This Milwaukee 3/8" hand ratchet *****

[AJHD]

Made a video showing the trouble I've been having with this Milwaukee 3/8" ratchet (Part #48-22-9038). The selector constantly moves on its own with very little force applied to the anvil side of the ratchet head. The selector will either change directions or get stuck all together.

I bought this 3/8" set on sale for $50 last year when I was still working at Home Depot. I've never really used it, and this is one reason why.

Sorry for the fan noise in the background, it's very hot in the desert this time of year.

Video:

 

[Ton ton]

Thanks for the review. I appreciate people taking the time to leave negative reviews.

 

[AJHD]

Thanks for the review. I appreciate people taking the time to leave negative reviews.

You're welcome. Not sure if your comment was sarcastic or not, but my post is not meant to be taken as negative. It's meant to demonstrate an issue. And it's disappointing. These tools from HD normally sell for around $100 for the smaller kits (like this one) and the ratchet itself sells for $40 (same ratchet included in multiple of the Milwaukee kits like this one).

What if I bought this kit and had no other ratchets? Or used it for a kit to keep in the car and had to use it one day on the side of the road? The ratchet is practically unusable at worst, and at best it's obnoxiously annoying.

By the way, yes, I reached out to Milwaukee, but I've yet to receive a response.

 

[Neggy]

did you take it apart and look for a chip or debris and give it a dab of white grease?

 

[McGR]

Proudly made in Milwaukee, China.

Maybe those tools made in Pittsburgh might be better?

 

[Ton ton]

My comment is not intended to be sarcastic. I don't really like Milwaukee.

 

[PelicanPines]

Japan has quality ratchets...

 

[AJHD]

did you take it apart and look for a chip or debris and give it a dab of white grease?

Actually, yes. That was the first thing I did. I disassembled the ratchet, cleaned it and used SuperLube to regrease. My video was actually filmed after I did that, and I experienced no change.

My suspicion lies with the selector switch spring/detent. I think it's simply not strong enough to prevent the selector mechanism to move when pressure is applied in the opposite direction. Or the detent is not fully engaging the selector mechanism.

I'm not sure if Milwaukee has any updated designs or maybe an update parts/repair kit available. Thankfully this is just a spare set I've never really used. It just sits in that red case, I only put it on that socket organizer for demonstration purposes.

 

[Fedwrench]

have you contacted Milwaukee customer service? I'm surprised you're having issues with the ratchet. The ratchets tested strong on you tube destruction videos and most people seem to be happy with them. Have you taken it apart to inspect it?

 

[gatewaysysop]

Another brand to avoid for ratchets I guess!

Thanks for sharing your experience with the manufacturer too, another reason to avoid Milwaukee. Produce a **** product AND not stand behind it? Yeah that's a no.

 

[KnurledNut]

@gatewaysysop
Maybe it would work better if he used it with Mac extensions....just a thought...

 

[mc4life27]

yeah im not a fan of their ratchets either. way to heavy in the handle and its a pta to quickly change directions when you have greese hands. i still like my snappy dual 80 better.

 

[dnschmidt]

Just a point. I have damn near every M12 and M18 tool made and I think they're great. SO WHY WOULD I THINK THAT MILWAUKEE COULD MAKE HAND TOOLS just because they've got cordless tools figured out? What technology is shared between these lines. From what I can tell NOTHING. Anybody that buys cordless tools from Snap-On seems to be a fool to me as they haven't the faintest idea as to how to make cordless tools. Works both ways. Companies should stay with what they know.

 

[merkyworks]

I think this is true for a lot of companies that try and cover every tool sector. Just cause “Company XYZ” makes great “A“ doesn’t mean they make great “B”.

 

[AJHD]

For anyone interested, I got an unexpected e-mail this morning from Milwaukee.
They got the e-mail I sent to them on the 5th and they are sending me a new 3/8" ratchet.

The only funny thing is they said "hopefully, should ship within the next 14-21 business days."
Glad it's not a time sensitive issue. But they didn't ask for the old back.

 

[allinon72]

Milwaukee hand tools are still in their infancy so I expect a few duds here and there. However, they have a reputation for standing behind their products and generally have very good engineering behind them, so I think the future looks bright. I just bought the 1/4” and 3/8” stubbies, look forward to trying them out.

