on Amazon with that in the picture.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007YREAF8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Just don't cheap out and accidentally order a Taiwan made ratchet, they won't work with the kit.:lol_hitti
 
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davethorik

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I have a couple of SK 40970 laying around decided to swap one over to a 45173, which is what SK officially calls a 40970 with a 3/8 drive. I saw the kit 45173-2 mentioned in this thread and decided to get one.

Ordered it yesterday and today realized...duh...you have a 45172 thumbwheel 3/8 ratchet laying right there. The guts in that will probably work...and they did. Now I have the kit on the way still...haha...
 

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Adam.C

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i still don't understand this tool. What are you guys putting on these that 1/4" drive sockets won't do? Is this for bit sockets?

Snap On makes up to 15mm in 1/4" drive. For engine work on new US and Japanese cars, that means you can wrench an M10 with 1/4" drive. That covers quite a lot of engine components.

German cars will top out at M8 since DIN M8 is 17mm. So is that what you are doing? Putting 17mm sockets on a 1/4" ratchet? Anybody got any specific applications of why this is necessary? Or is the issue here bit sockets or etorx?
 
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Bigblue&Goldie

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Adam.C said:
i still don't understand this tool. What are you guys putting on these that 1/4" drive sockets won't do?
Click to expand...

I only carry a 3/8" deep/shallow socket set in my service van. The standard length 3/8" ratchet can be a pain in the *** to use in tight spaces or due to the size of the head when using smaller sockets. The Wright 3430 has kept me from having to carry 1/4" drive sockets. My most common use is changing out batteries with posts like this:
D5870.JPG


I have damn near every configuration of ratchet in my home box, but I don't have a 3/8" head in 1/4" body. I don't feel the need since I have 1/4" drive sockets and ratchets and a stubby 3/8" ratchet.
 
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Jure

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Adam.C said:
i still don't understand this tool. What are you guys putting on these that 1/4" drive sockets won't do? Is this for bit sockets?

Snap On makes up to 15mm in 1/4" drive. For engine work on new US and Japanese cars, that means you can wrench an M10 with 1/4" drive. That covers quite a lot of engine components.

German cars will top out at M8 since DIN M8 is 17mm. So is that what you are doing? Putting 17mm sockets on a 1/4" ratchet? Anybody got any specific applications of why this is necessary? Or is the issue here bit sockets or etorx?
Click to expand...

i'm curious about this as well...
 
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bonneyman

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Didn't know about this thread when I posted about my newcomer.

Here's my 1/4" Bonney ratchet with a Bonney 3/8" torque wrench gear it in. 5 1/4" total length
 
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T

trever

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I find myself using my 1/4 flex ratchet with a 3/8 adapter alot. So not having to mess with the adapter was why I wanted one. Got my williams ratchet in the mail and converted it I'll see how I like it when I go back to work monday.
 
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Outlawmws

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Its called limited access. with a 1/4 ratchet body on a 3/8 socket, you might get a 90 degree swing for running down a bolt or nut. Then you can switch to a std length for final torque, where you might only have one or two teeth of swing useable...
 
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Adam.C

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Outlawmws said:
Its called limited access. with a 1/4 ratchet body on a 3/8 socket, you might get a 90 degree swing for running down a bolt or nut. Then you can switch to a std length for final torque, where you might only have one or two teeth of swing useable...
Click to expand...

Sorry to be obtuse. A stubby 3/8 ratchet is often shorter than a small 1/4 ratchet. If it's the length of the ratchet...

I think some guys are looking for the thinnest head to help remove a long bolt from a tight space. A 1/4 ratchet is thinner than any 3/8. But there are new low profile ratchets out there.

If this is something you guys just think is cool, that's cool with me. You don't need a reason for everything. I just don't get why guys think this is a good idea or is a better solution.

Here is some data here.
 
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Outlawmws

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Adam.C said:
Sorry to be obtuse. A stubby 3/8 ratchet is often shorter than a small 1/4 ratchet. If it's the length of the ratchet...

