Genius Tools Ratchets
- Thread starter 64C10
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Professional Tool User
Well-known member
I personally haven't owned any genius ratchets before, but the one in the photo looks like the generic 72 tooth made in Taiwan ratchets with quick release. Those have an annoying tendency to lock up. I have an old Tekton branded one which I ended up replacing with a Gearwrench ratchet.
Thanks for that. Working on a minimal budget here and trying to find some ratchets I can actually hold on to. I don’t like the rubber overmold stuff that seems to be the dominant material in the lower price point stuff anymore.
That’s a good idea! I hadn’t thought of remodeling one of those damn rubber things.
I ended up wrapping my slick handled Tekton with mason’s twine and then heat shrink over the top of it. Looks like hell, but I’m able to keep a hold of it.
I ended up wrapping my slick handled Tekton with mason’s twine and then heat shrink over the top of it. Looks like hell, but I’m able to keep a hold of it.
The USA made handles are still $4 from Tekton. I should probably pick up some more soon. If you already have ratchets you like and just want a bigger hard handle, I think this is the way to go if you're on a budget. Be advised that the handle is on the large side for 1/4" ratchets though.
rockinacummins
Well-known member
I have a Genius 1/2” drive, round flex head with a long hard handle. Picked it up at a swap meet probably 6-8 years ago. It’s my main 1/2” ratchet in my truck box and I’ve used it pretty hard. Haven’t put a cheater on it, but I have stood on the handle and it hasn’t missed a beat. I’ll get a pic if I can remember
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Genius rebrands good quality stuff. I havent used the pear heads, but the round heads are top notch. They use a facom-esque mechanism. The ratchet mentioned by @rockinacummins is a sleeper. Very strong. The downside is the head only has one detent in the straight position and can otherwise be floppy. The detent doubles as a location for a set screw which mates to a groove in the flex pin, which is a great design in itself.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
I shimmed the head on mine and its much better. Thats one nice thing about the pin design. Its easy to remove without having to press.
The roto heads are really nice too. Here's my 1/4":
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Any feedback on the ratchet?
Got to put the big 1/2” and it’s 3/8” roto-head sibling to work today, and am very happy with the purchases. The 1/2” is solid as a rock, about the same flex as I get in an 18” breaker bar. It got all the weight I could put on it getting some 58 year old shock studs off.
The only negative I could find is the handle on the 3/8 had a sharp section of parting line on the handle that needed a little kiss with a deburring knife. I also question the logic behind the decorative o-ring on the handle, but for the price I’m not at all going to complain.
I’ll probably be adding the rest of the hard handle offerings to the collection once the budget allows and I get myself a decent size box again.
The only negative I could find is the handle on the 3/8 had a sharp section of parting line on the handle that needed a little kiss with a deburring knife. I also question the logic behind the decorative o-ring on the handle, but for the price I’m not at all going to complain.
I’ll probably be adding the rest of the hard handle offerings to the collection once the budget allows and I get myself a decent size box again.
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KnurledNut
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BlitzcrankJapan
Well-known member
From what the Genius supplier in Australia has told me and what it looks like on the Genius website itself. Genius is the house brand of a tool manufacturing facility in Taiwan. They manufacture their own tools and also sell and manufacture tools for other 'brands'.
Their ratchet wrenches are my least favourite of their tools.
In terms of overall quality I would place them just below Sidchrome, Kincrome, Toptul, Teng Tools, etc. However they are certainly better than some of the 'cheap taiwan' manufactured tools.
In Australia their price reflects fairly on their quality. I have many Genius tools.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Ditto.
I know for a fact they source some tools from other Taiwan manufacturers.
Otherwise, I have no idea if they have their own manufacturing facility but it seems plausible, even likely.
From my use, their tools wont win any beauty contests, but they are battle ready.
BlitzcrankJapan
Well-known member
It is definitely possible that they do not manufacture everything themselves.Ditto.
I know for a fact they source some tools from other Taiwan manufacturers.
Otherwise, I have no idea if they have their own manufacturing facility but it seems plausible, even likely.
From my use, their tools wont win any beauty contests, but they are battle ready.
Even KTC from Japan outsources some of their tools.
It can be hard for a factory that specializes in forgings and general hand tools to also produce items such as Gears for the internals or even plastic for handles and other items.
replacement parts!
Was re-lubing my sole Genius ratchet, a 3/8 38072 72 tooth ratchet that I bought years ago.
Was surprised to see they have replacement repair kits for their ratchets, including the rotor-ratchets.
Might be useful for some HF ratchets maybe. Genius ratchets use the heart shaped spring.
The Genius catalog is a good 600+ pages now.
I also own a master set of Genius Tools 1/2" drive metric sockets that have held up well.
Was re-lubing my sole Genius ratchet, a 3/8 38072 72 tooth ratchet that I bought years ago.
Was surprised to see they have replacement repair kits for their ratchets, including the rotor-ratchets.
Might be useful for some HF ratchets maybe. Genius ratchets use the heart shaped spring.
The Genius catalog is a good 600+ pages now.
I also own a master set of Genius Tools 1/2" drive metric sockets that have held up well.
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dnschmidt
Well-known member
Everybody in Taiwan buys stuff from each other. It's sort of Taiwan Inc. TOPTUL makes most of their own forgings but ratchets come from William Tool and their digital torque wrenches from Eclatorq. There are many other examples. I'm sure Genius is no exception.