Does anyone else not like racheting wrenches?

[GoBlue]

Let me start with latest story. I picked up a metric and SAE set of the xbeam flex head matco gear wrenches the other day. On Sunday i was wrenching on some exhaust for the first time i ever used them when the head kicked over and sent me flying rendering me useless. Im in a back brace and taking vicoden as we speak. This is not my first problem keep in mind. I broke several of my previous gear wrenches in the past through abuse no doubt but they broke all the same. I cant help but thinking i should be using a ratchet in about 99% of the situations where i used a gear wrench. I take responsibility but the question remains...are they really worth the trouble when i have good wrenches and good ratchets and sockets? They seem plenty popular around here but there must be others who dont use them. I was looking for a non flex to replace the matcos, but they are all made over seas! Even the blackhawks and my matco flex heads. Fortunately the matco guy took the ones i had purchased back as only one had been used and one time for that matter. Got me to thinking that maybe i dont need to replace them and can live without them...thoughts?

 

[tonydanzah]

I lovem and i have only had one break i can think of

 

[filtered]

I've come across two situations when I couldn't get a ratchet on a bolt. Option A was to use a regular combo wrench and reposition it over and over till I got the 2 bolts removed. Or Option B was to use a gear wrench and cut my time way down. I took option B it was far less frustrating.

There are times when it's the best tool for the job, like removing bolts between the engine block and firewall. I usually break the bolts loose with a combo wrench then switch over to a gear wrench. I prefer to use a ratchet, if I can't I use a wrench, if it's a tight spot I use a gear wrench. However I am not a pro, just a normal guy that doesn't like to pay other people for things I can do myself.

 

[TA^Guy]

They aren't my first choice but the do serve a purpose.

I've come across two situations when I couldn't get a ratchet on a bolt. Option A was to use a regular combo wrench and reposition it over and over till I got the 2 bolts removed. Or Option B was to use a gear wrench and cut my time way down. I took option B it was far less frustrating.

There are times when it's the best tool for the job, like removing bolts between the engine block and firewall. I usually break the bolts loose with a combo wrench then switch over to a gear wrench. I prefer to use a ratchet, if I can't I use a wrench, if it's a tight spot I use a gear wrench. However I am not a pro, just a normal guy that doesn't like to pay other people for things I can do myself.

^I agree with this!

 

[dink]

I just like keeping it old school with a standard ole wrench....I had some Craftsmen ratcheting wrenches but I always used my normal wrenches...I ended up selling the ratcheting wrenches

 

[Jim C.]

Maybe I've been using ratcheting wrenches (like GearWrench) all wrong. I honestly thought the ratcheting end of the wrench was for speed once a nut or bolt was loose. All this time I've been doing my initial fastner loosening with a breaker bar, a solid, non-ratcheting open end or box end wrench, and then doing final tightening with the same, or a torque wrench. I didn't think the ratcheting end of a GearWrench/ratcheting wrench was made for initial loosening and final tightening of fastners.

Warnings on the packaging of every GearWrench I ever purchased have said...."The GearWrench is a precision tool and is not intended to free frozen fastners."

I guess they aren't really made for serious force being applied to them. I like them for what they're designed to do.

Jim C.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Maybe I've been using ratcheting wrenches (like Gearwrench) all wrong. I honestly thought the ratcheting end of the wrench was for speed once a nut or bolt was loose. All this time I've been doing my initial fastner loosening with a breaker bar, a solid, non-ratcheting open end or box end wrench, and then doing final tightening with the same, or a torque wrench. I didn't think the ratcheting end of a Gearwrench/ratcheting wrench was made for initial loosening and final tightening. Shows you what I know....

Jim C.

Not sure if this is sarcasm or not but what you say is right....

 

[Hiball]

Nothing Wrong with Ratcheting wrenches, There a great time saver but do have there limitations. I would never think of using them on Exhaust work (especially Old) or any type of fastener that is gonna require the kind of force that if they do fail its gonna put you in a Back Brace. I generally reach for my Ratchet/breaker bar in these cases, Dont get me wrong.. Ive been on the Wrong end of a Poor tool decision over the years, but ive learned to invest in quality drive tools to minimize the possibilities of Failure.

