So I'm in a pickle. I recently bought a 1/2" gearwrench 90t locking flexhead ratchet (81371T) and the first day I used it, the locking mechanism broke when I was cranking at an angle. Needless to say, I don't really have much faith in these pos locking mechanisms from gearwrench. But just because its my first experience with these locking ratchets, doesn't mean they are all created equally. With that, I finally bought my first Snap On quick release Dual 80 and fell in love, so now I'm considering there 1/2" flex head or flex head & locking ratchet. Anybody that has had these, how soon do they start to get sloppy?
1/2" Flex head ratchet longevity
- Thread starter Robahr24
- Start date
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
None of mine have got sloppy. The Dual 80s have a screw you can tighten anyway.
CGarage
Well-known member
Please post pics. Would love to see where and how it failed.
**** happens. I'm no fan of GW, but they'll warranty it and you'll likely have no problem with the replacement.
I have no doubt you'll like the SO ratchet just fine - they make great stuff. Their new locking flex mechanism looks to be pretty great. I have the Matco version, and I'm having to break in the switch.
I have no doubt you'll like the SO ratchet just fine - they make great stuff. Their new locking flex mechanism looks to be pretty great. I have the Matco version, and I'm having to break in the switch.
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richfinn
Well-known member
I don't bother with "locking", The regular Snap On dual 80 flex head with chrome handle is my current pick, I like to keep it as simple as possible!!
As for longevity I also have a 30 year old MAC spinflex which I keep on my van with other "beater tools", works as good as the day I bought it
CGarage
Well-known member
I wasn’t aware of that.....I thought there was improved contact/strength in the locking mechanism than with the Matco of (earlier) design.....
Dakotadadv8
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 30, 2021
- Messages
- 1,519
Rinspeed nice pickup, I may look into SO Dual 80 1/2" non-locking. Do you have the SLF80A or SF80A? So far using only the SO S80A, standard 1/2" unless I need 1/4 or 3/8 drive. Only a home gamer but nice to have more tools for occasional use.
Mine is the SF80A and I'm glad I went with it instead of the longer handle, 25" just seems a little too long in my opinion. I have a 25" breaker bar with a SO ratchet adapter if need be. Those ratchet adapters are another awesome little tool if any of you don't have one by chance.
Xcursion88
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2013
- Messages
- 785
I have the SLF80A...
Snap-on Store
And the FLF80A
Snap-on Store
The FLF80A is my favorite ratchet of all time...(I've owned or tried pretty much all ratchets made) and the FLF80A is my favorite
The SLF80A I use in breaker bar type situations. It's ridiculously strong.
Neither have gotten "sloppy" and neither have ever broken.
javyLSU
Well-known member
I was a Matco locking flex user for a few years, and I really liked the ratchets. I wound up switching to Snap-on because I found the Matco lock button unreasonably hard to operate, on both the 3/8" and 1/4" ratchets.
I've owned my Snap-on locking flex ratchets (1/2", 3/8", and 1/4") for 3 years now, and none of them has any play/slop. The only one that has given me any trouble was the 3/8", which wouldn't stay in the unlocked position. My dealer swapped out the locking assembly and it's been zero problems since. Some don't like the Snap-on locking flex ratchets because they think the locking "wart" on the handle is ugly, whereas the Matco locking switch is almost flush with the head of the ratchet, and in theory gives you better access. I say in theory because I've never found the locking switch on any of my Snap-on locking flex ratchets to be the reason I couldn't get to a fastener. I also like the fact that I can lock/unlock the Snap-on without looking at it, like when you have to snake your hand into some cranny and wrench by feel only. That's not something I was able to do with my Matco ratchets. I will also add that in my experience, the Snap-on locking flex felt stronger in terms of "will this ratchet hold the angle that I locked it in while reefing on it."
I've owned my Snap-on locking flex ratchets (1/2", 3/8", and 1/4") for 3 years now, and none of them has any play/slop. The only one that has given me any trouble was the 3/8", which wouldn't stay in the unlocked position. My dealer swapped out the locking assembly and it's been zero problems since. Some don't like the Snap-on locking flex ratchets because they think the locking "wart" on the handle is ugly, whereas the Matco locking switch is almost flush with the head of the ratchet, and in theory gives you better access. I say in theory because I've never found the locking switch on any of my Snap-on locking flex ratchets to be the reason I couldn't get to a fastener. I also like the fact that I can lock/unlock the Snap-on without looking at it, like when you have to snake your hand into some cranny and wrench by feel only. That's not something I was able to do with my Matco ratchets. I will also add that in my experience, the Snap-on locking flex felt stronger in terms of "will this ratchet hold the angle that I locked it in while reefing on it."