Looking for a good ratchet, $20 to work with.

[AceofSpad3s]

Hello again, I am now looking for a good 3/8 ratchet, I got a max of $20 to work with. I am liking those new harbor freight composites but since they are so new I have not heard much about them yet.

 

[BirdMobile]

Harbor Freight 3/8 Long-Handled composite. You'll find nothing better in the price range for a new tool... around $11 with coupon.

If you want all chrome, look at Carlyle's 72 tooth 3/8 standard-length ratchet. Around $20-ish.

 

[BirdMobile]

Found the Carlyle part number - R38TD. Very nice for the price.

 

[davidfite1978]

I have one of the HF composites and it seems to be a good buy. I also got a couple nice gearwrench ratchets from advanced auto when they had a $50 off $125 coupon. Got some supplies I needed anyway and got the ratchets for almost nothing.

 

[BirdMobile]

One other option, if you want a flex ratchet instead of a fixed handle.

The Husky roto-head ratchet in 3/8 drive can be had for around $25 at Home Depot. They are rebranded Gearwrench, and are very nice. Before I got my Carlyle 100 tooth Roto ratchet (Pricey, but worth it!), the Husky was my go-to when I needed a standard-length flex-head ratchet.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I like husky and saw those, I was gonna grab one of the harbor freight rotos on clearance they went back up, I might take another look at the husky ones though.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I like that long handled composite, I might get it this weekend. Could you link the Carlyle one? I only see a repair video on napa's site. Since they are doing 20% off anything that can fit into a bucket I am gonna check it out.

 

[BirdMobile]

I like husky and saw those, I was gonna grab one of the harbor freight rotos on clearance they went back up, I might take another look at the husky ones though.

If you're still planning to grab a HF roto, do it NOW. They've been on clearance for several weeks, and are almost all gone. None left at my local HF store.

 

[BirdMobile]

I like that long handled composite, I might get it this weekend. Could you link the Carlyle one? I only see a repair video on napa's site. Since they are doing 20% off anything that can fit into a bucket I am gonna check it out.

Here's a link to the Carlyle 72 tooth teardrop 3/8 drive:

http://m.napaonline.com/parts/PartsDetail.aspx?k=CHQR38TD_0380524877

Lists for $22.50. With 20% off, you'll be within your budget.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

They were on clearance at my store but now they are off, they still had some left but at $17 was hard to justify for a harbor freight ratchet.

 

[Parrothead]

HUSKY - 72 tooth - based on the Gearwrench but with quick release - Made by Apex.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-3-8-in-Drive-Universal-Socket-Set-16-Piece-H3D16SWS/202934478

For $19.99 you get universal sockets and an extension too. The ratchet by itself if $19.99 so donate the sockets if you don't like them.

 

[Herod]

I'm not even joking....and I know there has been alot of "contoversy" over this ratchet....BUT....that Duralast 3/8 drive long handle flex head ain't bad for 20 bucks. You can always find a VatoZone parts store if it ever has warranty issues.
Rotation was a little stiff at first, but I took the pawl spring and ball out, cut 2 rounds off the spring, and I gotta tell you......butter smooth now.
It has a place in my toolbox.

 

[BirdMobile]

They were on clearance at my store but now they are off, they still had some left but at $17 was hard to justify for a harbor freight ratchet.

Yeah... I wouldn't pay full price for a HF roto. They're good, but you can't disassemble them and they have a lot of back drag. Have to soak the heads in ATF to clean/lube them... and they're still stiff afterwards. For $17, I'd rather add $8 and get the Husky roto - it's far superior.

 

[Parrothead]

If you're still planning to grab a HF roto, do it NOW. They've been on clearance for several weeks, and are almost all gone. None left at my local HF store.

I wouldn't get too concerned. The stubby's are gone, but the roto heads are just switching to red handles (or so the pictures show).

 

[panknuckshovel]

They were on clearance at my store but now they are off, they still had some left but at $17 was hard to justify for a harbor freight ratchet.

Fifty cents is hard to justify for a Harbor Freight anything.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I think I will take a closer look at that as well, I need to see what it is like compared to my knockoff sk ratchet.

 

[Boredmechanic]

+1 for carlyle

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Harbor freight has plenty of stuff that works well enough. All of the stuff I have gotten there I have liked. Automatic punch,magnetic trays 4/6 inch, mechanics gloves, $4 organizer, socket rails,all of the flashlights and stuff I got for free.

 

[zkling]

What style are you wanting? Short, long, flex, direction switch style?

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I do not really care how long it is, I don't want something short or stubby,I would like a thumb switch, I got a knockoff sk ratchet that I love but the direction switching is a hassle.

 

[BirdMobile]

I do not really care how long it is, I don't want something short or stubby,I would like a thumb switch, I got a knockoff sk ratchet that I love but the direction switching is a hassle.

I work on my own cars and rebuild Subaru engines. I find that 80% of the work I do is with a 3/8 drive non-flex 8-10" handled ratchet - usually my Carlyle R38TD or Snap On F80. Most of the rest of the time, I use my Carlyle 100 toothed roto ratchet, or a long handled ratchet of some flavor. I rarely ever use 1/2 drive... usually if something is being stubborn - then I want a long handle or long handled flex (or breaker bar).

