Tekton/Gearwrench

RCStocker · Apr 6, 2013

Are the Tekton and Gearwrench swivel head ratchets the same? They look the same except for the soft handle grip.

I have had great luck with Gerwrench tools. I have all kinds and never had one fail.

There is a huge difference in price between both brands. I don't need them but I was going to add a set to my collection. If they are the same I will go with the Tekton becaue they are about $28 cheaper for the 1/4 and 3/8" pair.

I have the new Gearwrench 84 tooth 3 piece set and I really like them. They sure are nice in tight places and seem like they will hold up well. At least for what I do.

Then again after over 60 years of using ratchets I have never had one break or ware out. I have picked up some that I have had serviced but I have never broken one.

shoturtle · Apr 6, 2013

I think the gearwrench is made in taiwan and the tekton in china I believe. But they are very similar but it selector switch are different. The tekton is a quick release. Both are 72T ratchets. It is most likely easier to get in touch with gearwrench and warranty them if they have a problem. You can go to sears or fastnal.

rusty65 · Apr 6, 2013

I heard the gear wrench roto head ratchets are kinda fragile so maybe also check out sks roto heads from what I have heard they are very strong. I have never seen the tekton but the tools I have seen from them don't exactly give me confidence in their strength.

RCStocker · Apr 7, 2013

rusty65 said:
I heard the gear wrench roto head ratchets are kinda fragile so maybe also check out sks roto heads from what I have heard they are very strong. I have never seen the tekton but the tools I have seen from them don't exactly give me confidence in their strength.

I have been very happy with all my gearwrench ratcheting wrenches. I figured the new ratchets would be very good. I have read great review on them. My first choise is SK. I have all their wrenches and sockets. I have them all in Snap-on but I still grab my SK tools when they are on hand. Thanks I will look into SK

Dave.R · Apr 8, 2013

Hey Guys,

The TEKTON ones are from Taiwan not China, And I'm always around to get in contact with either PM, E-mail or phone.

I have both and like them both, Can't really knock one or another but I can say you can get a hold of me or anyone else pretty easy, and we don't give the run around that you can get sometimes. I do like the quick release function if my hands are all greasy. I don't care when or where or who you bought it from.

To me Lifetime Warranty doesn't have an asterisk on it.

5mall5nail5 · Apr 8, 2013

Dave R do you own/run TEKTON?

Dave.R · Apr 8, 2013

5mall5nail5 said:
Dave R do you own/run TEKTON?

Nope, but I work for them. I do a lot of new product scouting, quality comparing / testing, and most technical support. I'm not a warranty guy, but I can get you guys taken care of if you have issues.

Gurp · Jul 11, 2014

Dave is killing customer service. Killing everyone else's reps. Way to go tekton lol

cheechi · Jul 11, 2014

You brought up a year old thread just to accuse him of murder?

btbsandman · Jul 12, 2014

Stevemopar47 · Aug 1, 2014

I have some gearwrench tools and tekton tools and so far no problems. Have had gearwrench tools much longer than the tektons. Still working great, did get the 84 tooth rebuild kit for my 3/8 drive long handled flex head ratchet just cause I wanted to change it from 60 teeth to 84 teeth . Really liking my stubby 3/8 low profile stubby ratchet, it's really comfortable and it's 72 tooth gear is pretty smooth. Only thing slightly negative thing I can say is that the chrome plating on both is pretty thin

Stevemopar47 · Aug 1, 2014

Other than the stubby 3/8 low profile ratchet , I also got a set of metric crows foot set from tekton, and a ten piece set of metric stubby wrenches. So far all are performing really well. The crows feet would be nicer if there were smoothed or polished better before the chrome plating. But I can't complain , they work well and come at a good price

EricTheTireGuy · Oct 21, 2014

I had the same Teton vs Gearwrench roto ratchet question. By the power of Google I found this old thread! I can get a 3 pc Tekton 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 for the same price as a 2 pc Gearwrench set 1/4 and 3/8. $60

EricTheTireGuy · Oct 21, 2014

I read on another thread that there is only a small handful of manufacturers that make the Roto head ratchet.so, most likely they are made very similar if not the same. I would love to drop 125 on a snap on but I just can't seem to justify that much at this time.

dnschmidt · Oct 21, 2014

To me they are the same as the Harbor Freight roto ratchet. If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck it's probably a duck. For example Tekton is now selling plastic ratchets that are identical to the HF plastic ratchets. I have a lot of Tekton tools and have nothing bad to say about them other than the extended version of their diagonals pliers sucked (edges of the tool folded right over when trying to cut piano wire) their impact sockets have been great. With a HF next door to me that's were I'm going for a roto-ratchet.

