On 1/4 drive ratchets (not 1/8th like that thread)

[Robby321]

Damn, I could not live without 1/4 drives! Heres some my collection. And they DO come into play many times me, tight places. And at the moment I'm replacing a mechanical fuel pump on my jacked up 350 77 K-5 Blazer. Hood is eye level high, and no way to get at from underneath with frame, suspension, etc in the way. Need a ladder to crawl up and down in the bay my old bones to get at it. Selling it, so ain't gonna waste bucks going a electric pump.
Anyway, I got long reach sockets 3/16 to 1/2. But new going in for starting the pump bolts, the 1/4 ratchet (what do they call it, palm drive?) 1/4 and 7/16 long socket too short. Did a 3/8ths palm drive with reducer to 1/4, and socket. Just right length for starting, then bring the bigger iron out for "torque fit". Seems (as if they made a tool, I probably own it) some even if not needed years...?..nice to have! No such thing as "too many tools"! Pix

 

[ngk22r]

1/4 tools are my go to. Regular, impact, swivel, doesnt matter what I use them the most.

 

[AV tinker er]

1/4 is what an A&P grabs most of the time.

 

[K-Dog]

Yup. I do autobody and I am 95% of the time using my 1/4 impact.

 

[nine4gmc]

I don't see a swivel head in there. My go to 1/4" drive ratchet is a HF swivel head, it is the most used ratchet I own. Link: http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=swivel+head+ratchet

 

[alpaca]

I don't see a swivel head in there. My go to 1/4" drive ratchet is a HF swivel head, it is the most used ratchet I own. Link: http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=swivel+head+ratchet

yep I have the stubby version I think was discontinued. I use it more than my $100 locking flex matco.

 

[Rickster]

I like to always use my Snap-on 1/4 dr swivel head. Has a black hard handle.

 

[nine4gmc]

Rickster, that was my first nice ratchet when I graduated and started managing a car audio store back in 91-92. Nice ratchet, green handle to match my ratcheting screwdriver but they both got stolen in the late 90's and I would not want to pay retail on one again now when the HF works just as nice. I'v been looking at pawn shops and GS but have not seen another.

 

[martin666]

Funny when I first started turning wrenches I very rarely used 1/4". Fasteners haven't changed but I almost always grap a 1/4" now. The little Thorsen in the top right of picture is one of the first tools I bought back in 1971, still going strong

 

[Kensgarage]

Funny when I first started turning wrenches I very rarely used 1/4". Fasteners haven't changed but I almost always grap a 1/4" now. The little Thorsen in the top right of picture is one of the first tools I bought back in 1971, still going strong

Far left ? That the 8" Matco ?
How smoothe is it ?...rrrrrrrr. I guess how light is the backdrag is a better question.

 

[Kensgarage]

Little off topic but there's a cherry example of that 1/4"Thorsen open head on iBoi right now for chump change.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281835189092?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[CNGsaves]

Have to say that 3/8" drive is most common ratchet I reach for, but the better 1/4" drive ratchets I've got now have me using them more.

Love the longer handle 1/4" drive combo from HF and even the thin profile 1/4" Craftsman for small tight work.

Still believe in the GJ motto that you can't have too many ratchets !!

 

[firworks]

1/4 is what an A&P grabs most of the time.

Assault & Pantsuit?

 

[martin666]

Kensgarage, bought that Matco in the late 90's, backdrag was always pretty slight, had it rebuilt last month for the first time and it's a little stiff now, hope it breaks in so it's like it was before. This is the original Thorsen set I bought in 71, I don't think I paid $16 for the whole set!

 

[Kensgarage]

Kensgarage, bought that Matco in the late 90's, backdrag was always pretty slight, had it rebuilt last month for the first time and it's a little stiff now, hope it breaks in so it's like it was before. This is the original Thorsen set I bought in 71, I don't think I paid $16 for the whole set!

Obviously well cared for ! Well. We're old enough to remember that $16 greenbacks back then was a lot of work !
Anything American made today will still pretty much cost a young man a similar amount by %
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wright-Tool...517357?hash=item566e7791ed:g:o7UAAOSw7aBVGrZ9

 

[zkling]

My go to has become a hard handle snap on roto ratchet. Wish it was fine tooth and less back drag. Imho a roto ratchet needs a screwdriver type handle to really shine. Otherwise a fine tooth snap on flex head, sk standard, husky that is tiny, and a 1/4" breaker bar all get used as well as a palm/fingerratchet.

 

[zkling]

Assault & Pantsuit?

airframe and power plant mechanic (airplane mechanic)

 

[bonneyman]

An EASYDRIVER ball driver, 1/4" extensions and magnetic sockets are my daily reaches.

 

[shoggoth80]

I don't use 1/4" nearly as much as 3/8", but it pays to have nicer ones. I have a 72T Snappy rotohead as my go to in 1/4" drive. I really want to get a Cornwell TR4H, because leverage and handle. Gotten used to comfort handled ratchets. Hard to go back.

 

[seagullplayer]

My 1/4" stuff sees a lot of duty on my lawn equipment repairs.

I have a newer Craftsman that I greased, it works pretty good now.

 

[RRmech]

I have a 1/4" drive RHFT Blackhawk with knurling, that does a nice job on the amplifiers I build and repair now days.

Steve

 

[flmng42]

I use 1/4" drive almost all of the time now, and even when I was a dealership tech in diesel and heavy equipment I used 1/4" a ton. Even when using larger sockets with low torque application, I use a compact body 3/8", which is a 1/4" drive ratchet body with a 3/8" kit FCF936 (Snap On's FCF72 is the current part number). My current go-to ratchet for anything is an Armstrong Maxx locking flex 1/4".

 

[BK13]

My fav current 1/4" rat is a standard Armstrong MAXX. I'd like to try a Snap On T72 of some sort, and maybe pick up another Armstrong.