Low Profile Ratchet Recommendations in 1/2

[YoshiMoshi3]

I'm looking for a low profile 1/2 drive ratchet. Can someone please recommend one and include the thickness of the head (not including the square anvil)? So far I've seen

Tekton SRH22214, .7 inch (17.78 mm) thick head

Capri Tools 12500C, .69 inch (17.526 mm) thick head

I see a lot of ratchets that claim to be low profile but very few that specify the thickness of the head (not the width). Meaning from the back of the ratchet head that is flat, to the other flat portion on the front of the ratchet that is on the same side as the square anvil. So I'm hoping people on hear can post the lowest Profile Ratchet that they have in 1/2, and include the thickness of the head (not including the thickness of the square anvil).

My current 1/2 ratchet is to thick in the head to remove a fastener on the front of my engine. Need 1/2. 3/8 sockets I have are not long enough. Need a 14 mm 6 point that is between 38 mm and 30 mm. My 30 mm in length 14 mm socket is 3/8 drive and can't get ratchet on it behind the pulley. My 38 mm long 14 mm socket is 1/2 drive and appears to be good length but my current ratchet is to thick at about 24 mm. My 1/2 braker bar is even thicker.

My current 1/2 is some no name brand Chinese made I got off Amazon.

Thanks!

 

[decableguy2000]

Mid length 14mm 3/8 socket an option?

 

[CGarage]

Gearwrench 90T is thin in my book…..

 

[YoshiMoshi3]

Mid length 14mm 3/8 socket an option?

I couldn't find one from a manufacture that was between 30 mm and 38 mm. But Tekton 3/8 mini extension and snap on low profile 14 mm 3/8 (smallest one known to exist) would pit me at 34 mm about

Gearwrench 90T is thin in my book…..

Thank you for the recommendation. Can you measure the thickness of the head?

 

[shibertus]

Another option could be a deep offset wrench. I measured the Stahlwille's I have and it looks like they would work for a bolt recessed at 30mm depth.

 

[YoshiMoshi3]

I checked home Depot and they had gear wrench 90T and it was about 16 mm in overall head thickness so I got it. All husky ones they sold were thicker. I'll check other places too and report back.

 

[four.cycle]

there was some discussion in another thread about ratchet head thickness, and the S-K "LP90" models were suggested.
this ebay seller just listed a few a couple days ago.
YMMV

 

[CGarage]

81361T 1/2" Drive 90-Tooth Long Handle Dual Material Teardrop Ratchet 16-1/2" - Gearwrench

Count on GEARWRENCH to get the job done. Get the 81361T 1/2" Drive 90-Tooth Long Handle Dual Material Teardrop Ratchet 16-1/2" here.

www.gearwrench.com

I have the locking flex head version. I like the GW 90T and 84T locking flex heads.

The specifications tab in the above link shows dimensions.

 

[YoshiMoshi3]

Tractor supply didn't have anything close to the GW

Lowe's had a Kobalt one that was only slightly thicker but was super long

Lowe's also had a Craftsman one that was shorter in length that looked identical in thickness but it had a quick release button that most likely added a slight bit of thickness to the head otherwise, but other than that seemed almost identical in thickness besides the button.

Walmart didn't have anything close to the GW

 

[YoshiMoshi3]

81361T 1/2" Drive 90-Tooth Long Handle Dual Material Teardrop Ratchet 16-1/2" - Gearwrench

Count on GEARWRENCH to get the job done. Get the 81361T 1/2" Drive 90-Tooth Long Handle Dual Material Teardrop Ratchet 16-1/2" here.

www.gearwrench.com

I have the locking flex head version. I like the GW 90T and 84T locking flex heads.

The specifications tab in the above link shows dimensions.

Yea they list head width but not head thickness, which is silly

But it's slightly less than 16 mm for the GW 90T non flex head

 

[YoshiMoshi3]

there was some discussion in another thread about ratchet head thickness, and the S-K "LP90" models were suggested.
this ebay seller just listed a few a couple days ago.
YMMV

Thanks. I can't find the thickness of this one.

 

[four.cycle]

brief discussion here but no measurements cited

 

[General Geoff]

Need a 14 mm 6 point that is between 38 mm and 30 mm.

Koken 3300XZ-14. 35mm overall length.

 

[YoshiMoshi3]

Koken 3300XZ-14. 35mm overall length.

