Does Anybody Else Like Floppy Flex Head Ratchets?

[dnschmidt]

There seems to be a phobia around here about having a tight flex head ratchet which puzzles me. I don't like tight flex head ratchets, I don't like flex head ratchets with detents and I don't like locking flex head ratchets. I like semi-floppy flex head ratchets because it enables me to move the handle to the 90 degree position and spin bolts out. My favorite flex head is the Williams B-54 SuperRatchet flex head that was fairly loose the day it was new. Am I the only one that prefers loose flex head ratchets? I always hold the damn thing with one hand on the ratchet head and the other one on the handle so what's the big deal. God gave me two arms so I'm wondering why a flex head is suppose to be hard to flex. AM I ALONE ON THIS ISLAND?

 

[Bighead38]

Nope. Grew up working with my old man and his favorite ratchet is an old floppy snap on so that's what I am used to.

 

[mbshop]

They aren't supposed to be floppy ?

 

[Infinia]

I like semi-floppy flex head ratchets because it enables me to move the handle to the 90 degree position and spin bolts out.

nope I hate floppy heads on my flex tools. the ability to rotate 90° and spin by hand is inversely proportional to handle lengths and fastener sizes. I use 1/4" roto head ratchets for that function and they don't have to be "semi" floppy either.

 

[WWheeler]

No to floppy. No no no.

I'm hating life every second I have to two-hand a ratchet. I all too often (as in, almost always) need my other hand to hold on or lean on something. Two hands on a ratchet is totally unnecessary if the flex-head is operating as it should.

 

[KnurledNut]

My favorite flex head is the Williams B-54 SuperRatchet flex head that was fairly loose the day it was new.

 

[MrGiggles]

Some of you old fellers are probably used to working with floppy tools.

And no, I hate having to reach up and hold the head of a floppy ratchet, when the whole idea behind a flex head is to reach into confined areas where you can't fit a second hand in.

Not a big fan of detents either, tight flex or fixed head for me.

The HF flex heads would be a home run if they could figure out a way for them to stay tight.

 

[toolmutt]

Nope. Hate 'em. I understand that if you can get your other hand on the ratchet head, it's no big deal. But the first few times I needed the flex, I also couldn't get my other hand near the ratchet. The flop was a deal killer. Now, I love my Armstrong. Lock it when needed, unlock it when not.

 

[Infinia]

HF fixes floppy for good?

 

[firworks]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/duxypQ66WcQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[vettex2]

I like 'em loose

 

[BIG BACCHUS]

Only flex head i have is a Mac and it's pretty stiff, I have no complaints but I'll have to try one that's floppy, for good measure.

 

[Provincial]

I have several older flex head ratchets. Two Craftsman 1/2" long handled ones, one is quite loose. I find that I grab the tighter one every time. I also have two 3/8 long handle flex ratchets, both are loose.

I don't mind the loose, except then I'm trying to reach into a difficult spot and the head flops over. The other problem is when I'm working at an angle and the head flops over and the socket pops off the bolt head. Not as much a problem on a nut, as the nut is taller.

 

[firworks]

I didn't necessarily mind the floppy head on my ratchet in that video until I was laying on my back working on something and hit myself in the face with it as it flopped down.

 

[SantaAna12]

Yes you are alone on the Island. No fresh water. No fish. No chicken. No volleyballs named Wilson.
And yes.......no tools!

 

[Tenex]

Ain't right it it ain't tight

 

[Olafur]

Depends on the situation.

Frequently in tight spots you want the ratchet head to stay at certain angle. If it doesn't time starts to fly and bad temper ensues. In this case locking flex is what you want.

I sometimes use flex heads as spinners but but but.... if you have room for that other tools can do the job faster.

I guess the G.J motto applies; You need both!

 

[Infinia]

I didn't necessarily mind the floppy head on my ratchet in that video until I was laying on my back working on something and hit myself in the face with it as it flopped down.

did you see my YT link above yours, Harbor Freight long flex has upgraded the spring washer thingy, much more beefier~! nice

 

[stage20]

hell no to floppy. put a 6 or 10" extension on the end of it with a deep well socket and try and get to the bolt head with one hand..... aint gonna happen

 

[Billy Jack]

Back in college I had a rudimentary set of tools that my Dad put together to carry in my trunk. My only ratchet was a 60's vintage S-K 12 inch flex 3/8 drive with a loose joint. I skinned more knuckles with that thing than I care to remember. I sold my Snap-On bent handle flex head after it bit me too many times doing brake caliper bolts. Still have a Snap On 12 incher with the pivoting head that I use in limited situations, but any additions in the future will be lockers.
I've seen mention here of the EZ Red 17 inch locking flex, which looks like an ideal tool for serpentine belts. I'm not expecting Snap On quality for $40, but does anyone have any experience with it?

