Advantage of A Pass Thru Ratchet/Socket??

[reedwesd]

Can someone tell me what the advantage of a pass thru ratchet/socket set is over just using a ratcheting wrench. The only thing I can think of is if there is a nut deep in a hole where a wrench won’t fit. Is there any other instances where you would use one of these?

 

[franzdom]

They are perfect for strut mounting nuts so you can hold the strut with another socket & extension through the hole.

 

[Two dollar steak]

Maybe in a small kit or something? Like one to keep in the vehicle or some other application where space would be limited, where you could save space by having deep and short sockets condensed into just thru sockets. One of the techs at work used them almost exclusively for almost a year now, he never had any troubles with them until he put a 3ft cheater pipe on his ratchet to break a body bolt loose.

 

[WhiteTrash]

I have a Kobalt set. It is 110 pc that I got for $150. Yes it helps when the fastener is recessed, and there are extension for even greater access. My 110 piece could replace pretty much all of my sockets. But they are wider than a normal socket, but lower profile than a typical socket and ratchet. I keep the set in the truck, it saves space from carrying reg. and deep sockets or from carrying that many ratcheting wrenches. And it was a heck of a lot cheaper than buying that many ratcheting wrenches.

 

[garfunkle24]

I most commonly use mine running nuts down a threaded rod or any bolt/fitting too deep for a deep socket. You can use them for adjusting valve lash too.

 

[Hammer1963]

If you've ever needed a 6" deep socket, then they are great.

 

[hofferwood]

Junk yard
cw

 

[diesel research]

Can someone tell me what the advantage of a pass thru ratchet/socket set is over just using a ratcheting wrench. The only thing I can think of is if there is a nut deep in a hole where a wrench won’t fit. Is there any other instances where you would use one of these?

COST and space.

They cannot fully replace wrenches or even sockets, but could reduce the amount required.

When a flat profile wrench or open end is required, they aren't of much use.

There can be fitment issues. On the other hand, it COULD be a cheap way to have a very wide variety of flex wrenches for much cheaper than a complete set of flex ratchet wrenches.

Great way for a beginner to start a collection.

 

[reedwesd]

I picked up a set of Gearwrench SAE and metric 1/4"pass thru sockets at advance auto for $10 each yesterday so I figured for the price I would give them a try.

 

[bobcatdan]

I have a gearwrench 3/8 from way back when those came out, It looked real handy, but I never really used in 10 years or so. I could easily live without.

 

[JohnFreeman]

Would seem they would be useful IF you could use an extension on them... but you can't. Since you can't use an extension, then a ratcheting box would seem to fill most potential uses, except for the rare recessed fastener head with an obstruction deeper than a deep socket could handle.

I almost bought the kobalt set on closeout but I couldn't see a use (and they were Chinese)

 

[bobcatdan]

They make extensions, my kit has one.

 

[diesel research]

Would seem they would be useful IF you could use an extension on them... but you can't.

While there are definitely limitations to the hollow extensions included, I definitely couldn't completely write them off as non-existent.


__________________

It is hard to START using them if you already have a plethora of other tools and are accustomed to square drive.


For someone who knows no better, they could find quite a few uses.

 

[WhiteTrash]

My Kobalt set included 3 extenions, one for each drive size. The bigger 1/2" (I am just calling it the, it is quite a bit larger than 1/2") extension can also be slipped on the end of the ratchet for a little extra length for some additional torque.

 

[Grogan14]

I've had a small Kobalt set for about a year now, and have not used it once. I got a good deal on it, and it'll come in handy at some point, I'm sure.

 

[diggerrick]

Who do you think will be the first company to come out with a pneumatic version of this, and how much do you think the Harbor Freight version will cost?

 

[GSteg]

I have a Gearwrench set. Used it only ONCE, but for that one time, it was a real lifesaver. I had to remove an exhaust manifold nut and there was no way you could fit in a standard ratchet in without hitting one of the runner. What sucked was that a standard socket was too short, and a semi-deep was too long. The Gearwrench worked flawlessly although I wish it was longer for more leverage. I wanted the flexhead version but my Sears didn't have any on the shelf.

 

[makgreens]

Who do you think will be the first company to come out with a pneumatic version of this, and how much do you think the Harbor Freight version will cost?

matco has an air ratchet like it already

ive thought about picking up a set since the lowes stuff is so cheap right now

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

I have a matco special forces set with an air ratchet

 

[reedwesd]

I picked up the 110pc kobolt from lowest for $75. Maybe I will use it.

 

[znowaczyk]

the main reason I bought the set I did was for doing spark plugs on camaro's/firebirds.

 

[83diesel]

For diesel mechanics they can cut some time down on a few jobs. Pulling injector cups and cylinder packs on a Columbia Freightliner or truck similar where the cab covers half the motor without a doghouse. The pullers would require and extra deep socket that normally you would use a impact but with the cab designs the impact won't fit and with the extra deep socket and ratchet you are up high enough to hit other objects in the way. With the through ratchet design with the flex head you're low enough to not contact objects have the speed of the ratchet and have more comfort and leverage than a typical ratcheting wrench.

Another example is when caging brake chambers on truck models that there is almost no clearance b/w the cage bolt and crossmember in front of it. A lot faster than a regular wrench, more comfortable and more leverage than ratchet wrench. The cage bolt sockets get out too far and either contact the crossmember or cause too much binding due to the long socket and your ratchet keeps slipping off.

