OP
lightning02
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2013
- Messages
- 2,677
My store had some on the shelf today
Thanks for the update. Looks like I'm going to HF come firday lol
HF new "low-profile ratchets"
- Thread starter lightning02
- Start date
Thanks for the update. Looks like I'm going to HF come firday lol
I found this link from another thread but can't make out the part #sMy store had some on the shelf today
is it just me or does that look 'longish' for a 1/4" rat? assuming that's a 1/2" roto head next to it which is about 1ft long, I'd say it's about 8" long. Compared to a TL72 at about 7" long it looks like a good size.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
I just bought the 1/4" and it is pretty long. Looks great, feels great, seems to work great, very smooth mechanism. Love it.
jwdominick
Well-known member
has anyone picked one of these up yet? http://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-38-in-drive-long-reach-dual-flex-head-ratchet-67994.html
Its been a life saver for me plenty of times
Its been a life saver for me plenty of times
OP
lightning02
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2013
- Messages
- 2,677
everytime i look at the ends are very loose. had it have a locking heads id be all over it. same reason why i dont buy none detent/locking head flex ratchets.
jwdominick
Well-known member
mine seems to be tight enough, but I know what you mean I had an older husky with worthless detents
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
It looks longer than most 1/4 drive ratchets but, even gearwrench 1/4 inch drive comfort grip ratchet are a little on the long side at 6.4 or 8 inches overall.
KAOTIK Motorsports
Well-known member
Awesome....gonna have to get these to add my box
Thanx for the part #s by the way
Thanx for the part #s by the way
OP
lightning02
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2013
- Messages
- 2,677
well im going to try and see if i can get my hands on these tonight, ill report back if i do.
Would you provide the length measurement of the 1/4 inch ratchet you just bought please?
OP
lightning02
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2013
- Messages
- 2,677
I found the 1/4in and 1/2in drives. The 3/8in was sold out.... but wow they are way diff then when I went to look at the flexheads. There have a diff switch. Says on and off. Might tighter feel. Got 20% off both. Very happy with the buy. I just need to find a 3/8s drive.
What store did you find them at?? Would you post up the lengths of the 2 ratchets you bought? i am hoping they are about 2 inches longer than my current composites.
I am gonna head over to my local store tomorrow after work in hopes of finding these ratchets...
OP
lightning02
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2013
- Messages
- 2,677
1/4in drive is 6-3/4s long
1/2in drive is 11-7/8s long
The store is in Merritt inland. FL
1/2in drive is 11-7/8s long
The store is in Merritt inland. FL
That will work for what I need. The 1/2 incher is about 2 inches longer than my current ratchet, and the 1/4 is about 1 inch longer than my current ratchet. I just needed a tad more leverage for automotive use, the composites will still be my go to for motorcycle applications.
Thank You
bobbycos
Well-known member
My local HF still doesn't have them as of tonight
OP
lightning02
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2013
- Messages
- 2,677
I have 2 local HFs. One did and one didnt. I'm sure in due time they all will have them. They sell out fast tho.
Called in the part numbers to the local HF store and they said they had 8 of each ratchet in stock, considering their inventory count is always off I was skeptical but made the 3 mile drive and they were way off. They had 2 1/2 inchers, like 20 3/8 and 10-12 1/4 inchers.
So I started looking at them like I always do and the 2 1/2 inchers were in great condition, and most of the 1/4 inchers were. The 3/8 ratchets were beat up from shipping and it took me a while to find one that the handle didnt look like it had been chewed on by the other ratchets in transit. I walked out with one of each for about $44 bux out the door, using the 25% coupon code they had at the store. Removing these from the package proved to be a challenge.
My grey handled composite ratchets will still be my go to ratchets for motorcycle work where a shorter ratchet, may be preferred, or working around finished surfaces. I also hae the 1/2 extendable ratchet which comes in handy for suspension work on cars/trucks. These new ratchets I will probably find myself using more under the hood.
I thought about getting the 3/8-1/4 extendable ratchet and swapping the drive gear over to a 3/8 push button release, but felt like it overlapped with the 1/2 extendable ratchet I already have, so decided to pass on that one for now. The 1/2 inch extendable ratchet is great, but its heavy and large so I thought I may find the 3/8 extendable ratchet clumsy in tight areas. The new 3/8 Pro ratchet is about 1.5 inches longer than my current composite 3/8 which should aid in extra leverage while still providing good clearance and light weight compared to the extendable style
Tomorrow I will grease the internals, and loctite the selector lever screw as specified in a previous review of the flex head style.
