"Build" a Matco swivel ratchet for $33

[Ji m]

What is the width of the ratchet head at the swivel point, wondering if some breaker bars I already own would work?

I had trouble getting a consistent measurement across the whole tang,
but the part that sits inside the bar measured 9.81mm-9.99mm (.386"-.393").

The reason the edges of the Capri handle I used had to be ground was the way the Matco head itself flares up from the tang,
it flares out just slightly to quickly for the "shoulders" of the Capri handle, and the shoulders make contact with the head, until you clearance them a little.

FWIW,
the tang slot of the Capri handles (not counting the 'ring' of flash around the bolt hole of one of them) measured 10.18-10.26mm (.40").

Ji m, thank you for your quick reply.

I'm curious how this works out for everyone else.

I really like how these 2 turned out

 

[NinnyCTSV]

Something else you can consider if you already have Matco ratchets. I recently warrantied a worn out 1/2 flex head where the locking portion wasn’t working as well anymore and with the old head I did just this same thing, with a 24” breaker bar made their (non locking of course) cfr248lf ratchet for maybe 6bucks. Also have done it with an old 36 tooth 3/8 craftsman stubby.

 

[Automag88]

Good to know,
and explains why that 17" bar is longer than most.
Thanks.

You could buy a 1/2" ratcheting head to try in it(the same ebay guy had 1 Matco & 1 Armstrong one yesterday)
but those heads are $50 each, and that's a little more than I wanted to spend for something that 'might' work.

Yeah I saw that those were for sale as well. Might be an option in the future. I never really looked at the 3/8" breaker bars until now. They could really come in handy at some point

 

[X1 Mike]

OK, how do you guys think this will work?

I want to take the 60 tooth head off the Matco ratchet (my favorite ratchet in the world) and add the whole 88 tooth ratchet to it. Then put the 60 on the Craftsman.

I've never had the head off a Craftsman like that, does the pin just drive out? The Matco has an hex.

 

[NinnyCTSV]

I attempted to drive the pin out of my 3/8 stubby and was unsuccessful so I’d be curious to know too

Heads up to save you a ton of time and effort though. The 88 tooth wheel and pawl will work with that head. No real point in changing the whole head when you just need to change the gear

 

[X1 Mike]

I attempted to drive the pin out of my 3/8 stubby and was unsuccessful so I’d be curious to know too

Heads up to save you a ton of time and effort though. The 88 tooth wheel and pawl will work with that head. No real point in changing the whole head when you just need to change the gear

Thanks, I got the head yesterday and it's slightly wider than the slot in the 60 tooth handle I have. I really don't want to go grinding on either so I think I'll see if the 88 fits in the Craftsman handle.


Anyone have tips on removing the Craftsman head from the handle?

 

[jimmyin3D]

just dremel the end of the pin on one side and use a punch to get it out. use a hex head screw to replace it.

 

[Tuc04]

I bought the Harbor Freight 17" long 3/8 breaker bar. It's not going to work without some modifications. The distance between the tangs is far too wide, the distance from the end to the bolt hole is too far down and the diameter of the bolt is larger than the hole in the Matco head.

The tang gap could be made up with washers, and the distance to the hole should be able to be solved with a little grinding on the bar, but the too large bolt has me stumped. I do not want to make the hole in the Matco head bigger.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I bought the Harbor Freight 17" long 3/8 breaker bar. It's not going to work without some modifications. The distance between the tangs is far too wide, the distance from the end to the bolt hole is too far down and the diameter of the bolt is larger than the hole in the Matco head.

The tang gap could be made up with washers, and the distance to the hole should be able to be solved with a little grinding on the bar, but the too large bolt has me stumped. I do not want to make the hole in the Matco head bigger.

EDIT:

Nevermind. I'm retarded.

 

[potato]

EDIT:

Works perfect on the 3/8 ratcheting breaker bar handle. https://www.harborfreight.com/3-8-eighth-inch-drive-ratcheting-breaker-bar-66388.html

how?

 

[Mohawk Dave]

how?

Oh. Wtf? I dunno....hell, maybe the handle was from the 1/2" one??? I have totally clusterfkd this up.

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-Drive-18-in-Ratcheting-Breaker-Bar-67957.html

Here's a pic of mine from today.

 

[potato]

that looks strong af

 

[AngryBeaver]

nice,....built a few over the last decade....


fwiw, a snappy head won't fit on a matco 24" or 18" breaker bar

 

[NinnyCTSV]

So here’s my craftman stubby that I just swapped out today with a spare 88 tooth head I had. I used a air hammer to loosen the pin and just tapped it he rest of the way. The little locking detent fits very snug with the Matco head and it’s very firm switching positions which I like. See how the spring holds up over time though

Anyhow, some pics

 

[X1 Mike]

So here’s my craftman stubby that I just swapped out today with a spare 88 tooth head I had. I used a air hammer to loosen the pin and just tapped it he rest of the way. The little locking detent fits very snug with the Matco head and it’s very firm switching positions which I like. See how the spring holds up over time though

Anyhow, some pics

I like it! I think you were reading my mind, I was looking at stubby ratchets yesterday to swap.