 

[dclassical]

I love my ratcheting wrenches. I have the SK metric and also the (now unavailable) SK XXL flex head that I LOVE!

 

[Aklass]

Maybe I've been using ratcheting wrenches (like Gearwrench) all wrong. I honestly thought the ratcheting end of the wrench was for speed once a nut or bolt was loose. All this time I've been doing my initial fastner loosening with a breaker bar, a solid, non-ratcheting open end or box end wrench, and then doing final tightening with the same, or a torque wrench. I didn't think the ratcheting end of a Gearwrench/ratcheting wrench was made for initial loosening and final tightening of fastners. Shows you what I know....

Jim C.

you arent suppose to do that, but 2 of the guys I work with do it, and have yet to have one fail, besides they do have lifetime warranties which is why they do it

 

[knobby]

My only beef with non reversing gearwrench style wrenches is that if you are not careful you can get into a situation where the only options are to destroy ether the fastener or the wrench in order to remove the wrench. A very humbling/frustrating experience indeed

 

[Jim C.]

you arent suppose to do that, but 2 of the guys I work with do it, and have yet to have one fail, besides they do have lifetime warranties which is why they do it

I think I'm using them correctly. They're not breaker bars!!

Jim C.

 

[willyk57]

Maybe I've been using ratcheting wrenches (like Gearwrench) all wrong. I honestly thought the ratcheting end of the wrench was for speed once a nut or bolt was loose.

That is how I have have been using them as well.

Given this mindset on how they can or should be used, I feel they have very limited applications. There have been a few times that they worked very well, but 95 percent of the time I reach for a standard wrench or a ratchet and socket.

I would not recommended them as a must have tool for some one just starting their tool collection.

Regards,
Willyk57

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I only like them when i need them. Otherwise i much prefer my normal wrenches.

 

[balane]

I bought a full set of Snap On ratcheting wrenches a while back. Not because I was looking for them but because they presented themselves to me at a price too good to pass up. I think I've used them less than a dozen times over the years and when I look at them I think I feel a sort of resentment towards them at the space they take up in my crowded wrench drawer.

I either want a wrench or I want a ratchet & socket, I seldom want to combine the two.

 

[diesel research]

No need to get rid of them, just requires additional retraining in proper use and care.

Filtered, JimC, and myself have given you the info you need. No breaking free with ratchet end (or open end on most bolts for that matter) and an occasional therapeutic soak in light oil.

 

[DavidB]

I think they're great. Like the others, I don't use them for breaking fasteners loose though. I only use mine in tight quarters or for speed purposes. I don't think the racheting mechanism is beefy enough to take the torque of breaking things free for too long.

 

[SMKS]

On Sunday i was wrenching on some exhaust for the first time i ever used them when the head kicked over and sent me flying rendering me useless.

This is not my first problem keep in mind. I broke several of my previous gear wrenches in the past through abuse no doubt

You have my sympathy, regarding your injury. I always hate to see someone get hurt in the garage.

However, you admit the ones you broke were being abused and you were trying to use a ratcheting wrench on exhaust. I think you are using ratcheting wrenches in applications where they shouldn't be used.

I think ratcheting wrenches are great and use them a lot. But, in certain situations you need to use a standard wrench first to loosen the nut or bolt, then use a ratcheting wrench to speed it off.

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

They are a neccisary evil imo. I have a set but they are not my go to wrenches. They are only used when I cant get a ratchet on the bolt and spinning it off by resetting the wrench each time is to slow/hard. And usualy I take both a standard fixed wrench as well as the gearwrench with me. Gearwrenches are not designed to break bolts free. Break the bolt free with the standard wrench first then go at it with the gear wrench.

Story: on my last trip to advance the guy behind me was talking to the cleark and wanting to see the package of gearwrenches (scruffy guy I see at my local store alot and dont trust) He proceded to say "Yea I brake alot of these so its time to get new ones!" and I wanted to be like "you do know that they are lifetime waranteed correct? and that you are not supposed to use them as the gotwo wrenches?"

But Ive seen people abuse the hell out of em. Sometimes nothing comes of it sometimes they fail and a snapped wrench is never fun.

