High quality ¼ drive ratchet

[Grant Gunderson]

So I finally treated myself to the pbswiss torx and hex socket sets for working on my mountain bikes. What do you guys recommend for a really high quality ratchet. Most of the use is relatively low torque and I'm thinking id prefer a smooth high tooth count option. I spend a lot of time in both Japan and Switzerland for work so not afraid to go those routes either.

 

[mykvr6]

My Facom 1/4 is my go to 1/4 ratchet. Palm control, smooth, high tooth count. Its a little bulky but I love it. If you need low profile I'm sure others will chime in with something slim that they have used. I have a couple snap-on 1/4 ratchets and a harbor freight composite 1/4" I use the Facom the most, the HF second. Honestly I hardly ever reach for my Snap-On 1/4's. I have a dual 80 1/4" (which is a 72 tooth really i think) but I think my Facom is smoother. I have an older locking flex 1/4 snap on, not sure of the tooth count. But again I hardly every use it.

 

[shockwave]

I recommend a hazet fine tooth the newer round heads

 

[wagon]

between my craftsman, gearwrench and proto, I only ever used the gearwrench. 72 or 84t, don't remember. the proto is 27t which is pretty sad for a 1/4".

my dad's SnapOn was bitchin when I was able to use it

 

[thor80]

The Armstrong's are really nice

 

[thor80]

I like the Armstrong's better than my snappy in 1/4

 

[oldldh]

GearWrench #81012P 1/4" Drive 120 Tooth Flex Head Ratchet...

www.tooldiscounter.com

Available for $ 19.13 + Freight...

In my opinion...High Quality + Reasonable Price...

I have these and I'm crazy about them...

Also available as a non-flex under GW #81011P for $ 16.24...

A lot of ratchet for the money...

 

[Flivver250]

Snappy, Wright, Williams. You are not looking at a lot of money and they are all good. Why would you entertain only having one?

 

[Grant Gunderson]

I have a ton of mid level ones in all sizes already. Just want a really really high quality one for wrenching on the bikes. So I am willing to spend the $$ on one as I use that size more than any other with the bikes. Just don't need more than one either. I got plenty of low tooth for the dirty high torque stuff.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Snappy Roto would be awesome for working on bikes. I got mine "used" in new condition for $68 on ebay.

 

[BK13]

The Armstrong's are really nice

Yep.

 

[1950mercury]

I have so,gearwrench,Armstrong, craftsman, matco,hf and husky. If I was on a budget of buy the hf pro it has the same tooth count as so and its dirt cheap. The hf or so are my fav

 

[four.cycle]

I have two of these and they are very nice:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thorsen-No-...9034&clkid=1498843130988244525&_qi=RTM2067267

about 4-7/8" OAL

I own a little Snap-On 1/4" drive too. round head. not bad. a bit spendy but it feels nice in the hand. nice action. don't like the selector on the back with oily fingers, though.

Have two or three old Indestro 1/4" drives as well. very nice. kind of hard to find, though.

and a couple old Craftsmans. okay, but kind of clackity-clacky on the action. they work okay. old " =v= " types.

 

[ChrisPace]

Tons of good options here!
Snap On: best resale value and you would be proud of it as it's the benchmark of American tools. I have a T72 and love it!
Gearwrench: (Apex), 120xp or 84t models are both great and very smooth. I have both. $25. I do like the flex head versions
Craftsman: 84t slim profile, around$25 and quick release version from Apex. Easy to warranty. I have a set of these and I'm real fond of them. Feels just like the Gearwrench 84t.
Matco and Armstrong: top of the line USA tools also made by Apex
I have a cheap HF China plastic handled ratchet here that's not bad but the bike grease will stain the handle. If you lost it you wouldn't cry. No resale value. ,

I'm a roadie btw and have a nice fleet of Cannondale's.



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[ChevyEFI]

Tn72

 

[XxToolAholicxX]

The new MAC Tools ratchets are awesome and 90 tooth... I got all the 3/8 but they haven't released the 1/2 or 1/4.. My dealer said they should be coming out in December...

 

[plinker]

S-k 40970

 

[AmishFury]

SK 40970

60 tooth, round head, really low backdrag, smooth as a slip and slide covered in ky

 

[JonnyMac]

Ive got 3 snappy (standard, flex and long handle) and 1 facom. The facom is the smoothest and what i reach for first..