Thanks for pointing this out! Don't know how I missed that one! Will try this if low profile half inch ratchet doesn't work

 

[YoshiMoshi3]

O Riley didn't have a thinner then GW 90T ratchet
AutoZone didn't either
Nor did advance auto
Harbor Freight looked to have a knock off of the GW 90T that looked nearly identical except for the groves under the on off switch. I compared the two and thought maybe the Harbor Freight one was maybe slightly thicker (perhaps from cheaper metal or worse tolerance on the thickness). It was a Quinn Ratchet. Decided it wasn't worth getting to save the $12.

None of the stores had a 3/8 drive 14 mm socket that was in-between 30 mm and 38 mm in overall length or a 1/2 drive 14 mm socket that was smaller than 38 mm in overall length or greater than 30 mm.

I think the GW 90T might be the shallowest 1/2 ratchet. Sure Koken or Snap On or Matco or Mac might have something shallower, but the head thickness isn't published. So except for someone measuring one of their low profile ratchets, or going on the tool truck myself. GW 90T is shallowest I know of.

I might check NAPA on Monday. Will keep the GW 90T in my car and next time I see a tool truck go on it and see if they have something shallower

 

[vssjim]

O Riley didn't have a thinner then GW 90T ratchet
AutoZone didn't either
Nor did advance auto
Harbor Freight looked to have a knock off of the GW 90T that looked nearly identical except for the groves under the on off switch. I compared the two and thought maybe the Harbor Freight one was maybe slightly thicker (perhaps from cheaper metal or worse tolerance on the thickness). It was a Quinn Ratchet. Decided it wasn't worth getting to save the $12.

None of the stores had a 3/8 drive 14 mm socket that was in-between 30 mm and 38 mm in overall length or a 1/2 drive 14 mm socket that was smaller than 38 mm in overall length or greater than 30 mm.

I think the GW 90T might be the shallowest 1/2 ratchet. Sure Koken or Snap On or Matco or Mac might have something shallower, but the head thickness isn't published. So except for someone measuring one of their low profile ratchets, or going on the tool truck myself. GW 90T is shallowest I know of.

I might check NAPA on Monday. Will keep the GW 90T in my car and next time I see a tool truck go on it and see if they have something shallower

Snap On heads are thick that GW 90 tooth is very thin

 

[Dave455]

KoKen offer different ratchets in 1/2” drive.

The 4749 series are the low profile ones. 18mm thick, compared to I think about 24 for the regular one.



As for the socket, KoKen have you covered there too. Regular 1/2” socket is 37mm. No need to buy Z Series.

 

[Dave455]

As “general advice”, if I’ve got a ”problem” job that needs a specific tool to solve I find myself looking at about 4 or 5 manufacturers constantly.

Snap On - huge range of tools including many “specials”. They all work. Sometimes you just have to pay up.

KoKen - Another huge range and first choice for unusual sockets . Increasingly my “go to”.

Hazet - good range of regular tools, and OEM for many specialist tools for German vehicles.

Facom - all manner of less common wrenches, and tools for difficult access.

Sykes Pickavant. Supply a lot of specialist tools to the trade. Some are imported, but many are British made, and some the “best in class” - e.g. injector seal puller.

 

[Steve_P]

Gearwrench does list the head thickness in the specification table, at least for the 90T ratchets. I haven't checked every model...

I bought a ton of ratchets in the last few years to modernize my collection with thin head, high tooth designs. The Gearwrench 90T, Matco 88, and Tekton have the thinnest heads of what I have; and I believe they are the thinnest of the major brands- there may be something else out there that's equal. Capri 90T and Snap On dual 80/72 are thicker. I only briefly had an LP 90 3/8 drive, and the head on it was slightly thicker than the "thin three", and ~.08" thicker when you include the direction lever into the thickness. The new Snap On 100T 3/8 ratchets look like they will have about the same thickness as the thin three that I listed. In 1/4 and 3/8, Tekton heads are .02-.04" thicker than GW 90T and Matco 88; but when you include the direction lever, they are equal with the thinnest.

 

[Etchase]

Proto 5449 is 0.66 inch thick. Gearwrench spec is .64 inch. Not sure what that includes. My lowest profile 1/2 ratchet is a proto 1/2 anvils in a 3/8 drive at 0.50 inches. You need to assemble that from a torque wrench repair kit and a 3/8 ratchet.

 

[four.cycle]

Let me submit:
It's time somebody starts a thread for "how thick is the head on this ratchet?" with PHOTOS and accurate measurements.
I'll get to it later if nobody else does, but bear in mind all my **** is antique so it's not going to be of use to a lot of you other than as a point of reference.

