Is anyone else having issues?

[HomeBrewA4]

With their FHLF80 ratchets?

I've been through 3 and already need to warranty the 4th.

The first 3 the head (where the socket clips onto), broke off. Once was under heavy use, the other 2 werent doing anything too serious. The one I currently have the handle decided to start bending on me where the soft grip meets the shown chrome handle.

I was loosening a rear suspension bolt on an Audi, no breaker bar was used as I have breaker bars for that. The nut was coming slowly but was getting hung up here and there. It got hung up and I got on it really good, thinking to myself I needed to grab my breaker if this doesn't budge and next thing I know, it starts to bend. Now every time I tighten something down, it bends slightly more each time. Now it looks like a giant banana.

I have also had VERY poor luck getting the heads to stay somewhat ridged. I can tighten the allen (maybe its a torx, i forget) on the side of the flex head and it will stay tight and you can move it to the point it will stay. Then a day of use its back to flopping around like a POS HF ratchet. I spend more time fighting the ratchets head, then I get work done.

I will add a picture of it tonight when I get back from the shop.

 

[mrshaun]

only the 1/2have broke in my route. I had one bust the 1/2 square right offth gear. kind of funny looking. BUT a ton less than the 936 series. I hate those ratchets.

 

[HomeBrewA4]

Do you think if I sent it for warranty that I could get them to give me the long, non flex head in exchange? I love the flex head but cant not come to grasp with the fact it literally flops around like a fish out of water.

 

[mrshaun]

the torx is there to tighten it down. you might break the torx driver if you get it really tight
you should stick a note in the box and tell them what you want and put in there that the pivot is worn out and will not tighten down.
I would swap you to ensure customer satisfaction

 

[HomeBrewA4]

I have tightened it down. It works great for a day and then it loosens itself back up. Its been this way on everyone that I have had. There is literally no resistance left after a day of work. You try to use the ratchet with 1 hand and the head bends back and falls off the bolt/nut so you cant hole a wrench on one end of the nut/bolt and the ratchet on another..

Once I get it warrantied, if they wont exchange it. I am going to try loctite on the torx. Might be my best bet.

 

[mrshaun]

you can order the kit to replace the torx and you will get a new split ring to go in there as well
I cant recall the kit number, but waranty it out and get what you want, or trade one of the guys on here

 

[bmwpower]

Thread locker won't help?

 

[Skin]

Bending handles? Must be that chinese steel.

If you ask me you sound like a candidate for a Matco/Armstrong locking flex head. Or if you're tired of a flex head go down to Sears and get one of their fine new Premium ratchets, get the fhlf80 replaced and dump it on ebay for profit.

Threadlocker would defeat the purpose of the set screw. If anything i'd use something like silicone. Still doesnt fix his banana handle .

 

[jay50]

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

 

[crewchief888]

only problem i had with mine was a stuck detent ball right out of the package.

 

[mrholeshot]

Buy a Duralast

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

That cheaper off shore manufacturing is starting to show through. Give GearWrench ratchets a shot...

 

[toolmaker1]

Yep, Just got a gearwrench 3/8 flex and so far so good. Also I do have the duralast 3/8 flex that I bought to try after all the heated discussion here and it is a hell of a tool for the money but i'm liking the feel of the gearwrench a bit better

 

[Hiball]

That cheaper off shore manufacturing is starting to show through. Give GearWrench ratchets a shot...

No doubt... 1 guy having issues truly represents them as a whole. It has nothing to do with the possibility of 2 small of drive size used or using a flex where a straight handle ratchet/breaker bar should be used. Thanks to the Op for having the honesty to say maybe you should have used a breaker, I'm like you... I hardly ever use a breaker bar. The rationalization here at Gj makes me Lol sometimes.

 

[HomeBrewA4]

No doubt... 1 guy having issues truly represents them as a whole. It has nothing to do with the possibility of 2 small of drive size used or using a flex where a straight handle ratchet/breaker bar should be used. Thanks to the Op for having the honesty to say maybe you should have used a breaker, I'm like you... I hardly ever use a breaker bar. The rationalization here at Gj makes me Lol sometimes.

