Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Does anyone think that Harbor Freight is clearing out Icon ratchets at 40% off this parking lot sale because, they're changing suppliers or perhaps a design change? Just curious 
Icon Ratchets?
- Thread starter Fedwrench
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Ohio Andy
Well-known member
I wondered the same thingDoes anyone think that Harbor Freight is clearing out Icon ratchets at 40% off this parking lot sale because, they're changing suppliers or perhaps a design change? Just curious
Certainly possible. I guess I've been lucky that across my 5 or 6 that they've all been pretty great. I find the feel, backdrag and general performance to be pretty much identical to their Snap On brothers with a slight and hard-to-define edge going to the Dual-80's (though the newest one, an FH-80, must be still breaking in a bit because it's not up to the Icons for some reason).
Anyway, I've heard of folks here and on Reddit saying they opened theirs up to find them without any lubrication (or nearly) and with a bit added they liked them better (in most cases). That kind of inconsistency would bother me if I was a product guy.
I'd be a little surprised if they switch ODMs, but not super-surprised...
Anyway, I've heard of folks here and on Reddit saying they opened theirs up to find them without any lubrication (or nearly) and with a bit added they liked them better (in most cases). That kind of inconsistency would bother me if I was a product guy.
I'd be a little surprised if they switch ODMs, but not super-surprised...
mreisner
Well-known member
I picked up new Icon half inch ratchet yesterday and open it up and it was lubed. I compared it to a brand new dual 80 stubby Snap-on that I haven't used yet and the difference in Back Drag was quite apparent. The Icon is a nice ratchet. Same caliber as Snap-on I don't believe so. For the price I believe it's a great value. It will spend most of its life in a tool bag, but I believe it will work for me when I need it
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I
I purchased an ICON 1/2 drive about a year ago and frankly wasn't impressed. I bought it to prepare for the eventuality that one of my 25+ year old popular mechanics ratchets were going to give up. The ratcheting feels "cheap" I guess. I'll have to take it apart, maybe mine didn't have any lube in it.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
This is due to shipping restrictions. When I sold TOPTUL I took all the ratchets I sold apart and added Superlube. I asked TOPTUL why they shipped them dry and shipping restrictions was the answer provided.
Steel_Rain
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That sale ends today, 08/15/2024. My local store was cool and let me use the coupon this morning for three of these the same day by doing three separate transactions. I bough two long handle flex heads (1/2" and 3/8") and a 3/8th roto (they call it swivel). I'll put these though the mill with a old Honda bike I'm restoring later this year and see how it goes.
I will be nice to compare these to my KTC/SO/Koken/Nepros stuff.
The boxes are sure nice (to nice), but what's with the cleaning rag? Really? Spend that money on the tool guts, not the bling.
I will be nice to compare these to my KTC/SO/Koken/Nepros stuff.
The boxes are sure nice (to nice), but what's with the cleaning rag? Really? Spend that money on the tool guts, not the bling.
mooman
Well-known member
Not sure I would believe that. This would mean that all rachets made overseas would arrive here dry and I think we can all agree that they don't.
I'm guessing it's just a way to draw newer people to the line. Regardless of the shortage, there's always new people getting into the industry and can finally buy something half way decent. Get them into the store for a ratchet and they might walk out with more once the "oooo shiny" factor hits.
Yeah, every hydraulic jack I ever bought from HF came from China and was full of oil. So maybe there's one shipper that says no oil or lubricants, but it's certainly not universal.
That’s the rumor .. The Den of Tools guy was saying that the ratchets were getting replaced and this was clearing out existing stock. Very interesting if true.Does anyone think that Harbor Freight is clearing out Icon ratchets at 40% off this parking lot sale because, they're changing suppliers or perhaps a design change? Just curious
Ohio Andy
Well-known member
Only thing that makes sense. Question is, will it be something better or worse?
purplezr2
Well-known member
I would guess either they will be similar price, but cheaper to build meaning higher GP, or they will be slightly more expensive since they compare them to snapon. I would expect colors possibly.
Madjik Man
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I have two Icon ratchets, bought maybe five years ago. They both feel terrible. Don’t like them at all.
If I’m not grabbing a Koken to do the job, the Capri 90t is what I grab.
Capri vs Icon isn’t debatable according to my hands/feel.
If I’m not grabbing a Koken to do the job, the Capri 90t is what I grab.
Capri vs Icon isn’t debatable according to my hands/feel.
