Two 1/4" drive ratchets I picked up from Frank a little while ago, along with two Koken x Wiha 1/4" drive ratchets that arrived last week:
In truth I wanted to like both of them more than I do. Zeal is my fault - I simply didn't notice how short it was, even though that information was freely out there. That limits its utility for me, because the tininess makes it awkward to use. Two more inches and it would be a solid endgame.
Nepros I bought thinking it would be my endgame 1/4" ratchet, used variously stubby, with the Stahlwille breaker bar as shown above, or on a Felo Ergonic spinner handle. It's a very good tool but not my favorite. The mechanism is good but I prefer Koken's feel. The square on the back grips like nothing else. I tried using it with my Felo spinner handle, and had to punch it out. Same deal when I tried cascading it on the Zeal's square. I ordered the Stahlwille QR spinner handle to use with it. Others have mentioned the socket wobbles a bit on the square. That seems common on 1/4" drive QRs.
Koken x Wihas I discovered on GJ a while ago, and managed to find on a German site a couple weeks ago. They are exactly as I expected: IMO the best ratcheting mechanism, and a very good handle that may not quite be as good as Felo Ergonic but still feels great in the hand.
Does anyone know how hard it is to remove and replace the flex head on a Koken ratchet? I'm thinking about swapping out the QR head on one of those Koken x Wiha's with a Koken bit ratchet head. They're dimensionally the same, and have the same teeth. Zeal has a ball detent, so I don't think it is compatible.
In truth I wanted to like both of them more than I do. Zeal is my fault - I simply didn't notice how short it was, even though that information was freely out there. That limits its utility for me, because the tininess makes it awkward to use. Two more inches and it would be a solid endgame.
Nepros I bought thinking it would be my endgame 1/4" ratchet, used variously stubby, with the Stahlwille breaker bar as shown above, or on a Felo Ergonic spinner handle. It's a very good tool but not my favorite. The mechanism is good but I prefer Koken's feel. The square on the back grips like nothing else. I tried using it with my Felo spinner handle, and had to punch it out. Same deal when I tried cascading it on the Zeal's square. I ordered the Stahlwille QR spinner handle to use with it. Others have mentioned the socket wobbles a bit on the square. That seems common on 1/4" drive QRs.
Koken x Wihas I discovered on GJ a while ago, and managed to find on a German site a couple weeks ago. They are exactly as I expected: IMO the best ratcheting mechanism, and a very good handle that may not quite be as good as Felo Ergonic but still feels great in the hand.
Does anyone know how hard it is to remove and replace the flex head on a Koken ratchet? I'm thinking about swapping out the QR head on one of those Koken x Wiha's with a Koken bit ratchet head. They're dimensionally the same, and have the same teeth. Zeal has a ball detent, so I don't think it is compatible.

I wonder how long Wiha offered them for. 














