New Kobalt stepless ratchet

[Stuey]

After last year's disappointing offerings, I was skeptical about what Lowes had planned for this year's Christmas season.

It's a new stepless gear less ratchet, and it doesn't ****!

I got my hands on an early production sample that I tested and reviewed - http://toolguyd.com/kobalt-direct-drive-gearless-ratchet/

It will be bundled with some ho-hum universal sockets. Initial pricing will be $30 for the set.

I broke something when trying to get at the internal reversing mechanism, and will need to get my hands on another for more testing before I can make any long-term strength or durability claims. But, from what I saw, this is definitely at least looking at when it hits shelves in a couple of weeks.

 

[Davefr]

What's the downside of gearless? If the design has been around for 65 years and if they can grab at close to 0 degrees there must be some reason they're not ubiquitous. Do they slip under moderate pressure? Just curious??

 

[Stuey]

What's the downside of gearless? If the design has been around for 65 years and if they can grab at close to 0 degrees there must be some reason they're not ubiquitous. Do they slip under moderate pressure? Just curious??

I couldn't get the ratchet to slip or fail.

The recent patent I believe this design is based off of says:

Extensive prior art exists in the field of indexing wrenches that are used to tighten or loosen fasteners. For the class of wrenches that employ roller clutches to transfer torque from the wrench to the fastener, it is possible that the geometric configuration of the wrench may result in forces that cause the reversing mechanism to be back-driven. If these forces are large enough, the reverse mechanism may enter a neutral position or cause the wrench to change direction.

The present invention devises a reverse mechanism that can resist any amount (up to the shear strength of the material) of randomly generated forces that may cause this effect.

From what I can tell, the new reverse mechanism also allows for a more compact and convenient ratchet head shape and design.

Some other designs I've seen have one-way clutch mechanisms, and so the square drive must be pushed from one side to another to achieve direction reversal. I avoid those types of ratchets when I can, as it's possible to get the ratchet into a situation it cannot be backed out of.

This is the beginning of my hands-on experience with roller ratchets, and so other downsides or potential downsides might present themselves down the road. But for now, I really like this ratchet.

 

[jjjrmx5]

What's teh COO on this ratchet Stuey?

I can't zoom in on your packaging pic to see one.

TIA.

 

[BirdMobile]

What's the downside of gearless? If the design has been around for 65 years and if they can grab at close to 0 degrees there must be some reason they're not ubiquitous. Do they slip under moderate pressure? Just curious??

I have a Mac gearless ratchet. I almost never use it. My 2 problems with it are:

#1 - No audible feedback "clicks". Can't tell if the ratchet is slipping or the fastener is slipping. This is a bigger deal than it sounds like it might be.

#2 - Large, bulky, heavy head.

Other than that, it's great!

 

[95riosnake]

I think I'll pick one up (hopefully they offer it separately, I could do without the multi-fit sockets...) because it looks like a nice unit

 

[sberry]

How much more **** do we need?

 

[BirdMobile]

How much more **** do we need?

Only one answer: if you have space to store it...

 

[Stuey]

What's teh COO on this ratchet Stuey?

I can't zoom in on your packaging pic to see one.

TIA.

China.

How much more **** do we need?

That's like asking why we need so many different kinds of apples.

 

[SkinnyG]

#1 - No audible feedback "clicks". Can't tell if the ratchet is slipping or the fastener is slipping. This is a bigger deal than it sounds like it might be.

This has never occurred to me. I had been eyeballing that Mac gearless ratchet for a while but never used one. I guess I'll pass on it because that would be a big deal for me too. Whether it's audible or at least a feel, you need some sort of feedback.

 

[durallymax]

What's the downside of gearless? If the design has been around for 65 years and if they can grab at close to 0 degrees there must be some reason they're not ubiquitous. Do they slip under moderate pressure? Just curious??

I have a Mac one that I keep in my box when people need to borrow a ratchet, causes a lot of conversation.

Bulky heads are one downside to these style tools.

No feedback is the biggest issue and the reason I don't like it. Those clicks tell you what is going on especially when you are not looking at the socket which is very often.

 

[Loscaldazar]

Totally in for one when they release them. Always wanted to just try a gearless ratchet once, but the price for a useable one (not the stubby ones) was stupidly high.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[monomach]

China.

aaaaaaand my interest level drops from "maybe I'll grab it next year on clearance" all the way down to "zero."

 

[fugmaglottu]

Totally in for one when they release them.

 

[Exceller8]

I don't own a single Chinese ratchet, but this might be my first.

 

[BK13]

aaaaaaand my interest level drops from "maybe I'll grab it next year on clearance" all the way down to "zero."

I think my buy in point might be around the $5 level...

 

[ihateminimumwage]

I've wondered about the gearless ratchets. Might pick one up when it goes on sale/clearance like all the other Chinese Kobalt gimmick tools (like their short lived LED lighted ratchets), not like I need another ratchet. That head does look quite a bit more reasonable than the recent Snappy gearless ratchet.

 

[Stuey]

I've wondered about the gearless ratchets. Might pick one up when it goes on sale/clearance like all the other Chinese Kobalt gimmick tools (like their short lived LED lighted ratchets), not like I need another ratchet. That head does look quite a bit more reasonable than the recent Snappy gearless ratchet.

In past years, some of the holiday Kobalt tools completely sold out by mid-December.

I wouldn't be surprised if the price dropped to $20, but you're not likely going to see a big clearance price for a long time.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

0* swing eh.... I'd like to see the engineers at Kobalt demonstrate that. LOL


Nice to see they added a quick release. For thin ratchets like gearwrench, I'd say the button limits access, but with the bulkier gear-less head, it's no real loss. I wish my Fzero had one.