I don't know how to use "Excel" but this is something that should be on a spreadsheet for future use.
BK

 

[YoshiMoshi3]

Let me submit:
It's time somebody starts a thread for "how thick is the head on this ratchet?" with PHOTOS and accurate measurements.
I'll get to it later if nobody else does, but bear in mind all my **** is antique so it's not going to be of use to a lot of you other than as a point of reference.

I don't know how to use "Excel" but this is something that should be on a spreadsheet for future use.
BK

Great idea. I did something similar with my socket length database. I'll bump that up.

Proto 5449 is 0.66 inch thick. Gearwrench spec is .64 inch. Not sure what that includes. My lowest profile 1/2 ratchet is a proto 1/2 anvils in a 3/8 drive at 0.50 inches. You need to assemble that from a torque wrench repair kit and a 3/8 ratchet.

Thanks not sure I missed that. Just in case anyone was wondering. I went into a NAPA and they did not have a 1/2 ratchet that was thinner than the GW 90T. Nor a 14 mm socket that is in-between 30 mm and 38 mm

 

[YoshiMoshi3]

If anyone is curious.

Matco and Mac, said the head thickness for their ratches is not available and couldn't tell me what is their lowest profile one.
Snap on said that they don't sell low profile ratches in 1/2 drive, but that their 1/2 ratches are 3/4 inch in head thickness

The gearwrench 90T 1/2 ratchet, .64 inches is for the head thickness only
By the time you include the square anvil you get 1.3 inches, so the square anvil is 1.3-.64 = 0.66 inches
The direction switch plus the head thickness is .73 inches, so the switch is .73-.64 = 0.09 inches

switch + head thickness + square anvil is = .64 + 0.66 + 0.09 = 1.39 inches = 35.306 mm

I was convinced that the GW 90T was the lowest profile 1/2 drive ratchet

But then I found Tone


RH4FCHS, RH4CH have an overall tool height of 29.5 mm, and I believe to be the lowest profile 1/2 ratchet. It even includes a quick release button lol. So it is approximately 5.806 mm slimmer than the GW 90T or about 16.5 % slimmer.

But at 227 mm in overall length for the long one, it is only 8.93701 inches long vs the GW one that is 16.5 inches long.

The warning "Do not apply excessive force on compact head" would make scared to use a cheater bar on it.

But if anyone can find a smaller 1/2 ratchet than the Tone, please let me know. It's the lowest overall profile I know of.

 

[General Geoff]

The warning "Do not apply excessive force on compact head" would make scared to use a cheater bar on it.

Kinda defeats the purpose of 1/2" drive over far more compact and slim 3/8" drive ratchets.

Koken's Zeal 1/2" ratchets have an overall (including anvil) thickness of 32.8mm and should be capable of full 1/2" drive torque (200+ ft lbs)

 

[Etchase]

The proto 1/2 in a 3/8 body is 30.7 mm including the anvil. A mm or so of the anvil is just lead in chamfer and could be removed. One of those super low profile sockets by Husky, Icon, Sunes, Astro and others, with a hex head you use with a 22 mm ratcheting wrench, would be a much lower profile then any ratchet plus socket solution.

 

[AJHD]

Surprised no one mentioned Astro...

Nano Ratchet - 1/2" Drive Head In 3/8" Ratchet Body | Astro Pneumatic Tools

A 1/2" drive ratchet in 3/8" ratchet size format The Nano 1/2" head is 45% the size of the most popular 1/2" competition and the same si ...

www.astrotools.com

Combine with an Astro low profile 1/2" socket.

If you go the Astro low profile socket route, you could use this instead of a ratchet...

Extra-Long Flex Head Nano Socket Ratchet Wrench | Astro Pneumatic Tools

• Designed to work with and retain Astro Nano style stubby impact sockets for a full working height of just 0.88” • Extra long 18” length for accessing toug ...

www.astrotools.com

 

[Steve_P]

If anyone is curious.

