NEW ICON 3/8 drive Flex Head ratchets available again

[Fedwrench]

Seems like only yesterday that Harbor Freight recalled their ICON 3/8 drive flex head ratchets. OK it was October 2019 but, I digress. I see on the Harbor Freight new tools page that, 3/8 drive flex head ratchets are available again with comfort grip handle or an all metal handle.
Now, some of you might have forgotten but, back in October Harbor Freight to make good on the recall allowed us to get a refund, or trade your 3/8 flex head ratchet in for any other ICON ratchet plus, we were going to receive via email a voucher good for a replacement 3/8 drive flex head ratchet at no cost.
I wonder if Harbor Freight is going to deliver on the vouchers or forget about them. Time will tell.

3/8 in. Drive Professional Long-Reach Flex-Head Ratchet with Comfort Grip

Amazing deals on this 3/8In Dr Pro Grip Flex Head Ratchet Long at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

3/8 in. Drive Professional Long-Reach Flex Head Ratchet

Amazing deals on this 3/8In Dr Pro Flex Head Ratchet Long at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Interesting. I wasn’t aware there was ever a recall for them.

 

[Kscardsfan]

Interesting. I wasn’t aware there was ever a recall for them.

They would bind up under a load. But only the 3/8 drive model.

 

[Skin]

They would bind up under a load. But only the 3/8 drive model.

3/8 flex*

 

[dstblj52]

Heard a rumor they where planning on releasing locking flexheads if that where true it would be great, another source besides apex for them

 

[Fedwrench]

Heard a rumor they where planning on releasing locking flexheads if that where true it would be great, another source besides apex for them

NAPA's Carlyle has some nice locking flex head quick release ratchets if you want another option. however, I don't like that you can't unlock them. They use a button similar to the current MAC design and others.

 

[kelpaso1]

Never had a need for a locking flex head. My SO's are non locking and give me no problems in any type of situation. But I have had friends over and try to use it and they have no concept how to hold it or use it. It's comical to see them struggle so much and have no clue on how to use it properly. IMO locking is far more harder and cumbersome to use.

 

[dnschmidt]

These seem nice due to the lack of the HATED BY ME detents. A flex head should flex not be limited to certain angles. That's why I love the old Williams B-54 and the TOPTUL flex heads. The ability of these to be used as spinners is a feature I appreciate. Apparently, everybody despises the so called "floppy head." I like a moderately floppy head. My old B-54's head is fairly floppy and that's what I like about it. I normally use two hands on a ratchet. One on the head of the ratchet and one on the handle. So I don't understand the entire floppy head issue as it can't flop if I'm holding it onto the bolt or nut.

 

[Ign]

My Carlyle locking flex drove me nuts. You had to depress the button just so or it wouldn't work. I gave it away.

 

[kelpaso1]

The ability of these to be used as spinners is a feature I appreciate.

Try a bent handle SO flex head and you will never use a straight handle again.

 

[AJHD]

I also saw new Icon chrome sockets. But I don't have a clue as to what the difference is between these new models and the existing models.

 

[Kscardsfan]

3/8 flex*

Sorry yes.

 

[dstblj52]

I also saw new Icon chrome sockets. But I don't have a clue as to what the difference is between these new models and the existing models.

they have different sku numbers so i think its a case of harbor freight moving to another vendor or another model, they are actually a different material the old ones are Chrome vanadium steel and the new ones are chrome moly steel

 

[AJHD]

they have different sku numbers so i think its a case of harbor freight moving to another vendor or another model, they are actually a different material the old ones are Chrome vanadium steel and the new ones are chrome moly steel

I didn't notice that. Very interesting they are using impact grade steel, but with a chrome finish. CR-MO is softer than CR-V. But I wonder if they did something during the heat treatment or "added 11 herbs and spices" to make these chrome sockets harder than the black oxide impact variety.

I also wonder if they've had issues with the Icon chrome sockets cracking/breaking or if this change was purely a change of vendor issue (or both). I know HF has a habit of using several different SKU's for the same products because they contract multiple different vendors (aka manufactures).

EDIT: Quick look at the existing socket line and these new ones also reflects a price increase, and the finish appears to be different too, though it's hard to say for sure just from the pictures online.

 

[dstblj52]

I didn't notice that. Very interesting they are using impact grade steel, but with a chrome finish. CR-MO is softer than CR-V. But I wonder if they did something during the heat treatment or "added 11 herbs and spices" to make these chrome sockets harder than the black oxide impact variety.

