Gearless Ratchets?

[Squddle]

Has anyone used a gearless ratchet? I was wondering if they are really worth buying. Are they any stronger, or just good for the 0 degree turning thing?

 

[Ign]

Eh, they have their place. The lack of audible feedback can be a much bigger deal than you'd think.

 

[wrenchr]

lowes has a good entry level one, in all drive sizes. I'd start there.

 

[rockinacummins]

I bought the kobalt 3/8 drive one that came with the sockets that were supposed to be for either metric or sae. I waited until the set was on sale for $9.99 as it often does. Anyway, I opened the package and threw the sockets away. The ratchet... It's cool. It works fine and I have put as much strength on it as I can push on a ratchet that long. It never slipped.

However, so far I haven't been able to change directions with one hand, and the head on it is so big it doesn't fit into many places. If I could do it over, I would have left it on the shelf.

 

[BK13]

I bought several of the Kobalt sets for my son and future step-sons. I'm pretty underwhelmed though admittedly I've only just played around with it. With the huge head on the thing, I'm not sure what it can do that a GW XP120 won't, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to try out the Snappy gearless rats....

 

[Ratchet Guy]

bought couple and have returned everyone of it, first was the QR button has issues when you change directions, it somehow gets stuck and wont press fully to release the socket, so it went back, replacement was ok but when I actually tested it turning with load, not all the time you turn that it will grab the gear, and it was slipping about 5% of the time, this was observed with my 2nd replacement and 3rd replacement, so it went back.

 

[Dave455]

I think, like most tools, if you get a decent one they are good, but if you get a crappy one they don't work that well!

I have an old British made Britool one and it works really well, but it's a simple tool that you flip over to change direction, which some folks don't like! I've also seen old (Japanese made) Kamasa ones that are surprisingly nice!

I've seen newer / cheaper versions and wouldn't spend my money on any of them!

Jury is out on the Snap On F Zero, as I don't know anyone rich enough to own one, but they do look uber nice, and suspect they work very well!

 

[nieuport17]

I have the Kobolt one. I don't like it. Head is too big and no audio click.
Stranglely, i didn't think audio click would be so important in tight spots, but it is.

 

[popparoach]

http://toolguyd.com/allen-gearless-ratchet/

 

[nieuport17]

this is from toolguyd.com
http://toolguyd.com/allen-gearless-ratchet/

I saw this one at Sears.
The problem with this one is you have to flip it over to go the other direction...
And if you are in a tight spot, you might get yourself stuck if you dont have enough room on the back of the ratchet. Then you really screwed : )

 

[PJNJ]

I bought the kobalt 3/8 drive one that came with the sockets that were supposed to be for either metric or sae. I waited until the set was on sale for $9.99 as it often does. Anyway, I opened the package and threw the sockets away. The ratchet... It's cool. It works fine and I have put as much strength on it as I can push on a ratchet that long. It never slipped.

However, so far I haven't been able to change directions with one hand, and the head on it is so big it doesn't fit into many places. If I could do it over, I would have left it on the shelf.

I did the same and I think I have only used it once. And as you, if I had to do it over again, it would probably never have left the store with me.

 

[hautpot]

I had the Snap-On Fzero. It was awesome but the larger head didn't work for most applications. It excels at loose fasteners.

 

[thegroundpounder99]

As mentioned, i found the head to be to big so back to my SO driver it went. Also not hearing the clicks was just odd lol.


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[pepgj]

I've got one of these as part of a Wera socket set + case.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005CSVR52/?tag=atomicindus08-20

It's actually pretty cool and nice to use

 

[Air21]

I have a 3/8 gearless ratchet by Titan or Sealey, the kind where you push the anvil through. It has uses but its not my go-to ratchet. If I was doing assembly or disassembly work, anything in one direction it would be super, but on the car when I needed to change directions its just enough work to piss you off. It's plenty strong though, I used it for everything until I found a rusted up exhaust bolt where it slipped with a cheater bar.

 

[CarlB]

I have a very small Worth 1/4 inch gearless ratchet that works like the Allen one. You have to flip it over to change direction. I use it in confined spaces, and for that it works great.

 

[vette-kid]

I have a 1/4 and a 1/2 toptul gearless. I like them well enough, although the direction switch is more awkward and easily chages direction if up against something. That is my biggest complaint though, and its really only an issue on the 1/4...it seems looser than the 1/2"? Nice ratchets though.

 

[Strouty]

If you have the room for the head, but not much room for the handle to swing, they are great.