Matco and Mac, said the head thickness for their ratches is not available and couldn't tell me what is their lowest profile one.
Snap on said that they don't sell low profile ratches in 1/2 drive, but that their 1/2 ratches are 3/4 inch in head thickness

The gearwrench 90T 1/2 ratchet, .64 inches is for the head thickness only
By the time you include the square anvil you get 1.3 inches, so the square anvil is 1.3-.64 = 0.66 inches
The direction switch plus the head thickness is .73 inches, so the switch is .73-.64 = 0.09 inches

switch + head thickness + square anvil is = .64 + 0.66 + 0.09 = 1.39 inches = 35.306 mm

I was convinced that the GW 90T was the lowest profile 1/2 drive ratchet

But then I found Tone


RH4FCHS, RH4CH have an overall tool height of 29.5 mm, and I believe to be the lowest profile 1/2 ratchet. It even includes a quick release button lol. So it is approximately 5.806 mm slimmer than the GW 90T or about 16.5 % slimmer.

But at 227 mm in overall length for the long one, it is only 8.93701 inches long vs the GW one that is 16.5 inches long.

The warning "Do not apply excessive force on compact head" would make scared to use a cheater bar on it.

But if anyone can find a smaller 1/2 ratchet than the Tone, please let me know. It's the lowest overall profile I know of.

There's no way I'd trust that 1/2 Tone ratchet to hold up to even reasonable force; the head width at 26.5mm is smaller than the Matco 88, GW 90, Tekton 90, SK LP90, Snap On Dual 80... in 3/8 drive.
Edit- the 1/4" head width is ~.91-.97" for those brands
Oh, The Tone is only ~9" long, which is pretty useless in a 1/2 ratchet

 

[Steve_P]

The 1/2 drive in a 3/8 body discussion is valid, but is also kinda moving the goal posts. I/2" drive ratchets are going to naturally be larger so that they can handle the necessary torque, so it's not apples to apples. I swapped a 3/8 conversion into a Tekton 1/4 ratchet and there's no way that it's going to take the normal 3/8 drive ratchet's torque- that's not the purpose; I use it for tap sockets.

If we just want to focus on head size, you can use a 3/8" long Matco, GW.... ratchet and a 3/8 socket, or hell, even a 1/4 ratchet for this job, if we want to just focus on head size, since he's only using a 14mm socket. Then juggle socket depths and extension lengths to get 30-38 mm length

So, do we need 1/2" drive strength or not? With a 14mm fastener head, 3/8 should be plenty, unless it's something crazy.

Edit- since you've already bought the GW ratchet, I guess it's kinda pointless...

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

I'm following this thread, 1/2" drive ratchet head thickness hasn't been an issue for me (now width on the other hand...) but you've got me curious. My thinnest is a Hazet 916k at 32.5 mm including selector switch. It's a 1/2" in 3/8" body but rated for 300 nm. Another interesting one was the Top RH-4S handy ratchet at 35 mm thick. The head is a lot wider than the Hazet but it's full strength 1/2" drive and rated for 588 nm. The handle is about 5" long and has a female square drive you can use to lengthen it either straight or at an angle. I just use it as a stubby to help speed things out once broken loose where my air ratchet won't fit.

 

[Zewnten]

My matco head thickeness is about 1/2-5/8. One of the thinnest out there and very strong. Or use a breaker bar to break it free then whatever you want to spin it out.

 

[CGarage]

Surprised no one mentioned Astro...

Nano Ratchet - 1/2" Drive Head In 3/8" Ratchet Body | Astro Pneumatic Tools

A 1/2" drive ratchet in 3/8" ratchet size format The Nano 1/2" head is 45% the size of the most popular 1/2" competition and the same si ...

www.astrotools.com

Combine with an Astro low profile 1/2" socket.

If you go the Astro low profile socket route, you could use this instead of a ratchet...

Extra-Long Flex Head Nano Socket Ratchet Wrench | Astro Pneumatic Tools

• Designed to work with and retain Astro Nano style stubby impact sockets for a full working height of just 0.88” • Extra long 18” length for accessing toug ...

www.astrotools.com

Good find! I didn’t know they made a 1/2“ anvil in 3/8” body!!!

 

[Notwerk]

There's no way I'd trust that 1/2 Tone ratchet to hold up to even reasonable force; the head width at 26.5mm is smaller than the Matco 88, GW 90, Tekton 90, SK LP90, Snap On Dual 80... in 3/8 drive.
Edit- the 1/4" head width is ~.91-.97" for those brands
Oh, The Tone is only ~9" long, which is pretty useless in a 1/2 ratchet

Those Tone ratchets were also badged as Blackhawk by Proto ratchets. I have a set. They're pretty damn nice. I've read that they're also rebadged under the Toughbuilt and Carlyle by NAPA brands. Just did my brake pads with them, actually.

The Tone price tag is a big exaggerated. Blackhawk no longer exists and those ratchet sets are easy to find as NOS on eBay for a fraction of their original price.

