Gearwrench pass-thru worth it?

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Having never used the pass-thru ratchet set they make, I was wondering if it was worth the buy for automotive use and what they excel at. I would probably get a 3/8 set.

 

[KnurledNut]

Some good insights in this thread:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=147620

 

[KnurledNut]

I would probably get a 3/8 set.

What did you mean by this? It cant be both.

 

[Philbert]

One area where the pass through ratchet will excel is to cage your brakes on the big rigs.

A lot better than using a crescent wrench on a broke down HET in Iraq.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

What did you mean by this? It cant be both.

http://www.gearwrench.com/ratchet-a...ing-flex-gearratchettm-handle-sae-metric.html

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

One area where the pass through ratchet will excel is to cage your brakes on the big rigs.

A lot better than using a crescent wrench on a broke down HET in Iraq.

lol, i don't work on big rigs. Passenger cars, pickups and motorcycles.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Some good insights in this thread:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=147620

Thank you

 

[KnurledNut]

http://www.gearwrench.com/ratchet-a...ing-flex-gearratchettm-handle-sae-metric.html

Oh my bad, you meant the adaptor.

 

[disston]

The number of times you may need the pass thru feature I would think is few and you could always use a box end wrench instead so why bother. This idea is not new. They have been around for a long time and the reason they never catch on is because there are tools to do the same job already in your tool box.

I guess I should say I've never used a pass thru ratchet. Don't own one for the reasons explained.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

The number of times you may need the pass thru feature I would think is few and you could always use a box end wrench instead so why bother. This idea is not new. They have been around for a long time and the reason they never catch on is because there are tools to do the same job already in your tool box.

I guess I should say I've never used a pass thru ratchet. Don't own one for the reasons explained.

This has been my thinking too. I found a deal on the set for 60$ so i was just wondering if anybody had any "jobs" in which the tool made it easier.

 

[Richard Cranium]

taking the u bolts off that keeps the axel to the leaf springs. Sure you could use a wrench, but the ratchet would be faster.

 

[Fedwrench]

The logic that you could just use a boxed end wrench is seriously flawed. Often on today's cramped you might be able to place the boxed end wrench on the fastener but, have no room to swing the wrench.
Where the pass thru ratchets & sockets excel is when removing upper engine brackets that have long studs with fixed nuts. The pass through sockets combined with a flex head pass thru ratchet can provide you enough offset and access to do things that you might not be able to do with regular tools. You can also use a pass through socket when the area around the fastener is too small to use a ratcheting wrench. In the end, pass thru sockets & ratchets may not be needed all of the time or by everybody. However, pass thru sockets & ratchets are versitle tools that have a place in a mechanics arsenal to defeat difficult to access fasteners.

 

[Voi]

This has been my thinking too. I found a deal on the set for 60$ so i was just wondering if anybody had any "jobs" in which the tool made it easier.

I've borrowed a friend's set when the sockets I had on hand didn't have thin enough walls to drive a recessed fastener. In each case I was working on wood working machinery.

His set is a Craftsman. I don't recall how much thinner the walls were but it was noticeable compared the sockets I had on hand.

I never have actually used the pass-thru feature, for what it is worth.

I assume one could get standard drive sockets with equally thin walls but I've never looked.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I have small set from Kobalt. They work well when there is a lot of bolt sticking out beyond the nut. It's nothing I couldn't do nwith a ratcheting box end

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Now let me ask this. I see the extensions are massive tubes, are the sockets larger diameter than normal and do they hinder abilities? I can see that they would be shorter vertically (or width wise, which ever you prefer) but how about the size of the sockets circumfrence? Getting close to components with studs coming out of them that a regular socket would get but may be too short or too long to work in the area.

 

[gearhead1]

I just bought a pass thru as I use threaded rod to mount the fuel cell and battery boxes in my demolition derby cars. I could use a wrench, but the ratchet is way faster.

For regular repairs, I never ran into something yet where the pass thru was the way to go.

 

[phule]

Funny we were just discussing these at work the other day. I did find a use for them when tightening a strut assembly and using the allen hold on the strut shaft. The nut was recessed so a normal ratchet wrench wouldnt work thebpass thru was just deep enough & still allowed you to access the allen key at the top. Its one of those tools you may never need until that one time.

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[Dirty Diesels]

Funny we were just discussing these at work the other day. I did find a use for them when tightening a strut assembly and using the allen hold on the strut shaft. The nut was recessed so a normal ratchet wrench wouldnt work thebpass thru was just deep enough & still allowed you to access the allen key at the top. Its one of those tools you may never need until that one time.

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Yeah same here and fuel tank retaining strap nuts, there is some really long threaded studding on a few I've come across, but some tool companies make extra deep sockets for these tasks!

 

[lightning02]

i have a set. never used it after 12 years owning it lol

 

[Superbec]

this is the kind of "universal specialized" tool that never gets used.

It's simple, you will probably never really need this exact one , other tools will do the job , tools you have at hand, this set will be somewhere on a shelf or drawer .

I had something simmilar, I didn't use it for a few years, than I thought I'll leave it in a car for emergencies ... well I sold the car and forgot the set in there, it's been a few years and I never missed it.

 

[gdocktor3]

I have the Kobalt spline pass thru sockets that I use with my ratchet wrenches. Actually, I have never had to use them, but rather just to get some use out of them. I really only bought them for the spline aspect though. IMO, use the money toward a good set of ratchet wrenches instead. If you already have those, take your woman out to a nice dinner or fill up your gas tank...

 

[dbabicky]

I bought the Gear Wrench pass through set when it first came out. I can count on one hand how many times I've used it. More than likely would have used it more, but, it's stuffed away in a drawer and it was just as quick to finish the job with the wrench than to go dig out the Gear Wrench set.
Maybe if I had it stored with my regular socket's ect., I would have grabbed it more.
I can see a use for it if your job or what you mess around with dealt a lot with threaded rod, or setting anchors ect., you would use it all the time.

