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Heads up on Armstrong's version of the RHFT

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John316

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Just purchased an Armstrong 11-915 which is supposed to look like this:

0005963_300.jpg


Classic Round Head, Fine Tooth, Dual Pawl, Thumbwheel...all that.

But instead I got a ratchet with the same handle (marked 11-915) but with the same head as this:

00943175000-1


This a single pawl about 40 teeth and feels pretty cheap to me.

I called Armstrong and found out that they "changed" the 11-915 in 2011 to the below style, but have not updated the web or any information about this ratchet. The Armstrong site still shows the classic RHFT style for this part #, but unfortunately, it's history :(

I wanted to link to the site but it is down right now. Perhaps they are fixing it after I called ;-p

Of course, I am returning this ratchet. I can't imagine that a customer who expects to receive a dual pawl, thumbwheel, 80 click ratchet would be happy with this "new" (actually re-vomited) style.

I was looking forward to having a brand new RHFT, but oh well :dunno:
 
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bobcatdan

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That round head is danher standard go to POS ratchet. I never knew Armstrong had a rhft,that would be a nice ratchet.
 
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John316

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bobcatdan said:
That round head is danher standard go to POS ratchet. I never knew Armstrong had a rhft,that would be a nice ratchet.
Click to expand...

Yep. I realize this. When I spoke to Armstrong, they were like... "oh we just removed the quick release on that in 2011"..

.. yeah, whatever.

Well.. why keep the same part number? It's a completely different ratchet. Especially when you don't update your online info.
 
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O

otis66

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John316 said:
Just purchased an Armstrong 11-915 which is supposed to look like this:

0005963_300.jpg


Classic Round Head, Fine Tooth, Dual Pawl, Thumbwheel...all that.

But instead I got a ratchet with the same handle (marked 11-915) but with the same head as this:

772105_24596981_trimmed.jpg


This a single pawl about 40 teeth and feels pretty cheap to me.

I called Armstrong and found out that they "changed" the 11-915 in 2011 to the below style, but have not updated the web or any information about this ratchet. The Armstrong site still shows the classic RHFT style for this part #, but unfortunately, it's history :(

I wanted to link to the site but it is down right now. Perhaps they are fixing it after I called ;-p

Of course, I am returning this ratchet. I can't imagine that a customer who expects to receive a dual pawl, thumbwheel, 80 click ratchet would be happy with this "new" (actually re-vomited) style.

I was looking forward to having a brand new RHFT, but oh well :dunno:
Click to expand...

The bottom ratchet was a cheaper Craftsman ratchet a while back, Sold for $10.00 off rack or came with cheaper tool sets. . Grainger also has that ratchet in there "Craftsman Industrial" tools catalog.Thanks for the heads up. Looks like Armstrong Tools is going down the toilet like craftsman tools.http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/CRAFTSMAN-INDUSTRIAL-Round-Head-Ratchet-5ZFR7?Pid=search
 
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bsaint

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Nah I think they are just separating their lines better. I just got my dad a really nice armstrong ratchet the other week.
 
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otis66

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bsaint said:
Nah I think they are just separating their lines better. I just got my dad a really nice armstrong ratchet the other week.
Click to expand...

Why would they need two Industrial brands of tools. I've already seen less and less Armstrong tools at Grainger. I used to buy Proto Tools from Grainger but it looks like Proto was discontinued at Grainger too.
 
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Skin

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otis66 said:
The bottom ratchet was a cheaper Craftsman ratchet a while back, Sold for $10.00 off rack or came with cheaper tool sets. . Grainger also has that ratchet in there "Craftsman Industrial" tools catalog.Thanks for the heads up. Looks like Armstrong Tools is going down the toilet like craftsman tools.http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/CRAFTSMAN-INDUSTRIAL-Round-Head-Ratchet-5ZFR7?Pid=search
Click to expand...

I believe you're confusing the armstrong ratchet with the craptastic "tri-wing" ratchets. The Armstrong is US made and done inhouse. The tri-wings were cheap ratchets as you said made under contract and supplied by Stanley back when they were still making tools for Craftsman. This is the piece of junk in question, not to be confused with the Armstrong model.

