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SK Tools Steals & Deals 3/2021

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drtyler

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Jan 31, 2012
Messages
981
The pliers and ratchet are both very good tools. I doubt that you will be disappointed.
 
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Dzmax77

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Jan 16, 2021
Messages
401
Location
Milwaukee
I have the 7” pliers from another steals and deals offering from last fall. Good stuff. Im excited to get the ratchet. I have three 3/8” already, but all are low tooth count - Williams B-52EHA, Kobalt USA (Danaher) and Craftsman USA (Danaher).
 
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drtyler

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Jan 31, 2012
Messages
981
You will want to chunk those Danaher ratchets in the lake after using the SK.
 
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Retroman

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Jan 21, 2018
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Location
Mojave Desert
Bought a 3/8 LP 90 Ratchet last 4th of July during the big "Sale" they promote on here. It was the long version and it worked great for changing the serpentine belt on my wifes explorer. As far as being a great ratchet not how I would describe it. I drank the GJ Kool aid that SK tools walk on water. I dunno maybe I got a bad one but no more SK for me.
 
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Bockscar

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Nov 28, 2017
Messages
535
Location
The Great State of Ohio
Dzmax77 said:
I ordered the 12” tongue and groove pliers and the 3/8” LP90 ratchet. Seemed like good deals but I didn’t really check on reviews much. Any testimonials on the ratchet? There’s not a whole lot on youtube and the few reviews that are available, some say the ratchets aren’t properly lubricated and are stiff.



https://sktools.com/shop/3-8-drive-lp90-fixed-head-ratchet-8-in.html
Click to expand...
Picked up the 3/8 flex head last month....love it....gonna get the one they have on sale this month


Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk
 
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M635_Guy

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Mavsman

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Apr 14, 2019
Messages
34
Location
Texas
I got an LP90 flex head about a month ago. It arrived dry with a stiff selector. I lubed it up with some 3 in one, but it's still a bit still. Hopefully it gets better with time.
 
K

Kscardsfan

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Joined
Apr 28, 2020
Messages
1,656
Location
The Little Apple
Mavsman said:
I got an LP90 flex head about a month ago. It arrived dry with a stiff selector. I lubed it up with some 3 in one, but it's still a bit still. Hopefully it gets better with time.
Click to expand...

Try some super lube thinned down with some 3 in 1. Seems to work better for me.
 
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GForceJunky

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Joined
Apr 18, 2011
Messages
562
I have a few of the thumbwheel 3/8 ratchets and they're great. They were for sale on eBay at a steal of a price for ages years back.

I ordered the 3/8" LP90 from the steals & deals and got it a few days ago. It has insanely high backdrag and is super stiff. It's odd because the flexhead LP90 I bought from the last steals & deals is buttery smooth. I'll have to take this one apart and lube it up properly and see if that helps.
 
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Loscaldazar

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Joined
Feb 23, 2013
Messages
2,385
GForceJunky said:
I have a few of the thumbwheel 3/8 ratchets and they're great. They were for sale on eBay at a steal of a price for ages years back.

I ordered the 3/8" LP90 from the steals & deals and got it a few days ago. It has insanely high backdrag and is super stiff. It's odd because the flexhead LP90 I bought from the last steals & deals is buttery smooth. I'll have to take this one apart and lube it up properly and see if that helps.
Click to expand...

My recent SK 3/8 drive LP90 was also pretty disappointing. They changed the springs used in them, and the new spring has like 50% more coils than the old and is way harder to compress.

Shame, because that old spring was exactly why I loved the 3/8 LP90s. They were the lowest back drag 3/8 ratchet I had tested and had great ratcheting feel. New ones are super stiff.

I also have not heard back from SK for my locking up 1/4 LP90 in almost 2 weeks. Simply no response from their warranty department.

At this point, I'm done with SK. I've bought 6 LP90s. Two were jamming out of the box, two had major chrome defects but worked, and two worked great and looked great. Not good odds. To make matters worse, I can't get anything warranted because I'm not getting responses to requests made both online through their website and via direct email to the address their Facebook gave me.

Back to my Snap On F80s, which is disappointing because I feel they aren't too great of ratchets either, but they at least all work and come free of major defects!
 
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Kscardsfan

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Apr 28, 2020
Messages
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Location
The Little Apple
GForceJunky said:
I have a few of the thumbwheel 3/8 ratchets and they're great. They were for sale on eBay at a steal of a price for ages years back.

