Mac Tools Gearless Ratchet

[OctaneMotorsports]

I was on the Mac truck today for the first time today looking at some ratchets and he showed me one of their comfort grip gearless "zero degree" ratchets in 3/8" drive. For those of you who don't know what it is it's basically a ratchet with no teeth that's always engaged, so needs zero room to swing, and it's dead silent. I thought it was pretty cool, so I am pretty sure I am going to pick it up after I get paid next week. My question is can I use this like a normal ratchet? Or does it only handle a limited amount of torque/does it wear out fast with normal use? I would assume it is some type of clutch disc mechanism inside that I think would start to slip after a certain amount of torque. Also if anyone has or has used one of these let me know what you think. Thanks guys.

 

[l_bilyk]

that's gearless? usually gearless are push-through to change directions

 

[kartracer55]

In theory these things are STRONGER than a traditional ratchet, although anything can happen. Its called a Cam and roller type of Friction ratchet, and It has been around since at least 1935 (My copy of Ingenious mechanisms for designers and inventors is copyright 1935). Basically it has a serious of balls or rollers around a center piece, which is generally round with certain high and low spots. hard to explain, but basically it is free to move in one direction, and then as soon as you go to move it in another the balls/rollers lock between the inner and outer piece. Never used one so I cant really comment on them, but the design is pretty damn smart, and the more force you apply the tighter it SHOULD hold, but Again, Ive never used one. Id really like to get my hands on one though....

Jim

 

[chad s]

I just had one in my hand the other day. I was floored at how smooth and nice it felt, you cant get any smoother than toothless. I want one.

 

[OctaneMotorsports]

I know, I want it so bad. I was going to buy it today, but his debit machine is garbage (made in china, coincidentally).

But dang...

 

[79rallysport]

Does Proto make an equivalent ratchet?

 

[OctaneMotorsports]

Does Proto make an equivalent ratchet?

I did a quick look for you and it doesn't appear to be on the Proto website. That said, it wasn't on the Mac website either, so I'm not sure.

 

[reversegear]

I like Mac Tools, but their website is a disaster. Google ["gearless ratchet" "Mac tools"] and you can see links to the gearless ratchets on their site. Searching for "gearless" on the Mac Tools site doesn't seem to work.

Octanemotor, please give us some feedback on how you like the gearless ratchet after you've had a chance to give it a workout.

I'm curious, because about 12 years ago a Taiwanese tool designer came up with the 'Gearless wrench', a ratcheting combination wrench with an internal brake and no ratchet wheel. The original gearwrench was designed by a (also Taiwanese) competitor, and was received a lot better in the market. All anybody could figure out was that 'people like the click'. Then Danaher bought the competitor company, and the gearless wrench was history.

 

[Moltar]

Mac claims that ratchet is 150% stronger than their own standard ratchet. I have the 3/8" digital torque wrench with the gearless head. It is soooo lovely to use. I love to use it any change i can get. The only disadvantage to this ratchet is the head is quite a bit larger than a standard ratchet.

 

[MarkH]

The click is that tactile and audible feedback that the ratchet is actually doing what it is designed to do. When the head is hidden that is how I always know there is still enough resistance to still move back and take the next stroke vs just moving a loose nut back and forth. This is why to this date, I have never found any gearless designs of ratchets or ratcheting wrenches that have made it into anything but a seldom used tool for the spot I cannot get a swing in the tool collection.

May sound simple, but it surprises me how often inventors or companies forget little things like that. So it will be interesting from someone who knows it this a better mousetrap or will be another one building dust in a secondary toolbox.

 

[Buck_nekid]

Me and my buddy broke loose a damper bolt in a ls1 with a 8 foot pipe on the end of one and it was a no name 1/2" And for those that don't know THAT BOLT IS TIGHT! It showed no signs of giving up. I know he uses it alot and it hasn't 'loosened' up yet. Just my $0.02

 

[Vicegrip]

I like Mac Tools, but their website is a disaster. Google ["gearless ratchet" "Mac tools"] and you can see links to the gearless ratchets on their site. Searching for "gearless" on the Mac Tools site doesn't seem to work.

Octanemotor, please give us some feedback on how you like the gearless ratchet after you've had a chance to give it a workout.

I'm curious, because about 12 years ago a Taiwanese tool designer came up with the 'Gearless wrench', a ratcheting combination wrench with an internal brake and no ratchet wheel. The original gearwrench was designed by a (also Taiwanese) competitor, and was received a lot better in the market. All anybody could figure out was that 'people like the click'. Then Danaher bought the competitor company, and the gearless wrench was history.

i remember reading up on a set of gearless wrenches and was floored by the price at the time. When I saw the now common gear-wrench I was excited to get a set but when in hand bummed that they were only ratchets with the "click" rather than ramp and roller one way bearings.

 

[jdp993]

I have two of the Mac gearless ratchets, 1/4 and 3/8 drive. In general they are good but I have noticed that when you're flipping the handle back and forth quickly the direction selection will sometimes switch. I am not sure what causes this maybe just drag in the mechanism. It is irratating when it happens.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Me and my buddy broke loose a damper bolt in a ls1 with a 8 foot pipe on the end of one and it was a no name 1/2" And for those that don't know THAT BOLT IS TIGHT! It showed no signs of giving up. I know he uses it alot and it hasn't 'loosened' up yet. Just my $0.02

I would love to know how you guys fixed that little mistake!

 

[Rickster]

Its called a Cam and roller type of Friction ratchet, and It has been around since at least 1935 (My copy of Ingenious mechanisms for designers and inventors is copyright 1935). Basically it has a serious of balls or rollers around a center piece, which is generally round with certain high and low spots. hard to explain, but basically it is free to move in one direction, and then as soon as you go to move it in another the balls/rollers lock between the inner and outer piece. Jim

Thats exactly the mechanism used on my Toro lawn mowers rear drive wheels. I had to replace one when one wheel wouldn't engage and I took it apart and found this style of bearing with needle rollers that would lock up when the drive motor engaged but release when you pulled back on the handle. Durability-wise I had that mower over 25 years and went through three sets of wheels before I had to replace one drive axle bearing.

 

[Buck_nekid]

I would love to know how you guys fixed that little mistake!

No, BROKE LOOSE, not Broke.

*EDIT* I reread my first post in this thread, I meant ON a LS1, not IN a LS1

 

[Junkman]

I like Mac Tools, but their website is a disaster. Google ["gearless ratchet" "Mac tools"] and you can see links to the gearless ratchets on their site. Searching for "gearless" on the Mac Tools site doesn't seem to work.

Octanemotor, please give us some feedback on how you like the gearless ratchet after you've had a chance to give it a workout.

I'm curious, because about 12 years ago a Taiwanese tool designer came up with the 'Gearless wrench', a ratcheting combination wrench with an internal brake and no ratchet wheel. The original gearwrench was designed by a (also Taiwanese) competitor, and was received a lot better in the market. All anybody could figure out was that 'people like the click'. Then Danaher bought the competitor company, and the gearless wrench was history.

The original idea and design for the gear wrench was invented by fellow in MA while a student at University of Massachusetts in the early 1970's for a business project. He had to design a item and then do a business plan to bring the item from conception, marketing, and to final distribution. He came up with the idea many years before and it fit into the assignment well, so he used it. Unfortunately, he never went beyond the description of the design of the tool and how it works. He never built a prototype nor sought to patent his idea. He has no idea of how his idea got to the market place, but has a suspicion that the instructor at the University picked it up as his own and moved forward with it.