I think where they are coming from is the fact i've broke 3 and bent the 4th as being a preview for the Chinese metal.

I broke the square that holds the socket off of the first 3, once i should of used a breaker, but the other 2 were trying to get turbo down pipe bolts off of my Audi, where you must use a flex head if you want behind the ko3.

 

[danski0224]

Do they use steel or lead in China when these things are made?

 

[Hiball]

I think where they are coming from is the fact i've broke 3 and bent the 4th as being a preview for the Chinese metal.

I broke the square that holds the socket off of the first 3, once i should of used a breaker, but the other 2 were trying to get turbo down pipe bolts off of my Audi, where you must use a flex head if you want behind the ko3.

Key Word Is "I" We have 2 snap on Dealers who frequent this place along with Numerous Dual 80 Tech Users Here not to mention the Best Selling Ratchet Series in a Long time . This is the First ive ever heard of these problems with such regularity. I completely Understand that sometimes you have to use certain tools because of there function to get the job done but that doesnt necessarily mean its the Right tool for the Job. There is has to be some give and take when you start talking about Flex heads, With there ability to give you odd angles you are gonna lose some strength which is evident by appearance alone. Is it possible to get a 1/2 Flex into the Down Pipe Bolt area? Might look into some of the Danaher made ratchets as they are a bit slimmer than the Dual 80 techs, this may allow you to step up in drive size. If you are bending ratchets at the Handle you must be a bad man... Unless Extra Leverage is used. (Yeah.. I do that too..) I would think a call into Snap On Customer service would be in Order. Maybe Shaun or Chad can help you get in touch with the Right People. What has your dealer been Saying? Now hurry up and snap some pics..

 

[Danglerb]

I still love mine, but it was a really early one. Had a kid helping me remove the front bumper of my car and he had both feet on the engine crossmember and lifted himself off the ground pulling with both hands. I would have told him to stop and use a breaker, but it came loose before I could get his attention.

Warranty it until you have satisfaction, but start using a breaker for breaker work.

 

[HomeBrewA4]

The ratchet and its arch enemy. This car is gonna make or break this ratchet one of these days

[/IMG]

 

[littletoes]

Now thats sad......

 

[Hiball]

I see Cheater Marks.. LOL.

 

[HomeBrewA4]

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.

 

[Hiball]

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.

I Dunno Man.. I dont use Comfort grip Ratchets but I do know they are thinner at the Rear to accept the Grip. I would think if one was gonna bend/break it would happen at the Joint, Not the Rear 5". Try slipping the cheater a little further up on the Handle. LOL.. Im just messing with you. The "Tears" did look like indentations at first... with matching scars on both sides.

 

[pmohr]

I've broken the square drive off of mine, no problems since I put the new kit in. It is floppy as hell though, one of these days I'll get around to having that fixed also.

 

[Pro-Painter]

Is the handle that soft, or is the head that strong? Ive never seen a ratchet handle bend that bad and not break the pin or the ratchet mech.


BTW: How did you get C4 wheels on that car? Dose Audi share the 5x120mm GM/BMW bolt pattern or did you use adapters? Thats neat, I could not wait to get the sawblades off my 94 corvette, But they look hot on that car!

 

[HomeBrewA4]

H&R adapters. Audi is 5x112.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

it is because of that thin section under the soft grip, that i like chrome handles better. but as bad as that handle is bent it may not have made one bit of difference.

 

[bgott]

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?

 

[dwm]

Maybe it's just me, but this smells of wrong tool for the job along with some tool abuse (I assume when it got caught in the jack, about half of the vehicle's weight was on the jack?). If you've snapped off the drives more than once, you should probably be using a 1/2" drive. Can you get one in there? Already done an overnight soak in penetrant? Tried to get an IR hammerhead with a swivel impact socket in there?

I've honestly found myself using swivel head ratchets much more often than flex heads lately. Can you get one in there? You might consider asking for your warranty replacement to be a FHNF100. So far I've found the swivel heads take longer to get floppy, for what I'm guessing is multiple reasons (some of them obvious). You'll lose some leverage, but if you're muscling the heck out of the FHLF80, that might be what you need to make you think outside the box and find a better tool for the job.

