XL Long ratcheting wrenches. Again.......
- Thread starter zippster
- Start date
It's the same company behind Chassis Ears. They spun the brand off to offer a line of tools (mostly Taiwan). I tried the locking flex version and ended up returning them due to the mechanism feeling gritty. I pretty much never find a ratcheting wrench I dislike but those were no good. I'd stick with Mountain or Platinum which are made by Kabo.
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2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
The reversing levers fall off super easy. Warranty involves spending the cost of a new wrench on shipping. Avoid IMO.
He said he wants a warranty.
If you buy quality tools you wont need warranty.
If you're going to abuse the tool then buy a rebuild kit, Tone sells them.
All the super long ratcheting wrenches break with enough time. Nature of the beast giving you all the leverage.
The replacement heads don't exist, at least not in the States. I think Amazon.jp sells 1 size as a replacement head. Maybe there is a seller on Rakuten or something but I bet you spend nearly as much as simply buying a whole new wrench.
The Tone RMAL series is what you want.
Right wrench:
Is it made in Japan?
Steelman attempts to market a bunch of 'innovative' designs but they all seem to be junk.
Exactly. The mechanism can't handle the torque the handle can provide but you use it because it's the only thing that fits. It's going to break.
Napa if they are close or Harbor Freight, Tekton if you don't have any stores close by. Tool truck if you can afford it and have a good driver who doesn't hassle you for replacements.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Probably because off of the top of my head, aside from their Chassisears, and the strut nut socket set, their products aren't great or memorable 
First off, extra long ratcheting wrenches are going to fail regardless of whose name is on them because, we are going to have someone hold our beer and say watch this, as we try to loosen or access something that we shouldn't with a ratcheting wrench.
With that out of the way, you have two options. First, buy the generic no name sets off of amazon for little money up front, use to failure (some of them last quite awhile), and repeat.
Second, Grab something like Tekton, Carlyle (although corporate stores seem better at warranty than franchises), gearwrench, etc. that has better warranty service, your results may vary. I lean towards Tekton as they only require a photo of the broken wrench if you order from their site, before dispatching a new wrench to you. That save the expense & hassle of sending the broken wrench to them.
I'm omitting truck brands from this discussion because, their price alone should provide you with excellent warranty service.
However, if you have a decent independent tool truck dealer, they might be able to support brands like EZ Red, Platinum, Monster, etc.
On a side note, I wish Tone tools were more available here as I would many Tone items if I could.
First off, extra long ratcheting wrenches are going to fail regardless of whose name is on them because, we are going to have someone hold our beer and say watch this, as we try to loosen or access something that we shouldn't with a ratcheting wrench.
With that out of the way, you have two options. First, buy the generic no name sets off of amazon for little money up front, use to failure (some of them last quite awhile), and repeat.
Second, Grab something like Tekton, Carlyle (although corporate stores seem better at warranty than franchises), gearwrench, etc. that has better warranty service, your results may vary. I lean towards Tekton as they only require a photo of the broken wrench if you order from their site, before dispatching a new wrench to you. That save the expense & hassle of sending the broken wrench to them.
I'm omitting truck brands from this discussion because, their price alone should provide you with excellent warranty service.
However, if you have a decent independent tool truck dealer, they might be able to support brands like EZ Red, Platinum, Monster, etc.
On a side note, I wish Tone tools were more available here as I would many Tone items if I could.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Sorry, they don't. I must have missed that in your post. You'll be very limited to selection then as I believe only the Kabo made model offers the offset. Good luck in your quest.
Taiwan
Sorry, they don't. I must have missed that in your post. You'll be very limited to selection then as I believe only the Kabo made model offers the offset. Good luck in your quest.
The Tone ones have the extended offset on the ratcheting box as well. I think Tone has Hi-Five making them along with their ratchets.
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That's why you use the fixed end first; it has the same offset option as the ratcheting end.
Part numbers and approximate cost:
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
That's my beef with the non tiawanese options. You get incomplete sets, which will just frustrate you. Like my Koken Zeal set which omits 9mm and 15mm in 1/4 drive. I'd pay $50 for that 15mm.
Thats what the KTC in 15mm is doing there in the picture
, made in Taiwan.Needing twice the sizes isn't a matter of apples to apples; the fixed end provides additional functionality. The fixed end fits into places where the ratcheting end wont; it is also there to allow you to initially break the bolt free; or have an end that isn't wobbling on you.
It is especially odd because Japanese automakers are slowly moving toward ISO and away from JIS. Koken sockets are awesome though.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Oh true that. The 1/4 zeal are game changers. Add a 12 inch flex ratchet and go to town on those obscured fasteners.
Yea, but as I said, find a distributor that makes sense to buy from vs replacing the entire wrench.
I don't believe anything the company says with regards to COO. They're just as dishonest as Wera from what I've seen. They're 100% importing things like the ratchet mechanisms.
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Lets do some simple math; How much do you think the head weighs?
Lets say all in 200g for the outbound package, that's 420 yen; now lets say your middle of the road 13mm broke and cost you 1890 yen to purchase. 1890+420 = 2310 yen
2310 yen = $21.65 USD
bubinga
Well-known member
In Watching
This is what drives me bonkers with metric fasteners—the sizes aren't standardized as well and you need twice as many wrenches as you do with inch sized fasteners. Hypothetically, you should only need the standardized sizes listed here: https://www.engineersedge.com/hardware/standard_metric_hex_nuts_13728.htm
Reality is quite different. I think it's fair to say that needing a no-skip set of metric wrenches is roughly equivalent to needing a no-skip set of inch wrenches in 1/32’s. I mean, if you need it you need it, but you shouldn't have to need it. I hate paying for a bunch of orphan sizes in sets when they only get used once every 4–5 years, but there's not a good way around it.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Reality is quite different. I think it's fair to say that needing a no-skip set of metric wrenches is roughly equivalent to needing a no-skip set of inch wrenches in 1/32’s. I mean, if you need it you need it, but you shouldn't have to need it. I hate paying for a bunch of orphan sizes in sets when they only get used once every 4–5 years, but there's not a good way around it.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
anndel
Well-known member
I have Carlyle (got as a gift), Gearwrench (got as a thank you gift) and Snap-on. Though I love my snappys, the Carlyles are a excellent set and if I didn't have the others, would go for the Carlyles.
carlyle CHT RWLBFL5M is a good set and good buy on a real deal price .
If you got good local Napa it great choice.
Mine deal warranty over phone and deliver ordered tools and warranty swaps with parts run .
Tone is nice design but works out spendy.
KTC is usual taiwan .
If you got good local Napa it great choice.
Mine deal warranty over phone and deliver ordered tools and warranty swaps with parts run .
Tone is nice design but works out spendy.
KTC is usual taiwan .
bubinga
Well-known member
don't *need* A set
What's "Need" Got to do with it?Think I'll get me a set...............LOL
.............................Thanks!!!! FOR THE Part #Googling icon set WRDBFM-5, 56694..........................NOW!!!!
Brandon_oma#692
Well-known member
Current price is $289 20% off buy more save more online orders thru tomorrow makes it $231. WHat is a "good price" for these at napa?