broken FHLF80

[bayoutoolguy]

Used it on some ****** crossmember bolts a few weeks ago, that are torqued to 90 foot pounds from the factory, didnt break the ratchetbut took a good bit of force to get the bolts loose. It was one of those very rare instances when I didnt have the right tool for the job ( I had left all my 1/2 drive stuff at home that day). Thats not the time that broke it, but it probably weakened the gear and didnt help if any. Yesterday I was helping my dad put a new blade on his Dixon zero turn lawnmower, it got the bolt off no problem, albeit with a good bit of force. When i went to tighten the bolt, it was flexing in an awkward position, and then i heard a loud popping noise. I think i stripped a few teeth in the head, as it still works but its really clunky and not smooth when turning. Ill get my dealer to toss a kit in it and will soon invest in a good 1/2 ratchet. Correct me if im wrong but shouldnt the FHLF80 be able to toighten or loosen a lawnmmower blade without breaking, or break loose 90 ft lbs? I thought the 3/8 dual 80s were good to 280 ft lbs.

 

[geardoc]

I have had very poor luck with the Dual 80 series- so my is, in my experience, no. If it had been 36 tooth stuff we're talking about, it probably would haven't been a problem.

I got so tired of hearing, "You should have used a breaker bar" that I sold the Dual 80's, bought a set of the Craftsman 84t's, and haven't had those problems.

 

[shoturtle]

Don't let the SO band wagon hear that, they swear the duals are super strong and as strong or stronger then corse tooth ratchets.

But yeah a 3/8 dr should be able to handle 90ft lbs, I have done it with a proto big dawns 3/8 in a pinch when I had a flat. And the 17mm were rated at 100 ft lb. And it broke them and had no issues.

 

[davesnothere]

Those things are junk.
So, how much do you want for it?

 

[otis66]

Those things are junk.
So, how much do you want for it?

LOLOLOL. Yeah how much do you want for your broken FHLF80? lolololol

 

[Skin]

Sell it, get a Matco 88.

 

[tjmonsen5]

Believe it or not, the T72 (Snap-on 1/4 ratchet) is rated to 90 ft lbs.

The 3/8 is strong, and you can put a good amount of torque on it with that long handle. They are not magic, they do break.

 

[jrlp]

The fcf72 (1/4" body 3/8" drive) is rated for 90ft/lb as well.. may have been a fluke, bad heat treatment, etc.. good thing rebuild kits are cheap!

 

[bobcatdan]

So it broke, big whoop. Get it fixed, that is what the warranty is for. If I cried over every broken ratchet I'd have depression.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

I guess that chinese pot metal in those gears is not holding up like they thought....

 

[joshthedieseltech]

Is it a stamped USA one?

 

[mooman]

So it broke, big whoop. Get it fixed, that is what the warranty is for. If I cried over every broken ratchet I'd have depression.

Not if he didn't buy it from SO. What if he bought it from a memeber here???

 

[Davefr]

So it broke, big whoop. Get it fixed, that is what the warranty is for. If I cried over every broken ratchet I'd have depression.

Assuming he saved the original proof of purchase receipt.

 

[Fast LT1]

I cracked mine yesterday, my dealer handed me a brand new one, no receipt needed.

 

[LGMechanical]

I've remove some seriously tight fasteners with 3/8 dual 80. Over 200 ft-lbs for sure. Pro use and abuse (no cheater pipes though) for the last 4 years. No issues. Money well spent. Just get the warranty from your dealer and get back to work

 

[bobcatdan]

I have never had one problem getting anything from SO warrantied. I have also put two of my dealer's kids threw collage.

 

[bayoutoolguy]

i bought it through my dealer. yeah im not worried ill just throw a kit in it, im just surprised it broke so easily, I dont use it hard all the time, every once in a while.

 

[Caleb T]

I am on my second one, and probaly my 5th or 6th set of gears... I haven't had good luck with mine. I plan to buy a Mac flex head when money is less tight. I got a screaming deal on the snap-on, so I thought I would try it. Not overly impressed, but still a decent ratchet. Although the 2nd ratchet ahs been better than the first that had a cracked case... And no, I have never used a cheater pipe on it..

 

[transittech]

I've remove some seriously tight fasteners with 3/8 dual 80. Over 200 ft-lbs for sure. Pro use and abuse (no cheater pipes though) for the last 4 years. No issues. Money well spent. Just get the warranty from your dealer and get back to work

Same here, I've really leaned on mine and it's been money well spent. Every now and then I'm sure they make a dud... It happens.

