Armstrong locking flexhead not locking

[Aqua-Andy]

About two weeks ago I purchased an armstrong 3/8" locking flex head ratchet.
I just had a chance to really use the ratchet today at work and after about 10 or so bolts the flexhead started to slip one notch, then just got worse. Now I can move the head all the way down and one notch up from the straight position using just my thumb and index finger. The reverse lever also locks up and you have to fiddle with the drove to change direction. I did lube the ratchet with a few drops of spindle oil when I first got it as it came dry as a bone. I called Armstrong/Apex and they referred me to Fastenal for warranty service. The woman also said that they were out of stock until the first of the year, surprise, surprise. I called two local Fastenal locations in my area and they both said point blank "that if I could not produce an invoice from Fastenal for the ratchet that they could not do the warranty return", and he said that this comes from the district manager. Are these a common issue with these ratchets or did I just get a dud? This is my first taste of aa Apex 88 tooth ratchet and I'm not impressed. The ergonomics are great, I really wanted to like this tool.

 

[gdocktor3]

Get an email from Armstrong referring you to Fastenal and bring that down with you. Then when they deny you, tell them to call Armstrong.

 

[a52-830]

i have several ratchets in that series in various sizes and configurations. my 3/8" locking flex head has an issue involving the sting pushing on the pawg, but the others seem to work fine. i have a feeling that there was an issue with those ratchets.

when i called apex, they also gave me the run around, although they did place an order for a repair kit for me. lord knows when i will see it.

 

[Aqua-Andy]

Update, I stopped by Fastenal and spoke to the person whom I was told was the manager. I had the rep from Armstrong on the phone when he came out to talk to me, I handed the phone to him and he spoke to the rep. Even after speaking to the rep the manager told me that there was no way he could warranty a tool that was not purchased at a Fastenal store. Do these ratchets have a common issue with the locking mechanism on the head not working and or stripping out? I am going to return it to the online retailer that I purchased it from. The retailer offered me a replacement or refund, I picked refund. If this is not a common problem with the tool I would like to try it again. I have a SO locking flexhead that I just don't like the locking button in the middle of the handle, It will not stay unlocked and is just a pain in the rear.

 

[Skin]

The ratchet head issues are common especially when over-lubricated as the pawl sticks to the gear and jams. The locking mechanism on the other hand, I've never heard of an issue other than some having a few thou back and forth play when locked (nit picking basically). It is a new factory making them though so teething issues wouldn't be a surprise. If you wanted to spend a premium for a Matco one those are being made by a secondary supplier and should be available.

Fastenal has terrible customer service policies and they really don't operate as anything but an industrial supplier. Why Apex continues to force people to go there is beyond me.

 

[Citation]

This is the same basic design as the Husky 100T locking flex head. I believe all are Apex made tools. Anyway, I bought a 100T flex head Husky and returned it almost immediately. The problem is of the flex lock isn't fully engaged the locking teeth quickly get rounded off. Once that happens the teeth will fail quickly and even when they don't the lock isn't very secure. In my case it just happens that the ratchet I picked was a bit sticky and thus it was easy to think you were fully locked when you weren't. Other ratchets in the store (when I returned mine) seemed to work better. Either way, I'm not willing to try that lock design a second time. I ended up buying a Stanley flex-head extending ratchet as a replacement. The Stanley is too heavy to use as a go to ratchet but the lock is very secure (but only locks every 45*). For the other times I need a flex head I ended up going with a Crescent (same as Gearwrench in this case) roto-ratchet. It just seems to work better to have the flex point at the axis of rotation vs an inch or so behind.