 

[AJHD]

Milwaukee hand tools are still in their infancy so I expect a few duds here and there. However, they have a reputation for standing behind their products and generally have very good engineering behind them, so I think the future looks bright. I just bought the 1/4” and 3/8” stubbies, look forward to trying them out.

I'm hoping more of their hand tools to find their ways into the local HD stores. I'm not opposed to them. Their newer line of ratchets and impact sockets have my interest. I'd just prefer to buy them local if possible.

The store I worked at used to have more than they have now. They reset that bay sometime around mid-2020 shortly before I left and 86'd a handful of the Milwaukee tools with it.

 

[allinon72]

I'm hoping more of their hand tools to find their ways into the local HD stores. I'm not opposed to them. Their newer line of ratchets and impact sockets have my interest. I'd just prefer to buy them local if possible.

The store I worked at used to have more than they have now. They reset that bay sometime around mid-2020 shortly before I left and 86'd a handful of the Milwaukee tools with it.

Agreed - but it looks like HD is moving towards Gearwrench for their non-Husky line, as ratchets and socket sets are making their way onto the shelves.

 

[Kscardsfan]

I think this is true for a lot of companies that try and cover every tool sector. Just cause “Company XYZ” makes great “A“ doesn’t mean they make great “B”.

We used to have companies whose entire product line was geared towards a specific trade or product and they excelled at it. Now everyone wants to be a sole source, mega conglomerate for every conceivable product they can sell. It kind of ***** in some ways.

 

[AJHD]

I wanted to make a update for anyone who might care... Milwaukee was true to their word and sent me a replacement ratchet which arrived over the weekend. A mysterious UPS package showed up on my doorstep and it said Milwaukee on the box...

Sure enough, it was the replacement 3/8" ratchet. Good news is it doesn't seem to have the same issues as the original ratchet did. It's very much a spare tool that will see little use, but I'll need to use it and see how it holds up.

I'm happy Milwaukee honored their warranty and offered a replacement free of charge, no questions asked and didn't even ask me to send in the defective ratchet first or in return for a replacement...

But I will have to criticize them for their speed of service. It took a few weeks for them to get back to me, and it took a few more weeks for the replacement ratchet to show up. Almost a 2 month turn around in total from initial contact to replacement.

 

[Xcursion88]

I wanted to make a update for anyone who might care... Milwaukee was true to their word and sent me a replacement ratchet which arrived over the weekend. A mysterious UPS package showed up on my doorstep and it said Milwaukee on the box...

Sure enough, it was the replacement 3/8" ratchet. Good news is it doesn't seem to have the same issues as the original ratchet did. It's very much a spare tool that will see little use, but I'll need to use it and see how it holds up.

I'm happy Milwaukee honored their warranty and offered a replacement free of charge, no questions asked and didn't even ask me to send in the defective ratchet first or in return for a replacement...

But I will have to criticize them for their speed of service. It took a few weeks for them to get back to me, and it took a few more weeks for the replacement ratchet to show up. Almost a 2 month turn around in total from initial contact to replacement.

C
O
V
I
D

Is still controlling the clock.

I think it's utterly ridiculous but it's impact is still going on.

 

[Kscardsfan]

I wanted to make a update for anyone who might care... Milwaukee was true to their word and sent me a replacement ratchet which arrived over the weekend. A mysterious UPS package showed up on my doorstep and it said Milwaukee on the box...

Sure enough, it was the replacement 3/8" ratchet. Good news is it doesn't seem to have the same issues as the original ratchet did. It's very much a spare tool that will see little use, but I'll need to use it and see how it holds up.

I'm happy Milwaukee honored their warranty and offered a replacement free of charge, no questions asked and didn't even ask me to send in the defective ratchet first or in return for a replacement...

But I will have to criticize them for their speed of service. It took a few weeks for them to get back to me, and it took a few more weeks for the replacement ratchet to show up. Almost a 2 month turn around in total from initial contact to replacement.

I’m trying to be patient/remind myself that everything and everyone is out of whack right now. From restaurants to hardware stores to rock quarries, everywhere I go right now is short staffed and low on inventory. When our dryer started acting up a few weeks ago I legitimately got nervous that we were going to be up a creek needing parts or a new machine. Thankfully it was just a switch, but I was still nervous as hell until he swapped it out and got it running.

 

[AJHD]

While I can't rule out Covid, but I don't think that was the cause of the delay.
Regardless, I don't care. It's not a high priority item.