Snapon FHR80 and backdrag

[Indy125]

Hello Everyone!

I use my new SO FHR80, QR 3/8 ratchet every day, its my primary ratchet. Its my first SO ratchet. Everyone on this forum, for the most part, loves SO ratchets, and mention how smooth they are. It was a main contributor to the investment.

My experience however is that, the ratchet is very tight in backdrag. It has broken in some, throughout its 4 month life, but nothing like my other ratchets, especially some of the HF ratchets, which have almost zero backdrag. (I know they use different pawls and ect.. , just using it as an example.)

I have serviced it, and put some superlube in it, hoping it would free up a bit. It kinda made it feel better, but like I said above, not a huge improvement.

This isn't something to make me stop using it, I love it. Its solid and quality.
However, just curious if its normal, due to it being a QR, or are regular SO ratchets tight too?

Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions!!!

 

[crf450x]

They are all like that for a while. It ***** but once they're broken in they're great.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Just keep on working it, and it will just keep getting better. The more lube you put in there, the longer it will take.

 

[JohnDeere1]

Take it apart and smash the springs inward it makes a world of difference it's what makes them smoother after break in as well as the peaks of the gears start to round.
I do this to mine and it helps alot good luck.

 

[ocloc24]

Yeah most of mine have next yo no backdrag even new you probably just got one that was a little tight I'm guessing. As mentioned try compressing the spring some to remove the tension.

 

[ADSR]

Put it in a drill and like it run for a couple hours in each direction.

 

[mmason7764]

Lately I've bought more ratchets than I can break in by normal use. Some of the smaller ones I carry in the truck with a socket and spin them when I drive. Pretty rediculious for a grown person, but it does help pass the time.

Now that I think about it, the ratchet buying started right after joining Garage Journal.......na, probably not related....


Mark

 

[Wamsutta]

There's something wrong with it - send it back.

All my 80's have super low backdrag.

 

[MaverickDMD]

The Wamsutta comment is legitimate, although the advice for working it in and using very light oil will work.

But don't be quick to forgive Snap On, send it back. You paid top dollar for that ratchet and for that price, that ratchet should demonstrate the very low back drag on which it was marketed. If you're lucky and saved the receipt, Snap On ought to warranty the ratchet with their legendary excellent service for which you paid.

 

[Aqua-Andy]

Some of the smaller ones I carry in the truck with a socket and spin them when I drive. Pretty rediculious for a grown person, but it does help pass the time.




Mark

Your not the only one. This was the original fidget spinner.

 

[BFHtime]

Your not the only one. This was the original fidget spinner.

Definitely, I have so many times held onto an extension or socket, and zipped the ratchet around, listening and feeling the zing of spinning the ratchet. Love it!

 

[BFHtime]

Have your snap-on guy look at it. The guts could be replaced. Not all the ratchets are the same. I had a ratchet screwdriver that I ran in a small impact (hex) to loosen in up. It did get looser but not like my others, showed it to my driver, and swapped it out.

 

[Indy125]

Your not the only one. This was the original fidget spinner.

Yup I do the same thing!



I will contact the dealer that sold it to me and see where it goes from there. I fear that its a highly objective thing, whats a low backdrag. His definition of "low" might be different than mine. IDK... There isn't anything "broken". Then again, for customer service, maybe should just take care of it.

I'll play with the springs as well and see what happens.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! This forum is the best, the worst for the bank account however

 

[ocloc24]

Lately I've bought more ratchets than I can break in by normal use. Some of the smaller ones I carry in the truck with a socket and spin them when I drive. Pretty rediculious for a grown person, but it does help pass the time.

Now that I think about it, the ratchet buying started right after joining Garage Journal.......na, probably not related....


Mark

Yep, glad I'm not the only weirdo. There's just something so satisfying about the feel of a high quality ratchet.

 

[Loscaldazar]

I find the 1/4 snap ons have very high back drag, and the 3/8 have okay back drag, but far from super low like some are saying here.

The 1/2 are truly super low back drag. I have several 3/8 Snap Ons, some with years of use, and they are still higher back drag than many other 3/8 drive ratchets. Not horrible, but far from the best still.

