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Britool Swivels

chammyman

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
882
Location
Glasgow, Scotland
Well I got my swivel heads today, technically they came yesterday but I was spending 'quality time' with the mrs and not even wild horses would have dragged me off, although had I known it was my ratchets I may have thought about it :bounce:

Anyway, I bought them off ebay as theres a cracking deal on them, they retail for £100, an ebay britool guy sells them for £50 including postage. Great price IMO.

After I cut through the bubble wrap etc on the outside

britool%20swivels%2001.jpg


I then cut each bag open with scissors (sad? yep, so are all of you though :lol:).

I started with the smallest, the 1/4 DFS20, the 72 teeth were there, quite clicky, but was ok.

Then the 3/8 AFS20, oh dear, not happy at all with this one, it was sticking and then jerking by teeth.

The EFS20 1/2, smooth as silk compared to the others, quite happy with it.

Anyway, the afs20 I worked and worked, then what appeared to be oil came out, I decided to open it up, I knew I could do it with no evidence left.

On the table

britool%20swivels%2002.jpg


lid off, some oil in there

britool%20swivels%2003.jpg


but as this pic shows not enough!

britool%20swivels%2004.jpg


So I greased it up and that bad boy is as smooth as silk now.

I then thought i'll checkout the 1/4, thats a 10mm nut there to give an idea of size

britool%20swivels%2005.jpg


yes thats totally dry

britool%20swivels%2006.jpg


its tiny

britool%20swivels%2007.jpg


Lubed it up and again smooth as silk.

The 1/2, it felt ok and I knew it had to have some lube in it but since I done the other 2 might as well dot he last one to be sure, 10mm nut for scale again

britool%20swivels%2008.jpg


top off, theres evidence of grease in this one

britool%20swivels%2009.jpg


see? evidence! Ok not much but its there,

britool%20swivels%2010.jpg


Anyway greased it up and again, super smooth.

I will use them soon enough, as I said I have only had them for about an hour.

I have to say not impressed with the lack of lubrication, they are NEW, genuine (the ratchet mechanism is the same as my flex head long handled 1/2), in factory sealed bags and they are from one of the leading UK tool makers.

Its not a big deal lubing them but I shouldn't have to.

Anyway for the price I paid I got a bargain, even though annoyed at having o lube them, i would have been super pissed off if I had paid full retail for them!
 
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eschoendorff

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 6, 2005
Messages
8,991
Location
Michigan
The innards of that Britool looks just like a 1/4" Facom (older unit) taht I have. It was shipped dry too...
 

Frank Elson

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Messages
1,375
Location
Lancashire, UK
mine haven't arrived yet - I ordered them a while after Chammy, on his recommendation. But I will be sure to open them up to check the lube.
...er... how'd you open them then?
 
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chammyman

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
882
Location
Glasgow, Scotland
frank i ordered it on the 13th of october and it came yesterday, I waited till i had the cash in my paypal spare to get em.

I have never actually seen or held a dime. Should have used a penny or a £2 coin :lol:

Anyway used the 3/8 and the 1/2 today, plugs, fuel filter, seats and a few batteries.

The 1/2 is damn smooth, just like my britool flex head. Doesn't feel delicate or anything. I did notice some damage on the handle, not impressed never sawe it when I opened them but when I piucked it up I felt some dimples on the rubber. they were spotless so they weren't used or anything.

The 3/8, a very nice tool, not as smooth as the 1/2 but still very, very good. The swivel head really speeds up the work, you can spin the nut/bolt/plug down then wrench it, real time saver.

Just need to try out the 1/4 on some work now.
 

paramudduck

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Joined
May 24, 2007
Messages
1,758
Location
ohio
Hey Chammy put up some pics of your money. Let's see if they can figure out scale to it!
 

Frank Elson

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Messages
1,375
Location
Lancashire, UK
Not sure when I ordered mine, I'm in work right now, but it was last week after we pm'ed. So before you ordered then.
So I'm a bit worried now...
I'll have to check and perhaps fire off an email when I get home.
 

CenTex52Chevy

Active member
Joined
Jun 19, 2008
Messages
38
Location
Coupland TX
Chammyman,

those are some really nice looking ratchets.

