Fine tooth ratchets

[TwoInch]

First, I am aware of the difference in the mechanisms.

You could be right that member HubbaBubba was referring to the old design. But the member I was responding to was clearly looking at the modern designs they currently sell, since he was confused about the 36 tooth design they now sell.

And I don't agree that the new design is not as highly regarded. Fewer people may own them since they haven't been produced for many decades like the old design. I don't think I've seen posts where people say the old design is "much better"?

I personally have owned both the old and new design. While the old design is an interesting old design, I've run across several examples where they didn't click with 81 teeth anymore. For whatever reason in these old examples the pawls were moving at the same time or one side wasn't engaging properly. And, I'm not referring to the single-pawl 1/4" drive models.

The new design may have 10 fewer teeth, but that's a pretty small difference when you actually think about it. If anything, I would guess the new design is stronger, since it has one large pawl that looks like it would engage more teeth.

Both are good ratchets, but to say the new design is worse doesn't really ring true to me. I like them both, but I've been pretty impressed with my B-53A 3/8" drive ratchet.

the poster was talking about the original B-52 JH williams ratchets, thats clear, and the second poster was asking for clarification of what the first was recommending... pretty clear.

again, the 52a models are not as highly regarded, the old style is tried and true, and is no slouch. yes they do wear out after a lot of use and the gear teeth will wear down to the point that the inner pawl mechanism has enough slop to engage both pawls at the same time. but that happens when the ratchet was not cleaned and lubed, and used dry for a long time.

i was in no way claiming that the 52a model ratchets arent "good ratchets", or that they wont impress a user. but they are very rarely recommended to anyone looking for a ratchet, on any forum or situation i have come across. there are too many other great ratchets out there for them to be one of the top picks. the old models are simply awesome looking, and they have the least amount of back stroke drag of any ratchet you could put it up against. i am sure the designs were changed due to manufacturing cost, and not strength, as with many of the old school tried and true designs of years past.

 

[SMKS]

You're welcome to your opinion. It's clear you like the old design. I like it, too, but I'm not sure it really is "better" then the newer design or the newer design is "not as highly regarded." They may not be as "highly regarded" by you.

i was in no way claiming that the 52a model ratchets arent "good ratchets", or that they wont impress a user. but they are very rarely recommended to anyone looking for a ratchet, on any forum or situation i have come across. there are too many other great ratchets out there for them to be one of the top picks. the old models are simply awesome looking, and they have the least amount of back stroke drag of any ratchet you could put it up against. i am sure the designs were changed due to manufacturing cost, and not strength, as with many of the old school tried and true designs of years past.

Meh, I'm not really sure they are "very rarely recommended" I think the Williams is right up there with Wright and my other favorite ratchets and I personally have recommended them several times.

Since the new design hasn't been produced for decades, there are probably a lot fewer floating around. I know I rarely see them for cheap, but the old designs pop up somewhat frequently. I think the fact that there are a lot of the old design floating around has a part to play. If there were as many low-priced examples of the single-pawls floating around there might be more threads about them on GJ.

i am sure the designs were changed due to manufacturing cost, and not strength, as with many of the old school tried and true designs of years past.

You're just guessing that the design was changed because of cost. You could be right, but you could be wrong, too. We'd have to see some real evidence.

 

[TwoInch]

call me out on conjecture, but everything you have said is completely the same.

all the new williams offering have been around for a long time, under bluepoint and snap on designs. they are good strong ratchets, but run of the mill, nothing special. if they were great ratchets, people WOULD be talking about them. people are not talking about them, hence conclusions made on my part.

i do like the old design, they are actually great, top notch ratchets. just like the RHFT Cmans

 

[SMKS]

if they were great ratchets, people WOULD be talking about them. people are not talking about them, hence conclusions made on my part.

I don't know. Forums always have ebbs and flows. One thing will be popular among members for a while, then another thing. The popularity of an item on a forum isn't necessarily a correlation to it's greatness, IMO. What is "great" to one member isn't necessarily the same as what's great to another member.

Heck, when I first joined, Toptul tools were very popular on the forum. Now, you barely hear a thing about them. I don't think they've become any lower quality in that time, they just aren't popular on the forum right now.

But anyway, maybe you should try the newer design sometime and see what you think. That's assuming you haven't tried it. It isn't clear from your posts if you have or haven't.

 

[tweedlestan]

I have a Williams B52A and it's a great ratchet. Same mechanism as the Facoms.

Much smoother than my old B52s, all of which I've sold.

 

[cassidy]

I have both the Cornwell 72 tooth and the Snap On 100 tooth ratchets, hands down the snap on is the best.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

The cat's *** in a 1/4" drive is the Matco AFR88T. Long handle and smooth as silk ratchet mechanism. Strong as hell. I've broken two Gearwrench 1/4 drive extensions using it and had to upgrade to some Armstrong extensions.

Order yourself one; you won't be disappointed.

I also have a Snappy dual 80 in 3/8 drive.

 

[KinzeMech]

Bahco 6950,7750 and 8150 have dual80 mechanism and costs about 20-30 usd a piece!

Is this serious? I've been lusting after a dual80 for some time now, but haven't found a way to justify the cost.

 

[tweedlestan]

Is this serious? I've been lusting after a dual80 for some time now, but haven't found a way to justify the cost.

http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&fie...&sourceid=Mozilla-search&tag=wwwcanoniccom-20

In a word, yes.

 

[Dave455]

i have standard and locking flex armstrong ratchets in 1/4 and 3/8 drive. they are all 88 tooth.




order the armstrong versions (exactly the same as the matco other than the handle shape) from epstein hardware. they have international shipping .

Thanks for that tip! There are a couple if bits I fancy from Epsteins so I might do that!

Their prices look pretty keen too! Even with the shipping to the U.K. they still look reasonable!

 

[Armstrong1720]

Well im tryin not to piss anyone off but for me my snappy dual 80 is to fat thick bulky. I LOVE my MATCO 88's !!!

 

[RCsGarage]

i have standard and locking flex armstrong ratchets in 1/4 and 3/8 drive. they are all 88 tooth.


order the armstrong versions (exactly the same as the matco other than the handle shape) from epstein hardware. they have international shipping .

I contacted Harry Epstein today and they said Armstrong never offered any 88t flex head ratchets, only 60t.

The only 88t ratchets that Armstrong offers is their 10-992 (1/4" Aerospace non-flex) and their 11-992 (3/8" Aerospace non-flex).