 

[gatewaysysop]

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.

 

[tonydanzah]

i dont think its improper tool use, there are many time when the "right tool" won't work and you have to use what fits.

 

[shampoop]

i have the locking flex version. Have had it for about a year of hard use, no problems so far. And if i do ever manage to break it, big deal, when the snapon guy comes free replacement. Not breaking mine might be related to the fact that i also own breaker bars, air tools, and 1/2" tools.

 

[mrholeshot]

Well the one good thing you can say is the gears arn't slipping, WoW

 

[chadster1]

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.

 

[fatfillup]

This car is gonna make or break this ratchet one of these days

I think the car has won already.

 

[scooby074]

Man. you got to stop workin out Must got some guns on ya to pretzel up that ratchet like that


Chinese steel?

 

[mrholeshot]

I'm a huge fan of Snap-On just not the prices but I'll say this. I've been wrenching a long time and in that time I've seen a lot. I've never seen a Snap-On ratchet bend like that from normal use. I define nomal use and any size 3/8 drive socket and pulling with everything humanly possible on the handle without a cheater of any kind. Personally I think it looks more like it was caught up in a floor jack and a car let down on it or something of the like. I've had the drive ends break before the handle ever got a permanent bend in them. They will all flex but to bend one permanant takes more pressure than the drive can withstand. Unless somehow the heat treat furnace went out the day this one was made I have serious doubts this happened by hand. IF it did it's a fluke thing. Despite what I think of Snap-On's pricing I rarely question the quality. I'm not saying that it didn't happen the way it's descibed but years of experiance tells me to very skeptical.

 

[superautobacs]

If indeed a cheater wasn't employed, the bent tang should be the cause of a poor heat treatment during production. Or maybe it didn't even get one. Who knows....Snap-on's quality control has never been that impressive. ....but they cover that with their expertise in warranties.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

... I'm not saying that it didn't happen the way it's descibed but years of experiance tells me to very skeptical.

+1 on this comment. This is the FOURTH ratchet like this he has had a problem with???!!! I have the 1/2 and 3/8 all metal handle versions of that ratchet and there is NO way on this planet that a person could put a bend in it unless you have a cheater or you are the twin to the hulk.

I would buy try to get a bolt broken loose, hanging the ratchet on the ground and dropping the car on the jack to break it loose. That would bend the handle like that but I can not believe 4 ratchets over a period of time all have heat treating issues and no one else has seemed to have a problem with them.

It might have happened but I would have to see it....

 

[HomeBrewA4]

GeorgiaHybrid - I like how you instantly think the jack was used to break a bolt loose and the fact that I have bent 4 handles. Reading > you.. I'm not retarded. The ratchet got stuck in the jack b/c it was got dropped or laid near while working and when I was done, didnt see it and lowered the car and it got caught in there. That's not what bent the handle.... I bent this handle by trying to break a rear bolt loose on the suspension of an audi... Like I said, I had help that day and all I can say is, maybe it was laid on and I didnt see it, etc.. point is, the car was lowered and the jack caught the ratchet. It wasnt trying to break a bolt loose.

The 1 instance where I know it was my fault the square part broke. I was in a hurry and was tightening the lugs on my Audi, away from my shop and I had that with the right socket on it incase (Just put new wheels on morning before a HUGE audi/vw show) So i threw it in the car incase something came loose on the drive. I broke it on the road retightening my lugs.

The other 2 were from doing the DP like I said. If you havent been behind a ko3 in a 1.8t car, you wont understand that a 1/2" isnt fitting. My 3/8 barely fits.

The handle being marred has nothing to do with over abusive in the strength department. Most of the knulls were the jack, the piece missing, IDK i loaned it and got it back.. the bottom red plastic piece from being dropped.

Sorry I am human and use my tools and dont cry my mommy a river if i drop them. Its life. But dropping a tool isnt considered abusive if its something like a wrench and ratchet.

I wish i had gotten the all metal but i love the grip on this.. The metal under the grip appears to be REALLY small in comparative to the other end of the handle. Lets say 1/4" round or 3/8" round that the grip attaches to. Only speculating.