I think some guys are looking for the thinnest head to help remove a long bolt from a tight space. A 1/4 ratchet is thinner than any 3/8. But there are new low profile ratchets out there.

If this is something you guys just think is cool, that's cool with me. You don't need a reason for everything. I just don't get why guys think this is a good idea or is a better solution.

Here is some data here.
Click to expand...

I think we are saying the same thing different ways. No I was not concerned strictly with handle length. Heck, I could have used one yesterday and over the weekend on the starter bolts of my Samurai. instead of dinking with a 3" "flex extension", which worked but no extension and the 1/4" ratchet body would have been considerably better.

And no, the 1/4 drive sockets would not have worked; not enough working depth.

Sometimes smaller is better, but if you don't get it, you don't...
 
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Schurkey

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carbon said:
Carlyle makes some Mac ratchets
Click to expand...
First Guess: Carlyle doesn't MAKE anything. Carlyle (NAPA) buys from outside sources who make stuff to NAPA specs, stamp "Carlyle" on it, and wrap in in "Carlyle" packaging.

Second Guess: The people who make Carlyle ratchets may also make Mac ratchets. Since Mac Tools is a division of Stanley Black and Decker which also includes Proto and multiple other brand names, I'd say that IF (big IF) the Carlyle and Mac ratchets are related, then NAPA has contracted with Stanley Black and Decker/Proto for some of their tools.

I think it's more likely that the Carlyle and Mac ratchets are unrelated.
 
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zakmartin

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It's funny that this thread made it to the top of the dog pile again. The other day, I finally got around to changing the drive head of my 3/8" Precision Instruments torque wrench to a 1/4" head. They were interchangeable and the wrench was sold as both. I bought the 3/8" and realized that most of what I used it for would be better with a 1/4" head. I contacted Precision Instruments to see if I could buy a kit to do a swap-out and they happily sent me one for free. Awesome company. Now I can go back and forth if I ever need to (though I doubt I will).
 
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superautobacs

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Schurkey said:
First Guess: Carlyle doesn't MAKE anything. Carlyle (NAPA) buys from outside sources who make stuff to NAPA specs, stamp "Carlyle" on it, and wrap in in "Carlyle" packaging.

Second Guess: The people who make Carlyle ratchets may also make Mac ratchets. Since Mac Tools is a division of Stanley Black and Decker which also includes Proto and multiple other brand names, I'd say that IF (big IF) the Carlyle and Mac ratchets are related, then NAPA has contracted with Stanley Black and Decker/Proto for some of their tools.

I think it's more likely that the Carlyle and Mac ratchets are unrelated.
Click to expand...

:+1:
 
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carbon

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I was basing my Carlyle/Mac guess on this thread. Carlyle (or the company behind that name) seems to indeed make some Mac ratchets and also some Cornwell ones too.

Harshing my mellow dudes. :pimpflash
 
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carbon

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The fellows that thought the Carlyle ratchet was a stubby are correct. I popped over to NAPA and bought the ratchet and took some snaps. I think I'm returning it.

In the pics are a Craftsman slim 3/8 and 1/4. The Carlyle has the thickest head of all of them and only slightly smaller diameter than the Craftsman 3/8. Since I mainly use the 1/4 with a 3/8 adapter I have ordered the tiny Williams 3430 and a SK 45171 (6.5" handle). (I can only attach one photo per post with my iPhone)

image.jpg
 
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carbon

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Here is the Craftsman slim 1/4 and the Carlyle.
 

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carbon

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Craftsman slim 3/8, Carlyle, Craftsman slim 1/4
 

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martin666

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Anyone that has ever used one of these ratchets knows how invaluable they are. Just used the Snap On to change plugs in my 78 Coupe Deville, anyone who's changed plugs on a Cadillac 500,472, or 425 knows that the right rear plug can be a nightmare, with that little ratchet I doubt it took 5 minutes. The Wright I use to run down base nuts on Harley cast iron cylinders, fits nicer than my Snap On 1/4" round head ever did
 

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