Got my first Koken tools - ratchet is great except for one issue

[Lt CHEG]

I decided to take advantage of the SEMA discount code and got a couple things to try from Koken USA. I didn’t have any 1/2” drive wobble extensions so I decided to try their wobble plus type extensions in the fitted foam organizer. I also wanted to try one of their 72 tooth ratchets. I decided to try their comfort grip flex head that is right in between my Matco short flex and my Snap On comfort grip flex head. I have a ratchet addiction and can never have too many right? So the ratchet is undoubtedly super smooth. It’s also very small which I really like. As best I can tell there’s only one problem with it. The darn direction change lever is opposite every other ratchet I own with that style lever. Everything else seems like very high quality and I’m sure it’s going to be an awesome ratchet, but does this drive anyone else a little nuts too?

 

[dnschmidt]

No, basically being left-handed I'm sort of dyslexic and ambidextrous. Had to learn to use your damn right handed scissors now didn’t I?

 

[Fedwrench]

No because, I ignore the off/on, lefty loosey, righty tighty stuff stamped on the ratchet head and always check the ratchet rotation in my hand before using it. It's just me. I don't think I even look at the direct switch. Same applies for cordless ratchets.

 

[Madjik Man]

What’s the SEMA discount code? *whistle*

I have a $40 socket sitting in my cart…

 

[Tool Using Animal]

For me it's actually the correct way round. Lever to the left = turn left, lever to the right = turn right.

 

[M6erfan]

No because, I ignore the off/on, lefty loosey, righty tighty stuff stamped on the ratchet head and always check the ratchet rotation in my hand before using it. It's just me. I don't think I even look at the direct switch. Same applies for cordless ratchets.

^^^Yes

 

[General Geoff]

No because, I ignore the off/on, lefty loosey, righty tighty stuff stamped on the ratchet head and always check the ratchet rotation in my hand before using it.

This, always check direction before wrenching

 

[SweetD]

What’s the SEMA discount code? *whistle*

I have a $40 socket sitting in my cart…

Ko-Ken SEMA 20% off code

Go to kokenusa.com enter the code SEMA2022 for 20% off. I don't know when the code expires or if it's one item or your whole order. The booth person said they were doing a black Friday sale on 11/25/22 too.

www.garagejournal.com

 

[seber]

I have the same ratchet and the same problem. As good as this ratchet is, I don't use it for that reason.

 

[Lt CHEG]

I always double check which way the ratchet is turning as well, so this isn’t a functional complaint, merely an OCD one lol. I guess it just means that I’ll have to get some more of these ratchets so that there isn’t one lone standout. That should be the garage journal solution anyway right? In all seriousness, this does to be an impressive ratchet and I’m looking forward to using it. it really is incredibly smooth, and the ratchet head is quite small. I’ll be looking forward to additional offerings from Koken. I hope they make one of their 72 tooth 1/2” drive ratchets with a flexible head but around the overall length of a SnapOn non flex S80 ratchet.

 

[ronkz650]

I like the ratchets, but besides the different direction being "different" it seems in normal operation it's easy to inadvertently reverse the switch. For some reason much more for me at least than other ratchets.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

The only tools that I really insist on being consistent are my ratchets. I have a ton of Dual 80's and Armstrong 88's. Muscle memory saves a lot of frustration when doing something that already *****.

 

[Madjik Man]

Ko-Ken SEMA 20% off code

Go to kokenusa.com enter the code SEMA2022 for 20% off. I don't know when the code expires or if it's one item or your whole order. The booth person said they were doing a black Friday sale on 11/25/22 too.

www.garagejournal.com

Ironically I guessed the code but it appears to have expired because it didn’t discount it.

All good. I’ll wait another couple of weeks.

 

[Luciferi]

No, basically being left-handed I'm sort dyslexic and ambidextrous. Had to learn to use your damn right handed scissors now didn’t I?

They make left handed scissors.

I am left handed, I write left handed but do a mixture of things with either hand. I could never get comfortable cutting with left handed scissors in my left hand and have to use right handed ones with my right hand. It was annoying growing up as my mother is left handed and bought left handed scissors.

 

[dutchgray]

They make left handed scissors.

I am left handed, I write left handed but do a mixture of things with either hand. I could never get comfortable cutting with left handed scissors in my left hand and have to use right handed ones with my right hand. It was annoying growing up as my mother is left handed and bought left handed scissors.

Thats not the point if you're one of the unfortunate people who was forced to be right handed by the system, they used to tie left handed kids left hand behind their backs at schools to make them right handed.

 

[Squankum]

Thats not the point if you're one of the unfortunate people who was forced to be right handed by the system, they used to tie left handed kids left hand behind their backs at schools to make them right handed.

Heck, nuns hit my mom on the left hand with the narrow edge of a yardstick (back when yardsticks were hard!)

Back to ratchets, maybe it was because my average ol' Craftsman ratchets, which had quick release buttons and what I call "flippy levers", were not labeled, but I never even thought to remember which way was which and just checked. Now I have nicer things (both HF and SO) that have words on them and I look at them sometimes, but I've got no awareness of which brand does which direction how.

 

[BarryWells]

I'm not smart enough to remember much. I just us a breaker bar. Never an issue
I have a 330 x 1/2 x 24 tooth. If Smokey Yunick hand built a custom Proto...there ya go !
Super machinist tolerances, gunsmith honed pawls, spring kit,custom chrome and knurling.
They should call it the Koken Mako Magnum !

 

[Qualitytools]

I don’t pay attention to the selector on my ratchets. I just check the rotation and flip the selector or the mechanism if it’s not the way I need it.