Harbor Freight Flex Head 1/4 3/8 1/2 flex head ratchets

[Bradley2424]

Ok let me start off I dont want to hear any of the oh buy snap-on or matco ****. I have only been a mechanic for 3 years and I dont have alot of money to buy the tool truck brands. Even tho i would love to. (matco cornwell). I am having problems with the little torx screw stripping out and making the head so floppy. So I try to tighten the screw and it strips out. I have tried diffrent screws. But the main problem is the threads are so fine. I have not tried to tap the hole to a bigger thrades into the ratchet handle. I was wondering if I could find a pin to press in would that be a better fit or for any suggestions. If you need any pictures or anything I can get them on Monday 5-18-2015.

 

[tweedlestan]

I have had the same issue with mine, I'm very interested to hear any ideas. It's a great ratchet overall and I'd love to find a replacement screw.

PEOPLE, DON'T TURN THIS INTO ANOTHER HF BASHING THREAD.

 

[Bradley2424]

tweedlestan i love the head of the ratchet thats why i posted this. I think the head is just as good at snap on and matco its all metal insides 72 tooth just want to find away to keep the fork and something to keep the head tight and usable.

 

[mr.speaker]

You guys referring to this ratchet?

 

[Bradley2424]

yep thats the one.

 

[mr.speaker]

I have the same problem. The head is pretty floppy and tightening the screw does nothing

I'm thinking about ex-changing it at harbor freight they have a lifetime warranty

 

[Bradley2424]

Mr speaker I have the short 3/8 and the long 3/8 i have replaed each 5 times I am looking for a fix instead of warranty fix.

 

[mr.speaker]

Mr speaker I have the short 3/8 and the long 3/8 i have replaed each 5 times I am looking for a fix instead of warranty fix.

Wow 5 times ..You use this professionally I assume ?

Only thing I can think of is drill,tap,and find a countersunk headed bolt with coarse threads that is a little longer . The stock screw only looks like it uses 2-3 threads to clamp.

 

[Bradley2424]

Yea I am a Mechanic cant afford the tool trucks what about a pressed in pin like some of the older craftsman

 

[mr.speaker]

Yea I am a Mechanic cant afford the tool trucks what about a pressed in pin like some of the older craftsman

I don't know about that. Those end up floppy over time to even the "Truck brands" . I had a snap on that was floppy, it was fixed and warrantied by snap on then I sold it on eBay..

How about using some tiny nylon washers in between the head and body? Then using a pin ?

Or maybe some wave washers

I'm thinking about experimenting tomorrow

 

[gungatim]

now that i've had mine a while, the 3/8 is my go-to ratchet and it's super floppy as well. cannot be tightened, my solution was to use some brass shim stock, punched out with a round die and then a gasket punch for the center hole. it is now better than new. I will post pics when I am able to in another week (travelling currently out of country)

 

[ex-x-fire]

I had one of the hf double head ratchets that stripped out the screw, I drilled out the remaining threads & pressed an allen wrench in to it. It stayed tight for a long time, the ratchet stripped out inside the head awhile later.

 

[SMKS]

As another person mentioned, I would look at trying to find a nylon washer or something else that you could put in there, but I don't know if that would work.

 

[d.mcfarland]

For what it's worth, I have a Chinese made Craftsman 3/8 flex head with the pushed in pin and I've only used it on maybe a dozen different jobs and I can clearly tell it's going to wear out sooner or later. I don't think that option is any "upgrade" from the HF.


If you're using a flex head a lot, go with the Armstrong with the locking head when you have the money saved up.

 

[SMKS]

If you're using a flex head a lot, go with the Armstrong with the locking head when you have the money saved up.

I was going to suggest this, too.

The Armstrong locking flex is the most expensive ratchet I own but it is totally worth it. It blows any regular, non-locking flex ratchet out of the water.

 

[bcradio]

I am interested to know if anyone has tried anything that has worked also. I have the 3/8 and 1/2 flex heads and like them. I do not use them much as a standard ratchet is my go-to, but still don't want them to get floppy down the road.

 

[Bradley2424]

I had one of the hf double head ratchets that stripped out the screw, I drilled out the remaining threads & pressed an allen wrench in to it. It stayed tight for a long time, the ratchet stripped out inside the head awhile later.

Can you post any pics

 

[oldldh]

My solution to your dilemma...

Move up the food chain a tad...

These 120 tooth GearWrench Flex Head Ratchets cost me about $ 95.00...

And they don't flop...

GearWrench Part # 81230P...

www.tooldiscounter.com has the set for $ 94 97...

84 tooth set is #81230F, and sells for $ 90.29, from the same place...

 

[crbnfbr]

As I posted in a different thread. I have some Toptul flex head ratchets and they have a slightly bent metal washer between the head and handle fork. I'm sure you could take a regular washer and put a slight bend in it to relief the floppy head. Then again I don't know how tight the fit is between the HF ratchet head and fork.

 

[John in OH]

now that i've had mine a while, the 3/8 is my go-to ratchet and it's super floppy as well. cannot be tightened, my solution was to use some brass shim stock, punched out with a round die and then a gasket punch for the center hole. it is now better than new. I will post pics when I am able to in another week (travelling currently out of country)

I have no experience with trying to tighten the heads on these ratchets, but the above brass shim stock washer suggestion by gungatim sure sounds like a potentially good solution. It would probably need a washer only a few thousandths thick to tighten the head.

