Extra long 3/8" ratchets

[AJHD]

For those of you with an extra long 3/8" ratchet (such as the 20" Snap On FHLLX80), I want to know how often you actually use this ratchet or what do you use it for? Novelty or a must have tool?

I've had my FHLLX80 since the beginning of August and I honestly have not used it even a single time, other than trying it on something when I first got it.

I don't even keep it in my roll cart, it stays untouched in the big box.

Here are my thoughts on why... If I need a ratchet that long, I'm likely trying to loosen something very tight without using an impact. But I'm going to use my 24" long 1/2" ratchet (or a 1/2" breaker bar) to achieve this task. The last thing I'm going to reach for is an extra long 3/8" instead.

 

[drtyler]

I have used an 18" Tekton 3/8 ratchet with 3/8" drive T60 torx to access belt tensioner bolt. Access is the primary reason for using it, since it has a smaller head and corresponding bit socket is thinner than comparable 1/2" drive tools. I would not use it for leverage unless absolutely required, that's what the 1/2" drive tools are for.

 

[tooljunkie4]

For those of you with an extra long 3/8" ratchet (such as the 20" Snap On FHLLX80), I want to know how often you actually use this ratchet or what do you use it for? Novelty or a must have tool?

I've had my FHLLX80 since the beginning of August and I honestly have not used it even a single time, other than trying it on something when I first got it.

I don't even keep it in my roll cart, it stays untouched in the big box.

Here are my thoughts on why... If I need a ratchet that long, I'm likely trying to loosen something very tight without using an impact. But I'm going to use my 24" long 1/2" ratchet (or a 1/2" breaker bar) to achieve this task. The last thing I'm going to reach for is an extra long 3/8" instead.

Same thing with my Snap-on FLL80. Bought it. Set it aside. Have never used it.

My Snap-on FLLF80, on the other hand, is extremely handy for 8-19 mm fasteners (or belt tensioners) that offer limited access, or which come in sizes that the 1/2"-drive setup won't so neatly cover.

 

[plinker]

I have an 18" fixed head Matco, I use it more for "reach" then anything, Typically on belt tensioners (if it fits). Last use was on some rear shock bolts where nothing else really worked that well (RAV4 IIRC). Probably use it once a week or so, It's more of a specialty ratchet that works great at certain jobs and stays in the drawer with the other specialty ratchets when not needed.

 

[dnschmidt]

I find that if you have the extra long KABO ratcheting wrenches the need for a super long ratchet is not that great. I like about a 13" long flex head 3/8" drive. Anything longer than that seems to get in its own way.

 

[demarpaint]

I have an extra long 3/8" ratchet in fixed and flex head. They see very little use.

 

[joel_400]

I've got probably too many ratchets...that being said, I try to find uses for all of them. Usually I'll see whatever it is, at the store or on the tool truck, then the next day, after not buying it, find a use for it. Then buy it based on that use. After that, I'll figure out other uses, just to justify the purchase! Haha long handled 3/8 come in handy for belt tensioner and such for sure! Anything that ever needs the leverage provided by them usually gets stepped up to half inch drive to save my knuckles...because I know if I need that leverage a 3/8 drive is probably going to get broken! Mostly it's an access issue in my eyes. Sometimes a half inch ratchet just doesn't fit in the smaller areas...heck even 3/8 is tough. So for those dilemmas I've picked up 1/4 bodied 3/8 drive ratchets...even smaller heads, still having 3/8 drive. Not good for torque output, but very good for accessibility in my eyes!
Joel

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Montly. I have the 18" flex and straight head. The problem arises where 1/2 drive tools simply do not fit. The height/wall thickness of the socket doesnt work and the ratchet head is too wide or tall. Rear caliper bracket bolts come to mind. You also have issues were a specific tool, like a o2 sensor socket, is 3/8. Yes, I have 10 different o2 sensor sockets like everybody else. But they're all a little differently shaped and sized, and if the 3/8 one fits I need the leverage.

Locking flex, which wasn't available yet when I bought mine, would likely be the ideal single ratchet. You'll have so much torque on a flex head the handle wants to quiver left and right while pulling. Not confidence inspiring.

I find the 12" long 1/4 to be used more often. That lives on my cart, the 3/8 live in the box.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

Nice to have JIC, just like tools they classify as weapons.

 

[Rinspeed]

I probably should get one at some point but I doubt I would use it a whole lot.

