Do you use a 3/8 Air Ratchet?

[Stogies]

I have a FAR25 1/4 snap on air ratchet and I love it. I have been looking at 3/8 drive ratchets, but they seem a little heavy.
Any feedback?

 

[peterbilr98]

i have 2 3/8 air guns snap on and ir use them daily have a ir air ratchet i dont like air ratchets love 3/8 air guns.

 

[Packard V8]

I've got a FAR71 and a Craftsman Professional. As far as I'm concerned, an air ratchet is the least-used of all my tools. The air ratchet doesn't have enough power to break loose some bolts. If I'm using an impact to break loose a bolt/nut, why not just run it on out? Another reason is they're noisy.

BTW, the most finger-endangeringly powerful air ratchet I ever used was an old MAC.

jack vines

 

[Snappy]

I have a 3/8 Mac and it is a little on the heavy side. I don't use it everyday so I really don't mind it.

 

[Deafautotech]

i do use all air tools what i need to get a repairs done... on stupid ford 3.5/3.7 engines has water pump inside that run by timing chain that has numborous water pump leak as weeping out the weep hole of engine block!!! it is tight spot but air ratchet are favor to do pull the front cover... that why i has good ole Far72B or Mac AR1778 to do it...

 

[Interex]

It's going to be hard to find a 3/8" air ratchet that is light AND somewhat powerful. Air ratchets I've used aren't meant to break loose bolts. Instead, they are designed to automate the ratcheting once you manually break the bolt loose. This helps with jobs such as changing water pumps or working with long bolts.

 

[gibbon_guy]

Snap-on FAR72C is what I like so that I don't bust my knuckles

 

[bad daddy]

For doing production work or when the bolts are too long...installing steering systems on boats, usually. But on any machinery (Harley or SkiDoo or ???) usually, no.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

PREFER A 3/8 impact gun
but for tight spots an air ratchet is good , I have 9 3/8 air ratchets

 

[ulev1st]

Sometimes I will use them but most times I grab my DeWalt cordless 3/8 impact..

 

[Stogies]

Thanks for the feedback. I have a 1/2 impact that I only use to remove/install wheels. I see a lot of people use 3/8 impact guns. That may be my next purchase now. Of course I need 3/8 impact sockets and use both metric and SAE. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[Goinlow]

I use a 3/8 air ratchet over the 3/8 gun because I've gotten a little "animal" with it before and snapped a few bolts.

 

[Interex]

One thing that I really like using, if the space allows it, is a pneumatic butterfly ratchet:

They'll take most smaller bolts off in a flash and normally provide more torque than the air ratchets (especially when you crank up the regulator!). They also provide just the right amount of torque when tightening.

 

[Stogies]

I use a 3/8 air ratchet over the 3/8 gun because I've gotten a little "animal" with it before and snapped a few bolts.

Good point and no need for new sockets.

 

[RLRRLRLL]

i do use all air tools what i need to get a repairs done... on stupid ford 3.5/3.7 engines has water pump inside that run by timing chain that has numborous water pump leak as weeping out the weep hole of engine block!!! it is tight spot but air ratchet are favor to do pull the front cover... that why i has good ole Far72B or Mac AR1778 to do it...

Indeed! Ive used one before taking off timing belt covers. Saves time. Time is money!

 

[boogerboy72]

far72b has always done me right. Ive pulled harmonic balancer bolts, head bolts and god knows what else. Im waiting on a hammer head to make its way to my shop, it looks like a dream come true.

 

[4x4gearhead]

I have an FAR72C snap on air ratchet and I couldnt be happier with it, I am surprised at what it will loosen at times. This is one of the best ones out there but has a hefty price tag of about $400

 

[lipadj46]

I'm thinking of just getting that IR hammerhead in 3/8 and just have the best of both worlds.

 

[wafrederick]

Another vote for the FAR72 series 3/8 drive air ratchets.I have the FAR72B and like it.I do have one warning that should be taken,watch where your hand is and it will take your hand off.Have done it a few times.I send mine in including my FAR7200 in for a rebuild once a year which is worth the money to do,I use them a lot and the veins inside go weak.I did break one stud which is a chincy stud on 3100 GM,holding the exhaust manifold to the cylinder head once with my FAR72B.

 

[scotte]

i went from a far72 to an ir hammerhead and I won't go back

its bigger but works for 80% of the jobs the far72 did + quite a few new ones that before required a 1/2 ratchet and you had 3 teeth worth of movement

 

[Chadro]

Matco MT2858 is probably the best I've ever used. I don't own one but I definitely plan on buying one after using it.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

Matco MT2858 is probably the best I've ever used. I don't own one but I definitely plan on buying one after using it.

yup, stupid power for a ratchet. just replaced a head in one for a customer.

 

[rayzor32]

I've got a FAR72c and I use the snot out of it

 

[Canadian Charlie]

I have two 3/8" air ratchets. A CF thats average length and a Mac thats about 8" long. Love them both to death

 

[RM209]

I've got an older off-brand air ratchet and use it all the time. It's great for engine work and transmission maintenance. Since it doesn't have a silly amount of torque, I don't need 3/8" impact sockets. Like others have said, I use a breaker bar to loosen the bolts, and then run the bolts off with the air impact.

I save the tough stuff for a 1/2" air wrench.

RM209

 

[Gslocum]

I use an 3/8 IR 109xp for just about every bolt on my car.

 

[MrMark]

I'm wondering how many of you break the bolt manually with the 3/8 air ratchet (using it just like a regular ratchet, no air) before pushing the button? I have one (far72c) and I'm trying to avoid smashing my hand as it does have extreme power compared to my old air ratchet.

 

[tyndall]

I have a couple, but I don't know where they are and have no interest in finding them. Decided a long time ago that saving a few minutes wasn't worth the hearing loss.

 

[sberry]

I'm wondering how many of you break the bolt manually with the 3/8 air ratchet (using it just like a regular ratchet, no air) before pushing the button? I have one (far72c) and I'm trying to avoid smashing my hand as it does have extreme power compared to my old air ratchet.

Break bolts loose with it all the time, use it a lot, have a couple 3/8, a 1/4 and even a 1/2.

 

[rayzor32]

I'm wondering how many of you break the bolt manually with the 3/8 air ratchet (using it just like a regular ratchet, no air) before pushing the button? I have one (far72c) and I'm trying to avoid smashing my hand as it does have extreme power compared to my old air ratchet.

Just hold on tight, I only smashed my hand not because of the extreme power but because i wasnt paying attention and caught me off guard, if you are ready for it you wont smash your hand. I always break it loose with the air unless its too tight for it to move it then i take both hands and crack it loose like a regular ratchet.

 

[Sloper0204]

3/8 air ratchet and 3/4" rattle gun were two of my most used air tools for a very long time.

 

[Jokeman]

Use my 3/8th Snapon cordless impact much more now.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

the 3/8'' IR ratchet i have is nice, the IR hammerhead is nicer and the IR2115TiMax is my favorite. the hammerhead is very convinient and i don't worry about smashed fingers.

 

[Kev442]

I'm wondering how many of you break the bolt manually with the 3/8 air ratchet (using it just like a regular ratchet, no air) before pushing the button? I have one (far72c) and I'm trying to avoid smashing my hand as it does have extreme power compared to my old air ratchet.

Yup. Put the socket on, break the bolt loose and hit the button.
Just got back to using 3/8ths air ratchets. I think I got away from them due to noise. Now that I'm older, their ease of use is outweighing the noise!

Just used mine today to pull the front stuff off a Chev V8.