Another rumor I heard; was the ICON flex head bit ratchet set is on sale for $24.99 down from $39.99 to make room for an updated set that includes sockets. That would be interesting if it's a compact set. 
That's a handy set as is and a bargain at $25 if there are any left.
That's a handy set as is and a bargain at $25 if there are any left.
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Daytonaer
Well-known member
Just bought a 1/4 ratchet because of the sale.
Out of the box it seemed unusable: I couldn’t spin the anvil by hand. I noticed a protruding o-ring from the selector switch so I disassembled assuming some type of assembly error with something jammed up.
There was a very tacky amber grease inside but no assembly errors/ obvious problems. I guess the selector switch o-ring will just be pinched by the design but should have no effect on back drag.
I cleaned the grease out and oiled the mechanism and reassembled. It appears my back plate screws were not lock tite glued.
It is now a usable ratchet, seems odd that the grease would be tacky enough to bind the mechanism, perhaps it’s for a different climate. I’m hoping this ratchet will break in after some use.
Out of the box it seemed unusable: I couldn’t spin the anvil by hand. I noticed a protruding o-ring from the selector switch so I disassembled assuming some type of assembly error with something jammed up.
There was a very tacky amber grease inside but no assembly errors/ obvious problems. I guess the selector switch o-ring will just be pinched by the design but should have no effect on back drag.
I cleaned the grease out and oiled the mechanism and reassembled. It appears my back plate screws were not lock tite glued.
It is now a usable ratchet, seems odd that the grease would be tacky enough to bind the mechanism, perhaps it’s for a different climate. I’m hoping this ratchet will break in after some use.
I bought the 3/8 swivel head roto ratchet for 23.99 on sale.
Bad- pretty dry feeling and noticeable backdrag
Good - it is a serviceable ratchet. Added a few drops of permatex red assembly lube and it cured any complaints I had.
Bad- pretty dry feeling and noticeable backdrag
Good - it is a serviceable ratchet. Added a few drops of permatex red assembly lube and it cured any complaints I had.
rooster59
Well-known member
Bought a ½ drive flex head 90 tooth Icon yesterday. Ratchet mechanism felt dry, not too smooth, back drag noticeable, switch was stiff. Ratchet is not sealed. Took the whole thing apart, small bit of sticky grease not really on anything, same as mentioned above. Lightly greased every piece with SuperLube. Reassembled, put on a big deep socket and played helicopter both ways for about 5 minutes. Now it’s very smooth, switches easy, negligible back drag. For $30 on sale it’s a winner after some work.
TxSteve
Well-known member
Never owned a flex head ratchet - might have to get the long reach 3/8 version if I run by this weekend.
They would sure come in handy at times
They would sure come in handy at times
I read somewhere that they're killing the pass-thru ability of the extension. If that's true, it's a big take-away for me. I've heard that they've had reliability problems with it, and if that's their fix it must have been a dainty mechanism and/or people were really cranking with the t-handle.Another rumor I heard; was the ICON flex head bit ratchet set is on sale for $24.99 down from $39.99 to make room for an updated set that includes sockets. That would be interesting if it's a compact set.
That's a handy set as is and a bargain at $25 if there are any left.
I use it as a quick t-handle driver fairly often, which has really surprised me. It's definitely added dimension for me to the versatility of the kit in general.
I did see the set they were showing at SEMA, and the sockets looked a bit tall compared to the PowerTorque super-shallow sockets I usually pair it with when I travel.
$25 is a steal for that thing IMHO
Daytonaer
Well-known member
I used my new 1/4 “90 tooth low profile” icon as mentioned being purchased for a little lawn tractor work tonight, it has high back drag!I was tempted to go upgrade to the Icon ratchets during this sale, but honestly I've been completely happy with the composite Pittsburgh ratchets I've been running for years. These things have been great
Perfectly serviceable ratchet but I would not recommend paying the premium over the Pittsburgh/Quinn line if you are looking for a value ratchet. You can play with the hanging Quinn ratchet in the store but the icons are boxed up, if I knew they were this stiff I would have bought the Quinn a while ago or just kept saving for a koken 2725 160.
I hope it will smooth out, but it has a long way to go!
As far as conspiracy theories, I wonder if the first batch of icon tools are built to a high quality for all the public reviewers, then once the product is established they relax the QC...
The ICON ratchets were a below par Taiwanese offering thanks to HF obsession of copying SnapOn visual style elements rather than sourcing more quality & innovation ratchet options that Taiwan has .
