1/2" ratchet in 3/8 body
- Thread starter sprkt01
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DanCo
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tonydanzah
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I don't have access to it now, but I just cut down a cheapie 1/2 ratchet and welded it back together. I pretty much just welded the head onto the handle.
Bart Simpson
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Snap On and Mac both sold them years ago but they are discontinued now.
The SKF80 ratchet you were recomended is not a conversion ( 1/2" in a 3/8" body ) ratchet.
It is a short flex in 1/2" drive.
If you look at the specs listed is has the same dimensions as any other 1/2" drive ratchet 3/4" DEEP X 1 5/8" WIDE.
The 3/8" drive ratchets are 9/16" DEEP X 1 1/4" WIDE
The RKRS80 rebuild kit you were recomended is simply the rebuild kit for all the 1/2" drive Dual 80 ratchets and will definately not fit in anything else.
J.A.F.E.
Well-known member
Snap on made a 1/2 in a 3/8 body the SF730. It is not an easy one to find though. They may have made an 800 series I'm not sure.
Here is one with a 3/8 in a 1/4 body (FM70).
Here is one with a 3/8 in a 1/4 body (FM70).
I have a Snap On SF730A. It's a 3/8 drive ratchet with 1/2 inch square drive. I also have a 936 1/4 inch drive body with a sealed 36 tooth 3/8 drive sqaure drive. I don't believe Snap On makes this any more but I can still get the guts for it. It has a 1992 date stamp. That's an old MATCO BR8/Wright ratchet next to the Snappy. Same year.
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I can fix anything
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Part# for the guts? What part# handles?
Electron2002
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I know this is an old post...
But for those interested in converting a regular 3/8" ratchet to the SF730A spec, you can use about any of the non-sealed 3/8 drive handles such as the F720A, F730A, etc. Basically anything that would normally use the RKRAF730 repair kit can be converted.
You will need to order the RKRASF730 kit ($10 from Snap-on), which is the rebuild kit for the SF730A ratchet. The only issue is that the RKRASF730 kit does NOT include the cover plate. You will need to have the bore in your donor ratchet's cover plate increased in size to accommodate the larger gear. The 3/8" gear has approximately a 1/2" diameter bore. The 1/2" gear will require approximately a 5/8" bore. The cover plate is case hardened and will have to be machined on a mill to get through it.
If you are doing the conversion on a 20 tooth ratchet (e.g. F720A), you will have to do a full rebuild and replace the pawl as well, as the SF730A gear is a 30 tooth gear.
If you screw up and ruin the cover plate, you can order the RKRAF730 kit (also $10) and get another cover plate to try your luck.
Here is a photo of the conversion I did to my F720A
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5mall5nail5
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Can anyone explain why this is desirable?
Yes, I will try.
It is desirable to have a smaller headed ratchet with the same or similar strength characteristics as the 'normal' sized heads. And preferably in a brand or style the user likes to use. Many economy brand factory small heads are weaker or shorter lived, I know because I went through a few of them. I can't use a 'low torque' ratchet on my job very long.
I have and use Wurth/facom style ratchets, they have managed to get the halfer into a head the size of any common branded 3/8", the 3/8" into any common branded quarter drive body and the quarter reduced a bit too but not all that much. Others are smaller but none stronger that I have used.
It makes a difference to me as it makes my job easier at times.
Its something late model techs/mechs know very well, there ain't much space in some of those engine compartments.
It is desirable to have a smaller headed ratchet with the same or similar strength characteristics as the 'normal' sized heads. And preferably in a brand or style the user likes to use. Many economy brand factory small heads are weaker or shorter lived, I know because I went through a few of them. I can't use a 'low torque' ratchet on my job very long.
I have and use Wurth/facom style ratchets, they have managed to get the halfer into a head the size of any common branded 3/8", the 3/8" into any common branded quarter drive body and the quarter reduced a bit too but not all that much. Others are smaller but none stronger that I have used.
It makes a difference to me as it makes my job easier at times.
Its something late model techs/mechs know very well, there ain't much space in some of those engine compartments.
5mall5nail5
Well-known member
I can understand that portion, but then you have a 3/8 length handle... where the torque can't be applied anyway...
Electron2002
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Personally, the biggest benefit is the lighter mechanism that the 3/8 body provides. It makes running down fasteners, especially in confined areas like under hood, much easier. You won't be able to put down huge torque, but it will make getting fasteners up to the point of needing torque easier.
It helps to have a shorter handle in a tight space. I work on yellow tractors and the quantity of hoses and whatnot is up there.
A 6mm bolt cannot be torqued all that much anyway. Automotive use is a bit more logical. But to have the option and know you can throw a tube on the ratchet when need be..... and it will not break, priceless.
