Tekton 3/8 Drive 18" Handle Ratchet

stratman977 · Jul 23, 2013

I see there has been a lot of talk about Tekton tools lately and I have been really curious about this ratchet. I have been talking myself out of buying it until today when I gave in. It's cheap enough anyway. I'm torn on it the 18" length in 3/8 will be awesome or annoying.

I was thinking it might be nice for a junkyard box or my car emergency box cause I generally only carry up to 19mm in 3/8 drive unless i'm looking for something specific but i'm thinking the length will help with that really rusted bolt at the junkyard.

I already have a bunch of breaker bars and a 24" flex head snap on in 1/2 drive so i'm not looking for recommendations just what you guys think gimmick or useful?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DPLNLDY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

mech-tech · Jul 23, 2013

In that length, I would prefer a flex head ratchet

stratman977 · Jul 23, 2013

I'm the opposite of you. I would rather use a straight handle unless I had a specific need for the flex head. I could see where the straight handle this long will be hard to fit in some places though.

mech-tech · Jul 23, 2013

Yeah, I usually use long ratchets on serpentine belts, or stuborn bolts, that why. Flex heads do have their draw backs though, like bolt heads that are thin that make the ratchet head flex out of place.

Hootbro · Jul 25, 2013

I received this ratchet yesterday and the thing is nice. Have not had time to turn with it, but it seems like a quality piece.

Hootbro · Jul 25, 2013

Here some pics of the TEKTON ratchet I took with a Snap On FLL80 next to it for a reference.

Hiball · Jul 25, 2013

Nice pics, let us know how it works for you, I have the Ez red comfort grip set and find the mechanism drag extremely disappointing.

Hootbro · Jul 25, 2013

Hiball said:
Nice pics, let us know how it works for you, I have the Ez red comfort grip set and find the mechanism drag extremely disappointing.

Thanks. I plan to take it work and use it there for a few weeks to put it through it's paces. Primarily bought it for my home box as I was tired of taking home my Snap On FLL80 on occasion.

The drag on mine was actually pretty smooth as received even though it was dry and void of lube. I lubed it with some DuPont Krytox synthetic light grease and now it is just as smooth as the Snap On Dual 80 mechanism.

I know the COO Nazi's will not like it but I have to say finish of this ratchet new is way nicer than the Snap On. The knurling on the handle is also nice and crisp and feels good in the hand.

agpatel · Jul 25, 2013

Mechanism looks similar to the Kobalt 3/8 flex that are on clearance, when I got mine I packed it full of super-lube and is very quite and back drag was reduced significantly. Tekton stuff is not that bad for the price, have few of there items and service is great. Broke a few torx bits and they sent new ones out the next day.

Hootbro · Jul 25, 2013

agpatel said:
Mechanism looks similar to the Kobalt 3/8 flex that are on clearance, when I got mine I packed it full of super-lube and is very quite and back drag was reduced significantly. Tekton stuff is not that bad for the price, have few of there items and service is great. Broke a few torx bits and they sent new ones out the next day.

The TEXTON, Kobalt, EZ-Red and few other brands with this style of mechanism seem to have a common parentage making them all. I have the Kobalt flex also and thought the same thing and imagine the parts interchange.

As to the TEXTON stuff, I have bought a few pieces to fill in some holes in my tools at home and overall have been impressed with what I have used. Did have a couple of warranty issues and they have bent over backwards with sending replacements.

stratman977 · Jul 25, 2013

I got mine today. I wailed on it pretty good changing blades on a john deere mower deck. I'm impressed that the handle doesn't really flex when you put some muscle into it.

It's not as heavy as I expected which is a good thing. It's decently maneuverable with one hand.

ken w. · Jul 25, 2013

I ordered one for my road box. I'll give it a workout.

jmm · Jul 25, 2013

Hootbro said:
The TEXTON, Kobalt, EZ-Red and few other brands with this style of mechanism seem to have a common parentage making them all.

Titan too, right? That head looks familiar.

cole_CT · Jul 25, 2013

The mechanism does indeed seem identical to the Kobalt 3/8 mechanism in both my flex head and regular length Kobalt ratchets. Based on those pictures it seems to have a nice finish! good buy I'm pretty confident you guys who got that Tekton won't be disappointed.

DS_03 · Jul 25, 2013

Tekton - mfg by MiT which makes a lot of Husky stuff too

Hootbro · Jul 26, 2013

jmm said:
Titan too, right? That head looks familiar.

I would say Titan also.

DS_03 said:
Tekton - mfg by MiT which makes a lot of Husky stuff too

AFAIK, MIT is just the parent import company that owns and imports in for the TEKTON brand. To my knowledge, MIT does not own any direct manufacturing facilities, they just contract and import tools under their label.

SMKS · Jul 26, 2013

Hootbro said:
AFAIK, MIT is just the parent import company that owns and imports in for the TEKTON brand. To my knowledge, MIT does not own any direct manufacturing facilities, they just contract and import tools under their label.

This.

A guess to the actual OEM could be Rotar. Some of the Toptul ratchets look very similar, but with a couple minor differences.

Heck, they could be made by a company that only does private-label work and it's someone none of us tool nerds have every heard of.

Conductor562 · Jul 26, 2013

Yep. Rotar makes the 3rd gen Kobalt, Titan, and several others.

I was sure that Tekton rats were Rotar made, but Dave R. insist they aren't coming from the same place. We actually had a discussion about it in a thread several months ago, but I don't remember the title.

Here's a Kobalt/Titan comparrison

ChevyEFI · Jul 26, 2013

Speaking of Titan and long 3/8" ratchets, this one is 13.25" according the N. Tool Q&A section, but I haven't bit. Yet.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001TIPOBC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Hootbro said:
Here some pics of the TEKTON ratchet I took with a Snap On FLL80 next to it for a reference.