Ign · Oct 21, 2014

No, I had the same question here and the Tekton is (er appears to be) Harbor Freight.

The Tekton's have noticeably more backdrag and quick release.

The GW's are a bit smoother and no quick release.

I JUST got the Tekton 3/8" in the mail today and I bought the 3/8" Husky at HD a couple days ago when I realized it was $15 (thanks to the forum). I paid $22.50 for the Tekton on Amazon, and as mentioned $15 for the Husky. The Husky is nicer IMO, and according to the forum it is GW.

If you really want the Tekton then price Harbor Freight units, it seems they're the same although I've not seen conclusive evidence of this? Maybe I've just missed it on the forum.

monomach · Oct 21, 2014

The Tekton is exactly the same as Pittsburgh Pro (HF), not Gearwrench.

I think the Tekton/HF is a lot smoother than the Gearwrench, but a lot of people disagree with me.

d.mcfarland · Oct 21, 2014

Isn't a lot of Tekton and HF the same? I think Tekton finds the HF jems and markets them better.

Parrothead · Oct 21, 2014

I think Tekton really headed in the right direction with their business model. Sure they're slightly more expensive than HF on some of the same items, but they're also selling some better tools then HF too. The pliers are now USA made by Wilde. Hard to beat that and they're not too expensive either. Plus there's the warranty. Now if we could just do something about those made in India combination wrenches. All that being said, I would not hesitate to purchase a Tekton tool.

Ign · Oct 21, 2014

Not that it helps much but pic of the Husky (supposed to be GW) and Tekton (supposed to be HF) here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4326987&postcount=18743

edit: FWIW I find the Husky soft handle much more comfortable and functional than the Tekton which is too bulbous and short.

dclassical · Oct 21, 2014

My experience with Tekton has been great. I have bought some tools on Amazon, one of them being a 1/4 extension set. The 3" extension was missing the little ball that holds the socket in place and Dave helped me with the warranty. Great service and the extensions are great.

I normally buy SK, but for some things I am trying Tekton (and also Gearwrench) and I am very happy so far.

rtole · Oct 21, 2014

EricTheTireGuy said:
I read on another thread that there is only a small handful of manufacturers that make the Roto head ratchet.so, most likely they are made very similar if not the same. I would love to drop 125 on a snap on but I just can't seem to justify that much at this time.

I have to say once you use a snap on, all other roto heads feel like ****. I am far far away from a gearwrench hater.........I have 5 times more gearwrench than snap on.......but the snap on rotoheads are 200 times better. The snap on dual 80 vs gearwrench 120 is very close, but the rotoheads......snap on is light years ahead. I have all the items I just talked about. I love gearwrench, but not as much in this case. I also had the hf rotohead. It was a steal for the price......but I gave it away. I have better.

Ign · Oct 21, 2014

So who makes the Snappy & is it available private label as a Bahco or ??

rtole · Oct 21, 2014

Ign said:
So who makes the Snappy & is it available private label as a Bahco or ??

I would imagine snap on makes it themselves. Mine are the old ones that are around 72 tooth. Im not sure......the new ones feel very nice and have more teeth. I tend to stick to tools I can feel before I buy........so I dont check much into williams or bahco much. I like to know someone before I buy tools there, just makes it easier. Sorry, I cant answer that. Someone here will know for sure. Thats not to say the gw or hf versions are unusable either. They are for sure......I put the hf version threw a 1 month tourture test of being my 1st grab everyday ratchet and it passed just fine. That included putting on a 21mm socket for chevy 4x4 alignments. It held up for a month just fine.....then it went to home use......then I gave it to a guy who still has it. I dont want to say snap on is the only game in town to get the job done...........but they are the nicest. Are they 115 dollars nicer? Only you can decide that. For me.......they are. I have also been in the business of auto repair for many years..........price is not always my first concern anymore. If you dont use it or need it everyday........the hf or gw versions will do very well.

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