Dual 80 or Matco 88 or??

[GoBlue]

same

 

[ChrisF250]

I have both a snap on f80 and matco bfr88t, both are the standard size ratchet. Both ratcheting mechanisms are super smooth. Honestly if I had to give an advantage Id say Matco because of the slimmer head design and also the tool is a bit longer, which i prefer. Anyway both are awesome tools.

 

[CamarosRus]

Would someone please list the different MATCO 88 part #'s and what ea # is
so the rest of us will know what to ask or look for ???

Thanks for the education

 

[ngk22r]

Honestly me being a snap-on guy I would of argued up and down that the snap-on ratchets were always better hands down. But now that the 88 is out, and just going off of the 1/4 drive I say both the Matco and Snap-on are a fine choice. But each ratchet will be better in different areas than others.

In my opinion this Matco ratchet(AFR58TG):

beats this Snap-on ratchet(THL72):

But in most cases I still prefer my snap-on ratchets but I will not say its always better.
Be it Snap-on or Matco it still comes down to what feels best in the persons hands.

 

[otis66]

My Matco 88 works great. But I like using my Wrights and older Snap On ratchets. I just got this Matco 88 3/8" drive ratchet 15" long. Can't wait to use it.

 

[Appleyard]

Would someone please list the different MATCO 88 part #'s and what ea # is
so the rest of us will know what to ask or look for ???

Thanks for the education

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[dj00140]

If they arn't putting the COO on there imported tools how is snap-on being honest? Or do you mean they are being honest about the reason for doing it (globalization)?

 

[slipjointed]

If they arn't putting the COO on there imported tools how is snap-on being honest? Or do you mean they are being honest about the reason for doing it (globalization)?

You kind of necro'd the thread, but since I have a couple of responses to give, I'm game.

Firstly, I think Snap-on's excuse for removing the USA marking is a gigantic steaming pile of ****.

Keep in mind, I'm not an older guy that's stuck on USA only tools because of the stigma picked up in the past from crappy imports. I'm a young guy that respects companies that are PROUD to mark their tools with where they come from, whether that be Germany, Spain, Italy, Taiwan, or USA. If a company purposely removes what I consider a mark of pride, then they're hiding something, period. Why they're hiding it is up to interpretation.




On topic, anyone who doesn't try a Wright dual-pawl (84T effective) is just plain missing out. One of the finest ratchets money can buy, and about half the price or less than truck tools. Also, proudly stamped USA.

 

[suss427]

Wow, that 8in 1/4 drive and 15 3/8 drive look super long!

 

[DrkMtnDew]

i started with Cman and upgraded to Matco. was perfectly happy with them. then i was introduced to SO in the form of the FHLF80. now i have only 2 matco ratchets left. all have been replaced by SO, personal choice. the 3/8'' and 1/2'' matco's were not as nice, i didn't think, as the SO.

On a side note, Matco 88's do have one thing going for them. disassembly and cleaning is a lot easier than the SOD80's.

 

[quattrojon]

This is actually a very timely thread, b/c I've been in the market for a more top-of-the line ratchet and was having a hard time deciding on whom to go with. Please continue on with the discussion.

The Armstrong 88 tooth ratchet would be worth your consideration, and those Armstrong handles are so comfortable to use.

 

[slipjointed]

i started with Cman and upgraded to Matco. was perfectly happy with them. then i was introduced to SO in the form of the FHLF80. now i have only 2 matco ratchets left. all have been replaced by SO, personal choice. the 3/8'' and 1/2'' matco's were not as nice, i didn't think, as the SO.

On a side note, Matco 88's do have one thing going for them. disassembly and cleaning is a lot easier than the SOD80's.

One thing I certainly won't debate is Snap-on's quality. Despite my reservations about their intentions, that is the sole reason I still own their tools.

Still, anyone who has not tried one of the Wright contour grip ratchets, should do so at least once. They're an absolutely superb tool, and I'd put them up against a dual 80 any day.

In fact, the sealed head design of the SO has a distinct disadvantage in comparison to the Wright... The Wright has very low resistance, so its easy to remove bolts that are clean and free spinning, without having to keep a second hand on the socket or extension.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

One thing I certainly won't debate is Snap-on's quality. Despite my reservations about their intentions, that is the sole reason I still own their tools.

Still, anyone who has not tried one of the Wright contour grip ratchets, should do so at least once. They're an absolutely superb tool, and I'd put them up against a dual 80 any day.

In fact, the sealed head design of the SO has a distinct disadvantage in comparison to the Wright... The Wright has very low resistance, so its easy to remove bolts that are clean and free spinning, without having to keep a second hand on the socket or extension.

for the purpose of the thread i was just talking about the SOD80 and Matco 88, but yes, i agree that there are smoother ratchets out there. my absolute hands down smoothest ratchet is an old 36 tooth Cornwell. i've got a wright and some proto's that are nice 'n' smooth too. sadly even though they are smoother most of the time on modern cars the shorter swing of the 80/88 is more important.

 

[Skin]

The Armstrong 88 tooth ratchet would be worth your consideration, and those Armstrong handles are so comfortable to use.

