fourtythree
Well-known member
I've come to really like my 3/8 AK "tuff one". Things got a great feel to it.
Best ratchets around.
- Thread starter RMRCattleCo.
- Start date
Currently my vote for ratchets are the following.
1st place: Koken ratchets
2nd place: Cornwell ratchets
3nd place: Proto Quick Release ratchets
1st place: Koken ratchets
2nd place: Cornwell ratchets
3nd place: Proto Quick Release ratchets
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Finky198
Well-known member
Another vote for the FL80, In 1/4 the TLLF80 and SF80 in 1/2” are my go to’s
Lucky13don
Well-known member
Just ordered a stubby and 7" tecton 3/8 combo off eBay for $32.00. I've read on here there nice. Crossing my fingers.
Tekton are nothing more than average taiwan and chinese style 72 tooth 3 machine screw housing 2 pawl with 4 tooth engagement .
Overall finish seems decent but they no better than any other half decent made 72T 2 pawl, HF pitts pro ratchets same mechanism design, easyred same etc etc.
geared stubbies are not that useful, gearless way to go .
I still think gearwrench 84T better buy than most 72T ratchets although plenty decent 72T styles about at cheap money that pretty well made and do good service in non pro use .
Overall finish seems decent but they no better than any other half decent made 72T 2 pawl, HF pitts pro ratchets same mechanism design, easyred same etc etc.
geared stubbies are not that useful, gearless way to go .
I still think gearwrench 84T better buy than most 72T ratchets although plenty decent 72T styles about at cheap money that pretty well made and do good service in non pro use .
4x4gearhead
Well-known member
That koken ratchet looks to be of the proto dual pawl design. Is it any smaller in size when it comes to the width of the head? The only thing i never liked about proto ratchets was the big dumb size of them. Not that they werent still an awesome tool. Just not great for automotive use IMO. The newest protos look to be much less big and dumb with what looks to be the same design as the mac fine tooths. For the record, still got love for the protos, especially my 1 in drive proto i found in a steel dumpster and rebuilt, with pebble handle with "mf'd los angeles" markings. The dowel on one of the pawls was broken...who would throw it away?
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Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
next to my Carlyle 90 tooth ratchets, I'm liking the Powerbuilt Pro ratchets I recently acquired. Narrow heads, crisp 72 tooth action, unconventional handle shape but, quite comfortable.
Lucky13don
Well-known member
Compared to the old craftsman I'm using anything's got to be better. And I can't see dropping over a c-note ,unless it pays for its self in short order. Still checking EBay for some snap on goodies
johndeereman
Well-known member
The Carlyle comfort grip ratchets i got from napa have been awesome so far. In all drive sizes and configurations i guess my second choice would be the Gearwrench comfort grip set i have.
Htscheg
Well-known member
id never trade my snap on ratchets! they feel best in my hands
If I could only have 2 out of my drawer, it would be the two snap on flexheads. Because when you need them, you absolutely need them. But that being said, sometimes the other ratchets are better suited for the current task at hand. I feel there isn't a bad ratchet in the bunch in the drawer. 
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Specs
Well-known member
My S80 is my go to at work for busting all manners of stubborn fasteners... I have the F80 in black, and two T72’s. FN100 I kept with my challenger proto set before this $35 matco i got from a recent thread ... cause only Snap on aficionados could spot it vs, the notorious pearheads SO known for... Now I’m prepared for the flak...
I rely mostly on my MAC 3/8” zero degrees rarchet(s) and STNA and 1980’s Z3 original radian gearless when working on my CRV.... Is it weird to have the mac lineup With the rebuild kits?? They are so quiet.... and thats all i cared about then i got them.
Im borrowing these pics cause I refuse to pay Photo bucket for Image hosting... when I already did to get more than 1gb of space. I also have the 3/8” flex head, and various blue point, matco 1/4” for Tight spaces.
I rely mostly on my MAC 3/8” zero degrees rarchet(s) and STNA and 1980’s Z3 original radian gearless when working on my CRV.... Is it weird to have the mac lineup With the rebuild kits?? They are so quiet.... and thats all i cared about then i got them.
Im borrowing these pics cause I refuse to pay Photo bucket for Image hosting... when I already did to get more than 1gb of space. I also have the 3/8” flex head, and various blue point, matco 1/4” for Tight spaces.
I like my williams 3/8;
Well made, not ridiculously priced even over here, not a high tooth count but very positive click in between each tooth.
Im also a fan of wera metal ratchets, composite taiwan 72t, facom, gearwrench & tekton roto-heads.