Bill

 

[Heel2toe]

I had great success taking my 3/8 HF floppy ratchet and heating it up a smidge with a MAP gas torch and squeezing the 2 ears closer together with a vice. I did that a couple years ago when I got the ratchet and Im so glad I did and its now my go to ratchet. Its tight enough where I set the position with my hand and itll stay in that position unless I move it again.

 

[Tractorsellr]

I like mine tight.

 

[four.cycle]

I had great success taking my 3/8 HF floppy ratchet and heating it up a smidge with a MAP gas torch and squeezing the 2 ears closer together with a vice.

^ So is this the solution?
This subject came up in another thread a little while back, and I asked if there was some remedy to older ratchets that had become flippy-floppy.
The one I have uses a straight pin through the yoke on which the ratchet head pivots.
So.... just get it toasty and squeeze it with a vise?

 

[four.cycle]

^ Makes perfectly good sense, and I'm not a metallurgist.
So... if you've got a flex-head ratchet that uses a straight pin at the swivel point, how would one go about effecting remedy to the "flippy-flop" issue? (Other than buying another ratchet, of course.)

 

[jerseykat1]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/duxypQ66WcQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

awesome video....



To answer OP. No i don't like floppy flex heads. locking is best, detents are okay, friction is okay too.

 

[TT54l32v]

I don't like locking, I find that if I have a ratchet in my hand more than likely I need precision. In which I more than likely use both hands. I have the super long 1/2 flex nonlock on a crank pulley bolt and a long 3/8 non lock flex on a torque convertor nut and one hand both no problem. Both are floppy,the half doesn't even have the lock washer in it any more

 

[bobcatdan]

I want just enough to keep the head straight with a deep well on it. I'm the goldilocks of flex heads, not too tight, not too loose, just right.

 

[stage20]

awesome video....



To answer OP. No i don't like floppy flex heads. locking is best, detents are okay, friction is okay too.

fixing it with a piece of paper? thats not an awesome video.

why not just add another spring washer to the other side? that will easily take up the .004 slop he mentions..... paper.......

 

[jerseykat1]

fixing it with a piece of paper? thats not an awesome video.

why not just add another spring washer to the other side? that will easily take up the .004 slop he mentions..... paper.......

While I agree that paper isn't ideal.. I still liked the video.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[shockwave]

I usually keep them semi tight but not loose
I have seen too many snap on flex heads break at the yoke of the flex joint due to loose bolt it needs to be free to move but not tight

And this is why I really like the matco/Armstrong/gearwrench style locking flex ratchets compared to the snap on version I am talking 3/8 drive here my most used

 

[ken w.]

I have 2 or 3 favorite Snap On flex heads that are real floppy. I would trade them in but I just like them so much. I can live with it. My favorite flex heads are my hard handled ones.

 

[Heel2toe]

If you heat the metal up enough to allow for permanent deformation via hammer, bench vise, etc. you have already lost the original heat treatment of the steel. The new joint will be noticeably weaker unless you go through the extra effort to re-establish the heat treatment yourself by heating to non-magnetic, quenching, tempering, etc. That re-treatment process will ruin any chrome plating though, so it pretty much ends up a lose-lose situation. If you can solve a floppy head problem using any technique other than applying lots of heat it would be a better option.

Yeah I completely agree with you and it was a concern that I had upon heating it up. I honestly barely heated it up, just a smidge like I said to assist in bending it inward. It probably was unnecessary and quite frankly may have not even assisted whatsoever. Lets put it this way I never discolored the chrome or anything like that so I think that explains how hot I really got it. It was one of those scenarios where I started to apply a little heat and then I was like hmmm this is probably a bad idea ill try just cranking it down a lil in the vice and see if it helps.

I performed this fix probably a couple years ago and while Im not a mechanic by trade so I dont use it everyday its gotten plenty of use now and I can confirm that it has held tight and been perfect for me since then.

 

[wvhillbillie]

Nope. I put this Armstrong head on a Kobalt breaker bar handle. Stiff and gained a lot of length.


Sent from my SM-T110 using Tapatalk

 

[Infinia]

Nope. I put this Armstrong head on a Kobalt breaker bar handle. Stiff and gained a lot of length.

Very Cool
do you push this on torque breaking tasks now?

PS post your image in 'Let's see your custom / modified hand tools' thread

 

[gearhead1]

I do not like the real loose at all. I'd rather have it on the tight side than the loose side. I do not have any locking flex, but would like to try them.

 

[Capt Chrysler]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/duxypQ66WcQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Now that's funny. As I used to take apart my new / warranty replacement Snap-On flex heads so they would flop! Still will grab the loosest one in the drawer.

Capt. Chrysler

 

[Jim Diesel]

Nice and tight is right, to loose and your swinging a goose.

 

[gdocktor3]

This is how I fixed my floppy heads http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=338626

 

[lilxtra]

I like a flex head that is tight, I have a Cornwell flex head that is my go to over all my Snappy's. If it's too loose it leads to busted knuckles.

 

[F350]

This is how I fixed my floppy heads http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=338626

I'll have to try this. I've got the same exact S-K ratchet that flip-flops like McCain.