Milwaukee Cordless Ratchets - maximum manual torque?

[The Critic]

It is common for technicians to use their cordless ratchets as a "manual ratchet" to break a fastener loose.

Snap-On lists a "maximum manual torque" for their ratchets and the number is quite impressive.



I am curious if Milwaukee has a similar spec for their cordless ratchets. I noticed my Milwaukee ratchet body likes to flex if I apply any significant amount of force to it.

 

[dnschmidt]

They can take quite a bit. There may be a YouTube video where this is actually tested and measured. The reason for the flex is likely the battery not being as tightly bound to the ratchet as it is in most other brands that use slide on batteries (think M18 style rather than M12). I have a bunch of Milwaukee ratchets (nine all together) 2 first gen in 1/4" and 3/8" three fuel high speed 2 in 3/8" and one in 1/4" Two High speed extended reach in 1/4" and 3/8" and two extended reach in 1/4" and 3/8". Haven't managed to break any of them yet but the standard length ones do flex some. The extended flex less. My preference for Milwaukee lies in the smaller size the M12 battery provides.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I believe Milwaukee has never stated a manual torque. 3/8 you may use as a manual ratchet. For 1/4 it's best to "neutral drop" the thing spinning at full speed onto a fastener.

 

[darkzero]

AFAIK Milwaukee has never stated what the maximum manual torque is for their cordless ratchets. For their 1st gen brushed they actually recommend not using it manually (but of course you can). With their newer models they did start saying they could be used manually but again no torque spec.

IIRC when @Torque Test Channel tests cordless ratchets they test how much torque it takes until failure or close, something like that. Of course YMMV but at least they provide some sort idea of what different models can handle. Better than nothing.

EDIT: I was mistaken, I guess not to failure, I think I just remember one of the ratchets breaking or something. Here's one, at around 8:10.