Is anyone else having issues?

[HomeBrewA4]

The head flopping issue has nothing to do with the tightness of the torx screw holding the head to the handle. There is a split friction washer inbetween the ears of the handle that control the tightness of the head flex.

No comment on the handle marks...

I have sold 23 of the FHLF80 and I have not had anyone come to me with the issues that you speak of.

If the torx has nothing to do with it, then why have all 4 of the ones I gotten, been floppy as all get out? All of them.

 

[HomeBrewA4]

That is sad...I got tired of my old tenite handled spark plug ratchet flopping around so I decided to break it and get a new one. I clamped the head in my Reed C2 4 1/2" vise that is bolted on a table and clamped to the wall. I slid a 4' cheater pipe on the handle and threw my 280 pounds on the end of it. I couldn't break the head or bend the handle, I finally chickened out because I got to thinking that if it broke I would land on a pile of junk. I then took the pivot apart and bent the split washer and tightened it up. I didn't know it was there or I would have done that first. You must be a way bigger man than I am, and way stronger, or have a way longer cheater pipe. Or be one of those guys that can screw up a steel ball bearing with a rubber mallet. That, or else that is one ************* ratchet. I have the same ratchet, without the soft handle, and I have thrown my weight into it a few times and never had the feeling that it was any weaker than my old flex head. Maybe you got one out of a batch that had a bad heat treat? Or were y'all using that floor jack on the handle to break stuff loose?

lol I am far from the hulk. I weigh about 200 and can bench about half my weight. My 9-5 is installing insulation and I am piece rate. So I get my work out by running through a house all day and going to the next house. So getting to a gym isnt common.

 

[HomeBrewA4]

Wow. Really sobering photos, that is one bent up handle. I'd be seriously pissed if that was mine, considering what they cost and especially since you're on your fourth.

I know people are calling tool abuse and I can't fault them given the pictures, but I'm curious if you've had similar experience with other ratchets, Snap On or other brands, or is it only this one you've had failures with? Would really be interesting to hear what other experience you've had, what else has held up better/worse for you.

I also agree with the comments of an earlier poster in saying that things like this keep me away from comfort grip style ratchets. I'm sure I'll pick one up one of these days, but even when I do, I'll certainly never reef on it after seeing shots like these. Sad.

I've stripped heads in craftsman ratchets, but who hasnt? I have also broke both the ends off of my 6" and 3" blue point extensions. I have yet to hurt any of my BP ratchets. I do have a BP swivel sitting on my box that broke one of the allen bolts in it that holds it together. That was trying to get an inner axle bolt out of a VR swapped Jetta acouple months back.

Other then that, I have had no issues with any of my other SO ratchets, my 1/4" 80 tooth is amazing. Soft grip as well. I even have a Kobalt ratchet that I bought to try that has out lasted probably 2 or 3 of this ratchet i've had issues with.

The ratchet in question, is def my goto ratchet. The handle makes it long enough I can break bolts loose that cant get anything bigger into the spots. It also lets me get a nice snug tighten on something as well. So its used the most out of any other ratchet I own.

 

[Hiball]

If the torx has nothing to do with it, then why have all 4 of the ones I gotten, been floppy as all get out? All of them.

You are arguing with the Wrong person. If you read what the "Snap on Dealer" said there is a Friction Washer inside that provides resistance when you tighten the Torx. Again.. Im not doubting that you have problems, Its Obvious by the pics but it just doesnt Add up. Maybe you should look into a Locking flex if you continue to have problems. Im just speculating of course but it could be that your Ratchets get torqued so much that the Fork is getting so out of Whack that the friction washer isnt creating enough resistance. Dunno?

 

[old salvage]

tears in the rubber? you see where its been squashed in the jack multiple ties b/c i have retard friends who help me when they are here. the 2 marks on 1 side happened 2 days after i got it.. low pro floow jack caught it when being lowered.

the chunk missing, idk.. loaned it and got it back like that.

