Electric Ratchet - Manually Brake Fastener First?

[YoshiMoshi3]

I've heard from others that one using an electric Ratchet should manually brake a fastener loose first, then and only then pull the trigger on the electric Ratchet to unfasten the fastener by spinning it out. Otherwise you can damage your electric Ratchet by not manually braking the fastener free first and just pulling the trigger first.

Is this accurate, and has anyone actually damaged or broken their electric Ratchet by not first manually braking a fastener free before pulling the trigger?

 

[BrandonV]

It depends on the fastener. I doubt you'd damage the ratchet on a fastener that was torqued to a value less than the rating of the electric ratchet. It should spin it off without needing to break it free first. I do know most of the Milwaukee ratchets will go into a "protection" mode if you overload it.

Just need to be smart about it. I wouldn't be trying to zip off brake caliper bolts using an electric ratchet without breaking it free first.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

If you can press the trigger and remove, it's fine.

A "neutral drop" where you spin it up to full speed then jam it on the fastener can hurt the ratchet. It can make the head slip over time.

 

[Chipm]

I hit the trigger first, and then manually use the ratchet if it does not break with the electronic.

 

[FigN⋅m]

If you can press the trigger and remove, it's fine.

A "neutral drop" where you spin it up to full speed then jam it on the fastener can hurt the ratchet. It can make the head slip over time.

Definitely guilty of occasionally this, but no issue yet...(knock wood)

My worry is breaking bolts free with the M12 battery being used a bit as leverage.
I stay under 14mm with the ratchet, but staying on the handle isn't always possible.

 

[mike93lx]

The thought of neutral dropping my m12 ratchet never crossed my mind.

I often break (not brake) fasteners free with a long handle ratchet then switch to the m12

 

[charbar]

I don't think most electric ratchets have enough wang to damage themselves by simply hitting the trigger and not spinning a fastener.

Supposedly the electric ratchet can take up to x amount of torque if you want it to manually break a fastener loose with it and then hit the trigger. I do that quite often but you just have to be smart about it. If it doesn't feel right then get a wrench or a regular ratchet and break it loose first.

I 'magically' had a Milwaukee electric ratchet head go to **** while sitting in my toolbox. Pretty sure one of my employees at the time used it to manually break free a fastener that was way to tight for the ratchet. Of course no one would fess up about it.

Ill do the neutral drop every once in awhile if I cant get enough swing with a ratchet to manually break something loose. No issues doing that so far but I don't do that often either.

 

[Vinny]

A "neutral drop" where you spin it up to full speed then jam it on the fastener can hurt the ratchet. It can make the head slip over time.

Wouldn't that also be wrecking the bolt/nut and the socket?

 

[charbar]

Wouldn't that also be wrecking the bolt/nut and the socket?

Usually not going to hurt a fastener doing that unless you miss your target about 300 times in a row and somehow round it off.

Potentially crack a weak/thin walled socket though.....

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Wouldn't that also be wrecking the bolt/nut and the socket?

Nope, a little downward pressure and you won't pop off. It's not that different from taking a long handle ratchet and jerking it to break something free, as far as the socket is concerned.

I wouldn't recommend doing it on anything with more than maybe 35ft/lb install. Mostly it just speeds up small fastener removal.

 

[mikey03]

Can you use an electric ratchet to break a bolt by hand? When the ratchet is turned off does the anvil stay locked so you can use it like a breaker bar until it’s broke loose and then turn it on? And if you can do that does it damage it

 

[charbar]

Can you use an electric ratchet to break a bolt by hand? When the ratchet is turned off does the anvil stay locked so you can use it like a breaker bar until it’s broke loose and then turn it on? And if you can do that does it damage it

That is what I am talking about in the second and third paragraph of this post. So 'yes' to all of your questions.

I don't think most electric ratchets have enough wang to damage themselves by simply hitting the trigger and not spinning a fastener.

Supposedly the electric ratchet can take up to x amount of torque if you want it to manually break a fastener loose with it and then hit the trigger. I do that quite often but you just have to be smart about it. If it doesn't feel right then get a wrench or a regular ratchet and break it loose first.

I 'magically' had a Milwaukee electric ratchet head go to **** while sitting in my toolbox. Pretty sure one of my employees at the time used it to manually break free a fastener that was way to tight for the ratchet. Of course no one would fess up about it.

Ill do the neutral drop every once in awhile if I cant get enough swing with a ratchet to manually break something loose. No issues doing that so far but I don't do that often either.