I ordered the 3/8" LP90 from the steals & deals and got it a few days ago. It has insanely high backdrag and is super stiff. It's odd because the flexhead LP90 I bought from the last steals & deals is buttery smooth. I'll have to take this one apart and lube it up properly and see if that helps.
Click to expand...

The LP90 1/2” flex I got was damn near dry when it arrived. I’m to the point I open up every ratchet I buy regardless of manufacturer to check/add lube to the gear train now.
 
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D

Dzmax77

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Joined
Jan 16, 2021
Messages
401
Location
Milwaukee
So, those are the items I bought. The 3/8” Lp90 is nice but it seems a bit hard, not smooth. Ive seen some reviews on YouTube where guys had to add some additional tool grease around the gear.
 

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ThePostman

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Joined
Jan 13, 2020
Messages
410
Location
Virginia
Bought the flex head last run, I like it, the head is a little floppy, but, length and buttery smoothness is good used in pro setting. Got the bolt rattler, 12in extension, and the LP90. It came a little stiff, I threw it in atf overnight. I like it now for a fixed head. And still just stiff enough to put a cheater bar on, schedule 40
 
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GForceJunky

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Joined
Apr 18, 2011
Messages
562
Loscaldazar said:
My recent SK 3/8 drive LP90 was also pretty disappointing. They changed the springs used in them, and the new spring has like 50% more coils than the old and is way harder to compress.

Shame, because that old spring was exactly why I loved the 3/8 LP90s. They were the lowest back drag 3/8 ratchet I had tested and had great ratcheting feel. New ones are super stiff.

I also have not heard back from SK for my locking up 1/4 LP90 in almost 2 weeks. Simply no response from their warranty department.

At this point, I'm done with SK. I've bought 6 LP90s. Two were jamming out of the box, two had major chrome defects but worked, and two worked great and looked great. Not good odds. To make matters worse, I can't get anything warranted because I'm not getting responses to requests made both online through their website and via direct email to the address their Facebook gave me.

Back to my Snap On F80s, which is disappointing because I feel they aren't too great of ratchets either, but they at least all work and come free of major defects!
Click to expand...

Mine was completely dry. I took it apart, cleaned it, lubed it, and it still has ridiculous backdrag. It's a lot smoother and easier to turn than it was when I got it but it's still ridiculous how stiff it is. What's the use of 90 teeth if you're just going to loosen whatever you're trying to tighten every time you rotate the ratchet because the backdrag is so high. I have a number of SK ratchets though only 2 LP90's and the other ratchets/thumbwheels are way more pleasant to use.

I've been itching to try Ko-Ken and Nepros so this may be the push I need to give them a go. I don't have easy access to any tool truck branded stuff so I just avoid it.

Do you know if you can get the older springs anywhere?

Kscardsfan said:
The LP90 1/2” flex I got was damn near dry when it arrived. I’m to the point I open up every ratchet I buy regardless of manufacturer to check/add lube to the gear train now.
Click to expand...

See above, but my straight 3/8" LP90 was bone dry. Wouldn't be surprised if my flex 3/8" LP90 is as well, though that performed okay right out of the box. Seems like everything nowadays ships without a trace of grease or lube in it. Quite frustrating!

ThePostman said:
Bought the flex head last run, I like it, the head is a little floppy, but, length and buttery smoothness is good used in pro setting. Got the bolt rattler, 12in extension, and the LP90. It came a little stiff, I threw it in atf overnight. I like it now for a fixed head. And still just stiff enough to put a cheater bar on, schedule 40
Click to expand...

Did the ATF soak make that much of a difference? Do you clean them off and then lube with something else after the soak?
 
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ThePostman

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Joined
Jan 13, 2020
Messages
410
Location
Virginia
GForceJunky said:
Did the ATF soak make that much of a difference? Do you clean them off and then lube with something else after the soak?
Click to expand...

I did nothing to the flex head, it works just fine in the condition I received it. The soak in atf was for the new fixed handle that came a little stiff, threw it in a mason jar and submerged the head overnight. Wiped it off and let whatever makes it way out. It loosened it a bit. I wanted something slightly stiffer in a fixed head, your needs may be different
 
A

anndel

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Joined
Oct 28, 2015
Messages
3,270
Location
Hawaii, USA
Loscaldazar said:
My recent SK 3/8 drive LP90 was also pretty disappointing. They changed the springs used in them, and the new spring has like 50% more coils than the old and is way harder to compress.