I also wonder if they've had issues with the Icon chrome sockets cracking/breaking or if this change was purely a change of vendor issue (or both). I know HF has a habit of using several different SKU's for the same products because they contract multiple different vendors (aka manufactures).

EDIT: Quick look at the existing socket line and these new ones also reflects a price increase, and the finish appears to be different too, though it's hard to say for sure just from the pictures online.

tough to say the fluting appears to be different so who can say, but harbor freight icon has definitely gotten better since launch imho

 

[dstblj52]

interestingly these appear to be from the icon fix handle supplier not the flexhead supplier i wonder if their planning on moving everything over

 

[milwaukeephil]

I'll bite: reaching for a downward facing nut, pushing upwards with the non-locking flex head. It wants to flop back.

 

[clientgraphics]

Just picked up the 3/8” long full chrome tonight. I’ll compare the head size and internals tonight if I have time.

 

[merkyworks]

@clientgraphics yes please post pics comparing to fixed, internals pics if possible.

Very curious if they took the fixed head design (larger anvil/pawl) and added a flex joint or if it’s just a redesign the original smaller anvil/pawl design.

 

[m6z]

Nice to see the flex ratchets available again.

Those new socket prices though, $50 for a dozen deep 3/8 drive sockets is more than $4 a socket.

That's pretty steep IMO.

 

[clientgraphics]

It looks like the internals of the new flex are nearly identical to the fixed head ICON 3/8 drive ratchet. I took a quick count of teeth on the pawl and they both appeared to have 20 but I didn’t double or triple check it. The head width is actually larger than both the fix head and original flex. The overall length was very similar with the new one being slightly longer by about .20”


I haven’t had a chance to test it out yet, but given the internals are basically like the fixed head it does feel exactly they same and was loaded up with grease.

 

[dstblj52]

It looks like the internals of the new flex are nearly identical to the fixed head ICON 3/8 drive ratchet. I took a quick count of teeth on the pawl and they both appeared to have 20 but I didn’t double or triple check it. The head width is actually larger than both the fix head and original flex. The overall length was very similar with the new one being slightly longer by about .20”


I haven’t had a chance to test it out yet, but given the internals are basically like the fixed head it does feel exactly they same and was loaded up with grease.

the direction lever looks slightly different also, yeah its clear they changed oems i hope they move the quarter and half over also

 

[Mgdoug3]

I never knew the original 3/8 flex used a different gear. I wrongly assumed they were the same and wasn't sure why the flex had an issue while the straight one didn't. Thanks for the picture to illustrate.

 

[Rinspeed]

NAPA's Carlyle has some nice locking flex head quick release ratchets if you want another option.

I was just using my 3/8 Carlyle flex last night and it is a very solid ratchet, especially at the sale price of $22.

 

[Mr_B]

change of oem which is what expected .
IF HF didn't have obsession with copying some snapon visual elements they could source far better tools from taiwan .

Interesting on chrome sockets stating crmo, either same oem and different material or moved that oem already !
The original sockets where a little soft but it heat treatment issue rather than crv being issue .

 

[dnschmidt]

Just another example of a double standard. If HF tries to improve a product there must be some nefarious reason for it. If a domestic company does so let's wave the flag and hail the innovation.

I will now explain why I will never buy another American car. I had a Pontiac Grand Prix, which frankly I loved. I must have since I painted it three times in the 18 years that I drove it 235,00 miles before I wrecked it. However, in the first three years that I owned the car it went through 12 (yea I'll spell that out twelve) window regulators. Thank god I didn't live where it rained. I'd leave the car in my driveway after I came home at night and in the morning a window would be halfway down. The reason for these failures was a plastic part that acted like a turnbuckle to hold the two ends of the wire cable together that moved the window up and down. According to the dealer, they were having brand new cars on their lot waiting to be sold that had bad window regulators. Did GM ever change this part, which I'm sure they had tens of thousands of warrantee repairs on NO. Buy a GM window regulator for a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix and it still uses this ****** plastic part. After the warrantee expired I started buying TYC regulators which used a steel washer to hold the two ends of the cable together and never did one of these cheap Taiwanese parts break for the remaining life of the car. I admire companies that when they find an issue do something to eliminate the problem. HF has done the same with their jack stands where others that sold the same models did nothing. DON'T ***** ABOUT A COMPANY DOING THE RIGHT THING.