 

[NinnyCTSV]

Yeah, I don’t know why I haven’t done it sooner

 

[zorrox]

I put a small bend in the handle (yes, it did discolor the chrome a bit)
and am happy with the resulting new 13.5" long $33 3/8" handle:

btw,
the Capri breaker bar had no brand name insignia on it at all,
just a part number CR-V 40119 engraving that I oriented so that it was on the backside of the tool.

I want to do this with mine. What's the best way? Vice it down, heat it up and put a cheater bar on it? I only have a propane torch, is that hot enough or do I need a cutting torch?

 

[Tuc04]

Oh. Wtf? I dunno....hell, maybe the handle was from the 1/2" one??? I have totally clusterfkd this up.

https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-Drive-18-in-Ratcheting-Breaker-Bar-67957.html

Here's a pic of mine from today.

Dave, you were right. The ratcheting breaker bar does work. They may be in the process of changing styles as the picture on the website does not match what was in the store. The down side is the bar is $11 more.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Dave, you were right. The ratcheting breaker bar does work. They may be in the process of changing styles as the picture on the website does not match what was in the store. The down side is the bar is $11 more.

Good stuff....I can't always remember what was what as I switch and swap a lot of stuff because I can't leave well enough alone. Fix it till it's broke!

 

[Jacobson]

What does the bent handle do?

 

[Ji m]

I want to do this with mine. What's the best way? Vice it down, heat it up and put a cheater bar on it? I only have a propane torch, is that hot enough or do I need a cutting torch?

I tried propane + a highlift jack handle (piece of pipe),
but that was slow going,
so I used the propane + the press


It left a couple little marks on the finish,
but not too had,
and I'm happy with the amount of angle.

 

[Ji m]

What does the bent handle do?

Some come like that,
basically a comfort thing,
could help, or hurt with clearance.

 

[Ji m]

Here's a pic of mine from today

.

looks great!

 

[Indexmill]

No more of the heads.

 

[zorrox]

I tried propane + a highlift jack handle (piece of pipe),
but that was slow going,
so I used the propane + the press


It left a couple little marks on the finish,
but not too had,
and I'm happy with the amount of angle.

haha, nice.

 

[potato]

What does the bent handle do?

it gives clearance for spark plugs and such.

https://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/BFR118SP/3-8-11IN-88TH-SPRK-PLG-RATCHET/

 

[jon72vega]

Here's mine.
I got it put together yesterday.
I used it already, and it has a nice feel to it.

 

[RAS61]

No more of the heads.

They sold out before at $25, keep an eye out, very likely they'll list more.

Mine came out great. I used a #12 lock washer in the recess, only thing I could find in the hardware store that would fit the recess and have a hole large enough for the pin. Works very nicely with the detent ball and spring at the bottom of the handle yoke, a smooth and firm head movement. A great combination, if you didn't know it you'd think it was a factory tool - thanks OP for an excellent project!

 

[potato]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/263541981825?ViewItem=&vxp=mtr&item=263541981825
shows 6 available at $29

 

[JohninCM]

Does anyone know what a replacement ratchet handle would cost from MATCO? I took a look at the MATCO site and could not find any repair parts availability.

Just thinking that might be an option to look at.

 

[NinnyCTSV]

They don it offer a handle separate.

 

[Ji m]

Latest auction went up with just 2 of them (instead of 8)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/263555376405?ViewItem=&vxp=mtr&item=263555376405

Not sure if that means he's running out(?)

I wonder if Gearwrench offers their (locking) handle separately?

I just picked up a 1/2" drive Gearwrench locking flex head,
I really like the locking handle on it, and bet the 3/8" version isn't bad either.

 

[rattler459]

the gearwrench locking flex head is also sold as a 100 tooth in a black finish as a husky in 1/2" and 3/8"

 

[AngryBeaver]

Latest auction went up with just 2 of them (instead of 8)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/263555376405?ViewItem=&vxp=mtr&item=263555376405

Not sure if that means he's running out(?)

I wonder if Gearwrench offers their (locking) handle separately?

I just picked up a 1/2" drive Gearwrench locking flex head,
I really like the locking handle on it, and bet the 3/8" version isn't bad either.

he's got one left.... hehehehe

 

[NinnyCTSV]

Haha might catch some heat for this one taking a $120 snap on breaker bar and doing this mod but who cares, had the spare head and had the breaker bar. I just had to open up the hole in the Matco head to fit the snap on screw. Also painted it to match the industrial finish on the breaker bar

 

[Ji m]

Haha might catch some heat for this one taking a $120 snap on breaker bar and doing this mod but who cares, had the spare head and had the breaker bar. I just had to open up the hole in the Matco head to fit the snap on screw. Also painted it to match the industrial finish on the breaker bar

I like the industrial blacked out version!

 

[Druder]

The real question is, where is this dude getting all the brand new heads from?

 

[sk farmer]

i am not against making stuff and i was tempted to as well. i just couldn't see cobbling something together for more money. this is an actual ratchet hanging on the shelf at every home depot.

the same style of mechanism only in a dual pawl with 100 clicks and a working lock on the flex. other than tooth count the mechanism is the same as a gearwrench 120.

 

[isuhunter]

I need to stay off of this site. Every time I come on here I end up with an ebay or amazon purchase. But in the end this will be cool to have.

 

[AngryBeaver]

The real question is, where is this dude getting all the brand new heads from?

sometimes you need to not ask questions.. just roll with it