1/2" Ratchet usage

[CRXPilot]

All,
I have perfectly serviceable 1/4" and 3/8" ratchets but am looking at buying a 1/2" to round out my first ratchet set. I'm in tech school with a Snap-On rep in the building and have the 50% discount. So, two questions for your consideration;

1) What type of automotive repair work do you do most with your 1/2" ratchets? Elaborate however you feel like doing.

2) Given the choice, would you prefer the 10" handle or 17" handle ratchet to cover most of the work you do?

Thanks

 

[blackz26]

I have a mac vr10 and vr15. I grab the 15 first when I feel 1/2 is needed. I'm a dyier not a tech though. 1/2 has its place, but I grab my mac xr11 for basically everything now. Its a 3/8 drive. But I assume everyone grabs a 3/8 rat first for ease of use. Maybe even 1/4 if they can.

 

[Craftsman86]

I have the 24 inch breaker bar ratchet, and it is the only one I use regularly in 1/2 drive. I have found that anything your going to use a standard length on, you can use a 3/8 drive and achieve the same result. The only time I use 1/2 is for lug nuts, and anything that doesn't cooperate with my 3/8 drive that I use for nearly everything. I do however have a craftsman professional in 1/2 but I dont know that it has ever seen use. but like blackz26 I am a DIY'er and dont make a living with my tools.

 

[Armstrong1720]

I have my own shop and work on my semis and i use 1/2 alot for me i use 15 inch on up more than i do a shorter handled one. Bigger is better !! 26 inch matco rocks !!!!

 

[Stooge]

1/2 drive is my first stop for most suspension/ steering jobs, lots of rust and salt around this region so parts can be a little stubborn. 24 or 17" snappy ratchets shine where i cant fit an impact gun and still give me loads of leverage. i'd atleast suggest a long handled 24" 1/2 ratchet for times exactly like this, might not use it as much as a 3/8 ratchets but when i do need them, its completely worth the price, especially if i was getting a student discount, i wouldnt think twice about it

 

[dirtmister16]

me and dad have standard length 1/2 drive ratchets, and honeslty they are ok, but i would like a longer handle alot more.

if it was me id get a slightly longer handle 1/2 in a good brand. craftsman is a good standard handle back up for when you don't need the length.


then you must also have a good breaker bar as well, i think dad has a 18" bar and there are times we could use a 24". this is working on small cars to big rigs, and we use that bar more then the rachet generally. having a impact limits how much a ratchet is used as well, but still need them.

 

[STGFordCrazy04]

Snap On S80, SL80 and wanting to purchase an SF80 and CT7850. In addition I have a S4 speeder, SN18 and SN24 breaker bars

I mostly work on 4wd trucks/suspensions and race motors so 1/2" drive is what I use. I have 1/4 and 3/8 stuff but it seems Im never in a tight spot working on gutted trucks.

 

[Dave455]

I use 1/2 inch drive a lot. It's my first choice when setting up big machine tools, and once you've got it you tend to use it a lot. I reach for it first if I'm working on suspension etc, or any nut of 3/4 or more! It's not just the length of the ratchet's / breaker bars that's important, but the fact that the 1/2 inch drive is a lot stiffer!

I use a 10 inch ratchet and an 18 inch breaker bar on most of my stuff, but if I could get 50% off Snap On I'd have EVERY length of ratchet!!!

 

[DTB]

I use my 15" Snap On SL80 alot but recently purchased a 18" flex head so it's been more of my go to now for 1/2" drive.I use the standard S80 very little.

 

[#1SomeGuy]

My meagar ratchet collection (home user, I'm not wasting money on snapon/matco/mac/etc).

Typically I'll go for the 1/2" GearWrench one unless I know the bolt is stubborn and I need the leverage in which case I grab the 24" long ratcheting flex head breaker.

 

[toolaholic]

I have a 1/2 drive craftsman pro ratchet and a 17 inch long gearwrench flex head. Used both to remove upper control arms on my dakota to remove/ replace upper control arm bushings. The 17 inch gearwrench worked great to press out old and press in new bushings w/ the alltrade bushing kit.

 

[kts]

I'm a DIYer but I used 1/2 mostly for big suspension bolts or big engine/exhaust bolts. I prefer a longer length for the extra leverage. Right now I have a Craftsman standard length and a long flex head, as well as a recently acquired standard length SK ratchet.

I plan to pick up a long SO 1/2 Dual 80 soon, I'm still debating on if I want the comfort handle or not and if I want a flex head or not.

 

[ATC]

GearWrench and Craftsman Preimum for me. I use mine on just about everything suspension/frame/drivetrain on my trucks (modified 4x4's). ATV's for lugs and suspension work too. I have the standard 10-12" handles. If I need more, I'll get out my breaker bars or a cheater pipe. I usually don't have enough room for a 15-18"+ handle...