Shame, because that old spring was exactly why I loved the 3/8 LP90s. They were the lowest back drag 3/8 ratchet I had tested and had great ratcheting feel. New ones are super stiff.

I also have not heard back from SK for my locking up 1/4 LP90 in almost 2 weeks. Simply no response from their warranty department.

At this point, I'm done with SK. I've bought 6 LP90s. Two were jamming out of the box, two had major chrome defects but worked, and two worked great and looked great. Not good odds. To make matters worse, I can't get anything warranted because I'm not getting responses to requests made both online through their website and via direct email to the address their Facebook gave me.

Back to my Snap On F80s, which is disappointing because I feel they aren't too great of ratchets either, but they at least all work and come free of major defects!
Click to expand...

Love my Snap-ons and hated the 5 LP90s I bought. They're so short for any kind or leverage so I sold 3 of them and gave away the rest. Now SK makes longer versions but I'm done with their ratchets. Love their sockets, breaker bars and screwdrivers though.
 
B

Bradc1989

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Messages
162
Location
Middle tn
Loscaldazar said:
My recent SK 3/8 drive LP90 was also pretty disappointing. They changed the springs used in them, and the new spring has like 50% more coils than the old and is way harder to compress.

Shame, because that old spring was exactly why I loved the 3/8 LP90s. They were the lowest back drag 3/8 ratchet I had tested and had great ratcheting feel. New ones are super stiff.

I also have not heard back from SK for my locking up 1/4 LP90 in almost 2 weeks. Simply no response from their warranty department.

At this point, I'm done with SK. I've bought 6 LP90s. Two were jamming out of the box, two had major chrome defects but worked, and two worked great and looked great. Not good odds. To make matters worse, I can't get anything warranted because I'm not getting responses to requests made both online through their website and via direct email to the address their Facebook gave me.

Back to my Snap On F80s, which is disappointing because I feel they aren't too great of ratchets either, but they at least all work and come free of major defects!
Click to expand...

Give the Proto precision 90 a try. I love mine. Use almost exclusively Proto for drive tools and wrenches at work as a multi craft industrial maintenance tech, personal tools not company supplied.

That said, I went ahead and picked up the lp90 to try out at home, was going to get another Proto for the house but for $52 I figured I’d try the sk and see if I got a good one
 
OP
D

Dzmax77

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 16, 2021
Messages
401
Location
Milwaukee
Mavsman said:
I got an LP90 flex head about a month ago. It arrived dry with a stiff selector. I lubed it up with some 3 in one, but it's still a bit still. Hopefully it gets better with time.
Click to expand...

I also put 3 in 1 oil behind the gear and some grease on the gear itself and its still a bit stiff. I saw a YouTube video of a guy who stretched the spring and he said it made it better.

 
G

gatewaysysop

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
3,299
Location
Arizona
Loscaldazar said:
My recent SK 3/8 drive LP90 was also pretty disappointing. They changed the springs used in them, and the new spring has like 50% more coils than the old and is way harder to compress.

Shame, because that old spring was exactly why I loved the 3/8 LP90s. They were the lowest back drag 3/8 ratchet I had tested and had great ratcheting feel. New ones are super stiff.

I also have not heard back from SK for my locking up 1/4 LP90 in almost 2 weeks. Simply no response from their warranty department.

At this point, I'm done with SK. I've bought 6 LP90s. Two were jamming out of the box, two had major chrome defects but worked, and two worked great and looked great. Not good odds. To make matters worse, I can't get anything warranted because I'm not getting responses to requests made both online through their website and via direct email to the address their Facebook gave me.
Click to expand...

Ugh. Lost track of how many times I've heard this now about the ratchets and the customer service. You can get someone on the phone with SK relatively easily, but if it's anything like my experience, they will claim this is the first they ever heard about problems with their tools and that your best option is to send it in and give them four weeks to process once it arrives.

As I said before, and will repeat again here, I'm done with SK's new stuff. Love the older stuff I have, but would not buy anything newly produced, since they have some of the worst QC, no pride in their product and, evidently, no customer service on their warranties either. Not worth the hassle at any price point.
 
M

M635_Guy

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Joined
Dec 5, 2019
Messages
4,336
Location
NC
The 1/4" flex head I got today seems great. Only got to work it around a bit, but the mechanism feels perfect!
 
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