The tool could have been subjected to heavy abuse while you weren't around.
Just because it wasn't broken when you got it back doesn't mean it wasn't weakened by someone else. Heck maybe they bent it on you with a cheater pipe, bent it back and returned it. After that it wouldnt take much at all to re-bend it.

 

[gatewaysysop]

I've stripped heads in craftsman ratchets, but who hasnt? I have also broke both the ends off of my 6" and 3" blue point extensions. I have yet to hurt any of my BP ratchets. I do have a BP swivel sitting on my box that broke one of the allen bolts in it that holds it together. That was trying to get an inner axle bolt out of a VR swapped Jetta acouple months back.

Wow.

No offense intended but I think I see a slight pattern here. You might want to try stepping up in drive size if you possible and room permits. I'm still surprised to see the Snappy bent up like that, but you're obviously reefing on it. Combined with unknown treatment by those you loaned it too, I can't honestly tell where to pin the blame anymore... the tool or the user. Wish the picture was clearer.

Maybe don't loan the next one out and see if that helps it last longer?

 

[chadster1]

If the torx has nothing to do with it, then why have all 4 of the ones I gotten, been floppy as all get out? All of them.

Ok, don't listen to what I said and keep tightening that torx screw.

 

[shampoop]

fyi for all those reading. I will NEVER EVER get rid of this ratchet.

My favorite tool i own by far. For any tool owner. If you're only gonna buy one nice tool in your life, make it this one.

 

[qwkstang50]

None of this really ads up. He says he's on his forth ratchet but if you broke the drive off they would just rebuild the ratchet. The only problems I have seen with these are the drive breaking off because the gears are so strong. The way the handle is bent is impossible to do without a cheater bar. If you are using it with your hand on the grip there is not that much leverage less than an inch away from your hand. As far as the head being floppy I have found the opposite that they stay really tight with the friction washer design. Why would you buy such an expensive ratchet just to destroy it?

 

[William Payne]

I am not being rude but this thread reminds me of why my dad allways said to me that a ratchet is not a loosening device. I don't think you can really put down the ratchet for this one and I don't think you can put down the user more of a case of exceeding the strength of the tool.

You say you had others break the heads off I am guessing at the flexi pivot joint would that area not be weaker anyway as it is a point of less metal. Metal naturally bends under enough load it is just how metal works if it didn't bend it would fracture and snap off.

I know from experiance that suspension bolts can be tighter then tight on some cars personally I think its a damn shame that it bent like it did but think of it this way something must have been strong in that ratchet as it didn't snap off at the head and the ratcheting gears obviously held up pretty good so something must of been strong there.

 

[catfish]

I had similair problems and dumped mine and went with Matco.
That Chinese steel is not holding up very well for SO

For the price they charge the least you could expect is some excellent quality steel....

 

[canuckian]

fyi for all those reading. I will NEVER EVER get rid of this ratchet.

My favorite tool i own by far. For any tool owner. If you're only gonna buy one nice tool in your life, make it this one.

lol...just ordered one of those....Been wanting it since the first time I saw one. should be here this week. I also have the ratchet that is the subject of this thread. Funny enough, the pivot point on mine is fine. I don't use it hard, but I do use it quite a bit. As for bending it, I'm 6" and 250+ lbs and I can barely make it flex if I lean on it. now, the pivot point on my fhf936 is another story...flops around like a wet noodle. Must check out that washer to see if I can make it work a little better.

 

[Sterff]

Seems like 3/4" drive would do the job. I have only ever broken one ratchet and that was an FX80. I tend to use a breaker bar to loosen something then a ratchet.

 

[ngk22r]

I see user error written all over this. The combination of the handle being bent like that and the comfort handle being destroyed the way it is says the people using that ratchet need to buy more tools and learn to use them properly. And if this statement offends you, oh well. I have had my full weight either standing on, or hanging from the same ratchet. And the ratchet did not budge, let alone the handle and shank get all jacked up and bent.