 

[AJHD]

Those Tone ratchets were also badged as Blackhawk by Proto ratchets. I have a set. They're pretty damn nice. I've read that they're also rebadged under the Toughbuilt and Carlyle by NAPA brands. Just did my brake pads with them, actually.

The Tone price tag is a big exaggerated. Blackhawk no longer exists and those ratchet sets are easy to find as NOS on eBay for a fraction of their original price.

Really? Was that before Proto was acquired by SBD?

I find it interesting Proto would rebadge made in Japan rarchets seeing as they made their own ratchets. But maybe that explains why it was under Blackhawk. I haven't bothered to look for any NOS to see the similarities.

I find it hard to believe ToughBuilt and Carlyle would rebadge them.

If memory serves correct, I've read that not all Tone tools are made in Japan, some being made in China or Taiwan. But I don't know how much truth there is to that.

 

[CGarage]

I find it hard to believe, also.

I have some Tone items laser marked “Japan” and some that are from Taiwan as per the packaging and the tool itself is not marked.

 

[KnurledNut]

I believe @Notwerk is referring to the Powerbuilt Pro Tech ratchets.
When the Pro Techs first came out they were sleeper ratchets. Few knew about them with little marketing, the original prices were incredibly reasonable, and the quality was top notch. Excellent line. I have several. The 1/4 drive 9” QR flex is sweet.

 

[M635_Guy]

Let me submit:
It's time somebody starts a thread for "how thick is the head on this ratchet?" with PHOTOS and accurate measurements.
I'll get to it later if nobody else does, but bear in mind all my **** is antique so it's not going to be of use to a lot of you other than as a point of reference.

I don't know how to use "Excel" but this is something that should be on a spreadsheet for future use.
BK

I'm getting ready to do something like that with 3/8" stuff on my little YT channel. I have so many ratchets and socket sets that I wanted to compare brand-on-brand (e.g. Ko-ken ratchet with Ko-ken sockets, etc. w/ Ko-ken, Tekton, SK, Snap On, Icon and Sunex). I'm going to have to break it up though - too many things to put in 1 video. Here's my initial measurements:

(I don't own Matco or Carlyle sockets, so they won't get the full whatever)

For me, it seems a lot easier to have socket sets that match the height requirements - the differences between the ratchets are relatively small, where the difference between sockets can be huge. For example:


I don't own a mid-length socket set - my Tekton sorta acts as those now. Until the Ko-ken set arrived my Icon set was effectively my super-shallow set.

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

One other variable here is how far down the detent ball is located on the drive stud. This controls how much a socket sticks out from the ratchet more than the overall length of the drive stud does. The end of the drive stud is just sticking into empty space in the middle of the socket.

 

[M635_Guy]

One other variable here is how far down the detent ball is located on the drive stud. This controls how much a socket sticks out from the ratchet more than the overall length of the drive stud does. The end of the drive stud is just sticking into empty space in the middle of the socket.

That's kinda what sent me down this rabbit-hole. I wondered if sockets of the same brand were more "designed for" their own ratchets (Ko-Ken sorta implies that they do)

 

[rust in the eye]

Lots of discussion about various tools, as we're prone to do here, but have you considered if there is room to back out this bolt?
If you can barely get the tools in place behind the obstruction you will trap them as soon as you begin loosening the bolt.
I'm envisioning a water pump bolt buried behind a pulley or a similar scenario. Why not remove the obstruction?
Having said all that a hex adapter on a short socket might be the ticket, at least you won't trap your fancy new ratchet in place.
Also, why 1/2" drive? A 14mm bolt head is ostensibly attached to an M8 bolt which barring big corossion ought to be loosened with smaller tools.

 

[four.cycle]

@M635_Guy -
RE: dimensions of ratchet head overall height:

I would think that including the overall height (including any additional height caused by the design of the selector switch) would be the one you'd want to go by - you're not going to get the head of the ratchet into a hole without the selector knob/lever.

example:
Indestro 3275 1/2" ratchet selector knob adds 15/64" to the overall height.

Thorsen 77C not so much. New Britain Kilness-patent models vary because of the QR models.

Granted, these are antiques at this point in time, but as a point of reference should be included. There may or may not be contemporary models on which this is an issue - it looks like most of the current manufacturers have designed a recess in the back of the head into which the selector lever lies flush with the top surface of the ratchet head.

This is me being my usual pedant self - just wanting some "standard" of measurement here.