Long Handle 1/2" Ratchet

[Cummins_Powered]

Just wondering who has what. Looking at picking up a long handle ratchet (15"+). Tell me about yours, brand, length, tooth count. and do you like it/recommend it?


-Brett

 

[hydramatic]

I use an airwrench to zip down snug..then torque..don`t own a 1/2" drive rat..small 3/8 rat for spark plugs..

 

[wafrederick]

Snap On makes a great 24" flex head,have one at work that was purchased from the Matco dealer as a trade in for $100.00,$180.00 brand new.Works great as a breaker bar.Broke loose stubborn lug nuts with it a few times

 

[Bran Diezel]

this

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=22911&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

and this

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-half-inch-drive-25-inch-breaker-bar-30395.html

do me wonders everyday. cant recommend them enough

 

[tonydanzah]

matco or snap on

 

[Cummins_Powered]

I do have an FL80 and it is my go to ratchet, i love everything about it. Im not a huge fan of flex heads. whats the benefit in a 1/2 drive...just seems like with high torque it would flex or pivot.

 

[SCscoutguy]

To me at least you can't be a Proto 5450 16" 1/2" drive ratchet for the money.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PROT...Z180320690220QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

 

[Monte]

Hazet 916Lg

(not mine)

 

[Keep]

Wright 4494 15inches on the button. Let me find a pic

Here we go:

To answer your questions:

Yes I like it, 45 tooth double paw = 90 tooth

Smooth yet has a "positive" click to it, hard to explain.

Runs around $60 or so online, or track down trtoolsupply

 

[t100]

matco 24"

 

[Bran Diezel]

I do have an FL80 and it is my go to ratchet, i love everything about it. Im not a huge fan of flex heads. whats the benefit in a 1/2 drive...just seems like with high torque it would flex or pivot.

if i had it to do over i may get a locking flex. ive only had a prob with the flex in 1 location but it really helps to have with front suspension and caliper brackets, exhaust, motor mounts...

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Just picked up this Armstrong. Me likey!

 

[WSMC633]

I have an SLF80. Love it.
Also had a long handled CMAN 1/2" Flex. Don't like it as much.... Especially when the pin on the joint falls out under pressure.... Then I go flying. Ouch.

 

[tressler]

To me at least you can't be a Proto 5450 16" 1/2" drive ratchet for the money.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PROT...Z180320690220QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

I agree, you cannot go wrong with this well built, very sturdy ratchet. They can be had for under $20 on eBay.

 

[bmxr4life87]

I have the same matco! 88 tooth and the thinnest head which has come in very handy! It has stood up to a pipe with me hanging on it! And when that ones too big I have the 15" flex craftsman that hasn't failed me yet

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

I have a Snap-on 24" SLF80 flex head that I like a lot. Most of the time I do not bother getting a breaker bar out of the box anymore. The others are around 15" and include an SL80 Snap-on and a Matco CFR158T 88 tooth plus an older Mac from my youth.

 

[caper]

Proto,New Britain and various Snap ons.New Britain is my favorite.

 

[AustinRoepke]

I got a 15" Matco with a handle on it. I like it, but having a flexhead on it would be nice... Otherwise you need >15" clearance near the bolt without putting on an extension.

It's more like a breaker that you can ratchet-but that's fine with me. If I did it over, I'd get one with a flexhead

 

[Danglerb]

I have a 24" flex head Titan, cost about $35 shipped, works fine.

 

[lauver]

I have a GearWrench 8130, 17" flex handle, 60 tooth, cost was about $35 shipped.

Used it for two years and have really enjoyed it. No problems or issues to report. It was a bargain then and still is.

GW 3-piece flex handle sets (1/4, 3/8, 1/2) can frequently be found on sale for about $100. This is the way to go. Once you use the 1/2" drive long flex handle, you'll want the 1/4" and 3/8" versions.

 

[EZH]

I bought this one a couple of weeks ago. Check it out here >>>>> http://image.snapon.com/international/pdf/slx80_npa.pdf

Eric

 

[spazzer]

Snap-on SHLF80 with comfort grip. 1/2" drive almost 26" long. When the grip fails I'll put a hard handle on it. After the FX936 I won't get another locking ratchet.