 

[Bradley2424]

It comes with a washer but the washer is not the problem it's the fine thread's in the torx screw

 

[Bradley2424]

My solution to your dilemma...

Move up the food chain a tad...

These 120 tooth GearWrench Flex Head Ratchets cost me about $ 95.00...

And they don't flop...

GearWrench Part # 81230P...

www.tooldiscounter.com has the set for $ 94 97...

84 tooth set is #81230F, and sells for $ 90.29, from the same place...

I am going to get the cushion grip version but for now I need to make these last for a bit so I can same up

 

[dnschmidt]

I would suggest brass shim stock.

 

[mr.speaker]

It comes with a washer but the washer is not the problem it's the fine thread's in the torx screw

None of mine came with a washer.

 

[Hiball]

None of mine came with a washer.

Should have a Wavy Washer on it, Mine Did and even then they couldnt hold tension. I would look on the Outside of the Head Hinge or inside of the Handle, It might be held in place by some Lube.



Not Very Wavy..

 

[crbnfbr]

I knew there was a name for the wavy washer, but I just couldn't think of it.

I just picked up a standard and long 3/8" ratchets from HF. I grabbed the two with the stiffest heads. The standard length one is so stiff I can barely move the head without a socket on there. The long one is not as tight but isn't floppy either. I took the long one apart and the wavy washer wasn't very wavy either. So, I bent it a little but it didn't seem to make a difference. Now I see how the torx screw is the issue.

 

[Caman]

Google "Belleville washer" see if there is one the size that would work.

 

[92integra]

what about just drilling straight through the damn thing adding a longer bolt and nut on the opposite end. throw a Belleville washer in there while your at it?>>?

 

[NC-Shaun]

Kobalt has a detent style flex head at Lowes...Some guys dont like the detent style though.

Has anybody tried a through bolt setup on the HF Flex Head ratchets?

 

[OutsideMachinist]

Kobalt has a detent style flex head at Lowes...Some guys dont like the detent style though.

Has anybody tried a through bolt setup on the HF Flex Head ratchets?

I would try drilling and tapping it to a different size and put a different fastener in it. I have the kobalt 3/8 stubby flex ratchet. It is decent especially for price. The head of the ratchet is very large compared to a thin profile one though.

 

[defektes]

Can you post any pics

Also the SK flex heads have a adjustment screw that actually works. A lot cheaper than the truck brands.

 

[mr.speaker]

Also the SK flex heads have a adjustment screw that actually works. A lot cheaper than the truck brands.

Yes the new ideal ones do.

Hiball, I don't have a washer on either of mine so I'm guessing that's one of my problems..

 

[defektes]

Yes the new ideal ones do.

Hiball, I don't have a washer on either of mine so I'm guessing that's one of my problems..

Yes good point, pre ideal do not have this in case he looks at used models.

 

[gungatim]

there was no washer in the head of mine when I shimmed it. the problem is not the torx screw, the handle is so tough you can't really squeeze it tight if you get a loose one. If you could, I would have just tapped it tight or squeezed it in a vice then tightened. It did not move. but, I didn't even see any noticible wear. A belleville washer would work If I had one, but it weas just as easy to punch out a bit of brass. I think it was .010 but don't recall off hand.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Maybe you could squeeze the handle ears together in a press to tighten it up?

 

[Bradley2424]

Bigblue&Goldie I did squeeze the ears together it worked for about 2 weeks then got loose again. So I used a different screw it worked for a week them i put some pressure on it and now its floppy again.

 

[Bradley2424]

What about using a Double-Ended Set screw

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I did notice the ears are thicker than those on a Snap On swivel head. I'm willing to bet Snap On went with thinner, more pliable ears with a friction washer for ease of setting tension.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Ok let me start off I dont want to hear any of the oh buy snap-on or matco ****. I have only been a mechanic for 3 years and I dont have alot of money to buy the tool truck brands. Even tho i would love to. (matco cornwell). I am having problems with the little torx screw stripping out and making the head so floppy. So I try to tighten the screw and it strips out. I have tried diffrent screws. But the main problem is the threads are so fine. I have not tried to tap the hole to a bigger thrades into the ratchet handle. I was wondering if I could find a pin to press in would that be a better fit or for any suggestions. If you need any pictures or anything I can get them on Monday 5-18-2015.

It's typical with lower end non locking.

Try to find better hardware would be the cheapest way to go. Rather putting some hockey tape over the flex would be the cheapest way but slightly limit movement. You could also rubberize the flex joint with something (liquid rubber) but it might not last long.

I know it's not nice to say but maybe save the flex ratchet use for situations that require it if none of the above works. Just throwing some ideas out. I don't use my flex ratchets a whole lot because of the "floppy-ness"; I don't have anything fancy likely why they sell locking flex.

 

[Bradley2424]

Yea I need to just save up for the gearwrench or what in really want is Carlyle from NAPA there comfort grip ratchets are so nice still cheaper then the tool truck brands