So I started looking at them like I always do and the 2 1/2 inchers were in great condition, and most of the 1/4 inchers were. The 3/8 ratchets were beat up from shipping and it took me a while to find one that the handle didnt look like it had been chewed on by the other ratchets in transit. I walked out with one of each for about $44 bux out the door, using the 25% coupon code they had at the store. Removing these from the package proved to be a challenge.
My grey handled composite ratchets will still be my go to ratchets for motorcycle work where a shorter ratchet, may be preferred, or working around finished surfaces. I also hae the 1/2 extendable ratchet which comes in handy for suspension work on cars/trucks. These new ratchets I will probably find myself using more under the hood.
I thought about getting the 3/8-1/4 extendable ratchet and swapping the drive gear over to a 3/8 push button release, but felt like it overlapped with the 1/2 extendable ratchet I already have, so decided to pass on that one for now. The 1/2 inch extendable ratchet is great, but its heavy and large so I thought I may find the 3/8 extendable ratchet clumsy in tight areas. The new 3/8 Pro ratchet is about 1.5 inches longer than my current composite 3/8 which should aid in extra leverage while still providing good clearance and light weight compared to the extendable style
Tomorrow I will grease the internals, and loctite the selector lever screw as specified in a previous review of the flex head style.
Last edited:
OP
lightning02
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2013
- Messages
- 2,677
I greased mine today. I was surprised when I opened them up. They had a fair share amount of lube in them.
Side note.....It took me while to get used to the selector lever being opposite of my old Craftsman raised panel ratchets when I made the switch to the Grey handled composites. I was happy to see the Pro ratchets selector lever shares this trait with my grey handled composites.
OP
lightning02
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2013
- Messages
- 2,677
Did you loctite the selector lever screw during reassembly?
No. Never do. But I have seen why some do. the screw turns with the lever and backs the screw out.
dede2897234
Well-known member
NC-Shaun,
When you get a chance, would you mind taking comparison pictures of your lowest profile, 3/8" drive fine tooth ratchet and the new HF 3/8" drive, 72 tooth low profile ratchet?
I am interested in seeing if the new HF 3/8" ratchet is really low profile in terms of head width and head depth.
Thanks,
Dave
RedneckWelder
Well-known member
Does it feel like the shaft extends all the way through the handle or only partway? I know at least the early flex ones only had the shaft part way through the handle.
NC-Shaun,
When you get a chance, would you mind taking comparison pictures of your lowest profile, 3/8" drive fine tooth ratchet and the new HF 3/8" drive, 72 tooth low profile ratchet?
I am interested in seeing if the new HF 3/8" ratchet is really low profile in terms of head width and head depth.
The head on my new lo profile ratchet is about 3-4 mm slimmer than my grey handled composite, The new lo profile ratchet handle is straight as oposed to my grey handled ratchet that curves up and flares into a bulbous shaped handle. These two details will make the difference between being able to access a bolt in a thin location or not, for example when working on a 4 cyl car engine in the water pump or timing belt area. i will take comparison pics tomorrow for you.
Thanks,
Dave
I cant tell for sure, but I did try and bend and flex the handle by hand and noticed no flex. These are not the same design as the flex head, short of sharing the same ratchet mechanism. I can only assume here, but I think the metal runs almost the entire length of the plastic handle maybe until the handle bellows down to the narrowest point? Maybe leaving the last inch that is just the plastic?.
Last edited:
bobbycos
Well-known member
Got a text from the HF manager that i know and he had a set of three put aside for me
Got a text from the HF manager that i know and he had a set of three put aside for me
Upon closer inspection, it seems the black part of the handle is a softer rubberized coating, and the red part is a hard plastic end cap, the metal body runs virtually the entire length of the ratchet. At least this is what it looks like to me.
I hope that helps everybody in choosing whats right for you. I appreciate the information, and help here also. Thanks to everyone who provided information and testing on these and the flex heads. Once I get everything situated I am gonna use foam to shadow these into the top tray, I still have a few more items to get before I do that.
OP
lightning02
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2013
- Messages
- 2,677
They should come out with a stright 1/4 and 1/2 drive composite like they did with the 3/8 drive.
OP
lightning02
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2013
- Messages
- 2,677
Maybe order them online if that's better for you. I think shipping for me was like 5 bucks when I looked into shipped a hand tool couple months back.