Armstrong maxx ratchet problems

[bigworm85]

Recently saw that Armstrong 3/8 locking flex head maxx ratchets were back in stock. Ordered up two 11-994 and was disappointed to find this upon receiving them.

http://imgur.com/tfYsYcq


The locking portion of the flex head doesn't actually lock. When the lock is engaged it takes very little effort to overcome it and move the head around...


I have an older 11-994 to compare it with and noticed that the toothed portion of the locking mechanism looks to have undergone some changes.

it might be hard to tell from the picture but the depth, od, and profile of the teeth appear to be different.

The old 11-994 is on the left and the new one is on the right.


http://imgur.com/4zwb3XR

http://imgur.com/mUDGWWG

http://imgur.com/NYFziPn



Can anyone else confirm this on another Armstrong ratchet recently purchased? Wonder if they changed up a supplier or machine shop after the big backorder / delay.

 

[bigworm85]

Linkies no worky.

They should work now..

 

[Fedwrench]

Can't speculate as to whether you got factory defects or if the consolidation of lines in South Carolina resulted in lower quality product without your pictures being visible

Interesting first post, welcome!

 

[DMAR]

Time to go make some popcorn....

 

[bigworm85]

Can't speculate as to whether you got factory defects or if the consolidation of lines in South Carolina resulted in lower quality product without your pictures being visible

Interesting first post, welcome!

Thanks. Long time lurker, first time poster. This was the first time i came across something that made sense to post.

The images should be fixed in the original post now. if not i'll try something else.

 

[mrjaw14]

I'd return it as broken. I have one and it doesn't do that either

 

[bigworm85]

Now they do.

I'd return it as broken. I have one and it doesn't do that either

that's the plan. I just hope this isn't a persistent problem throughout an entire run of these ratchets. The two i received both have the same problem.

 

[Fedwrench]

Looking at the pictures, it appears that the teeth on the ratchet head are machined differently. This might be the way the new ones are made.

 

[Skin]

As far as any "issues", use them both side by side and report back. I'd be quite surprised if its so loose that it will roll itself out of a locked position personally.

It could be worse, it could be a Snap-On locking flex (junk!).

 

[LXCam]

that's the plan. I just hope this isn't a persistent problem throughout an entire run of these ratchets. The two i received both have the same problem.

Well I bought mine over a year ago and it does the same thing. Fn pisses me off too. Then not long after buying that I bought a fixed head long handle 1/2" drive which I was very unhappy with. I haven't done anything with the 3/8" since it appears to be a design flaw and I gave the 1/2" away. Figure I just won't buy thier ratchets anymore. Good luck, if they get you taken care of maybe I'll exchange mine.

 

[PureLeaf]

I own 4 Armstrong maxx ratchets. First I've seen or heard of this problem. Mine don't have the problematic milling that the OP's seem to have. But thats pretty ridiculous that they would've milled and rounded the edges like that.

Hope warranty pans out. It should..

 

[bigworm85]

Looking at the pictures, it appears that the teeth on the ratchet head are machined differently. This might be the way the new ones are made.

yeah...hopefully that isn't the case. i like my old armstrong ratchets.

Just my 2 cents but the new stuff is definitely cleaner looking. Looks like the rounded profile of the older one provided an interference fit and the new cleaner square cut teeth don't. As far as any "issues", use them both side by side and report back. I'd be quite surprised if its so loose that it will roll itself out of a locked position personally.

It could be worse, it could be a Snap-On locking flex (junk!).

The rounded profile actually belongs to the new ratchet. The older one that locks properly has the square profile.

Well I bought mine over a year ago and it does the same thing. Fn pisses me off too. Then not long after buying that I bought a fixed head long handle 1/2" drive which I was very unhappy with. I haven't done anything with the 3/8" since it appears to be a design flaw and I gave the 1/2" away. Figure I just won't buy thier ratchets anymore. Good luck, if they get you taken care of maybe I'll exchange mine.

i'm going to be following up with the return of these. i'll update this post as it goes along.

I own 4 Armstrong maxx ratchets. First I've seen or heard of this problem. Mine don't have the problematic milling that the OP's seem to have. But thats pretty ridiculous that they would've milled and rounded the edges like that.

Hope warranty pans out. It should..

I checked on my other older armstrong ratchets and a Matco. Surprisingly the 1/4'' has the rounded edges on the teeth and locks just fine.

1/2'' maxx
http://imgur.com/2kW2lOr

1/4'' maxx
http://imgur.com/jvgkiBX

3/8 Matco
http://imgur.com/o8RK8gd

 

[bigworm85]

annnd we're on backorder again. looks like there won't be any other answers for 6-8 weeks at the earliest -_-

 

[thefoobag]

i talked to my matco dealer a few weeks ago, he stated that they have a target fail rate of around 10% or something, and from what they were churning out after the consolidation of the factories was like 50% fail rate. Fail being either defective or completely unusable
luckily just got a new snap on guy. Don't have any issues like that with snap on

 

[stage20]

looks like a useless locking feature too me. interested to see how this turns out.

 

[B_Bimmer]

I'm honestly really surprised they are even making a pretense of consolidating in the US. I give the whole line less than five years unless there is a change of ownership. (I hope I'm wrong, there are few enough US brands as it is. I love American competition.) The similarities between how sears has been mismanaged and apex is being mismanaged are really just sad. I know how it is to run a business successfully and normally would not claim to be more qualified to do someone else's job, but 80% of the membership on this site would have done a hell of a lot better job at this transition. Unexpected difficulties are a fact of life, you don't leave existing customers without parts for a year. Kits for ratchets should have been contracted out the minute they realized this was going to take longed than expected. Every courtesy should have been extended including a generous stream of gearwrench ratchets to fill the gaps in their ability to fulfill their obligations. They are clearly thinking short term, maximum dollars for current ownership, not building a business they expect their kids to be managing in twenty years. Or a legacy their customers will look back on with pride in a hundred years. Pride seems dead sometimes. Buy SK, Wright, Snap On, and Proto. I hope at least when they part out the pieces of Armstrong one of those companies buys the rights to this locking mechanism. It'd be cool manufactured with quality control awake on a handle that isn't so dumb.

Thus endith my rant.