Gearwrench Ratcheting Flare Nut Wrenches

[MagnumForce]

So thinking about getting a set of these. Think they would be very hand for oil, grease and air lines on the presses at work. Has anyone ever used them before? What are your opinions?

I can get them. For 40 bucks.

 

[bonneyman]

Hmmm. Those look kinda handy. I've used other GW products without any problems. I wonder how great these would be?

If you buy 'em, give us an appraisal.

When space is not an issue, my Cam-Loc's work really well.

 

[Loscaldazar]

They are like a 60 degree ratcheting arc (360/6 for the "6" (technically 5) faces of the 6 point wrench), so you need a lot of open space to use them. Just a note....

 

[ChevyEFI]

I haven't used them.

They look promising.

I think an independent was trying to get off the ground with a product like them around the time before GW released them, but I'll be darned to find that thread.

 

[MagnumForce]

The swing arc would be no worse than a normal one in a tight spot before having to reposition

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

 

[Badasssapper67]

If you're working on tight fittings in cramped engine compartments than having the wrench flex is not your friend. Instead of putting that torque into turning the fitting, it goes into bending the joint in the wrench.
If you're using one of these in an engine compartment you're already frustrated just trying to get your hands wrists and elbows in a place where you can move them, having the wrench "flex" up and down while you're trying to loosen a stuck power steering line will make you contemplate destroying something in revenge.
Other wise they're awesome.

 

[MagnumForce]

I am a pro bit don't work on automotive or diesel

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[Skin]

The swing arc would be no worse than a normal one in a tight spot before having to reposition

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That's the thing. Other than speeding up removal the ratcheting action doesn't offer a swing advantage. What is really useful is the flex joint but you can also buy flare wrenches with just the flex. Neither product will replace your standard flare wrenches.

 

[Fedwrench]

I have them but, they don't get used that often. They're pretty large & bulky. I tend to use Gearwrench's swivel non ratcheting flare wrenches more but, that's just me

 

[upgrading]

Often these go on sale at AAP for $24.99.
May as well wait till Thursday and see if they are on sale for October.

 

[tarbellb]

I have been shopping for flare wrenches for a few months now. These do not get good reviews and like upgrading mentions, often on sale for cheap. (Cripe?)

I am waiting to get a deal on the not ratcheting version, those get excellent reviews.

 

[Ign]

Thread started 1/1/15 by signcrafter w a title near verbatim to this thread
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=274871

DITTO, lilscorpion 12/2/12:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=176732

TheGrooveKing, 5/9/13:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=199652

 

[LXCam]

I have been shopping for flare wrenches for a few months now. These do not get good reviews and like upgrading mentions, often on sale for cheap. (Cripe?)

I am waiting to get a deal on the not ratcheting version, those get excellent reviews.

They don't get good reviews cause they're junk. They work ok if the nut is already busted loose from the seat or for running one in. But after that they will spread and damage the nut. There's no good in between for s flat nut wrench in my opinion. I've tried several different manufacturers offerings through the years and finally gave up and bought both snappy sets, hopefully I'm done for life now

 

[MagnumForce]

Thread started 1/1/15 by signcrafter w a title near verbatim to this thread
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=274871

DITTO, lilscorpion 12/2/12:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=176732

TheGrooveKing, 5/9/13:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=199652

And then I will get crucified for resurrecting an old thread. This board moves so quickly what is the issue with starting a new thread? Some people just have to complain.

Thanks guys, I will hold off on these.

 

[chipper]

I have the metric set from aap right around 20$ on sale still haven't used them

 

[1950mercury]

And then I will get crucified for resurrecting an old thread. This board moves so quickly what is the issue with starting a new thread? Some people just have to complain.

Thanks guys, I will hold off on these.

I don't think he was bitching... Just showing you other replys

 

[dlwilson]

Resurrecting an old thread here because I finally realized the problem with these wrenches is not me.

I saw these a few years ago on Amazon, thought they were a great idea, and couldn't buy them fast enough. I only use them a few times a year, and they never seem to work. It's hard to use them to find the size of the nut, I can never tell which way they go on, and they don't seem to engage the nut very well.

But the biggest issue, and one that I didn't realize until I read this thread, is that they need 1/6 of a turn to ratchet. That seems obvious to me now, but I guess I always thought they ratcheted like, well, a ratchet.

I was doing a radiator on a friend's Ranger last weekend, and tried to use one of these wrenches to remove the transmission cooler line nuts. I couldn't find the right size, couldn't get it on the nut properly, couldn't get it to engage, and the flex head made all of the above worse. When I finally grabbed a regular flare nut wrench it broke the nuts free right away, and I just spun them off by hand.

I realized the wrenches had never worked for me, did a search on GJ, and now I see that it isn't me. These wrenches will either go to the back of the drawer, or if I get super-motivated I'll put them on eBay.

However, I apparently haven't learned my lesson yet. I saw these on Amazon a while ago and bookmarked them. Does anybody have any experience with them?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F9A4PE2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Ign]

Resurrecting an old thread here because I finally realized the problem with these wrenches is not me.

I saw these a few years ago on Amazon, thought they were a great idea, and couldn't buy them fast enough. I only use them a few times a year, and they never seem to work. It's hard to use them to find the size of the nut, I can never tell which way they go on, and they don't seem to engage the nut very well.

But the biggest issue, and one that I didn't realize until I read this thread, is that they need 1/6 of a turn to ratchet. That seems obvious to me now, but I guess I always thought they ratcheted like, well, a ratchet.

I was doing a radiator on a friend's Ranger last weekend, and tried to use one of these wrenches to remove the transmission cooler line nuts. I couldn't find the right size, couldn't get it on the nut properly, couldn't get it to engage, and the flex head made all of the above worse. When I finally grabbed a regular flare nut wrench it broke the nuts free right away, and I just spun them off by hand.

I realized the wrenches had never worked for me, did a search on GJ, and now I see that it isn't me. These wrenches will either go to the back of the drawer, or if I get super-motivated I'll put them on eBay.

However, I apparently haven't learned my lesson yet. I saw these on Amazon a while ago and bookmarked them. Does anybody have any experience with them?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F9A4PE2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

They look very similar to the OEM ones. The OEMs do appear to work. JerseyKat1 did a review on them and he is/was a Nissan tech. He’s since disappeared like 98% of GJ users.

I’m still looking for OEMs in metric but they seem to simply no longer exist in the US. Yes, they used a plastic snap ring but that can be replaced w steel.

The Astros you linked intrigue me but I really want a flex head too. Here’s the fractional
https://mobiledistributorsupply.com...MIwuCQ5r-d1wIVCGx-Ch2_gAvEEAQYASABEgKIH_D_BwE

 

[skruft]

I have some similar military wrenches in more sizes, one size per wrench (that is, they have the operating part at one end only). They are handy but I rarely use them because normally a regular flare wrench works. The military ones have no maker name on them, but they were made years ago for the regular market too. I forget by whom.