Armstrong doesnt make 88T ratchets that i'm aware of. One would need to purchase a fine tooth ratchet and an 88T kit. By the time all is said and done you may as well have bought a new truck brand ratchet of your choice off ebay for all the money you'd have spent. I think the kit alone is around $30.00.

 

[slipjointed]

for the purpose of the thread i was just talking about the SOD80 and Matco 88, but yes, i agree that there are smoother ratchets out there. my absolute hands down smoothest ratchet is an old 36 tooth Cornwell. i've got a wright and some proto's that are nice 'n' smooth too. sadly even though they are smoother most of the time on modern cars the shorter swing of the 80/88 is more important.

The Wright has a shorter swing than the dual 80. It has 42 teeth with dual offset pawls, so it operates as an 84 tooth ratchet, but with the strength of a coarse tooth ratchet.

 

[Jeeper]

I have been upgrading to Matco 88s. I started with the Armstrongs but have been mixing in Matco 88s. I think I am going to put 88 kits in the armstrongs and the one matco 60 tooth (11" fixed head) i just bought from ebay. Last i checked the kit price was $15. I am sure the SO ones are nice, but the Armstrong got me on the Matco line.

 

[burlybrute]

If you have an older 60 tooth Matco ratchet the 88 tooth repair kits drop right in. The repair part # for the 60 tooth is BFRTK the repair kit for the 80 tooth is BFR8TK for 3/8" drive. For 1/4" remove the B and ad A to part #, 1/2" it would start with C . So never pass on the "older" fine tooth ratchets, they are upgradable to 88 tooth!!

 

[wreckercologist]

Not a fan of the 88's. I've owned a couple 60 tooth's in the past. They were OK, but the 88's are junk IMO. Locked up the gears and bent the handle on day one (BFR158T). One is enough, thank you.

At first, I felt bad when I borrowed the new kids 24" locking flex 88 and broke it. Now, after the fifth repair kit in probably six months, I don't feel so bad. He's pissed and wants to trade it to Snappy. I went and bought a 24" flex Dual80 recently, but can't comment on it's durability yet. Only been a week or two and haven't really needed it yet........we will see.

Bought my FLF80 the first week they were on the truck in 2007. Still making money and no failures so far. I currently own 18 or 19 Dual80's in all three available drive sizes. I have a few marked USA also.

So, yes. Personal preference has a lot to do with it.

 

[outcast]

does anyone know is S/O is going to have a deal on a 3/8 flex head long handle.
any time in the next few months ?

what is a deal price now, off the truck ? i think FLF80 is the one i like.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Ever since Snapon decided to be dishonest about where there dual 80s were being made, I've been selling off my SO ratchets and going with the Matco 88.
No regrets, the Matco is a better ratchet IMHO.

 

[Skin]

wish they'd impliment the same cover plate improvement they did on the Cman 84T though. I just dont like the idea of a high end ratchet cover behind held in by a snap ring.

 

[Jeeper]

Not a fan of the 88's. I've owned a couple 60 tooth's in the past. They were OK, but the 88's are junk IMO. Locked up the gears and bent the handle on day one (BFR158T). One is enough, thank you.

What were you doing with it? I saw that 15" 3/8" (BFR158T) in the catalog and always wondered if maybe 15" of handle had too much leverage for a 3/8" drive. I just picked up a 15" in a 1/2" drive which is a nice ratio, but think it might be too much for a 3/8" drive.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

does anyone know is S/O is going to have a deal on a 3/8 flex head long handle.
any time in the next few months ?

what is a deal price now, off the truck ? i think FLF80 is the one i like.

in my area it happened about two weeks ago. i don't remember the deal, but they sold fast.

 

[DTB]

What were you doing with it? I saw that 15" 3/8" (BFR158T) in the catalog and always wondered if maybe 15" of handle had too much leverage for a 3/8" drive. I just picked up a 15" in a 1/2" drive which is a nice ratio, but think it might be too much for a 3/8" drive.

I had the same thoughts.I have a fhl80,about 12.5" I think,and thats about as much ratchet as I would want in 3/8",especially in a fine tooth application.I have a Sl80,about 15",and seems like there would be just way to much ratchet there for 3/8 drive.

 

[Appleyard]

What were you doing with it? I saw that 15" 3/8" (BFR158T) in the catalog and always wondered if maybe 15" of handle had too much leverage for a 3/8" drive. I just picked up a 15" in a 1/2" drive which is a nice ratio, but think it might be too much for a 3/8" drive.

I've got that ratchet and the extra leverage is great. I haven't had any problems with the mechanisms.

I've also put a 4ft cheater pipe on it to break a bolt loose from the knuckle and still no problems. In hindsight I should've just grabbed the torch but the bolt didn't break off on me, luckily.

 

[outcast]

in my area it happened about two weeks ago. i don't remember the deal, but they sold fast.

my dealer NEVER offers any deals. other than what is in the flier, if those are really any "deal".

my C-man 3/8 flex head is feeling sloppy there days. and i use it all the time, its my "go to".