Using a 11/16" socket on 3/8" drive is useful to me. Breaking some of those bolts loose in those motor and hydraulic pump areas is part of my job, the guy who stuffed it in there didn't always think 20 years ahead to when it might be rusted solid. Tube and limited swing to break it free, short handle to get some swing and get it out. Minimal changing of tools saves time.
A 6mm bolt cannot be torqued all that much anyway. Automotive use is a bit more logical. But to have the option and know you can throw a tube on the ratchet when need be..... and it will not break, priceless.
Using a 11/16" socket on 3/8" drive is useful to me. Breaking some of those bolts loose in those motor and hydraulic pump areas is part of my job, the guy who stuffed it in there didn't always think 20 years ahead to when it might be rusted solid. Tube and limited swing to break it free, short handle to get some swing and get it out. Minimal changing of tools saves time.
Electron2002
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I didn't even know the LSF720B existed. Cool to see that one.
plinker
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Another are where these are useful is not having to use an adapter if you have limited clearence or if your socket (8pt, hex bit, ete..) is only in that drive size.
PaintNBodyGuy
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I just wanted to comment for anyone who cannot understand the use for a ratchet like the one being talked about here. They make now adapters that will increase the anvil size and are relatively low clearance. But as for the argument of why these ratchets are handy, well I can tell you I have them in quarter inch long flex head and regular snap on and they are very handy. cars can be very tight to work on while considering other fragile components the low drag and small ratchet body just make it easier to use and still use the 3/8 sockets your rich on probably. I own the adapters and the ratchets and I prefer the ratchet because the adapters have weak magnets that the socket can fall off easy. I also like throwing the standard magnetic bit repair kit into a long quarter inch body for torquing on hex and torx fasteners. I came here after seeing snappy does not make one for 1/2 in quarter inch for any ratchet currently being made 
((( ***** *** but maybe if we all ask nicely they will make a new ratchet like this. Also wanted a 3/8'' in quarter inch body long high torque torque wrench, at least 40ft pounds but still have the characteristics of a quarter inch would be sweet too. And I would really like to throw a 1/2 conversion in an fx80 would be sweeeet.
((( ***** *** but maybe if we all ask nicely they will make a new ratchet like this. Also wanted a 3/8'' in quarter inch body long high torque torque wrench, at least 40ft pounds but still have the characteristics of a quarter inch would be sweet too. And I would really like to throw a 1/2 conversion in an fx80 would be sweeeet.
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joshmodelskidoo
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Carlyle long handle locking flex have a very small head on them
Ton ton
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Too bad snappy has not brought this ratchet back into production.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
https://www.astrotools.com/nano-ratchet-1-2-drive-head-in-3-8-ratchet-body.html
Astro Pnuematic recently released a 1/2 drive in a 3/8 drive body nano ratchet.
Astro Pnuematic recently released a 1/2 drive in a 3/8 drive body nano ratchet.
decableguy2000
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Proto doesn't make one but, I have one. I got the rebuild kit from a torque wrench and installed it in a 3/8" ratchet body. I did the same with a 3/8" in 1/4" body
This may be a little off to the side, since I'm talking about vintage tools, but the old New Britain "kilness" style round head ratchets had a weird quirk in that the 1/2" had the very same size head and core as the 3/8. I like using the 1/2 because it has a smaller and lighter head than others, feels almost like wielding a wand instead of a big-head rat. The 1/2 core will fit into the 3/8 body. I've though about doing this myself, but I never had the compelling use for such a configuration, either a 1/2" rat with a 3/8 stud or a 3/8 rat with a 1/2 stud, but there would be interesting uses for either, especially if you wanted that extra length and heft of the 1/2 handle on a 3/8.
NBM made them for many different brands, so there's a myriad of names on them. They are still considered to be one of the finest round heads ever made, so the quality is there, and they're USA. They can be easily had on eBay. There is an earlier 45 tooth and a later 60 tooth, so you just need to make sure you're getting matching tooth counts in the two drives.
NBM made them for many different brands, so there's a myriad of names on them. They are still considered to be one of the finest round heads ever made, so the quality is there, and they're USA. They can be easily had on eBay. There is an earlier 45 tooth and a later 60 tooth, so you just need to make sure you're getting matching tooth counts in the two drives.
livinloud11
Well-known member
For anyone that is still looking, Astro came out with a 1/2 in 3/8 body and a 3/8 in 1/4 body. Link for the 1/2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JBNLW1W/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Rabid Badger
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The Powerbuilt Pro series use the same compact mechanism as the Carlyle locking flex heads but are available in all drive sizes and handle lengths, flex and regular. They're about 1/3 the price of the Carlyles, too.
Yes and compact enough the 1/2 are almost the size of other 3/8.