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looking for a good 1/4 ratchet

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bayoutoolguy

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Sep 17, 2011
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Golden Meadow, Louisiana
who makes a good quality, slim profile ratchet, with a long handle for a good price? main use will be for taking out the back bolt near the firewall on the turbo on a 6.0 powerstroke diesel, not much clearance so i need one that is slim but also one that i can put a little bit of force on without worry of breaking. i would go with snap on or matco, but the last two ratchets i have bought from them i have been highly dissapointed. the matco 3/8 i have been having for a month, has been kept in my toolbox since day one, never exposed to any moisture, and the drive is completely rusty. those with a Snap On F80 ratchet, how do you like them? bought one the other day, went to use it and its rough, seems like it needs to be lubed. cant believe it, its brand new.
 
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purplezr2

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Central MN
My F80 is butter smooth, my T72 catchs and is rough occasionally.

I would try a TL72.

I also love my matcos, no issue with rust in Humid MN>
 
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canuckian

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East coast of Canaaada
For a regular 1/4 ratchet I like my Matco in tight spots. The head is a little slimmer than other regular 1/4 ratchets. Also have the snap on low profile sets and though nice, the handle isn't much to hold onto.
 
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Seanbev24

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Lynnwood, Wa
I have a few 1/4" Snap-On ratchets, but the TL72 is my most used and I have no complaints. I've put a LOT of force on it without any issues.
 
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DARKSCOPE001

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May 4, 2009
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Pickerington Oh
I like my Craftsman premium grade for now (as long as they keep it us made but at the rate cman is going its looking bleak) Most of the guys I work with that care enough about tools to buy half way decent ones. Buy snappy. I have used a few borrowed a few snappy ratchets and boy do they feel slick. I really like locking flex If I had the money I would rebuy all my ratchets from snapon with locking flex.

Just my $0.02
Sean Scott
 
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bayoutoolguy

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Golden Meadow, Louisiana
alright thanks guys, ill take a look at the matco and snap on, ill give them a try, hopefully with better luck this time. i have the 1/4 duralast but not the flex head, too short to put any force on in the space i need to get the bolt out.
 
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JASTECH

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Oct 21, 2009
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Gering, NE
I have 2 sets of Craftsman 1/4" in those grey cases, I "Had" the Mac set with deep, shallow, exts (3) nut driver and universal. The Mac set was stolen buy my uncle and pawned is what I was told. The only 1/4" rachet I like now is a Proto. I did havw the SO 1/4" set in the little red metal clam. I miss that Mac set, used it a lot with my Snap-On tune-up kit with 5 dbl wrenches, ss and brass feeler gauges, mix screw adjuster all rolled up in a red plastic case. You remember them?

Thanks, JASTECH
 
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Seanbev24

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bayoutoolguy said:
sean, snap on does make a 0 offset for the particular bolt im talking about, but i find it easier to go from the top with a ratchet, but i may have to try out that 0 offset wrench.


http://image.snapon.com/international/pdf/pswt10k.pdf
Click to expand...

How much space do you have lengthwise to get at this bolt? I see the specific wrench is only 5.5" long. For the O offset wrenches, the 8-10mm is over 9" long so you'd have much more leverage, plus it would be more useful for more than this one application.

If a long 1/4" ratchet would be best, you can't go wrong with Snap-On or Matco it's just personal preference.
 
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Danglerb

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That is the sort of thing I am getting the deep spline ratcheting box ends for.
 
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Skin

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darkzero

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GoBlue said:
http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/AFR88T/1-4-8IN-88TH-RATCHET/

Best money can buy
Click to expand...

I have the 5" version. When I first saw these pop up on my Matco truck I didn't hesitate to buy one. Served me well for many years. I love it so much I had to pick up the fine tooth 3/8" version too.

2nd & 3rd from the bottom.
Img_5191.jpg
 
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diesel research

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Sep 12, 2010
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gulf coast, TEXAS
Skin said:
Wouldnt it make more sense to get something like a long double box ratcheting wrench instead of that?