43796_stubby.jpg
 
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John316

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BajaBound said:
I love my 44977 and I would kill to have a long handle flex RHFT
Click to expand...

I really love RHFT ratchets and have them in many flavors and I thought this too.... until I got one. As much as I love RHFTs I really did not care for it in flex. The head is too big and I just did not like the feel as compared to a pear head. There are soo many nice flex head ratchets on the market.
Plus.. it's worth too much to ebay collectors for me to enjoy using it :lol:

I played with it for a few weeks and quickly sold it for like $140 or something like that.... Enough for a brand new Snapon FLF80 with change back.
 
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John316

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Skin said:
I believe you're confusing the armstrong ratchet with the craptastic "tri-wing" ratchets. The Armstrong is US made and done inhouse. The tri-wings were cheap ratchets as you said made under contract and supplied by Stanley back when they were still making tools for Craftsman. This is the piece of junk in question, not to be confused with the Armstrong model.

43796_stubby.jpg
Click to expand...


Not sure, but FYI the second pic in my OP is actually a craftsman ratchet.
http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-...sName=Ratchets&prdNo=6&blockNo=6&blockType=L6
00943175000-1
 
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Skin

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John316 said:
Not sure, but FYI the second pic in my OP is actually a craftsman ratchet.
Click to expand...

Yes, im just pointing out that i think people would easily confuse the junky tri-wings of old with these given the similarities of the design. The handles and of course the 3 "wings" are all similar. I dont believe the newer Armstrong/Craftsman versions to be of the same poor quality. The fact that they share designs between the brands isnt news at all.
 
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otis66

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Skin said:
I believe you're confusing the armstrong ratchet with the craptastic "tri-wing" ratchets. The Armstrong is US made and done inhouse. The tri-wings were cheap ratchets as you said made under contract and supplied by Stanley back when they were still making tools for Craftsman. This is the piece of junk in question, not to be confused with the Armstrong model.

43796_stubby.jpg
Click to expand...

No I'm not confused. That ratchet was USA Craftsman round head no quick release. I believe I still have a 1/4" drive version someplace...I'll try and post pic's. The Allen Tools version was a tool set at my job, same ratchet.
 
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Kyle86

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Dang. Guess I will never get to buy a RHFT ratchet for a reasonable price.
 
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Mickey O

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Hiball said:
Welcome to Apex tool group..
Click to expand...

That's exactly what it is, those guys haven't seen a tool company they couldn't destroy.


I remember dealing directly with Armstrong many years ago (we had them make our company custom tools) long before Danaher and later Apex Tool Group and the folks running the place (still the Armstrong family) knew their tools and this type of **** wouldn't have happened.
 
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filtered

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I have a full set of them like the ones in the top pic they are nice but I hardly ever use them. I got mine from eBay.
 
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bobcatdan

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Just wondering if anybody has ran into this. I have two master mechanic 3/8" rhft I got somewhere. They work but both have some much wobble between the head and guts, they are not much good. Has anybody had one like this and tried rebuilding it? Will new guts help, or is the casting too worn to make a difference. I'm leaning towards the second option, but I have been wrong before.
 
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John316

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bobcatdan said:
Just wondering if anybody has ran into this. I have two master mechanic 3/8" rhft I got somewhere. They work but both have some much wobble between the head and guts, they are not much good. Has anybody had one like this and tried rebuilding it? Will new guts help, or is the casting too worn to make a difference. I'm leaning towards the second option, but I have been wrong before.
Click to expand...

Usually when this happens with an RHFT is because the springs in the mechanism lose tension over a long period of time. I would remove the mechanism assembly, then clean and inspect the teeth (which are part of the handle). If the teeth look good, grab a rebuild kit and it will be good as new.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Allen-11908...146?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a62eaf3b2
 
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stratman977

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bobcatdan said:
Just wondering if anybody has ran into this. I have two master mechanic 3/8" rhft I got somewhere. They work but both have some much wobble between the head and guts, they are not much good. Has anybody had one like this and tried rebuilding it? Will new guts help, or is the casting too worn to make a difference. I'm leaning towards the second option, but I have been wrong before.
Click to expand...

I have a 1/4" inch easco version with slop like you describe. The kit made it nice and tight like new.
 
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