 

[Greg_R]

All,
I have perfectly serviceable 1/4" and 3/8" ratchets but am looking at buying a 1/2" to round out my first ratchet set. I'm in tech school with a Snap-On rep in the building and have the 50% discount. So, two questions for your consideration;

1) What type of automotive repair work do you do most with your 1/2" ratchets? Elaborate however you feel like doing.

IMO, get good sockets and then a cheap(er) breaker bar and ratchet. I wouldn't want to use a ratchet to break loose parts. Also, for me the # of teeth in the ratchet (speed) & the size increase (bulkier) don't come into play with these bigger bolts.

At this point in your career I don't think it's worth dropping a lot of cash into a 1/2" system unless your work warrants it.

 

[Andersonfarms]

semis and ag equipment are were the 1/2 ratchet is my first go to ratchet, other then that i use my 3/8, but no more on semi and ag stuff. i have a standard length 1/2 and if i can get it free with that i use a 18 and/or a 24 in breaker bar. i can really tell the diffrence from going to 18 to 24, two hands on the 18 with A LOT of effort is like kinda sorta trying when using a 24. if i was you i might go with a standard 1/2 and a long breaker bar if space wont be an issue

 

[7.62]

All,
1) What type of automotive repair work do you do most with your 1/2" ratchets? Elaborate however you feel like doing.

2) Given the choice, would you prefer the 10" handle or 17" handle ratchet to cover most of the work you do?

Thanks

Working on medium and heavy trucks, I always used the 17 and 24" ratchets. I had a 10" SO that I eventually gave to my dad because I had literally never used it. That being said, I never grabbed one of my longer 1/2" ratchets and said to myself "This thing is too long." If all I needed was 10" worth of leverage, a 3/8" drive was always sufficient. As always, YMMV.

 

[KEH]

As said above, if you get a job working on farm equipment you will need a 1/2 ratchet. Also I see riding lawn mower mechanics using 1/2 inch on the mowers. I use a breaker bar for tight fastners and the ratchet for speed. The shorter(standard?) ratchet is fine for that.

I'm a diyer but I would never use a ratchet to break loose lug nuts and seldom use a ratchet at all for wheels, and I've changed more wheels than I wanted to. Broken studs too.

KEH

 

[celticbhoy]

I use a 1/2" drive mainly for suspension, exhaust, and steering work, or breaking the banjo bolt on fuel filters. I have a craftsman ratchet, 10" long or so and I like it. Feels strong and gives me the leverage needed to get most bolts off. If that doesn't work than I break out the 24" breaker bar.

 

[shampoop]

Long!

Standard length 1/2" ratchets are pretty useless.

I've got the snapon SHL80A (17") and love it. If you want something shorter you can use a 3/8" drive ratchet. If you NEED to use a 1/2" drive, you NEED your ratchet to be at least that long.

most of the time my 1/2" ratchet is used on suspension parts. Basically any bolt that's 17mm+

 

[shampoop]

IMO, get good sockets and then a cheap(er) breaker bar and ratchet. I wouldn't want to use a ratchet to break loose parts. Also, for me the # of teeth in the ratchet (speed) & the size increase (bulkier) don't come into play with these bigger bolts.

At this point in your career I don't think it's worth dropping a lot of cash into a 1/2" system unless your work warrants it.

a 1/4" drive snapon dual 80 based ratchet is rated to hold 90 ft/lbs of force. From what I've read on here the dual 80 1/2" drive ratchets are actually stronger than breaker bars.

 

[humpdawg]

Working on medium and heavy trucks, I always used the 17 and 24" ratchets. I had a 10" SO that I eventually gave to my dad because I had literally never used it. That being said, I never grabbed one of my longer 1/2" ratchets and said to myself "This thing is too long." If all I needed was 10" worth of leverage, a 3/8" drive was always sufficient. As always, YMMV.

pretty much... I also have a 17 and 24, they're both free floating flex heads with comfort grip handles.
They were very useful when I did alignments. I rarely ever use them now but I'm definitely keeping them around.

I say get a 17 and 24. comfort handles and flex heads. I think snap on's locking flex is absolute gobbage.

 

[str8axle55]

I use my S/O super long 1/2 dr flex head, 24 inch on crank bolts, and some susp stuff. I think it may be stronger than my 24 in breaker bar. I wouldn`t cheap out on the breaker bar or the ratchet. I had a Cornwell breaker bar that would break if I looked at it hard.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I'm a DIYer so for me, the 1/2 ratchet is for really tough stuff. The added length provides the leverage I need. I think a long ratchet may not be ideal if you had space constraints though.

 

[devoncoolman]

Dont bother with a short handle 1/2 drive. I have tons of them never use them. I make my living with my tools everyday and if i need 1/2 drive its tight. And i will use my 15in snappy for everything if that dont work use my 24 in flex. The short handles are tool box jewelry in my opinion there usesless. Most of my 3/8 ratchets are longer then them and i use my long 3/8 for everything

 

[CRXPilot]

Awesome. Good advice. Thanks! Headed to HF now ;-)