Well made, not ridiculously priced even over here, not a high tooth count but very positive click in between each tooth.
Im also a fan of wera metal ratchets, composite taiwan 72t, facom, gearwrench & tekton roto-heads.
Totally get your point, I wouldn't waste to much effort on eBay snapon as not that many worthwhile deals as online selling means prices always maxed out .
carlyle do some decent ratchets that pro grade in my opinion, snapo do indeed excel at ratchet butit wasted on anyone not using tool many hours a week. many of the 72T 2 pawl 3screw designs are pretty tough and nice use, I have extending flex heads under easyred brand and they proved durable, decent and cheap .
carlyle and williams two reasonably sensible priced options that pro usable .
Any of the taiwan ones at 72T seem pretty trouble free, 90T not so good .
That koken ratchet looks to be of the proto dual pawl design. Is it any smaller in size when it comes to the width of the head?...... The only thing i never liked about proto ratchets was the big dumb size of them. .....Not that they werent still an awesome tool. Just not great for automotive use IMO. The newest protos look to be much less big and dumb with what looks to be the same design as the mac fine tooths. For the record, still got love for the protos, especially my 1 in drive proto i found in a steel dumpster and rebuilt, with pebble handle with "mf'd los angeles" markings. The dowel on one of the pawls was broken...who would throw it away?
I've got complete ratchet sets ( 1/4 3/8 & 1/2 ) from both Koken and most recently added, Proto.
Koken ratchets are top of the line in my book. Have had them now for several years and are excellent, well made, good quality ratchets-nothing cheap about them.
Yes you are correct as for the ratchet head on the Proto being too large or bulky "but" that is only on the 1/2 ratchet. The other two are just fine and not large.
Still though, over all, these particular Proto quick release ratchets seem to be well made and durable. When using them...smooth...is the word that comes to mind because that's how they handle.
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Yes that does look well made. 
I like my williams 3/8;
Well made, not ridiculously priced even over here, not a high tooth count but very positive click in between each tooth.
Im also a fan of wera metal ratchets, composite taiwan 72t, facom, gearwrench & tekton roto-heads.
Specs
Well-known member
Its funny how that williams ratchet has the bolts going through the back like the snap on dual80’s after the revision... trickle down benefit from the Premium ratchet design lol
ssdave
Banned
There's a lot of good ratchets out there. For years, the Williams S51 Superatchet was my primary. Also had Proto 5449's and 5249's. Got a Williams S52; good ratchet but didn't really like it. Have a long handled 1/2" SK round head; good tough ratchet. Somewhere along the way, I got an Indestro 1/2" flex 3270; it is my favorite 1/2".
Had a few 1/4" and 3/8" Snap-on over the years, the Snap-on M71 midget was my favorite I have three or four of them and use a 1942 one a lot; used the F836 3/8" a lot but nothing exceptional. Have a 1/4" swivel head that I don't like, some 831's and 936's, but nothing too exceptional. Same for SK round head in 1/4" and 3/8", usable but nothing exceptional. Have a couple of Cornwell 3/8", nice ratchets, but don't really stand out from the crowd. I've owned Mac ratchets, again, good, but nothing exceptional.
Had more than a few Craftsman for short periods of time along the way. Absolute junk. Don't feel good, and don't work. Don't know how they could make and sell so many ratchets and never get good at it.
Then, acquired a few Snap-on dual 80's. Love them. They're my favorites in 1/4" and 3/8", have bought different length handles and flex and bent handle versions. In 1/2", I still prefer the Indestro 3270 and use the newer Proto aviation one, along with the old long handle 5450 and the SK round head long handle.
So, of the 35 or so ratchets I currently have in my box, my favorites are:
1/4": M71 SO, T72 in regular, long, and flex;
3/8": F80's in different versions. Cornwell bent handle. Flex T936 with 3/8" head replacement.
1/2": Indestro 3270, SK long handle round head, Proto 5450xl. Have a SO S80, and use it, but not my favorite.
Had a few 1/4" and 3/8" Snap-on over the years, the Snap-on M71 midget was my favorite I have three or four of them and use a 1942 one a lot; used the F836 3/8" a lot but nothing exceptional. Have a 1/4" swivel head that I don't like, some 831's and 936's, but nothing too exceptional. Same for SK round head in 1/4" and 3/8", usable but nothing exceptional. Have a couple of Cornwell 3/8", nice ratchets, but don't really stand out from the crowd. I've owned Mac ratchets, again, good, but nothing exceptional.
Had more than a few Craftsman for short periods of time along the way. Absolute junk. Don't feel good, and don't work. Don't know how they could make and sell so many ratchets and never get good at it.