 

[TheToolEnthusiast]

@clientgraphics any chance you plan on torture testing the new one?

 

[TNHEMIFAN]

Just going to wait and see if there are any new issues. Looks really nice, only time will tell.

 

[dstblj52]

Just going to wait and see if there are any new issues. Looks really nice, only time will tell.

It's got the mechanism from the fix head which is really good for a ratchet at their price point

 

[javyLSU]

Looks like these updated flex head ratchets brought with them an across-the-board price hike. I noticed most of the Icon ratchets are now a few bucks more expensive.

 

[merkyworks]

@clientgraphics thank you, amazing documentation!

The new flex design should be a really decent ratchet.

 

[Mr_B]

Looks like they will give you a free ratchet if have original exchange receipt and print out on the free ratchet pledge .

 

[Skin]

the direction lever looks slightly different also, yeah its clear they changed oems i hope they move the quarter and half over also

There isnt a problem with the other drive sizes though. Why would you want them all changed? Presumably you'd just get a larger head and nothing else in return. The 3/8 is roughly a quarter inch wider than the old style which is pretty significant. Its too bad they couldnt just get the pawl redesigned so it didnt have the slop.

 

[Mr_B]

Why would you want them all changed? Presumably you'd just get a larger head and nothing else in return. The 3/8 is roughly a quarter inch wider than the old style which is pretty significant.

This is good point .
While mechanism is better on new 3/8 the basic design for any drive size is rather bulky. Is fair enough design for basic durable ratchet but HF be far wiser source the quality compact heads that taiwan manufacture and add them to ratchet range as one of biggest issues with icon is the minimal product range mixed with minimal effort on sourcing good pro acceptable products .

 

[DSS]

Seems like only yesterday that Harbor Freight recalled their ICON 3/8 drive flex head ratchets. OK it was October 2019 but, I digress. I see on the Harbor Freight new tools page that, 3/8 drive flex head ratchets are available again with comfort grip handle or an all metal handle.
Now, some of you might have forgotten but, back in October Harbor Freight to make good on the recall allowed us to get a refund, or trade your 3/8 flex head ratchet in for any other ICON ratchet plus, we were going to receive via email a voucher good for a replacement 3/8 drive flex head ratchet at no cost.
I wonder if Harbor Freight is going to deliver on the vouchers or forget about them. Time will tell.

3/8 in. Drive Professional Long-Reach Flex-Head Ratchet with Comfort Grip

Amazing deals on this 3/8In Dr Pro Grip Flex Head Ratchet Long at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

3/8 in. Drive Professional Long-Reach Flex Head Ratchet

Amazing deals on this 3/8In Dr Pro Flex Head Ratchet Long at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

We have no harbour freight in Canada that I'm aware of but those look to me very much like gear wrench, I wonder if they're actually related, anyone know? Maybe this is common knowledge but that's the first time I've ever looked at one.

 

[dstblj52]

We have no harbour freight in Canada that I'm aware of but those look to me very much like gear wrench, I wonder if they're actually related, anyone know? Maybe this is common knowledge but that's the first time I've ever looked at one.

Their not the entire base of the ratchet is different

 

[johnu]

I purchased a 3/8" Icon Flex today $53.99.... (no holiday deals)
I was thinking I wanted a locking head and was looking at a Matco $160ish then Gearwrench $70ish and settled on this one for good reason.

The head is not floppy (no detents) unless you "whip it" with a spark plug socket in it..... and even then it smoothly rotates. Looks good, feels a light year better then my 40 yr old skinny Craftsman 36 or 48 tooth? flex head.

One You Tube guy took the original and new version apart the the pawl is a tad thicker on the 2.0. The reverse lever is also more stout looking now below the cover and sits lower on the head then the original that had a space under it.

 

[TheToolEnthusiast]

@clientgraphics is back at his torture testing with a great video for the new ratchets. Nice work Chris!

 

[M635_Guy]

@clientgraphics is back at his torture testing with a great video for the new ratchets. Nice work Chris!

I prefer this video on the topic:

He was the first to note the issue that I saw.

 

[Rinspeed]

@clientgraphics is back at his torture testing with a great video for the new ratchets. Nice work Chris!

Lol, some people have way too much time on their hands.