If you ever have time to measure the Dual-80 square/gear piece, I'd really appreciate it.

Hiball · Jul 26, 2013

Hootbro said:
The drag on mine was actually pretty smooth as received even though it was dry and void of lube. I lubed it with some DuPont Krytox synthetic light grease and now it is just as smooth as the Snap On Dual 80 mechanism.

I know the COO Nazi's will not like it but I have to say finish of this ratchet new is way nicer than the Snap On. The knurling on the handle is also nice and crisp and feels good in the hand.

Agreed, Mine came Bone dry also, I did try and Lube them and while it felt 100% better the first time I had it dropped in a Hole trying to remove a Bolt, it did great till the bolt loosened up. Then it just seemed to have too much friction on the Back swing and instead of giving me more room for bite, It simply threaded the bolt back in.. Obviously that was just 1 application where I had issues and doesn't represent the tool as a Whole, but it was interesting because when I grabbed my 10" SK it happily obliged and since it seemed like a great place to test other brands I re-tightened the bolt and tried just about every Ratchet I could find that would allow me to reach the Fastener. It wasn't a Sanctioned test, Just simply 1 mans experience. Ill Agree, A lot of the Chrome that comes from overseas is Very Shiny, As a Tool connoisseur ive owned/own probably just about every brand out there domestic and Import and its pretty blatant difference out of the Box. I know in the past we have had discussions over the type of Chroming process used here in the States versus the NON-Epa regulated parts of the World. The Majority of the that info just went over my Head as Im definitely no expert on Plating, but in the words of a Recent bumper sticker I seen..

"Chrome don't get you Home"

LOL..

GTO · Sep 19, 2013

I found this thread and want to comment on the Tekton Long Handled Ratchet.
I got mine a couple of weeks ago and used it for the first time over the weekend.(Not a pro wrench turner) I have and use Snap on extensions but noticed that they wont stay on with the quick release head on the ratchet.
Anyone else notice this or have the same problem.I got rid of all my non Snap on extensions.

cburnscrx · Sep 19, 2013

jmm said:
Titan too, right? That head looks familiar.

Nope. Whoever is making Titan is not making Kobalt/Tekton. They're very similar, but no parts will interchange. They even screw together differently. The selector switch on the Kobalt/Tekton uses a screw to keep it in place, the Titan does not. Also in that Kobalt/Tekton mix is the Harbor Freight flex ratchet. It too is the same.

Hootbro · Sep 19, 2013

GTO said:
I found this thread and want to comment on the Tekton Long Handled Ratchet.
I got mine a couple of weeks ago and used it for the first time over the weekend.(Not a pro wrench turner) I have and use Snap on extensions but noticed that they wont stay on with the quick release head on the ratchet.
Anyone else notice this or have the same problem.I got rid of all my non Snap on extensions.

I will check my later tonight and let you know.

sk farmer · Sep 19, 2013

there is a lot of stuff out there that looks similar and has nice bling as hiball said. some of it works and some doesn't. tekton is just a fancy name for mit which means you can probably get something just as good or better at harbor freight and it will have a better warranty. they may have a few gems in the lineup but i doubt it.

Dave.R · Sep 19, 2013

GTO said:
I found this thread and want to comment on the Tekton Long Handled Ratchet.
I got mine a couple of weeks ago and used it for the first time over the weekend.(Not a pro wrench turner) I have and use Snap on extensions but noticed that they wont stay on with the quick release head on the ratchet.
Anyone else notice this or have the same problem.I got rid of all my non Snap on extensions.

I've used most manufactures (Kobalt, Tekton, Koken, and Craftsman,) and I haven't noticed this issue. I don't have a Snap-On extension to compare it to, but I'll try to get it figured out. I wouldn't think it would be a big difference in the slotting technique. Does it fall right off or wiggle and kind of work past the detent ball?

If you can check out other extensions you have an let me know what happens, That's not an acceptable thing in my book and I'll get it straightened out either way. Feel free to e-mail me at [email protected], It's a quicker way to reach me.

Give me a shout, and I'll get you set. :thumbup:

stratman977 · Sep 19, 2013

I've used my 18" ratchet alot and don't think iv'e had this issue with any extensions Iv'e used. I have about a ton of extensions of different makes and probably have a snap on to try but I don't know.

I like using it because I already have my 3/8 sockets out and if I get a stubborn fastener that won't come out with my standard ratchet I just pop the 18" on and break it free.

Hootbro · Sep 19, 2013

GTO said:
I found this thread and want to comment on the Tekton Long Handled Ratchet.
I got mine a couple of weeks ago and used it for the first time over the weekend.(Not a pro wrench turner) I have and use Snap on extensions but noticed that they wont stay on with the quick release head on the ratchet.
Anyone else notice this or have the same problem.I got rid of all my non Snap on extensions.

Got home and checked mine against a Snap On FX2, FX18, FXK11 and a FXK6 extension and had the same issue as you. Snap On sockets do fit and lock in though.

I tried the ratchet against a Craftsman, Kobalt (Taiwan), Bonney and Allen brand extension and it worked fine with those.

What little I can tell, the ball on the ratchet is not engaging enough on the Snap On divots for the locking feature to engage.

FWIW, I checked the 1/2" driver version Tekton 15013 ratchet with some Snap On 1/2" drive extensions and they fit and locked fine.

Mohawk Dave · Jan 22, 2014

ok, so I like the soft-grip style handles.

Would you guys recommend the EZ-Red (72t) or the Titan(36t)?

Tekton 3/8 Drive 18" Handle Ratchet

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