Which Milwaukee electric ratchet to get
- Thread starter GophersGarage
- Start date
sparky 1971
Well-known member
I have had the old non fuel for over five years and love it. I was going to get the fuel a couple of years ago. Then I saw one in person instead of a picture. It's too damned big.
this the one battery tool snapon got right, not biggest fan of snapon power tolls generally but the battery ratchet long and short is best design on market, the milwuakee is a piss poor effort, shame as they been innovative leaders in rest of range .
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Non fuel one here... tried them both... bought the right one.
DFB
Well-known member
Not again 
chipjumper
Well-known member
Wow are those prices with HST? Holy **** you should buy one from your yankee cousin and pick it up when you come over to visit. I paid $79 USD for a refurbished non-Fuel one from CPO tool. I see them on eBay for $60 USD now.
Beware of the fake google ads that show it for $21 or a combo pack of four tools for $93 etc. Google should be sued to pulled that nonsense down. Also beware of the ridiculous eBay buy-it-now auctions that have $200 tools for $18. If it’s too good to be true...
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Beware of the fake google ads that show it for $21 or a combo pack of four tools for $93 etc. Google should be sued to pulled that nonsense down. Also beware of the ridiculous eBay buy-it-now auctions that have $200 tools for $18. If it’s too good to be true...
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OP
GophersGarage
Well-known member
Plus hst but I will buy from home depo when on sale
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I bought the non fuel version and brought it back to exchange for a fuel after one day,it did not have the torque to loosen fasteners on brand new vehicles,the fuel ratchet makes up for its bulkier size with its power in my application.
stg454
Well-known member
I have the non fuel version in 3/8” and really like the compact size. I’d like to get the extended Erie on at some point. Trying to decide if I need the 1/4” and 1/2” versions too. I just use an adapter now.
Professional Tool User
Well-known member
You are comparing apples to oranges. We're comparing the price of a new one. When I bought my fuel ratchet, I checked the US online price for a new one. Given the exchange rate, I just waited for my local authorized dealer to put it on sale. That saved me around 50 Canadian dollars and may have brought it below the US list price.
OP
GophersGarage
Well-known member
That’s right HD will come on sale
I want new only
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I want new only
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OP
GophersGarage
Well-known member
So we are all same page the fuel is by far better unit
my question is
Do I go for less power but have more compact unit or larger unit but more power
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Bighead38
Well-known member
Your in Canada, do you have rust in your area? If so neither one will break bolts free. You’ll need to use the ratchet manually and once broken loose you’ll be able to hit the button and zip them off. Imo they aren’t for breaking bolts loose like a lot of people try to do. They are a huge time saver though because you can just run them off once you break them free.
OP
GophersGarage
Well-known member
thanks true
what i am thinking to do is get the regular version in 1/4" drive and the 3/8" version in fuel.
BiggityBen
Well-known member
that's a good plan. 1/4 drive is for harder to access fasteners and therefore size is king. the torque isn't so important as you break it free by hand when possible as you're sort of doing that anyway with your resistance to it's force since it's obviously non impacting.
i have 1/4 brushed and 1/4 and 3/8 fuel and almost never use the 1/4 fuel. i think i've used it twice and only because i could, and i wanted to since it hadn't been used.
i have 1/4 brushed and 1/4 and 3/8 fuel and almost never use the 1/4 fuel. i think i've used it twice and only because i could, and i wanted to since it hadn't been used.
DFB
Well-known member
Honestly this subject of which ratchet should I get must get asked at least once every couple of weeks...almost bet there's a few threads to found in search 
But really if your thinking your getting some big "extra power" gain with the FUEL for loosening fasteners just by squeezing the paddle switch you'll be disappointed for sure
So here's my opinion because I have them both. The FUEL 3/8" is certainly larger and heavier so ya it's designed stronger that's a given, but by actually gripping the two different ones you might notice the non fuel 3/8" to feel a bit more comfortable in your hand with it's smaller overall profile and nicer balance.
"General automotive use"
like general engine bay work? Water pumps, radiator mounts, fan bolts, engine shrouds, valve covers, timing covers etc. Either will do just fine.
Though I think if your wrenching is "on the clock" professionally and maybe into larger fasteners for certain undercarriage work like suspension, tow hitches or maybe plow frames the Fuel would be the better choice just because of its added strength. The trade off being much heavier to handle all day.
It is almost a full pound heavier with battery
But really if your thinking your getting some big "extra power" gain with the FUEL for loosening fasteners just by squeezing the paddle switch you'll be disappointed for sure
So here's my opinion because I have them both. The FUEL 3/8" is certainly larger and heavier so ya it's designed stronger that's a given, but by actually gripping the two different ones you might notice the non fuel 3/8" to feel a bit more comfortable in your hand with it's smaller overall profile and nicer balance.
"General automotive use"
like general engine bay work? Water pumps, radiator mounts, fan bolts, engine shrouds, valve covers, timing covers etc. Either will do just fine.Though I think if your wrenching is "on the clock" professionally and maybe into larger fasteners for certain undercarriage work like suspension, tow hitches or maybe plow frames the Fuel would be the better choice just because of its added strength. The trade off being much heavier to handle all day.
It is almost a full pound heavier with battery
It depends on how you'd use it. It sounds like you and I are in similar zones - DIY automotive.
My thought process was this:
- I'm not using this to break tough things free or dog things down really tight, but I will probably use it to tighten within reason. (and the info I've seen on what the Fuel can apply in terms of tightening exceeds anything I'm likely to ask of it)
- It will make help to make fasteners come out/go on faster and reduce repetitive motion. This was definitely true when I was doing plugs/coils in my Mini and brakes on my wife's van - it was great
- I wanted something durable and built more than consumer-grade. Honestly, I probably have more ratchet (and tools in general - I've been on a run lately as a retire my old C3 stuff and move to Milwaukee M12/M18, almost all are FUEL)
- My sockets sit with my ratchets, so they'll be there anyway for anything the Milwaukee can't do gracefully or won't get to.
I've had this thought too. I'm going to see how things go. The 1/4" ratchet is my least-used. I seem to use my 1/4" flex driver for an awful lot of stuff - just pop on a socket and go...
That's all just me - not saying that works for everyone, and I'm definitely not a skilled wrench
PCMusicGuy
Well-known member
I have the 3/8" regular and love it. If you use it manually to break the faster loose first, you don't need the fuel generally. I'd rather spend that money on a 1/4" or 3/8" compact impact wrench.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
All it does is take the place of a nutdriver to spin out machine threaded fasteners. The regular one is fine for that.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Extended reach is where it's at. I replaced my non-fuel standard length with the long-neck fuel. Aside from really tight under dash work, or using it when you should really be using a pistol style handled tool, it's superior in every way.
DFB
Well-known member
The extended will be my next ratchet purchase curious which drive size are you using. I am thinking the 1/4" there but not quite sure