 

[oldldh]

---smooth as a slip and slide covered in ky

From a person using the Nomme de Plume of "Amish Fury"!!!

I'm shattered, I tell you, just shattered....

What you've described is, in Latin, "Maximus Slickitus"...

 

[crewchief888]

the 1/4" dr ratchet i grab 1st is a cornwell, followed by a long handle SO

 

[wvrailroader]

GearWrench #81012P 1/4" Drive 120 Tooth Flex Head Ratchet...

www.tooldiscounter.com

Available for $ 19.13 + Freight...

In my opinion...High Quality + Reasonable Price...

I have these and I'm crazy about them...

Also available as a non-flex under GW #81011P for $ 16.24...

A lot of ratchet for the money...

^this.

I have Snap On, Armstrong, Proto and several (about 12 or more lol) other 1/4" drive ratchets, but I always find myself reaching for my 120xp Gearwrench ratchet.

Sent from my SM-G900R4 using Tapatalk

 

[Fedwrench]

Carlyle 90 tooth flex head ratchet with comfort grip.

 

[Banjorear]

Snappy Roto would be awesome for working on bikes. I got mine "used" in new condition for $68 on ebay.

I have this is 1/4 and 3/8. Super handy wrench to have.

 

[stg454]

I really like my SnapOn ratchets. They are my go to ratchet.

 

[Finky198]

+1 on the t72 ... snappy is def my preference, but I find whatever you get used to is what you should just buy in all sizes as it will feel more natural and one with the hand.
Which in turn equals more productivity

 

[abvw]

T72 and my TF72 are my go-to.

I find it much easier to crank the ratchet on an offset than to use a spinner roto style.

Sent from my Q10 using Tapatalk

 

[Kensgarage]

I have everything listed above....and many many more. I'm a 1/4" addict.
The two best long ones are the TLL72 Snap-on and 84-120 T Gearwrench.
The best shorty straight handles are the Wright 3426 or the Hazet fine.
I'd rate the Hazet as the tightest and very best of those two.....if your wallet is healthy.The Wright is super nice too.It's so tiny and fine I'm scared to really get down on it.I grab the TLL or GW when that's a concern.
I just bought a Proto XLQR from a member here.If it's bigger brothers are any indiction it will be a bad mofo too.I haven't beat on it yet.I'll make a point of it soon.

The lowest back drags are a tie between the 84 GW and the Wright.The 120 and the Hazet tie for second. The TLL is considerably stiffer. Some of the vintage are very light but kind of rattley-loose feeling. I wont trust them on a Kawasaki engine mount bolt.

 

[thegroundpounder99]

My go to 1/4 is the TX72 locking flex from Snap On. My absolute favorite ratchet.


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[d.mcfarland]

My Armstrong seemed the best to me as far as low backdrag, thin profile, and comfort.

My Cornwell was 2nd place, only because of lower tooth count and a slightly thicker head. If I had to crank on something dam sure I would trust that Cornwell though.

 

[DanielC99]

JonnyMac - Off Topic - Concerning your signature;

"For God's sake.. you are a computer programmer, stop calling yourself an engineer!"

I am a Storage Administrator, I would welcome them calling me an engineer, they call me a "resource". A generic term that removes the humanity from the person doing the job. Seems to make it easier to delete the resource number from the employed numbers.
Ok, back to the discussion at hand...

 

[zkling]

So I finally treated myself to the pbswiss torx and hex socket sets for working on my mountain bikes. What do you guys recommend for a really high quality ratchet. Most of the use is relatively low torque and I'm thinking id prefer a smooth high tooth count option. I spend a lot of time in both Japan and Switzerland for work so not afraid to go those routes either.

Only one, would probably be a 1/4" roto ratchet with a good sized handle.

IF you have a nice ratcheting screwdriver, then go with a flex head short to med length ratchet.

Money no object, go snap on.

 

[cliftonbros89]

I have several Snap On 1/4 ratchets. Really like them and the 1/4 roto ratchet I have.

I also have a SK that isn't bad, just not as high of a tooth count.

Then there's a Armstrong locking flex that I have that I've been very pleased with as well.

I also have several Craftsman ratchets. Only ones I'll use anymore are 84T premium ones. Not bad.

 

[knobby]

Wera zyklop.