 

[jerseykat1]

I had one a long time ago.. Wasn't very strong.

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[jerseykat1]

Not that brand.. In fact I don't know what brand it was

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[Stuey]

I liked Kobalt's, which I reviewed last year, and as popparoach linked to, there's also an Allen.

http://toolguyd.com/kobalt-direct-drive-gearless-ratchet/

The Kobalt is a little bulky, but not offensively so, and it is quite smooth.

Kobalt is coming out with more sizes to complement the 3/8" they already have.

I used mine on occasion, but misplaced it a few months ago and didn't really mind. There were a few times when the tiny swing would have come in handy, though. I had to make due with an 80 tooth ratchet.

 

[Jason280]

I have one of the Kobalts, and it seems to work OK...but I rarely use it.

 

[rlitman]

Eh, they have their place. The lack of audible feedback can be a much bigger deal than you'd think.

I agree. I have a pair of mini gearless ratchets and love them. But they're so short that my fingers usually end up trailing on the socket, so the lack of feedback isn't a concern. I don't think I'd like them in a full size format.

 

[jcfields]

.

 

[Teenager with old tools]

I got one along with a set of the cam lock sockets or whatever the hell they call them with the 6 metal forks that tighten onto the bolt. 2ft cheater on the ratchet tightened a bolt until one of the prong things fell out of the socket. It was way beyond tight and no ratchet failure. The head is quite bulky though


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[dnschmidt]

The heads are too big. TOPTUL makes one but I've never carried them since I think the heads are too big and they look ugly. This seems like the kind of tool Sears comes out with every Christmas. Can you say gimmick?

 

[wvrailroader]

I have one of the old Blackhawk freewheel ratchets. It works nicely and the head is actually smaller than most of my other 1/2" drive ratchets.

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[Mr_B]

i have mini and full size in 3/8 drive, while useful they not first ratchet i'll go for as have a stubby fine tooth koken I find better in hand and with most other ratchets having 72+ tooth and low drag it not massive benefit .

 

[bixxjs]

I've got the 1/2 drive Britool,had a post on it the other week.
Awesome tool.

 

[isb cornbinder]

About 15 years ago I bought an SK screwdriver with interchangeable drives. The screwdriver is made in Germany and has a sprag-clutch. The sprag-clutch is easily changed from left to right and locked. The handle tips to a pistol grip for extra torque. I paid about $200 for this set.
How does it work? Fantastic! There is no feeling or sound in the ratchet direction. The sprag-clutch locks in less than zero degrees.

 

[KM223]

I have the SO FZero and yes the head is a bit on the bigger side but with no backlash the head size becomes a nonissue.

 

[bixxjs]

Ratcheting wrenches are going to wear out,I've got a selection,Snapon metric from 10 to 19mm,Gearwrench SAE 7/16 to 1 inch,then I've also got a full set of the X beam Gearwrenches which are awesome,Gearwrench half moon obstruction wrenches 3/8 to 3/4 and I still use the old skewl flat ratchet wrench.

 

[buckwheat_la]

Ratcheting wrenches are going to wear out,I've got a selection,Snapon metric from 10 to 19mm,Gearwrench SAE 7/16 to 1 inch,then I've also got a full set of the X beam Gearwrenches which are awesome,Gearwrench half moon obstruction wrenches 3/8 to 3/4 and I still use the old skewl flat ratchet wrench.

Pretty sure you got this in the wrong thread

 

[vssjim]

I have 1/4 and 3/8 Toptul and they work great even with the larger head sometimes you need to very small arc to make it work

 

[tool_scrounge]

I have one of the old Blackhawk freewheel ratchets. It works nicely and the head is actually smaller than most of my other 1/2" drive ratchets.

The old Blackhawks are pretty nice and have a relatively small head as WVRAILROADER notes. Attached is a photo of the head sizes of (left to right)

Blackhawk 39997 ratchet, 7/16" drive
Blackhawk 49997 ratchet, 1/2" drive
SK 42470 ratchet, 1/2" drive for reference

Makes me wonder if you can find a 7/16 to 3/8 adapter for the 39997?

 

[jrockford]

I also have the Kobalt frictionless ratchet that came with the interchangeable sockets. I've only used it a few times, but for $10 you can't go wrong. Bought it 4 years ago or so.

I once made the mistake of visiting a junkyard without any tools and of course found some deals that I couldn't live without. The guys at the office had a loaner bag and sure enough it had one of those ratchets. It worked like a charm.