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my favorite HF purchase this year

wild cowboy

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made in taiwan, could be mistaken for Snap-On fit & finish, reaches fasteners that were previously unreachable in some cars, with ANY tool, using 1/4" end

this the the smallest head and most slender 1/4" ratchet ever

HF# 67994 - $20.99 using 25% off coupon

image_9760.jpg
 
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Jarhead0408

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x2 That tool is pretty bad *** IMO. Made doing the timing belt on my Civic a breeze.

Great tool, great price, lifetime warranty. What's not to like?

Might just buy another one or two in case they ever stop producing them.
 

nicksnothereman

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made in taiwan, could be mistaken for Snap-On fit & finish, reaches fasteners that were previously unreachable in some cars, with ANY tool, using 1/4" end

this the the smallest head and most slender 1/4" ratchet ever

HF# 67994 - $20.99 using 25% off coupon

image_9760.jpg

I've seen this before. EZ-red? Wonder if it's the same.

Call it a "quarter stick" I think. This is cheaper though.
 

BirdMobile

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I've got one. It's super high quality and useful.
They also sell a short (about 6"), non-flex version... been thinking of buying one just for the super slim head thickness profile - should be an excellent low profile ratchet.
The only downside that I can see to these is that they don't appear to be disassemble-able for cleaning and lube. I soaked mine in ATF for a few days on each end to accomplish that.
 
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whyNick?

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I look at those every time I visit the store, the fit and finish is great and the drives ratchet nicely. Hmm, not sure why I haven't bought one yet...
 

stage20

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I use mine from time to time. Its handy in the right situation. The short nonflex is good for really tight spots too.
 

ex-x-fire

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I use one daily, the 3/8s side will take some torque. The pivot pin will wear & break over time, I had a reversing switch fall out of the second one. I'm on my 3rd one, useful tool but just keep your receipt.
 

bcradio

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I'll be the odd man out here and say I don't really care for mine. The ratchets are very nice and smooth, but the flex portion is terrible and bends WAY too easy. I tightened it up as much as possible and still no go. I even took the original 2 back and tried every single one in all stores in my area to find the tightest one. Bought that and tightened the screws, but still flops all over.

I will use it once in a while when I feel like fighting the flop, otherwise I have other tools that will work in it's place (never been in a situation where it was the only tool that would work).
 

BK13

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I bought my son and I one each of the non-flex shorter version. I don't really find it that useful...
 

Ign

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I'll be the odd man out here and say I don't really care for mine. The ratchets are very nice and smooth, but the flex portion is terrible and bends WAY too easy. I tightened it up as much as possible and still no go. I even took the original 2 back and tried every single one in all stores in my area to find the tightest one. Bought that and tightened the screws, but still flops all over.

I will use it once in a while when I feel like fighting the flop, otherwise I have other tools that will work in it's place (never been in a situation where it was the only tool that would work).

See, that's always my worry with anything flex that's non-locking. This thing is so long (relatively), if you're reaching it down into the abyss where you truly can't fit your hand behind it and you try to guide it onto a fastener only to have the head flop back, what do you do? Sounds like an exercise in frustration.

Does anyone have the part # for the non-flex?
 
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u118224

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I've been wanting a TLL72 for a while but this is quite a bit longer. I just ordered one with the 25% off coupon. Thanks wild cowboy.
 

BirdMobile

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The TLL72 and the HF ratchet are really different sorts of creatures... it's not really a good comparison. I use my TLL72 for a very different set of tasks as this HF. The TLL72 is more of a delicate reachy tool for cramped spaces where you don't want the socket to be moving around - I tend to use it more on the bench or under the dash. The HF is more of a fan removal, belt tightening, long reach engine compartment type tool - a heavier duty beast for reach, flexibility, and leverage.
 

Fedwrench

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I've seen this before. EZ-red? Wonder if it's the same.

Call it a "quarter stick" I think. This is cheaper though.

The EZ Red 1/4 stick is 1/4 drive on one side and a 1/4 inch bit holder on the other side. The HF unit pictured is 1/4 square drive on one side and 3/8 square drive on the other end.

The HF unit could be made in the same factory. :dunno: It's real handy but, it does have strength limitations. I've never seen them on sale so, have coupon handy. They have a shorter fixed head version that is also handy for space saving in road kit.
 

Jarhead0408

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I bought my son and I one each of the non-flex shorter version. I don't really find it that useful...

The one you bought and the one in the OP's post share nothing in common but the dual drive sizes.

Who knows? If you get the longer, flex head version, you might like it.

I passed up on the short one that you have. For me it would have no purpose since I've got plenty of 3/8 and 1/4 ratchets.

This one is gold IMO because of the thinness of the shaft/bar. Where a regular long-flexhead ratchet may have trouble clearing obstacles, this one is so thin it can snake it's way through just about any combination of junk that's in your way.

I actually didn't buy this to use for it's 1/4 capability. I've only used the 3/8 side. So far it's been great.

