Milwaukee Fuel 1/4" ratchet 2556 vs. 2456

[Sigma.40]

I am about to buy a bunch of Milwaukee Fuel tools. M18 1/2 and 3/8 impacts and M12 3/8 and 1/4 ratchets. I'm hoping to get people's opinions on something.

I am debating between the 2556 and 2456 1/4 ratchets. The 2556 is 40 lb ft and has a brushless motor. The 2456 is 30 lb ft and does NOT have a brushless motor. Cost is NOT a factor. I really like the idea of a brushless motor but part of me thinks that 40 lb ft is too much for a 1/4 " ratchet, especially considering that I'll also be buying a 3/8 ratchet with 55 lb ft. Any opinions? Thank you!

Fwiw, I am a professional auto mechanic and use the hell out of my Mac Tools 1/4 and 3/8 air ratchets. So having both a 1/4 and 3/8 inch ratchet is important to me. Just adding this because several reviews said that you don't need both.

 

[Tenex]

I bought the 3/8 brushed model and I wish I would have bought the 1/4 instead. And it doesn't have enough power.


I fondled the brushless models and I didn't like them because they were top heavy.

 

[225]

I have the 1/4" brushed and the 3/8" brushless Fuel.

Honestly, get the brushed 1/4". The head is half the size of the newer models. For something that you'll be working on with 1/4" sockets, the smaller head works better in smaller areas, and overall, the whole 1/4" ratchet is smaller in the brushed model.

 

[WWheeler]

I have had the 1/4 and 3/8 non-brushed versions (2457 & 2456) for a couple years now. I use them both a LOT. LUV them both. That said, the torque on both seems the same (No matter what the manufacturer specs say it's definitely under 30ftlbs for both - I tested them both when new with a torque wrench) and I wouldn't ever use either of them on a bigger fastener than my 1/4 will do. That's why I use one at work and one at home. To me there is no practical difference between the two.

I've given some thought to getting the FUEL versions if/when either gives me any trouble because the ratchet head looks much beefier but the one thing I DON'T like about them is that they hit harder. I like that the ratchet just spins the fastener snug so I can finish tightening it up by hand using the same cordless ratchet. It doesn't take any extra time at all to give it that extra ~1/4 turn after it stops spinning and then I know how tight I got it.

As I've said before ...

[...] I would say that one of the things I like most about the non-Fuel Milwaukee is that it only hits at about ~25ftlbs. That way I can finish tightening with it by hand so I control how tight I get it. I mostly only use the ratchets for smaller fasteners. If everything I'm working on is 5/8-15mm or larger then I prefer to attack it with a small cordless impact everywhere it will fit. I don't even recall ever using my M12 ratchets on fasteners that large. For that reason only I'm even a tad leery to go with the Fuel versions when I do wear one of these out. I want to be able to use the ratchet on mostly on ~10mm /~3/8 fasteners that I don't want to hit at 50ftlbs or more.

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EDIT: Dayum, just got done looking at the post above mine. I had no idea the FUEL version's ratcheting head was THAT much bigger. Holy ****.

 

[cesski]

I like my older 1/4 ratchet. More clearance and lighter. Less stress on my hands, wrists and forearms. The new brushless version feels weird in my hand. Felt unbalanced.

 

[lanet2436]

Having both fuel 3/8 and quarter, also being a pro I feel I can actually weigh in on something. If I had to do all over again I would get the non fuel 1/4 and the fuel 3/8. In the quarter inch sizes I find the fuel head just too bulky. My co-worker has the none fuel 1/4 and I find myself jealous of its smaller size.

 

[dnschmidt]

The 1/4 Fuel makes little sense to me. Does it have marginally more torque than the brushed version - yes. Who cares, I'm not using 1/4" drive to remove Honda crank bolts. The bigger size and worse balance to me make the 1/4" Fuel an non-starter and you can buy two brushed versions for one Fuel version. Milwaukee doesn't get EVERYTHING right and this is an example of that. New is not always better.