 

[Loscaldazar]

I use it quite a bit. It's one of two tools in the world that works for Subaru and VW strut dissasembly. The other is high priced close to 90 degree offset box end wrenches. Which aren't made by too many companies. I got my 3/8 pass through set for $15 dollars.

I also like to use them to install sensor senders that have long wires on them. The wires go through the pass through, and it makes the sensor installation super easy (and with the extensions, then I install the sensor onto an engine block without removing the intake and other parts, thus saving a LOT of time).

Occasionally I'll use them as a ratcheting wrench replacement when I'm mobile and don't have a lot of space/time to grab the individual wrenches I need. Much quicker to grab the set (although they do take up more space (head depth with socket) than a regular ratcheting wrench.

They're marketed as a complete socket set replacement (which I can't see myself using them like that), but they work super well for a few odd jobs. Useless to most people, but lifesavers for others.

 

[RichWentFishing]

Boats and boat trailers. Seems that everything, except for the engine, is always on a bolt that's way too long and a light bit of corrosion is along the entire length of it.

Saves a bunch of time and acts as my spare set of sockets that live in the truck.


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[dnschmidt]

A great idea that surprisingly in real life doesn't appear that great. Buy the HF set for $16 with a coupon as it's very good and quite complete. I did and I think I needed the feature once in many years. Works perfectly as a normal socket set I just wonder why I don't use it as one. Long lengths of all thread (some battery hold downs) is one thing it does great. If Gearwrenches had not been invented this tool would be vastly more popular.

 

[healing]

i have a set. never used it after 12 years owning it lol

This does not matter because On Garage Journal more tools are always better! I suggest you buy another complete set, it looks better in pictures

 

[Nick Danger]

I used a pass-through socket with an open end wrench to remove a spark plug that was behind a header. There wasn't enough clearance for much else.

 

[dalehsc]

I have used them in low clearance situations (water pump,timing cover,accessory belts )on tranverse mounted engines. not a tool I use every day,but have helped me out when needed.The extensions are larger than the drive end of the socket.Something they are good for,is driving the tap/die adapter when the threads are in a recessed area,ratchet/extension/adapter set up.

 

[M6erfan]

Not used very often but I've required one on rear strut and front sway bar link work

 

[Finky198]

The craftsman pass thru works well and has covered me for low profile situations as well as shock towers and a few other times. Do you need them no but they can save time yes. It's all about the offset, more then a wrench and less than shallow socket and ratchet.


The CM stuff goes on sale and with points I paid $20-30 so less then half the reg price for the 51pc set. I'd wait out for a good deal if you don't need it immediately.

 

[Rarified27]

I've found enough uses for them to justify my purchase, but it's not overwhelming.

The thing that would render them useless for me is if the ratchet head didn't flex. I repair musical instruments and percussion equipment has a ton of odd angles, as well as a lot of the electronics I use, for which the 1/4 set has been a time saver.

I've also encountered a few sensors with wires out of the top like mentioned above. Pass thru is great if the wires have a second connection- if not, you have to leave the ratchet on the part forever ;-)

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I'm still 50/50 lol. I see both sides. Should I fret over 60$ and a chunk of my box used up. I need a new toolbox too... or at least a cart

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I've found enough uses for them to justify my purchase, but it's not overwhelming.

The thing that would render them useless for me is if the ratchet head didn't flex. I repair musical instruments and percussion equipment has a ton of odd angles, as well as a lot of the electronics I use, for which the 1/4 set has been a time saver.

I've also encountered a few sensors with wires out of the top like mentioned above. Pass thru is great if the wires have a second connection- if not, you have to leave the ratchet on the part forever ;-)

What do you guys mean by wires passing through? Like an oxygen sensor?

 

[d.mcfarland]

I have the craftsman version and have used it exactly one time on a satellite dish and I could have done the same thing with a regular wrench. I just wanted to move quickly and didn't have a 6 point wrench so I used the pass through ratchet instead.

It worked great in that instance. I don't think I've ever come across a car project where I needed or even wanted it though.

In my opinion spend that money on a quality Snap On item that you use often like a ratchet or something.

 

[Loscaldazar]

What do you guys mean by wires passing through? Like an oxygen sensor?

I use mine for a lot of oil temp/pressure senders (aftermarket) on Subarus (like are installed for an aftermarket gauge set up). The wires (unconnected) have room/a place to go with the hollow center of the pass through extensions/socket, and the depth of reach I get with it allows me to install them without removing the intake to get to the oil galley plugs. Otherwise to get a wrench down there (ratcheting or non) it would be 1-2 hours to remove all of that stuff. Depending on the brand of sender unit/gauges, they are different sizes, so it's not like I could buy /make one specialty socket for all the installs, and buying/making multiple sizes would be more expensive then the pass through set (as well as the several other applications it has).

It's not for everyone, and I really don't pull it out much, but it useful when I need it.

 

[thegroundpounder99]

I have yet to use mine ...... it just sits in the bottom drawer of tool box.


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[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Found this deal. http://gearwrench-nathen-arnold.the...rwrench-1-4-socket-set-metric-sae-bundle-deal . My question is, they may be shorter front to back, but would they be useful on exhaust clamps or anything with a stud close to another part? They look wiser side to side then top to bottom.

 

[ItsNemo]

I use mine mostly when I have to pass an allen key through the middle. Ratcheting wrenches work too but don't offer quite as much leverage and mine aren't reversible which can get annoying if you're dealing with a lot of rust and have to go in/out a bunch. They're also useful in super low clearance socket situations where a box end won't fit/turn.