The only ICON ratchets that were slightly better than other brand options in the price point was the roto heads .
The only ICON ratchets that were slightly better than other brand options in the price point was the roto heads .
Haha who knows. A locking flex head would be a nice addition.
I have the flex 3/8” and like it but it definitely came a little stiff out of the box. I used a drill to zip it around for a minute or two and that broke it in pretty nice.
It’s a decent ratchet for the money, it feels noticeably more solid than the Pittsburgh and the Quinn isn’t available in flex. Other ones from Tekton, GW, Capri are comparable and cost about the same. I will say the Capri ratcheting action is the best of the midrange.
While I agree HF takes the lookalike thing too far, I don't agree with you at all on the quality of the ratchets. I have several Icon ratchets that have a Snap On brother in my box, and for me they perform nearly identically. The next step behind them is a relatively significant one, and I go back and forth between my Matco88 and SK LP90 for the next slot.
But none of them feel as good or have less backdrag than my Ko-ken Z-series ratchet. It's not even close. I take away a point or two for the grip but it is in no way bad - I'm just used to the contours and prefer it.
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Seems an excuse to me, Toptul ship plenty other tools with grease and oil packed in them and massive amount of tools/parts get covered in anti corrosion oil and shipped no bother ...
snickers muncher
Well-known member
I bought a Kobalt one many years ago and it's my go to. Last year I got one of the Carlyle 1/2. It's nice, but no where as handy (too big) as a long 3/8 flex.
mooman
Well-known member
Does anyone know what size the screws are to open the coverplate for the 1/4"? I have a T8 bit and it seems too big.
Ohio Andy
Well-known member
Thought it was 5 or 6 but that might have been Tekton. Guy mentioned it on a tear down video. Someone who owns one should be able to check but for sure T8 is too large.
I've never seen a ratchet sale generate so much interest on You Tube 
The current crop of Icon ratchets has been out for more than a few years now, and You Tube Commandoes are just now discovering that some have wave washers between the drive gear and gear cover while others do not.
My prediction is that the next Icon series of ratchets will come from Gearwrench/SATA. This is purely a guess based on nothing more than the popularity of the Quinn comfort grip ratchet which Harbor Freights around me can't seem to keep on the shelves.
The current crop of Icon ratchets has been out for more than a few years now, and You Tube Commandoes are just now discovering that some have wave washers between the drive gear and gear cover while others do not.
My prediction is that the next Icon series of ratchets will come from Gearwrench/SATA. This is purely a guess based on nothing more than the popularity of the Quinn comfort grip ratchet which Harbor Freights around me can't seem to keep on the shelves.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
RichRiddle
Well-known member
I had to purchase a few things and went to Harbor Freight this weekend. Nearly all the ratchets were sold out.....
Came here to say the same thing. Not disappointed.
I am disappointed with hoarder fart.
So I picked up a bunch of things I did not need.
Oof - I hope not. I haven't liked any GW ratchet I've ever tried...
That said, any additional ratchets I add will probably be Ko-ken Z-series.
mooman
Well-known member
Thank you. I had to find a T5 bit locally.
I'm the opposite. I like most of my Gearwrench ratchets from the old 60 tooth models to their current 90 tooth and smaller head 120XP versions. I own several Ko-Ken 36 & 72 tooth Zeal series ratchets. I find them to be meh. The low back drag is outstanding but, it pretty much ends there for me. I find the Ko-Ken ratchet heads to be on the thick side and the comfort grip handles to be too short. Then again, I don't understand the hoopla over Nepros ratchets either
I do like the small head KTC roto ratchets though. I absolutely hated the 120XP's I tried - lots of backdrag and terrible feel. I feel like maybe I missed out on their 80-tooth models, but they got the tooth-count bug and went backwards (for me).I'm the opposite. I like most of my Gearwrench ratchets from the old 60 tooth models to their current 90 tooth and smaller head 120XP versions. I own several Ko-Ken 36 & 72 tooth Zeal series ratchets. I find them to be meh. The low back drag is outstanding but, it pretty much ends there for me. I find the Ko-Ken ratchet heads to be on the thick side and the comfort grip handles to be too short. Then again, I don't understand the hoopla over Nepros ratchets either
I think it would be hard to build a whole kit around the Ko-ken ratchets. So far I only have one, which I suppose isn't enough of a sample size to declare that much loyalty/future intent. But I really love how effortless that 3/8" ratchet is.
I haven't talked myself into a Nepros yet...