How's the older Mac round head ratchets?

[JohnDeere1]

Just bought one off ebay and was wondering and I haven't found anything on them. Just thought I ask as their hasn't been many ratchet posts in a bit.

 

[uncwstudent]

I actually just bought one today and its pretty nice. I actually like the Craftsman ones better though.

 

[JohnDeere1]

I have the craftsman ones and love the finger spinning ability on those,also have the snap on in 1/4 but dong favor those much but 1 was my dads.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Facom style or the Mac's own design?

 

[ganymede]

Facom style or the Mac's own design?

Don't forget New Britain.

 

[davethorik]

Don't forget New Britain.

And SK.

 

[JohnDeere1]

Mac's own design the style very similar to SO I have tried the new Britain style and they are smooth as silk broken in.
I have other ratchets like the Facom including a Facom and don't like that style, SO is very similar to those don't know about the Mac ones though.

 

[Fedwrench]

Without a picture, i can't really tell which MAC round head version you're referring to. However, let me see if i can narrow it down a bit. A long, long time ago in the 1960's-1970's MAC's round head ratchets were very similar to the Black Hawk and New Britain ratchets of the day. They were pretty tough and durable. Basically, strong no frills tools. They used silver direction switches. Then let's say in the 1990's MAC Round head ratchets had black direction switches with four lines on them. Their ratcheting action is quite crisp. They came with knurled handles in 1/4 drive and a contoured metal handle in 3/8 drive. A red, yellow, or orange comfort grip handles were available as were flex head versions. In 1/4 drive, these ratchets offered the thinnest head of the day. I really like them. I still have a few versions I use today. However, i have managed to break the square drive off more than a couple of times with only using hand strength, no hammering or cheaters. Unfortunately, They are no longer supported by MAC so, no repair parts are available. They were probably my favorite ratchet of the day until the fine toothed (>60 teeth) pear heads came out. The last and current MAC round head ratchet is the Italian made FACOM palm control ratchet clone. It can be identified by a black direction switch with notches on the outer ring and a freewheeling metal disc in the center. This is an excellent ratchet known the world over if you have enough space to use it. There is another MAC round head that came out in the early 2000's, their gearless version. It has a thick head and I don't think it was very popular. Post up pictures of what you got when you get it, and more info will follow.

 

[JohnDeere1]

You nailed it with the 90s version that's the one I was referring to thanks.

 

[JohnDeere1]

I have a 1/4 gearless it ***** bad but paid $10 used off the snap on truck so it was worth a shot it was locked up due to gunk.

 

[mbshop]

As a mac dealer in the late 80s I don't think there were any issues with the ratchets then. I carried repair kits and fixed them right there. And near all those were stripped because the owners used grease instead of a light oil. Newer ones I have no idea.

 

[sparkplug1939]

I may have some Mac repair parts for pear shaped 1/2” Mac ratchets


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ji m]

I know this is an older thread that got bumped,
but this post is interesting:

Without a picture, i can't really tell which MAC round head version you're referring to. However, let me see if i can narrow it down a bit. A long, long time ago in the 1960's-1970's MAC's round head ratchets were very similar to the Black Hawk and New Britain ratchets of the day. They were pretty tough and durable. Basically, strong no frills tools. They used silver direction switches. Then let's say in the 1990's MAC Round head ratchets had black direction switches with four lines on them. Their ratcheting action is quite crisp. They came with knurled handles in 1/4 drive and a contoured metal handle in 3/8 drive. A red, yellow, or orange comfort grip handles were available as were flex head versions. In 1/4 drive, these ratchets offered the thinnest head of the day. I really like them. I still have a few versions I use today. However, i have managed to break the square drive off more than a couple of times with only using hand strength, no hammering or cheaters. Unfortunately, They are no longer supported by MAC so, no repair parts are available. They were probably my favorite ratchet of the day until the fine toothed (>60 teeth) pear heads came out. The last and current MAC round head ratchet is the Italian made FACOM palm control ratchet clone. It can be identified by a black direction switch with notches on the outer ring and a freewheeling metal disc in the center. This is an excellent ratchet known the world over if you have enough space to use it. There is another MAC round head that came out in the early 2000's, their gearless version. It has a thick head and I don't think it was very popular. Post up pictures of what you got when you get it, and more info will follow.

I guess this is a 1990's style because of the black handle,
but it doesn't have "4 lines"?

Works nice, no better or worse than other tool truck 3/8's

handle says XR8 USA P1

edit,
ahh, I skipped over the "round head" part of the description,
not pear like this one

 

[mikebaker1129]

OP has since been banned!

 

[Bob P1]

I have a swivel head Mac ratchet that broke one of the bolts that squeezes the head together, Bought a whole case of NOS Mac ratchet repair/rebuild kits and not a one fits it. What are the chances of that... : (

 

[Musicinabottle]

OP has since been banned!

***** to be him.

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

Apologies for bumping a super old thread but does anyone know how many teeth these Mac roundheads with the black selectors had?

 

[mikebaker1129]

Apologies for bumping a super old thread but does anyone know how many teeth these Mac roundheads with the black selectors had?

No, but I just acquired several repair kits for the 3/8 and maybe a few in 1/4 drive.