Plus like someone mentioned above for a junkyard set or emergency set that you don't want to drag all your tools around they are pretty handy.

 

[biscuit141]

Has anyone heard of GearRachet brand of pass hrough sockets? The logo looked slot like gear wrench put it said gear rachet. Saw them at a pawn shop. Thinking of going back for them. Should I? The set was eiher $12 or $20 can't remember which.

 

[biscuit141]

Has anyone heard of GearRachet brand of pass hrough sockets? The logo looked slot like gear wrench put it said gear rachet. Saw them at a pawn shop. Thinking of going back for them. Should I? The set was eiher $12 or $20 can't remember which.

OK so I Googled Gear Rachet and it turns out it is GearWrench. At under $20 for a complete set, is that a deal?

 

[Wiggum]

I picked up the 110 set today as well, it was $75 and then they let me use the Harbor Freight 20% off...

It'll come in handy someday im sure...

 

[shampoop]

For the most part, i think just getting a SO ratchet set is smarter than a set of standard and pass thru ratchet sets. My SO ratchets are very low profile already. That being said, if you do lots of special jobs where that small difference would save you a lot of time, they've just paid for themselves.

 

[WhiteTrash]

It isn't always just the lower profile, but the infinite depth is an added advantage.

 

[knobby]

I have a gearwrench 3/8 from way back when those came out, It looked real handy, but I never really used in 10 years or so. I could easily live without.

and the day AFTER you give them away....

 

[djb2]

I have three sets of the GearWrench XL ones, bought so that I would have a set handy at different locations.

They are very pretty, with great chrome and a quality feel. The ratchets are fine-tooth and smooth. The case stores everything compactly, with easy access.

That's a drawback. They are too pretty, at least for now. They only get pulled out in rare situations. They might be useful in the boneyard, but I keep ugly tools in that kit. Tool with no case, or an awkward case (like the GearWrench box wrenches), get their own spot in a toolbox drawer where they are first to be used.

But the biggest is that they just aren't the mental go-to tool. I'm used to using traditional ratchets and sockets, so when I think "13mm" I picture a 3/8" offset ratchet handle and a short chrome socket. When I think "17mm" I picture a 1/2 handle and a deep black socket.

 

[KEH]

If memory serves me correctly, Harbor Freight has sets of pass through ratchets.
didn't have great interest in them so may not remembertoo well.

KEH

 

[diesel research]

Instead of trying to find that one day when they are absolutely needed (but you have forgot about them and are not familiar with them)

Go ahead and use them on a regular basis in place of your regular stuff for a while. Find out their limitations, they do have a few. Use 'em! Then you can put 'em in the super-secret zombie apocalypse case. They work decent in most regular applications so long as you aren't required to use crazy attachments.

_________________________________

The cman variant looks nice. There are 4 brands, only difference are the handles. Matco, gearwrench, kobalt, sears. Yes I know, danaher. The cman looks like an all metal low profile full polish cman ratchet but with 72 teeth.

 

[Givl Reggin]

They work decent in most regular applications so long as you aren't required to use crazy attachments.

It kind of defeats the purpose of the pass-through design, but I really wish they would have included a universal joint in the set... sometimes that's the only was to get at a fastener... and that's what keeps them from being my #1 go to ratchet set.

A universal joint and a 1/4" & 3/8" square driver adapter so that you can use the sockets with regular ratchets/torque wrenches would have made the set ideal.

 

[usdemt]

It kind of defeats the purpose of the pass-through design, but I really wish they would have included a universal joint in the set... sometimes that's the only was to get at a fastener... and that's what keeps them from being my #1 go to ratchet set.

A universal joint and a 1/4" & 3/8" square driver adapter so that you can use the sockets with regular ratchets/torque wrenches would have made the set ideal.

My set came with the adapters. I know they are available from gearwrench.

 

[diesel research]

first someone said extensions weren't in the kit, then it's square drive adapters. . They are both in there. Pretty sweet deal, eh?

 

[cbracer]

Seems a lot of people buy pass thru and never use them. They make adapters to put normal sockets on these ratchets, but what about adapters to use pass thru sockets on normal ratchets, for example a torque wrench? Anyone see 12pt pass thru sockets?

 

[Justin1776]

Gas tank mounting straps. The threaded rod is always about 6-8 inches longer than where the nut has to be to be tight. Especially useful if the threaded rod is rusty. They can also be nice for taking off GM 8mm (5/16) battery terminals due to the shallow nature of the socket and GM's tendency to jam batteries into tight spots. Gearwrenches work too

 

[Justin1776]

Also nice if you do work with threaded rod and uni-strut in the commercial electric realm

 

[Robbie UK]

Just got my first 30 piece set from Halfords (rebadged Gearwrench) and they have got me out of a spot of trouble already.

As they are part of the 'Professional' range they have a lifetime warranty (does not include the ratchet mechanism).

The thing is that they feel very lightweight compared to regular sockets - do these things last or are they as fragile as they feel?

 

[Dust]

Chrysler 300 outer door handles. There's one screw that hides behind the window, even when it's all the way up, and a GearWrench and a pass-through 8mm are the only thing that fits in there without being a pain.

Though I'm sure the equivalent Snap-On ultra-shallow ratchet and socket set may work as well.

 

[6-Speed]

They work well for loosening/tightening sway bar end link fasteners: