I Love Stubby Ratchets

[Rockable]

I've been wrenching on my own cars for over 50 years and since retiring 7 years ago, I do it a lot more frequently, as I restore cars. Restoring and fitting sheet metal, especially involves a lot of assembly and disassembly.

Recently I bought a 3/8" Tekton stubby and love it. In building my 34 Ford there are so many 5/16 unc bolts and nuts holding all of the exterior together that I was getting frustrated with my old craftsman 1/4" ratchet because the directional lever kept getting tripped when I tried to grip it directly over the head and the 3/8 felt too heavy for the job. So, I bought a 1/4" Tekton stubby ratchet and I Love it! It is so light weight and it is just the right size for me to palm it......and the directional lever doesn't get inadvertently tripped.

Take it from me, if you are assembling and disassembling multiple fasteners on a routine basis, buy a stubby of your preference. Personally I like the Tektons because of the quick release and both of mine are smooth as silk, so far!

PS I have an air ratchet but it's too big for this job and I like to feel the fastener tightening. I also have some of those little round finger ratchets but they don't quite give you enough torque for this job.

 

[Nutria]

Me too. I picked up a couple of Snap-On F710BKs at estate sales over the years, and they are great-- like you say, the sweet spot between a air ratchet (or standard length ratchet) and a spinner.

 

[finn]

I bought a couple, ie 3/8” and 1/4” that came up in the Hot Deals section here a few months ago. I think the set cost maybe $12 , and came with a foam storage tray.

I bought them on a lark, but actually find them quite handy, probably because of the low mass.

I think an expensive one would be a waste of money, though, as I doubt these will ever wear out. You’re not overstressing anything with that short handle

 

[seber]

I have one but I find a 1/4" flex does the job better for me. I suspect the size of your hand might affect that.

 

[Achilleus]

Recently I bought a 3/8" Tekton stubby and love it.

Do you recommend the flex head version or the fixed? They also have 2 different sizes for 3/8: 3" and 4.5" long. Which one did you get?

 

[DAWrench]

I use a 1/4" flex with a low profile 1/4" to 3/8" adapter alot. Like finn said you are not using for it for high torque and my 1/4" drive have very low back drag

 

[Kscardsfan]

I don't think I have a stubby 1/4" in my arsenal, but working on my wife's F'n Prius sold me on the idea of stubby tools in general and now have a few different options in 3/8" drive along with shallow sockets, stubby combos, and screwdrivers etc. I hate that car but I like the fact it gave me an excuse to by more/new tools.

 

[stevobeavo]

I love my TKF72 that ive swapped out to a 3/8 drive.

 

[Professor Gascan]

After using the three course tooth round head ratchets that came with my 25+ year old husky set, I recently added a few ratchets to the collection, a stubby 1/4 and 3/8 being two of them.

I have to say it's been a bit of a revelation to my workflow. Breaking fasteners loose with the longest ratchet that fits then spinning it off with the stubby=so much faster. They really help with access to obscured or buried fasteners or removing parts without having to remove however many things just to get to what I'm actually trying to access.

My car is old and anything that helps me avoid unnecessarily messing with old plastic fittings and electrical connectors the better.

 

[Kscardsfan]

Also, this is the only time men will brag about their stubbys with excitement. Stand proud kings.

 

[Kscardsfan]

I love my TKF72 that ive swapped out to a 3/8 drive.

That is slick.

 

[AEAdam]

That is slick.

Agree stubby flex is awesome. The TKF72 looks awesome.

Anyone have a sense for comparative back drag between F80 and T72? My sense is, the 1/4” T72 is lighter. That would be a significant advantage in any stubby.

 

[GaryM909]

I have shortened the handles on a couple ratchets. They do come in handy.

 

[Rockable]

Do you recommend the flex head version or the fixed? They also have 2 different sizes for 3/8: 3" and 4.5" long. Which one did you get?

Personally, I like the fixed. As someone said, that may be because I have large hands. YMMV.

 

[Rockable]

Do you recommend the flex head version or the fixed? They also have 2 different sizes for 3/8: 3" and 4.5" long. Which one did you get?

I bought the 3".

 

[mikey03]

I love my TKF72 that ive swapped out to a 3/8 drive.

I bought the ratchet and adapter to do it but i only got t9 hex bits no driver and I couldn’t get enough power to turn them out. Maybe there locktited in? Was going to ask a snap on truck to do it for me someday but do you got any tips?

 

[MJK]

I don't even use the normal length ones any more. FKF80A and FLF80A do everything I need for 3/8.

 

[AEAdam]

Personally, I like the fixed. As someone said, that may be because I have large hands. YMMV.

I hold most ratchets upside down, head in my palm finger tips on the handle. The flex allows the handle to conform to my hand. I had a “full polished” craftsman stubby flex when I was young. Maybe it’s nostalgia (actually still have it), but I LOVE the stubby flex form factor.

I don't even use the normal length ones any more. FKF80A and FLF80A do everything I need for 3/8.

ABSOLUTELY. My advice is to start your ratchet collection with these 2 ratchets, or your favorite brand’s equivalent. The “normal size” is a compromise in my opinion, good at basically nothing.

That said, I bought the cheapest F80 I could buy on eBay. I think I paid less than $50 for it. My intention was to rebuild the head and forget the finish. I cleaned it and put it back together. It is pretty worn but super smooth low back drag and I fell in love with it so… maybe don’t listen to anything I say.

 

[bonneyman]

I made a Bonney stubby just for kicks.
Got a Bonney 3/8" ratchet with a buggared handle, so cut that off and made it a stubby. Don't use it much, but the bulky head style of the Bonney lends itself to comfortable stubby use. And no accidental direction switching.

 

[lardy1]

I use an SK roundhead. 3/8" in a 1/4" body. Only 60 tooth and no flex but a handy little ratchet nevertheless. If I used one a lot I would likely get a more modern style with a higher tooth count and flex handle but really haven't had any need for it. I have too many ratchets already. I got way too impulsive a few years ago.

 

[stevobeavo]

I bought the ratchet and adapter to do it but i only got t9 hex bits no driver and I couldn’t get enough power to turn them out. Maybe there locktited in? Was going to ask a snap on truck to do it for me someday but do you got any tips?

Mine weren't tight at all. I just used a t9 driver on mine.

If you have a truck local to you it might be easier for your rep to swap it

 

[SouthernIllinois]

Just got this off the truck.
3/8 drive flex-head in a 1/4 body

 

[bonneyman]

Dang those sure look nice!

 

[Schurkey]

I have an air ratchet but it's too big for this job

1/4" body air ratchet with either a 1/4 or 3/8 square-drive. I prefer 3/8. Bought a Mac AR2775 decades ago, still works great...


...but it's getting replaced with an SP Air SP 7265 "sealed, flat-head" 3/8-in-a-1/4-body air ratchet.

Amazon.com

Just got this off the truck.
3/8 drive flex-head in a 1/4 body

When they make that in a quick-release, it'll be in my box. I just willnot fight with small sockets to pop 'em back off the ratchet.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

Still using T72, F80, and S80A along with the 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 extra long flex. Will look into the stubbies for more options as well as root 1/4 and compact 3/8. Fathers day, Bday coming up.

 

[Jeff]

 

[Professor Gascan]

I'm really surprised how handy these little guys can be, they end getting used on every job I've done since I got them. It's too bad O'reilly's doesn't import the 1/4 drive and flex head versions of their 3/8 stubby from Infar.

 

[Pwaley]

These are super cool. I want one of those Snap-ons or Kokens!

Jeff how much did that stubby run you? Where's the best place to purchase?

 

[Jeff]

These are super cool. I want one of those Snap-ons or Kokens!

Jeff how much did that stubby run you? Where's the best place to purchase?

Don't remember where, but I found it on sale for $49.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

The SO T72 is such a nice ratchet my stubby at the moment.

 

[d.mcfarland]

The SO T72 is such a nice ratchet my stubby at the moment.

That's not a stubby, just the standard 1/4" ratchet.

 

[308guru]

I have never understood the desire or need for stubby ratchets. Don't have one, never used one, never needed one. Whenever I see them only one thing comes to mind and that's "why?".

Maybe there's an application or use I haven't bumped into just yet.

 

[DAWrench]

I find a stubby ratchet to be very useful. If I have a fastener in a tight spot a long extension may work or maybe a stubby ratchet is best. Every situation is different. For low torque fasteners I just find a stubby ratchet faster and easier but that is just a personal opinion

 

[Schurkey]

I have never understood the desire or need for stubby ratchets. Don't have one, never used one, never needed one. Whenever I see them only one thing comes to mind and that's "why?".

Maybe there's an application or use I haven't bumped into just yet.

Under-dash, inside vehicle doors (behind the door panel.)

Potentially under-the-hood, depending on how sadistic the "engineers" were when they designed it using a computer but no brains.

 

[liliysdad]

I have never understood the desire or need for stubby ratchets. Don't have one, never used one, never needed one. Whenever I see them only one thing comes to mind and that's "why?".

Maybe there's an application or use I haven't bumped into just yet.

A stubby flex head 1/4” ratchet is magic for under dash work.

 

[Wrench-Polisher]

Ko-ken 3/8 ratchet in 1/4 body with a flex head is the best thing since sliced bread. At least on fords there is a weird junction of steering shaft u joiint bolt, sway bar bushing bolts, heat shields and a cluster of other hard to reach stuff which is either done by removing stuff or just sticking your hand in there with something like a tiny flex head ratchet and a low profile z socket.

 

[wrenchr]

Stubby ratchets are some of my favorites. The old snap on F710 ones are my favorite. I think that part number snap on is about my fav. Buttery smooth action.