 

[joedodge]

Never broke any of mine using them right USA stamped or not. And I use them daily as a tech and the warranty bs makes me mad if ur a good customer and are cool with ur dealer Theyl warranty anything whether u have a reciept or any other bs hell I got a head rebuilt and handle replaced on one I found in the rd today lol

 

[Altec]

Kinda hard to say what's wrong with it with it without cracking it open. Could be a loose cover screw for all we know.

I've Hung my 200lb *** off mine... A long with dropping it, throwing it (just once...), using it as a hammer, etc, etc. Still on the original internals.

 

[Griff93]

Don't let the SO band wagon hear that, they swear the duals are super strong and as strong or stronger then corse tooth ratchets.

But yeah a 3/8 dr should be able to handle 90ft lbs, I have done it with a proto big dawns 3/8 in a pinch when I had a flat. And the 17mm were rated at 100 ft lb. And it broke them and had no issues.

I have the same ratchet as the OP and have had 6 kits put in it so far due to it slipping/breaking teeth. I bought an armstrong that I use daily now and only use the SO when I need a flex head. I managed to break an SK 1/4 drive long ratchet today. I was in a spot where a 1/4 with a 6mm allen was the only thing that would fit. The paw snapped in half where the hole for the pivot pin goes through it. Proto Big Dawgs are very strong. I managed to break one once but it was abuse.

 

[bayoutoolguy]

i hope mine was just a dud. 90 foot lbs should be nothing for a 3/8 ratchet. Now i do wonder how tight the lawnmower blade was, thats what broke it, as that was the original blade from the factory, mower is 3 years old.

 

[pilotman81]

I have not had any trouble with my Dual 80s, but I still prefer my old school SO rats.

 

[BigV]

I got rid of my dual 80 stuff because of the warranty issues I had with Snap On. I pay cash in full for the tools I buy from my dealer. I had flex head Dual 80 3/8 strip out the gear. He wanted to see what I had used it on. I showed him it was with a torque adapter removing a head bolt on a motorcycle. He refused to warranty it. I had used a breaker bar to break it loose, but the bolt was sort of crusty. It stripped the gear on the anchor.

I sent it to Snap On, and they refused. I did not send it with multiple tools, just one.

They said to send it back with proof of purchase.

I bought a kit, put it in myself, Ebayed as rebuilt.

I had the Matco 88 but I really liked the Craftsman 84t's handle better. So, that's what I ended up with. Traded two used Matco 88's for a set of the Craftsman 84's with an extra 84t 3/8. Very nice ratchets.

 

[CWP1616L]

I got rid of my dual 80 stuff because of the warranty issues I had with Snap On. I pay cash in full for the tools I buy from my dealer. I had flex head Dual 80 3/8 strip out the gear. He wanted to see what I had used it on. I showed him it was with a torque adapter removing a head bolt on a motorcycle. He refused to warranty it. I had used a breaker bar to break it loose, but the bolt was sort of crusty. It stripped the gear on the anchor.


I sent it to Snap On, and they refused. I did not send it with multiple tools, just one.

They said to send it back with proof of purchase.

I bought a kit, put it in myself, Ebayed as rebuilt.

Let me get this straight: The dealer refused to rebuild the ratchet for you?

 

[otis66]

I got rid of my dual 80 stuff because of the warranty issues I had with Snap On. I pay cash in full for the tools I buy from my dealer. I had flex head Dual 80 3/8 strip out the gear. He wanted to see what I had used it on. I showed him it was with a torque adapter removing a head bolt on a motorcycle. He refused to warranty it. I had used a breaker bar to break it loose, but the bolt was sort of crusty. It stripped the gear on the anchor.

I sent it to Snap On, and they refused. I did not send it with multiple tools, just one.

They said to send it back with proof of purchase.

I bought a kit, put it in myself, Ebayed as rebuilt.

I had the Matco 88 but I really liked the Craftsman 84t's handle better. So, that's what I ended up with. Traded two used Matco 88's for a set of the Craftsman 84's with an extra 84t 3/8. Very nice ratchets.

So let me get this right. The Snap On dealer wanted to see what you used the ratchet on. LOL

 

[dsmnickk90]

Let me get this straight: The dealer refused to rebuild the ratchet for you?

Have your dealer give you a recipt

 

[bayoutoolguy]

Brought it to my dealer, he didnt even look to see what broke inside it, he just said It dont matter, I just rebuild them, no charge. He took my word that it was broken. I looked at the gear, it looked as if one tooth had a small chip. Also traded an FH80 for an FHF80, cant do without a flexhead. And all my snap on tools, Id wait a while for some reason before using them, and try to get them as least dirty as possible. Well Im over that lol, the FHF 80 came in real handy today changing an alternator, got the grip all dirty, didnt bother me a bit lol.