 

[johninct]

I do not have the extra long 3/8" ratchet but do have the extra long 3/8" breaker bar. It has become my go to 3/8" breakerbar but with that said, I don't use it that much.

 

[Firebrick43]

I used the 18" 3/8 ratchet all the time working on CNC machines with allen bit sockets. I use it some what on cars. If I remember correctly you work for a cat dealer. Their love for using many smaller fasteners (3/8) in leu of several larger ones would seem to me that it would be used with some frequency. They were common on the 3500/3600/c175 test cells and such.

 

[purplezr2]

I used it more for the reach then the leverage, things like transmission/rear diff/suspension work that are usually more buried and hard to access.

 

[Tynee]

I have an 18" 3/8 comfort grip locking flex from Carlyle. I like it quite a bit and use it fairly regularly. My son chooses it first. He's almost 11 and on the smaller side, so he likes the extra leverage afforded by the 3/8 where you or I would find the extra length an unnecessary nuisance.

 

[lardy1]

I paid quite a bit for the Proto Precision 90 long handle. It's a really nice ratchet. But, like others, it doesn't get used much. That mechanism is my favorite fine tooth mechanism but I don't get to use it much.

 

[Rinspeed]

I have an 18" 3/8 comfort grip locking flex from Carlyle. I like it quite a bit and use it fairly regularly.

I have one as well but it's much shorter than 18", I like it a lot and if NAPA were to put them on a decent sale again I would probably pick up a couple more,

 

[Jtels85]

I have the 13" MAC Axis flex head as well as a 15", 3/8 drive breaker bar. I can't imaging needing anything longer than both of them in 3/8 drive. At that point, I'll move up to 1/2 drive.

 

[Zewnten]

Every time I do engine work. 1/2 doesn't fit and I don't want to punch anything when the hardware finally moves...or breaks.

 

[AEAdam]

Front engine, accessories, timing belts etc. They sell serpentine belt tools which are crappy versions of a proper long ratchet.

 

[TheToolEnthusiast]

I use the FHLLX80 regularly to break loose bolts on calipers and their respective brackets.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

3/8 long ratchet is my go-ratchet.

 

[yellowbox]

Use mine all the time , have 2 of em
Rear caliper bracket bolts on v.w. very tight on space back there , and the triple square it needs is 3/8 drive and as per v.w they are very tight especially when rusted

 

[sparky 1971]

I have the SK LP90 15" fixed head 3/8" drive ratchet, (as well as the 24" 1/2" drive fixed and the 12" 1/4" drive fixed head) and have yet to use it. Of the three, I think I've used the 1/4" drive one time. The flex LP90, flex round head, and the fixed round head, all 3/8" drive and 11" long, I use all the time.

 

[Fedwrench]

I think it might be better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. I have a couple of 18 inch long 3/8 ratchets and they seem to flex too much under load. Both are Matco. They can't be beat for access though if you're going deep.

 

[AJHD]

I sold my FHLLX80 shortly after posting this. Maybe in a previous job I would of used it, but given my current line of work, if I'm going for something that long, it's going to be 1/2".

Honestly, I have plenty of tools I don't use often but if I don't use a tool after owning it for awhile, otherwise see myself using it or have a specific need for it, I tend to get rid of it. I'm not a tool collector.

 

[scooby074]

When I worked on HD, I used a SN24 24" 1/2 breaker bar with Gray 797 (or equiv) ratchet adapter ALOT. You can get into and out of a lot of jams with it but its pretty inelegant.

This was before the xtra long ratchets and 36" breaker bars were available. If they were available, I probably would have bought them. A 36" "ratchet" made out of a SN36 would be kick *** and those xtra long ratchets would be much more convienient than the 2 pieces of breaker bar and ratchet adapter.

In HD I probably wouldnt go for the xtra long 3/8 ratchet, just stick with 1/2. I never found myself needing the extra leverage or length of the xtra loong ratchet while still needing the clearance a 3/8 drive tool would give.
.

 

[Boogerman]

Mine flex's more than I like; so use 1/2" breaker bar instead. Occasionally it's handy. I tried to like it, just didn't.

 

[CS454]

Apparently I'm the minority, I use both my 18" OAL 3/8" and 24" OAL 1/2" almost daily.

 

[Zewnten]

Apparently I'm the minority, I use both my 18" OAL 3/8" and 24" OAL 1/2" almost daily.