I really like 1/4 drive when working with 10mm or smaller bolt head sizes, and 90% of the time I use a roto head with 1/4 drive - mainly for the convenience of spinning the fastener out using the handle vertically. I think Rotos really shine in 1/4 drive.

I could probably trim my ratchet set down to 5 or 6 if I really had to, i'd hold on to my Snap On F80, my Carlyle roto-heads (1/4 and 3/8), my HF composite 3/8 long-handle, and a long handled 3/8 and 1/2 drive (undecided which I'd keep). This lineup would cover 99% of what I need a ratchet for.

 

[n8n]

Another vote for HF composite, or if you want to stretch a little

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DNRPH4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

that's basically a reissue of the older, coarser tooth Snap-On ratchets.

Between the two, I'd pick the Williams for appearance and "quality" feel, and HF for function (the mechanism actually does feel better.)

 

[wild cowboy]

Harbor Freight 3/8 Long-Handled composite, and with 25% off coupon, you will have about 8 or 9 dollars back in change from your 20, and have a ratchet that some dealership technicians have abandoned their $100+ FL80's for!

 

[itsvegas]

http://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-drive-professional-flex-head-long-handle-ratchet-62333.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-drive-professional-flex-head-long-handle-ratchet-62333.html

either one of these would be under $20 with the 20-25% off.

 

[KamiCrit]

For $20 you could try Ebay and get a used Proto ratchet.

 

[bart1]

For $20 you could try Ebay and get a used Proto ratchet.

Or even...

 

[panknuckshovel]

Williams B-52EHA $23 and lower all over the web. Plus you don't end up with Harbor Freight ****.

 

[bob15]

Have you checked e-bay?

Bonney ratchets: two different ones for under $18.00

SK: almost 50 used ratchets for under twenty.

Williams: 3 or 4 used ratchets

Any of the above will last longer than any pos HF ratchet will....and be much more durable.

 

[Catamount]

I'm not even joking....and I know there has been alot of "contoversy" over this ratchet....BUT....that Duralast 3/8 drive long handle flex head ain't bad for 20 bucks. You can always find a VatoZone parts store if it ever has warranty issues.
Rotation was a little stiff at first, but I took the pawl spring and ball out, cut 2 rounds off the spring, and I gotta tell you......butter smooth now.
It has a place in my toolbox.

+1. I love mine.

 

[bbrins]

You say you like your knock-off SK, why not go for the real thing? You should have no trouble finding a nice used one on ebay including shipping and still be within your budget. If anything goes wrong with it that isn't flat out abuse, SK is really good about warrantying them, even the older ones. They are still making the same overall design after 80 years or so and still selling well, so they must be doing something right.

Another good used round head ratchet would be one of the New Britain Kilness Patent ratchets. You can find them branded as New Britain, Blackhawk, Husky, Mac, Penncraft, and a few others. The only real problem with these is that they aren't made anymore and rebuild kits, if you need one, aren't always easy to find.

 

[Farmall450]

Those Carlyles are nice...very slim!

 

[AceofSpad3s]

To be honest I am not really sure about the ratchet I got, it has the exact serial number as an sk 45170 plus it says craft on it.

 

[bbrins]

That Craft ratchet actually was made by SK, they weren't finished to the same standard as a real SK ratchet though. An SK ratchet kit will fit right in if you ever have the need, doubt that SK would warranty it though.

 

[Jacks3am]

Harbor freight composite or the professional series ratchets, good quality for a great price!

 

[1950mercury]

Yeah... I wouldn't pay full price for a HF roto. They're good, but you can't disassemble them and they have a lot of back drag. Have to soak the heads in ATF to clean/lube them... and they're still stiff afterwards. For $17, I'd rather add $8 and get the Husky roto - it's far superior.

Tbey can be disassembled someone posted a how to not to long ago

 

[BirdMobile]

Tbey can be disassembled someone posted a how to not to long ago

Can you post a link? I'd be SERIOUSLY grateful! I searched for info on how to do this, and finally gave up after people here told me it wasn't possible.

 

[skeletonizer]

I'm not even joking....and I know there has been alot of "contoversy" over this ratchet....BUT....that Duralast 3/8 drive long handle flex head ain't bad for 20 bucks. You can always find a VatoZone parts store if it ever has warranty issues.
Rotation was a little stiff at first, but I took the pawl spring and ball out, cut 2 rounds off the spring, and I gotta tell you......butter smooth now.
It has a place in my toolbox.

^^^This.

I bought mine to throw in my salvage yard box... Is now my go to rat. Love it.

 

[aaronrkelly]

The Husky roto ratchets at Home Depot were on sale for $15 each for 3/8 and 1/4 when I was in the store today - THAT is a good buy for a good ratchet.

 

[BirdMobile]

The Husky roto ratchets at Home Depot were on sale for $15 each for 3/8 and 1/4 when I was in the store today - THAT is a good buy for a good ratchet.

It is indeed. i paid full price for mine ($25 each) and feel that they were a good deal at that!

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Was craft a sk sub division? Also, sk does not need to know that it is a craft instead of a sk wink wink I think I am gonna get the new harbor freight composite and use it along with the craft one. The craft one is very nice, plus it fits in the case of my allen socket set.