HF Heavy-Duty Ratchet Changees

[CobraBronco]

Sorry if this was mentioned already, but I searched and didn't see anything.

A couple years back, based on some reviews here, I bought one of the ½” heavy-duty HF ratchets. I was in HF the other day, and was going to pick up the 3/8” one, to keep it in the truck. I looked at them, and they are made in China now, where the old ones were made in Taiwan. The chrome looked terrible on it, and there are also two holes in the head of the ratchet near the selector lever. Why would you want to have holes in your ratchet like that? Maybe to make it easier to lubricate? It’s definitely not as nice as the old ones were.

I decided to skip that ratchet and bought one of the composites instead.

 

[johnwill]

Those HF ratchets are great, for the money.

 

[sberry]

I dont really have experience with HF ratchets, some work great I now from reliable accounts. I also have a generic Taiwan that has been the best most durable ratchet I have ever owned. I dont have a pile of 3/8 so what I got is used hard, at least ones in shop. Cman and Napa are the worst. I could go for another 3/8 or 2 if there were good and cheap, I get buy without as a lot of our stuff is power drive. Its really more of a convenience issue than real tuff service demand.

You can find great 1/2 used all day for 10$ but smaller ones not so, about got to buy them new.

Another tool in there that is a super bargain is the long breaker bar. We did manage to break one,,, or someone in my employ did but it was stupid, would have broke a top tool too, great that he did it to one that could be replaced for 13$, dumb in the fact we have large tools a blind squirrel could have found if he looked.

 

[billymade]

Looks like another ROTAR oem to me... ; probably another Proto pear head copy, I wouldn't be surprised if that held up relatively well, considering its a copy of a tried, true design. The holes are typical of that design; you will see it with all the proto pear head styles. On the other hand; there are so many other better ratchets out there, consider upgrading to some better brands, designs.

 

[ex-x-fire]

I put a proto repair kit in my 1/2 import torque wrench (HF style). Exact match.