 

[Indy_500]

just when i thought my thin profile c-man was big, holy man i got the 1/2" drive HF roto ratchet, and that thing is HUGE!

 

[Stuey]

Wera Koloss + extension. Longer than any breaker bar I've ever seen.

 

[Cummins_Powered]

Wright 4494 15inches on the button. Let me find a pic

Here we go:

To answer your questions:

Yes I like it, 45 tooth double paw = 90 tooth

Smooth yet has a "positive" click to it, hard to explain.

Runs around $60 or so online, or track down trtoolsupply

Man those Wright's look real nice.

matco 24"

That thing is freakin HUGE. very nice.

Just picked up this Armstrong. Me likey!

I have been eyeing those recently, look really nice. and seems like they can be had for cheap.

Proto,New Britain and various Snap ons.New Britain is my favorite.

Which ones are those on the left, they look pretty nice.




Awesome guys, thanks for the tips. I really want something i can haul on, somewhat of a breaker bar replacement. Some of you may have convinced me to get a flex head.

So what about tooth count, for a ratchet so big is there a huge advantage to 80tooth compared to a 36-40tooth??

 

[lwlobo]

I've got a Mac VR15. It's a stout ratchet, but fairly low tooth count. Old school, clunk, clunk type thing, not click-click-clicky.

 

[Cummins_Powered]

I've got a Mac VR15. It's a stout ratchet, but fairly low tooth count. Old school, clunk, clunk type thing, not click-click-clicky.

Do you ever wish you had a higher tooth count?

 

[lwlobo]

Do you ever wish you had a higher tooth count?

I have never had a problem. Usually when I'm using that ratchet it seems like I have plenty of room. I kind of like the clunk clunk because it sounds tougher, like it's got bigger gear teeth that are stronger. However, I expect it's not much better or worse than other quality ratchets. I've heard some people don't like Mac ratchets. This is the only one I have, and I've never had any trouble. Got mine off ebay several years ago.

 

[Tool Pants]

Have an Easco and a Williams. Both 15". Easco was $15. The Williams was $30 but came in a package with other tools. Both from the flea market.

 

[Monte]

Gedore / Klann

 

[chevy302dz]

I have the Matco 24" that a few people here displayed an it's great but my favorite 15" inch is a NOS New Britain roundhead, small head, 45 tooth and strong. I actually made a 15" 3/8 version out of a 2nd one which comes in really handy from time to time.

 

[DanCo]

I got a Matco CFR15T, its just shy of 15 inches, 60 tooth. Bought it for $40 used off the truck with new guts in the head. I love it, but I'm looking for a nice flex head version of it.

 

[mofo62]

Just picked up this Armstrong. Me likey!

Great ratchet Armstrong ...Great!!!




Greetings

 

[bmxr4life87]

I've got a Mac VR15. It's a stout ratchet, but fairly low tooth count. Old school, clunk, clunk type thing, not click-click-clicky.

i have one thats from the 70s or early 80s and i stripped the gears so i got a new set from my mac guy and a few weeks later i blew those gears apart so i replaced em and now it gets light duty use at my house because i dont trust it ive had better luck out of my craftsman 15" flex head raised panel

 

[rayzor32]

snap on slf80, and i have a shorter older armstrong, both are awesome.

 

[lipadj46]

snap on 25"

 

[DMessin]

The leverage in my box:
15" S-K 40170 and an extendable Hazet 916LG -up to 24"

 

[Rnz520]

25 inch locking flex head S80. Traded my Taiwan 24inch Mac for it, which was not a bad ratchet and never broke, but the head flopped too much. And he gave me 100 dollar trade in for it.

 

[a390st]

CMan RHFT flex. I have noticed in the last few weeks that the RHFT ratchets don't seem to be on Sears website. If they are truly gone I will be very disappointed in CMan. At least the ratchet is available from other makers.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

The SHF80 with the orange handle is my favourite.