Might freak a few people out here, but it sits right next to my Snap-On FHLF-80 and it's FHLD-80 brother. It's a decent bit longer than either as a matter of fact. :lol_hitti
 

BirdMobile

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Jarhead,
Not freaking me out. HF and Snap On happily co-exist next to each other in my boxes... along with Carlyle, Husky, Matco, Armstrong, SK, Craftsman, Etc. ****** Etc.!
My world is tool-centric, not brand-centric.
 

u118224

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The TLL72 and the HF ratchet are really different sorts of creatures... it's not really a good comparison. I use my TLL72 for a very different set of tasks as this HF. The TLL72 is more of a delicate reachy tool for cramped spaces where you don't want the socket to be moving around - I tend to use it more on the bench or under the dash. The HF is more of a fan removal, belt tightening, long reach engine compartment type tool - a heavier duty beast for reach, flexibility, and leverage.

I agree. A TLL72 is still on my "yet to buy" list. Nonetheless I'm looking forward to trying out this HF ratchet tool.
 

stage20

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i use the 1/4 inch side of mine more. makes doing small work a breeze. no breaking loose fasteners with a short 6 or 7" ratchet. valve cover bolts, coil pack bolts, etc. nice tool when you cant fit a small air ratchet or impact in there.
 

BirdMobile

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did this markedly improve the back drag?

Not by a large amount. It was definitely a little smoother afterward, but it wasn't like night and day or anything. I also soak my ratcheting wrenches in ATF... on the theory that some cleaning/lube is better than none. I've been thinking of trying Breakfree CLP instead of ATF, I just haven't got around to that particular experiment yet.
 

f575gtc

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Pardon my ignorance.

What is this for? do regular sockets clip onto the ends? And what allows this to get around in tighter areas compared to a 3/8th ratchet with a long handle?
 

dgxlh

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I was there today and saw this and almost bought it but I have to wait a week or so, I bought some other stuff
 

BirdMobile

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Pardon my ignorance.

What is this for? do regular sockets clip onto the ends? And what allows this to get around in tighter areas compared to a 3/8th ratchet with a long handle?

It's an ultra-low-profile long flex-head ratchet, with a 1/4 drive ratchet head on one end, and a 3/8 drive ratchet head on the other end. Yes, you use standard 1/4 or 3/8 drive sockets on it.

Oh... and it's completely badass if you work on cars or complex equipment! :D
 

sbyrne92

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Pardon my ignorance.

What is this for? do regular sockets clip onto the ends? And what allows this to get around in tighter areas compared to a 3/8th ratchet with a long handle?

Yes sockets clip into each end. 1/4" and 3/8". The difference between this and a regular long ratchet is its slim head design and long beam. These are great for doing engine work, for side mounted engines. Also if you blessed enough to have a lift, or work in a shop. These work wonders when working on things close to the frame, or subframe. Certain things like A/C compressor, Alternator, and Belt tensioners all come into mind. The slim head design allows the socket to reach places it normally would run into interference with a ratchet. And the long beam gives you enough torque to loosen and tighten fasteners. Long spline ratcheting wrenches might be better, but this is the next best option.
 

f575gtc

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Ok, is there a reverse selector on this thing? I couldn't see one that is what was confusing me.
 

BirdMobile

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Ok, is there a reverse selector on this thing? I couldn't see one that is what was confusing me.

Here is a closeup photo of the back of the 3/8 head. The metal thing under the red ring slides left and right to change ratchet direction.
 

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Jarhead0408

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f575gtc,

Though others have mentioned how thin the head is, the missed the part about the beam.

Not only is it good for leverage, but since it is essentially a slightly rounded flat iron (sorta), the thickness of the beam from side so side is way less than a 1/2" an inch! WAAAAY thinner than any of the ratchet handles out there!

To be honest, when I first saw them, I thought they were gimmicky. But about a week before I did the timing belt job on my Civic I figured why not? It might be a piece of ****, but at least it was thin and long. Plus I had a 25% off coupon.

Lo and behold it was the exact tool I needed. Saved my **** on that job.
And that piece of **** part I mentioned? I was WRONG. Dead wrong. This is in the top 5 of my favorite ratchets (Ratchet Shaped Object-RSO?).
 

Toyota mechanic

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Sep 18, 2014
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Cornwell sells the same one with their name laser etched on it, for 68 bucks... good tool. I saw that last time I was at HF, and it is on my want list. Definitely one of the jewels at HF. It is re-branded by many. Wonder who makes it, lol....
 
OP
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wild cowboy

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Though others have mentioned how thin the head is, the missed the part about the beam.

Not only is it good for leverage, but since it is essentially a slightly rounded flat iron (sorta), the thickness of the beam from side so side is way less than a 1/2" an inch! WAAAAY thinner than any of the ratchet handles out there!

thickness of long beam portion is 5.13 mm - i.e. slightly more that 3/16" :eek:
 
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