 

[Farmer Joe]

I bought a SO 1/4" 80 ratchet, although its actually a 72 tooth, and I love it! I guess its really just preference really. I haven't had the chance to try a Matco 88 tooth since the Matco guy doesn't stop by my shop. I think you just have to use what you prefer, and actually use them when appropriate. A co worker keeps bending the flex joint on a Mac 3/8" ratchet (I don't know how many teeth it has, but seems solid) because he uses 19MM+ size sockets on it to do rear alignments on vehicles. I keep telling him that he should use a 1/2" ratchet with a socket that big and the amount of torque he puts on it. And he wonders why the Mac guy gets pissed off every time he has to replace it for him, which is like every 2-3 weeks. He just traded it in for a SO 3/8" 80 tooth one, feels sturdier than the Mac one for sure, but he bent the flex joint on it too using like a 21MM socket on an alignment lol.

So I guess its all just preference and if you use it for the right job

 

[DrkMtnDew]

my C-man 3/8 flex head is feeling sloppy these days. and i use it all the time, its my "go to".

one day when i get around to it i'm going to expiriment with replacing the pin in the Cman flex head with a screw like SO has in theirs and try to fix the 'sloppy floppy' problem.

 

[slipjointed]

Ever since Snapon decided to be dishonest about where there dual 80s were being made, I've been selling off my SO ratchets and going with the Matco 88.
No regrets, the Matco is a better ratchet IMHO.

I really love Snap-on's tools, but the whole removing USA thing is just a bit too much for me to stomach as well, unfortunately.

I've now tried three times to buy and keep SO ratchets, and end up selling them each time. I wish I didn't have the sentiment, because IMO SO makes the best slipjoint plier available, the 47CF. Nothing comes close.

 

[Bikes&Bowties]

I like em both but I have 88's because of price...

 

[boohocky]

I like them both and own them both. Both are quality tools, both are U.S. made, and they are around the same price. I never did like trying to compare tool companies to other companies. From my experience they each have their strong and weak points and each get used in different ways.

 

[Sterff]

The 15" Matco is a great ratchet. I use mine for changing lower fuel filters on 6.0's. If you have ever done it, the ratchet is perfect for the job.

 

[quattrojon]

Armstrong doesnt make 88T ratchets that i'm aware of. One would need to purchase a fine tooth ratchet and an 88T kit. By the time all is said and done you may as well have bought a new truck brand ratchet of your choice off ebay for all the money you'd have spent. I think the kit alone is around $30.00.

They are available to order now from your Armstrong dealer, using the existing 60tooth part numbers. Of course, there is the possibility of receiving a 60tooth until current dealer stocks are exhausted, so check with your dealer.

 

[outcast]

one day when i get around to it i'm going to expiriment with replacing the pin in the Cman flex head with a screw like SO has in theirs and try to fix the 'sloppy floppy' problem.

the flex head is not sloppy. its the ratcheting that is sloppy.

anyway. i got "my" $99 special today. i just went on the truck to look.
he showed me the red handle and regular handle flex head 3/8.
and said $130 for the red handle. i said "ok, let me think it over".
then he said "take it for $100 ?" i said ok. FHLF80

btw. what does the "dual" in dual80 mean ?

 

[DrkMtnDew]

anyway. i got "my" $99 special today. i just went on the truck to look.
he showed me the red handle and regular handle flex head 3/8.
and said $130 for the red handle. i said "ok, let me think it over".
then he said "take it for $100 ?" i said ok. FHLF80

btw. what does the "dual" in dual80 mean ?

the dual stands for dual pawl. one is always fully engage in forward or reverse.

and the FHLF80 is my current go to ratchet.

 

[outcast]

the dual stands for dual pawl. one is always fully engage in forward or reverse.

ok, i think i know what you mean. but can you explain that better =
pic/s ?

 

[outcast]

oh. the ball that holds the socket on. its kinda tight for greasy gloves. is there a way to, or does it, loosen up ?

 

[DrkMtnDew]

this pic was posted by wrenchr in another thread. arrow points to one of the two pawls.

 

[Toolhorder]

I love them both.

I have a 88 Matco ratchet in chrome long handle and it's my favorite 1/4 rat. Absolutely awesome at getting timing cover bolts off on V6 hondas where clearance is minimal.
I have a couple 1/4" SO rats and a thumb wheel SO rat and nothing else is as good. I'm sure if I had a long 1/4" SO rat it would compare but it's 72 tooth so the degree of arc would probably be longer which wouldn't be as good.

 

[bigbob302]

Have both and I prefer the SO dual 80s. my only 88 is an 11 inch comfort grip in 3/8th. when i first got it it slipped a few times. I cleaned it and put it back together and it did it worse. I eventually realized that this ratchet does not like a lot of grease. just a little dab of superlube now and it works fine. Great ratchet and I have tried to break it and I cant. I dont like the comfort grip at all ( or any for that matter) and when you hold the ratchet and wiggle the drive it has a lot of play in it. has since it was new. when you ratchet it it is much louder and rougher sounding than the dual 80. I just love how smooth and tough the SO ratchets are. Both excellent products and down to preference.