 

[Rustypigeon]

My F936 had terrible backdrag. I replaced the spring with a lighter one from a retractable ballpoint pen. It is much better now.

 

[Indy125]

For the sake of argument, if "you" take out all the lube/grease from the ratchet, other than making it louder and heat up faster, would that dryness change the backdrag of the ratchet?

 

[Wamsutta]

Yes, it would make it worse.

 

[Tonyuk]

If your paying snap-on's cost for that ratchet i would return it and get them to sort it out, don't bother messing with it.

 

[sk farmer]

as i have said before. i have a dual 80 and i don't get why people are all jacked up about it being the "be all end all". it is vastly over rated imop.

 

[T45]

as i have said before. i have a dual 80 and i don't get why people are all jacked up about it being the "be all end all". it is vastly over rated imop.

When the SHTF and you need to move metal, the SO is really a useful tool.

Once you need to take a 3/8 ratchet to 200nm+ without exploding, you will understand why its worth to have a couple of F80s in the box.

For your everyday ratchet, IMHO, its always best to use what ergonomically suits you best. (Personally I use a round head facom design that itself is 50+ yrs old.)


thats my $0.02

 

[sk farmer]

i never said it was not useful or durable. can't say i have ever worried about blowing up a 3/8. i guess i stood on top of my armstrong locking flex to remove some lug bolts that had not been off for 20+ years so i am sure i have hit that torque with a ratchet.

anyway, my point was this. the head diameter is not small, they are rather thick through the head, the tooth count is good but not the best out there and there have been a few design, durability and smoothness issues with them, yet people still strive and recommend to get them as though they are the best thing since sliced bread.

imop it is just an average ratchet. the only thing really better is the name and the wide variety of handle shapes and lengths.

 

[ASE_LEO]

First off...be careful who you listen to. I normally keep quite, but some of the advice you're getting here is pure ****.

The 80-series ratchets are very different than what Snap On made in the past. First off, the gear is not supported on both the top and bottom, like all of the old SO ratchets were. These have a gear that is flat on top and it is supported in a closely bored hole in the cover plate. The stiff return problem (on my FL80, anyway) was caused by the rubber seal in the bottom plate. I just took the seal out of mine, and now it turns as free as my older ratchets.

Hope this helps...

LEO

 

[victor252]

Not to thread jack but how do the Williams USA or Taiwan ratchets compare to the Snap On? Is the only difference some more chrome and polish or does the Snap On actually feel better or work better/more reliably than the Williams USA/Taiwan stuff?

I'll never buy Snap On but might buy Williams one day.

 

[mmason7764]

The Williams pear heads are the previous generation 36 tooth design. IMHO a great value for the money. Very competent but not the ultimate with the newer choics available now.

 

[65k10]

I have several of the US made Williams pearheads in the 3 drive sizes. They are decent ratchets for the price, but I think my Dual 80 ratchets are better overall. More teeth, less backdrag, smoother, and more variations.

That said, I really like my S-52EHFA. It's the 1/2" drive flex head. What I like about it is at about 14.5" long it's shorter and lighter than most other 1/2" flex heads, yet still long enough to provide decent leverage. I've found it to be a handy length and I have been reaching for it over my SL80A or SX80B if I know I won't be dealing with anything that might take a lot of torque. Too bad Snap-On doesn't make a Dual 80 flex head in that length.

 

[Hiball]

I think some of you guys are over obsessing over the term “back drag”, The ONLY time it really comes into play is when using a ratchet in a “no hands area” when the bolt is being first started or almost removed, outside of that, there is generally enough friction to overcome even the crappiest ratchet design and even then it only takes very little finger pressure against the socket/extension to make back drag a moot discussion. On a side note, back drag isn’t necessarily associated only with fine tooth ratchets, plenty of coarser toothed ratchets out there get the job done for people who have no idea what “back drag” even means.

Carry on...

 

[Indy125]

The stiff return problem (on my FL80, anyway) was caused by the rubber seal in the bottom plate. I just took the seal out of mine, and now it turns as free as my older ratchets.

Hope this helps...

LEO

Yes!, thanks it did! Definitely freed it up. Although I guess its not a sealed ratchet anymore ... But I like the end result.