Then, acquired a few Snap-on dual 80's. Love them. They're my favorites in 1/4" and 3/8", have bought different length handles and flex and bent handle versions. In 1/2", I still prefer the Indestro 3270 and use the newer Proto aviation one, along with the old long handle 5450 and the SK round head long handle.
So, of the 35 or so ratchets I currently have in my box, my favorites are:
1/4": M71 SO, T72 in regular, long, and flex;
3/8": F80's in different versions. Cornwell bent handle. Flex T936 with 3/8" head replacement.
1/2": Indestro 3270, SK long handle round head, Proto 5450xl. Have a SO S80, and use it, but not my favorite.
Specs
Well-known member
^^^thats alot ot ratcheting^^^
I forgot my USA 2001, huskeys in 1/4,3/8,12 drive, in my garage with the RLL coating the internals... never to see the light of day, my proto 1/2 3/8 and 1/4 RH 44t and titan autobarn proto clones... not as sloppy as one would think for $7 tossaway
I forgot my USA 2001, huskeys in 1/4,3/8,12 drive, in my garage with the RLL coating the internals... never to see the light of day, my proto 1/2 3/8 and 1/4 RH 44t and titan autobarn proto clones... not as sloppy as one would think for $7 tossaway
SuzukiGS750EZ
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2012
- Messages
- 3,273
Matco 88 is my favorite I've used, but my favorite which I own is gearwrench 120. Great ratchets.
Those Tekton ratchets will come dry. Just open them up and put a little drop of Superlube or engine assembly lube on the gear and pawls. They will feel decent and the good part about that Taiwan mechanism is it is quite strong.
I agree that your chances of getting a Snap-on ratchet deal on eBay is pretty low. Wrenches and sockets occasionally but very rarely ratchets. My rule is 50% off for used in good condition. Why? No warranty. (I get that you may be able to warranty it but technically only the original purchaser gets a lifetime warranty. Since you didn't get it; you shouldn't pay for it and a big part of the retail price is the warranty).
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Lucky13don
Well-known member
thanks for the tip on the tekton,I'll pop them open and lube. i cant see dropping big money on a rachet. but i still look..
Bryanthegreat
Well-known member
My S51 is a favorite, and the first 1/2" I grab every time. (and I have a Snap-On 1/2" sitting right beside it in the drawer).
Where does one find a Super Ratchet? Who made it?
Brandon_Lutz
Well-known member
Williams made them.
anyone try these yet? https://www.powerbuilt.com/products...het?variant=5338982645791#Jv9vzuPP5sB87LxD.97
ssdave
Banned
Ebay or garage sales. As stated above, it's a Williams.
Made from about 1933 to 1950.
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JazzBlueRT
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2017
- Messages
- 1,215
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=387998
You should add
#26 - Any discussion of high end ratchets must point out how crappy Craftsman ratchets are even though Craftsman ratchets are not high end tools.
#27 - Any discussion of modern high tooth count ratchets must point out that all Craftsman ratchets **** in comparison because you owned low tooth count Craftsman ratchet in the past.
I'm partial to my Cornwell swivel head ratchets, anytime I'm stuck using any other ratchet I feel handicapped. I've had them going on 8 years now with no issues at all and they get used on a weekly basis now,they got used on a daily basis for the first 5 years. The new style have a differant grip on them but I believe it's the same fine tooth head
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Tooth count isn't the be-all-end-all, however you need a 1/4" & 3/8" at least with a high-ish tooth count. When your trying to loosen a fitting you can barely see deep in a recess in an engine bay low tooth count just doesn't cut it. Ideally they would also be long length with a flex head (gearwrench 88 is ideal imo)
Working on brakes, underbody, suspension, and plenty of other stuff however i haven't had an issue. The Williams is my most coarse ratchet and its used often for stuff like that.
Snap on dual 80's are nice, very smooth but actually working with them its hard to tell a difference between them and others with a similar tooth count;
Working on brakes, underbody, suspension, and plenty of other stuff however i haven't had an issue. The Williams is my most coarse ratchet and its used often for stuff like that.
Snap on dual 80's are nice, very smooth but actually working with them its hard to tell a difference between them and others with a similar tooth count;
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I like my williams 3/8;
Well made, not ridiculously priced even over here, not a high tooth count but very positive click in between each tooth.
X2
1- Williams B52 EHLA
2- GW 84T
3- SO FL80
Im not very impressed with my S80 and F80 ratchets, I like more the Williams ratcheting action and the handle feel.
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