Same

 

[AJHD]

Apparently I'm the minority, I use both my 18" OAL 3/8" and 24" OAL 1/2" almost daily.

Same

For what task's may I ask and on what?
I use my impacts and wrenches more than I do my ratchets, to be honest.

 

[RedneckWelder]

quite a bit on engine work and sometimes elsewhere. Mainly for places where 1/2 definitely won’t fit and don’t have the room for my hand on my preferred 11.5” 3/8 ratchet.

 

[Zewnten]

Like @RedneckWelder said engine work, taking accessories off, fuel lines, etc. Sometimes hydraulics, a crowfoot on an extension is the only thing that fits in a lot of valve bodies, but hydraulics being the pain in the *** they are requires a fair bit of torque breaking free. Same with fuel lines, some gorilla tightened them down last time and plus now they're corroded and I prefer not punching stuff when it finally breaks free. I use the same amount of torque on the drive end but I don't have to push as hard on the handle.

 

[visionguru]

For those of you with an extra long 3/8" ratchet (such as the 20" Snap On FHLLX80), I want to know how often you actually use this ratchet or what do you use it for? Novelty or a must have tool?

Novelty. Nice to have when I need the reach (not leverage).

I have the extra long 3/8" and 1/4" for a while. Almost never used.

 

[CS454]

Like @RedneckWelder said engine work, taking accessories off, fuel lines, etc. Sometimes hydraulics, a crowfoot on an extension is the only thing that fits in a lot of valve bodies, but hydraulics being the pain in the *** they are requires a fair bit of torque breaking free. Same with fuel lines, some gorilla tightened them down last time and plus now they're corroded and I prefer not punching stuff when it finally breaks free. I use the same amount of torque on the drive end but I don't have to push as hard on the handle.

Basically my answer.

 

[bwringer]

I remember the Tekton guy mentioning that they had an untenable number of warranty claims from their extra-long 3/8" ratchet.

Apparently there are a lot of 200 pound gorilla numbnuts out there who, unlike the crowd assembled here, did NOT understand this was a tool for meant for reaching the unreachable, NOT for extra leverage, and twisted the drive right off with a mighty yoink.

It's one of those "when you need it, you need it" sorts of tools, but usually not a daily driver. My budget solution is the double-ended long flex head 1/4 - 3/8 hybrid from Harbor Freight.


The examples pictured above with huge hard or soft handles are quite puzzling to me; if you're in a limited access situation where you're pulling these things out, the very last thing you want is extra bulk anywhere. Crikey, your tender wee meathooks can probably tolerate using a bare metal tool for just a bit without bleeding everywhere.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I remember the Tekton guy mentioning that they had an untenable number of warranty claims from their extra-long 3/8" ratchet.

Apparently there are a lot of 200 pound gorilla numbnuts out there who, unlike the crowd assembled here, did NOT understand this was a tool for meant for reaching the unreachable, NOT for extra leverage, and twisted the drive right off with a mighty yoink.

It's one of those "when you need it, you need it" sorts of tools, but usually not a daily driver. My budget solution is the double-ended long flex head 1/4 - 3/8 hybrid from Harbor Freight.


The examples pictured above with huge hard or soft handles are quite puzzling to me; if you're in a limited access situation where you're pulling these things out, the very last thing you want is extra bulk anywhere. Crikey, your tender wee meathooks can probably tolerate using a bare metal tool for just a bit without bleeding everywhere.

There is a good reason all my ratchets are non comfort grip. I’ve been in plenty of situations where the comfort grip especially on a 1/4 or 3/8 ratchet will hang you up.

 

[Rinspeed]

There is a good reason all my ratchets are non comfort grip. I’ve been in plenty of situations where the comfort grip especially on a 1/4 or 3/8 ratchet will hang you up.

I hate comfort grip ratchets because they are a sponge for dirt and grime.

 

[AJHD]

I don't do any real engine work at CAT. They don't let me. If I was still in automotive, I could see myself using a long ratchet a lot more for reasons you guys shared. But I have in the past.

I also haven't experienced any hydraulic fittings yet that would require a long ratchet or even a crowfoot. A wrench or adjustable has sufficed.

I'm sure I will eventually, but for now I'm not crawling deep into machines. Although I do work frequently on excavators. Hopefully this won't jinx me.