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...=34552&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all
Click to expand...


I do see an advantage that the wrench is designed with 6pt.

Keeping in mind that it's task is related to specific (rusty) exhaust bolts...

Perhaps simply running the engine hard could heat them up enough to do the candle trick w/o a torch, but then again, the risk of burning the $#!t out of yourself on a hot turbo also increases immensely.

I don't work on power strokes but seem to recall the turbo is back up against the firewall? I thought it was a cab-off job? Or is that wrench supposed to prevent that?
 
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byoungblood

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Apr 6, 2011
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Berryville, VA
I like the Craftsman premium, Proto pear head and SK 1/4" drive ratchets. I also have one of the 40s era Snap On Midget ratchets that is TINY compared to the rest, making it rather useful in a confined space.
 
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bayoutoolguy

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Golden Meadow, Louisiana
diesel research, the turbo on a 6.0 stroker is easily removable with the cab on, so are the injectors. cab pulling is only necessary to pull the heads and to do the ARP head studs, EGR delete etc. its all possible with thr cab on but with it off it makes it 10 times easier.
 
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fivespdcat

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Subyroo651 said:
I would second this ^
Just as good as the Matco with slightly less teeth but cheaper as well.
Armstrong Maxx 10-992 (5-7/16")
0243410_hr4c.jpg

Armstrong Maxx 10-994 (6-1/4") I own this one and will most likely buy a couple more. :thumbup:
0243414_hr4c.jpg
Click to expand...

+2 the Armstrong Maxx ratchets are awesome, especially at the price point!
 
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pipsters

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Is it just me or do those Armstrongs look exactly like the old Kobalts? I wonder if you could swap the internals.
 
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fivespdcat

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I believe armstrong made some of the old kobalts. However, the Kobalts are quick release and therefore can't be used in a non quick release ratchets....
 
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DonkDonk

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Norman, OK
Subyroo651 said:
I would second this ^
Just as good as the Matco with slightly less teeth but cheaper as well.
Armstrong Maxx 10-992 (5-7/16")
0243410_hr4c.jpg

Armstrong Maxx 10-994 (6-1/4") I own this one and will most likely buy a couple more. :thumbup:
0243414_hr4c.jpg
Click to expand...

Those are fine ratchets, but miss the point of what the OP was asking. What makes the long Matco awesome is that it is long & fine tooth, 2 things the Armstrong does not have and are the 2 things that make life easier when you are working in a hard to reach area, which is what the OP needs.

On a side note the Snap-On TL72 is 6 1/2" long, the Matco AFR88T is 8" long, and the Matco AFR88TM with the ergonomic handle is even longer at 9" overall length which is why I think it is the best 1/4" ratchet made. I have both the Matco & Snap-On ratchets.

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/AFR88TM/1-4-8IN-88TH-RATCHET-ORANGE/
 
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Gtamazing

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Oct 4, 2010
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Fort Erie On.
I just put 88 tooth matco kits in my Armstrongs. If you can find the Maxx ratchet online cheaply and put the 88 tooth kit you have a very nice ratchet at a down right bargain.
 
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GoBlue

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Under a car...swearing
DonkDonk said:
Those are fine ratchets, but miss the point of what the OP was asking. What makes the long Matco awesome is that it is long & fine tooth, 2 things the Armstrong does not have and are the 2 things that make life easier when you are working in a hard to reach area, which is what the OP needs.

On a side note the Snap-On TL72 is 6 1/2" long, the Matco AFR88T is 8" long, and the Matco AFR88TM with the ergonomic handle is even longer at 9" overall length which is why I think it is the best 1/4" ratchet made. I have both the Matco & Snap-On ratchets.

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/AFR88TM/1-4-8IN-88TH-RATCHET-ORANGE/
Click to expand...


It really is for more than just hard to reach. When is the last time you really said..."damn...i wish i didnt have so much leverage so i could struggle harder"?
 
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