Matco AR6F 1/4 in flex head ratchet

[davestlouis]

https://goo.io/KKQVMl

I located a Matco ratchet on CL, reportedly the model # is the one in the thread title. The pic on CL is awful...and I did an online search and didn't find anything. It looks like a round head Wright with a contoured handle...can anybody shed some light on this?

 

[seetherfiend]

I bought mine in 1989 when I was drilling in South Dakota. Yes, it was made by Wright. AR6F. It has 5 head positions and may be the biggest P.O.S. I ever bought. It turned maybe, MAYBE, 5 - 5/16 underdash upholstery screws before it stripped. Got it fixed, lasted about 20 minutes the next time. Third time's the charm they say, well they say wrong. It did, however, last almost a week on that rebuild. I got the Matco man to do it again and he said 'Just what are you doing to this thing?' 'Nothing, you try.' So after that rebuild he came into the shop and we put it to work on a shifter assembly. When it gave out that time he apologized. He gave me a brandnew one which I gave to my Dad to use and I bought a Snap On. The SO has never failed. My Dad cusses me for the Matco. It sets in the bottom of the drawer because it constantly locks up and seizes. He gave up on it. They dropped that style not much later. STAY AWAY from it!!! Go get a Snap On. It is money well spent and more importantly, sanity kept!! Good luck, Glenn

 

[davestlouis]

I like oddball ratchets, but if they don't work right they are of no use to me. Anybody else with any information or observations about this model?

 

[krusty the clown]

i have said before that the wright made ratchets were high warranty items when i was a dealer but i don't remember having issues as bad as seetherfiend's. that being said, if you can get it cheap it may be worth a shot. if it doesn't hold up MATCO should replace it with a current model.

 

[Merkava_4]

Anybody else with any information or observations about this model?

I'll go look it up in my Wright and Matco catalogs when I can get to them.

 

[seetherfiend]

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu80/seetherfiend/matco14swivrat004.jpg





http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu80/seetherfiend/matco14swivrat001.jpg






I'm trying to put the photos right on here but not having much luck. First attempt at that, sorry. But there's links to 2 pictures of it. That one was bought in fall of '89. I bought a few other things from the Matco man and had much better success with them. After that summer/fall of various other brands, I never strayed from SO again and I've been happy ever since.

 

[billymade]

I had one and didn't like it; I sold it to a co-worker! The main issue was the direction was problematic to change; it was a two hand operation. Mine was very similar to this one but was Matco badged: http://www.restockit.com/Ratchet-11...e=froogle&Bvar5=100F1&Bvar6=100F1&Bvar7=100F1
My Matco/Wright sockets on the other hand; were excellent and I didn't have any problems with them, the quality of the sockets seem excellent!

 

[krusty the clown]

 

[Merkava_4]

seetherfiend,

Put a

at the end of the link.

 

[seetherfiend]

Thanks Krusty. Were you a Matco dealer in the '80s? If so, do you know who built their 'Matco Magnum' striking prybars? Not their regular pbs, but really, really tough ones. I have never ever seen any others like them. Now they were high-quality! I would love to get some for my son to have when he's older. Thanks, Glenn

 

[seetherfiend]

Thanks Merk, I'll write that down. Glenn

 

[krusty the clown]

i'm not familiar with the "magnum" line of prybar's. do you have a pic?

i would assume mayhew or old forge.

 

[davestlouis]

I don't sense that anyone likes these much...think I'm going to pass.

 

[seetherfiend]

No, they're in a diff. garage at the other end of the state but when I get up there in May I will snap a couple. I talked to Mayhew and Parker directly. Neither did. I never thought about OF. I will check that. Thank you!

 

[Merkava_4]

I don't have a Matco catalog that goes back that far, but my Wright catalog lists a 2428 that's a 6.5" flex head with a knurled handle and then a 2495 that's a 5.5" flex head with a contour handle. Both are round heads with 45 teeth.

 

[jerryW]

I've got an AR6FT Matco that I have had no problem with. It's got the pear head on it, maybe a later model. Picked it up at a swap for $7.

Use it daily in appliance repair, no problem with skipping or changing direction. Put plenty of torque on it for a 1/4 inch drive. It gets used in a lot of tight situations and it is handy.


jerry

 

[64merc]

I'm a little surprised to hear about the bad reviews. I thought Wright ratchets were pretty tough, so being that it was made by Wright, I figured the Matco would be tough as well.

 

[wrenchr]

I don't sense that anyone likes these much...think I'm going to pass.

Like Krusty said buy it if it is cheap and if you have a problem take it to a matco dealer and they will exchange it for the new model.

 

[Merkava_4]

I'm surprised Matco would still bother keeping rebuild kits for the old Wright ratchets; they should just swap out the whole ratchet.