Good luck healing up Im sorry to hear about your injury. Get better soon
Sean Scott

 

[Monte]

best invention since sliced bread !

 

[diesel research]

Absolutely nothing wrong with being the go to wrench. The breaking them free with a regular wrench still applies in many cases. Like I said in his other thread, I use mine all the time, which equates to most everyday.

 

[dime]

i love mine and i dont think i would willingly be without them, you just have to keep in mind that they are not for super high torque situations.

 

[tonydanzah]

i will break bolts free all day long with them. Silly to carry 2 wrenches

 

[ukvauxtech]

I use the living hell out of mine (bluepoint) never had a problem. But you get a "feel" for their strength.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I will break bolts free all day long with them. FOR I AM TERRY DANIELS AND I AM WHAT MEN ARE MADE OF.

Interesting..

 

[tonydanzah]

Interesting..

 

[91bronc300]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonydanzah
I will break bolts free all day long with them. FOR I AM TERRY DANIELS AND I AM WHAT MEN ARE MADE OF.


As a man, I think I'm supposed to be insulted by that. Although I would need a woman to tell me for sure.

 

[diesel research]

i will break bolts free all day long with them. Silly to carry 2 wrenches

Ya it is especially silly when you have a through bolt and nut configuration (frame rails anyone?).

 

[Moose-LandTran]

As a man, I think I'm supposed to be insulted by that. Although I would need a woman to tell me for sure.

Neither of us will never even be half as much a man as Terry Daniels is. Or so i'm told by a woman.

frame rails anyone?

No, i'll pass, thanks!

 

[tonydanzah]

rail frames?

 

[ajchien]

I'm not a pro. But my preference when breaking loose a bolt is: breaker bar>ratchet>wrench>ratcheting wrench. As well as 6pt>12pt. depends on access, of course. IDK. I would much prefer to have an easy, controlled loosening with a 18" breaker bar, rather than using my muscle + an 8" Ratchet. Not very manly, but I really don't like it when I or my tools go flying while loosening something.

After the bolt is loose, ill switch to whatever is fastest for me.

I would have thought exhaust work would be on really tight. Resorting to penetrating fluids and heat as help.

 

[clutch93]

I LOVE THEM!! First wrench I reach for, never had one fail on me. I have the gear wrench set. Unfortunately I only have the metric set, wish I had both. I have the ones that are more narrow on one side so it cant slip past the bolt head, helps when you have a really long bolt and a normal wrench would slip past.

 

[BlindViper]

only 1 i have broke was my 8mm gearwrench...it involved a 12'' pipe and a hammer...

 

[diesel research]

i will break bolts free all day long with them. Silly to carry 2 wrenches

 

[NJHandyGuy]

i love mine i don't know how i got as mush done befroe i had them

 

[2oolhound]

There are so many new tools today that we never had 30 years ago. I remember watching an electrician unscrew a screw when I was about 9 - 10 years old. This guy was a pro and I'd never seen a screw driver get used like that before. He did in seconds what would have taken my dad a minute or so. After that time I understood the design of a common screw driver when in the hands of a skilled user. Today we have electric screwdrivers, gear wrenches and other power tools. How long will it be before mechanics and other tradesmen loose the skills to use authentic hand tools efficiently?

 

[therealwormey]

some people shouldnt use chainsaws either,,,,,,,,, but they do

 

[treasureseeker]

Does the Armstrong ratcheting wrench look any better in person. The photos look as if there are many high areas along the beam of the wrench.

 

[diesel research]

Don't know....yet.

Here is an ebag specimen
http://cgi.ebay.com/Geared-Box-Wren...221?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53d2b848ed

 

[bradweingartner]

If you are in a back brace because a ratcheting wrench failed on you, I suggest you re-think your application of force and bracing your self. The bolt could have just as easily broken on you, just as suddenly, and you'd not have a wrench to blame.

Work smarter, not harder.

To answer your question I never use a ratcheting wrench when a ratchet and socket will fit. However, if a wrench is my only option, my ratcheting wrenches are my go-to tool unless it's something I'm expecting to be a pain.