I got a question and I hope this doesn't come off sounding like I'm a smart a$$, but why are the ratchets in inchs (1/2, 3/8, 1/4) size, isn't England is on the metric system. Are all ratchet drives in standard sizes? do they sell ratchets with metric size drives?

Gary
 

zuspiel

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 19, 2008
Messages
1,350
Location
Houston, TX
Even in die-hard metric countries like Germany, all the ratchet drive sizes are in inches.

That might be an idea for S-O, though: Come out with 5mm and 10mm ratchets and sockets. I'm sure somebody on this board would buy them :bounce:

Especially if they had soft green and black handles :lol_hitti
 

Frank Elson

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Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Messages
1,375
Location
Lancashire, UK
I've mailed tonight, just before I went t'pub.
I am now full of Tribute, a Cornish ale I had not tried before. It was a guest beer in our local.
 
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Frank Elson

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Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Messages
1,375
Location
Lancashire, UK
I have a headache this morning but my wife just called - a parcel arrived at home.
Of course, I'm in work for the next 8(ish) hours :-(
 

Moose-LandTran

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 8, 2008
Messages
15,945
Location
The Brink of Insanity (England)
Even in die-hard metric countries like Germany, all the ratchet drive sizes are in inches.

Yes and no, some German manufacturers list both metric and imperial sizes in their cataolgues. 1/4" is also listed as 6.3mm, 3/8" is listed as 10mm and 1/2" is listed as 12.5mm. I believe the Hazet catalogue lists like this.

I bet your excited! :lol:

Ask her if its 16 inches long (ooer!)

Wow, what a big package.. :lol:

What is this? Dirty phone talk for tool addicts?

"Oh yeah.. Is it Chrome? How big is it? 1/2"-drive! Oh that's good, tell me more.. :wtf: :eek2: :lol:
 

Frank Elson

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Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Messages
1,375
Location
Lancashire, UK
I bet your excited! :lol:

Ask her if its 16 inches long (ooer!), wrapped in bubble wrap and appeares to be a brown card box inside

She worked last night (nurse) and is now in bed until she works tonight.
Certain death if I disturb her until I get home to cook her breakfast.
She did say it was heavyish, quite long and padded :)
 
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C

chammyman

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
882
Location
Glasgow, Scotland
you need to undo the allen bolt on the back of the head.

How I do it is get some kitchen roll, fold it up then get grips and hold the square drive, then undo the allen key bolt.

Then it comes apart. don't do it over a drain or something.
 

Frank Elson

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Messages
1,375
Location
Lancashire, UK
you need to undo the allen bolt on the back of the head.

How I do it is get some kitchen roll, fold it up then get grips and hold the square drive, then undo the allen key bolt.

Then it comes apart. don't do it over a drain or something.

gotcha, ta.
I do small things like this over a (dry) washing up bowl.
No chasing ball-bearings or springs all over the place for me.:thumbup:

actually, all three feel really smooth, but I'll have a look inside anyway.
 
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C

chammyman

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
882
Location
Glasgow, Scotland
Well after using these pretty much all the time I can say I only have 1 issue.

The 1/4 drive one, the selector on the back of the head catches on the handle when its swivelled, nothign major, its scraped the paint off the selector though.

Also they are pretty useless when used with a UJ or a UJ socket. You can do it but when it twists it just jams.

Aside from that I am very impressed.
 

speed bump

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Joined
May 28, 2008
Messages
6,317
Location
Butte Montana
Roger that. Not a problem with today's plastics. :thumbup:

Weren't you one of the people who was bitching when there was discusion about Cman switching to plastic selectors?:headscrat

Well after using these pretty much all the time I can say I only have 1 issue.

The 1/4 drive one, the selector on the back of the head catches on the handle when its swivelled, nothign major, its scraped the paint off the selector though.

Also they are pretty useless when used with a UJ or a UJ socket. You can do it but when it twists it just jams.

Aside from that I am very impressed.

Binding with a UJ is very common with this type of a ratchet and is due to the freedom you have to rotate with this design.
 

mofo62

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Joined
Oct 4, 2009
Messages
917
Location
Perù
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*Britool - Expert





Nice! :beer::thumbup:

...Easy to organise - each case is half the size of the larger sized case. The larger size is based on the EXPERT roller cabinet drawer dimensions...Ideal for organised storage...

bri11.jpg




V!
 
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