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new professional grade harbor freight ratchets

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stage20

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Hiball said:
Is the flex tension adjustable?
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it feels pretty good from the factory. im sure i could crank on the screw a turn. it does have a torx head. gets sloppy ill just return it for another.

just like snap ons lifetime warranty, hf figures their replacement price in the purchasing price as well, so you know how stupid cheap these things really are when they are bought by the container load. LOL
 
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MagnumForce

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I use craftsman China and US daily, interchangeably it is both pretty even. I don't use rp **** as rp **** has always sucked or has for the last 30 years, and I do not know what you are smoking about increased prices because they are if anything lower prices now.

Have you even used a recent craftsman tool? And ridiculous lengths to prop them up? Like point out that aside from End wrenches, sockets and most rats almost the entire craftsman main line stuff is still USA made? Yeah, insane!

I bet you are the type that simply buys old **** from the flea market and hasn't spent a dime on a new tool in 30 years anyway.
 
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BirdMobile

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Loscaldazar said:
From the third photo it looks like a torx screw on the flex portion, which generally means the tension is adjustable.

Is it bad that I actually really, really, really want to buy these? That 72T mechanism is a dream when lubricated, and they are so cheap.... good for the car tool kit....
Click to expand...

The tension is adjustable... I tightened up my 1/4 when I got home.
Yes... you should buy. These are REALLY nice ratchets!
 
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dale500

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The new long handle 3/8" composite ratchet has a quick release. The quality looks to be the same as the original HF composite ratchets. For the money they are hard to beat. Will they stand up to hard daily use in a pro shop? I don't know but that's not Harbor Freights core customer any way.

What I see in all these HF vs Sears vs Snap-On vs whoever rants is the uselessness of all the comparisons. Each supplier has their core customer and they must focus their business on that customer if they want to be successful. The ones who ignore their core customer see their business suffer(Sears). Snap-On can bring in the same revenue as Harbor Freight with probably 90% less items sold because they provide what their core customers expect. Rant all you want but in the end it is all about knowing and taking care of your customer by providing the quality they expect at the price they are willing to pay. Harbor Freight provides reasonable quality at rock bottom prices to the average home mechanic/diy'er. They are not professional grade and they never will be, but they're good enough to last most average folks a lifetime.
 
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AndrewV

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BirdMobile said:
It is made in Taiwan, I verified that about 25 posts ago. Not that anyone would notice, with this retarded China vs. Taiwan argument going on. I thought this was the "new harbor freight pro ratchets" thread, not the "387th iteration of tge China vs. Taiwan" thread. :(
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:+1:
 
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MagnumForce

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Look I don't bemoan anyone's tool purchases, but good lord say you like craftsman or harbor freight and you are the devil incarnate and these trolls come out of the woodwork to tell us how much we ****.
 
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Ratsofftoya

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Hiball said:
I'm strictly guessing but I bet those ratchets will use the 72 tooth mechanism similar to the EZ Red 72 tooth version, here is a picture of the QR Ezred.

DSC03401.jpg


DSC03400.jpg
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This? Where you say "I'm strictly guessing" ?? Thanks for that...
 
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monomach

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Hiball said:
Well OK..

Harbor freight 1/2" drive 25" breaker bars.

60819 china


67933 Taiwan
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That's the same breaker that had a thread right here on this forum 3-4 months ago in which the Chinese ones were complained about by multiple people as having more flex and a weaker joint than the Taiwan ones. :dunno:

Ratsofftoya said:
Didn't you say that was a EzRed ratchet?
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The Taiwanese 72t ratchets all have the same mechanism design. EZ-Red, Kobalt, HF, Tekton, etc. It has to be something that has no patent on it. You can switch them from brand to brand with no problem. It's basically a fine tooth version of the 24t Proto.

It seems unlikely that HF made a whole new mechanism while keeping the tooth count the same just for these. I'm with Hi-Ball. 99% sure that's the same innards.
 
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Hiball

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monomach said:
That's the same breaker that had a thread right here on this forum 3-4 months ago in which the Chinese ones were complained about by multiple people as having more flex and a weaker joint than the Taiwan ones. :dunno:
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Someone on GJ complained? But I have the Taiwan model and it flexes like bish.. I gave you what you asked for. Dunno..
 
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MagnumForce

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I like the red and black long composite. Matches my Tekton. Wonder if Tekton will introduce it as well, I would rather spend more and purchase from Tekton.
 
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monomach

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Hiball said:
Someone on GJ complained? But I have the Taiwan model and it flexes like bish.. I gave you what you asked for. Dunno..
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Yes, the Taiwan one flexes. And we had *multiple* guys saying that the Chinese one did it even more. That's not showing two of the same quality.
 
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stage20

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monomach said:
I've had good results with Superlube if I use the right amount. Err on the side of caution with it. If you use too much, you're going to have a bad time.
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just a small smear from my finger tip or more? ive never lubed one with superlube but im always reading about good results with it. i know not to fill the cavity like a wheelbearing, LOL. i just dont want to not use enough and then make an assumption its not the miracle i thought it was. :lol:
 
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Hiball

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stage20 said:
it feels pretty good from the factory. im sure i could crank on the screw a turn. it does have a torx head. gets sloppy ill just return it for another.

just like snap ons lifetime warranty, hf figures their replacement price in the purchasing price as well, so you know how stupid cheap these things really are when they are bought by the container load. LOL
Click to expand...

Thanks.. I'm not real fond of the mechanism in my EzRed as I've had one skip when leaning into 24" bar, something about only have 3-4 teeth engaged on fine tooth gear is a bit spooky. I have the complete flex and fixed head sets, as cheap as they HF are I might pick one up at a sale price.
 
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monomach

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stage20 said:
just a small smear from my finger tip or more? ive never lubed one with superlube but im always reading about good results with it. i know not to fill the cavity like a wheelbearing, LOL. i just dont want to not use enough and then make an assumption its not the miracle i thought it was. :lol:
Click to expand...

A small fingertip smear around the toothed part and just a tiny touch on top of the pawls is what seems to work.

When I put too much in a 72t Kobalt, it would bind up.

Alternatively, 3-in-1, Marvel, and RLL work pretty good and are impossible to get the amount wrong.
 
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monomach

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retDAC said:
What brand are the good Chinese screwdrivers and where do I get them?
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Harbor Freight. It's one particular type. If you get anything different...well, don't do that.

Single: http://www.harborfreight.com/2-x-4-inch-phillips-screwdriver-94707.html

Set: http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-professional-screwdriver-set-94607.html

Thing is, I bought them before I figured out that Menard's sometimes runs sales on Pratt-Read sets that make them cheaper. If I'd known that before, I wouldn't have bought these.
 
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SASORacing

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Yes! I was going to post the same set but you beat me to it. For the money these are.very nice and feel comparable to truck brands almost. They are about 10x less $ than truck brands too!


monomach said:
Harbor Freight. It's one particular type. If you get anything different...well, don't do that.

Single: http://www.harborfreight.com/2-x-4-inch-phillips-screwdriver-94707.html

Set: http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-professional-screwdriver-set-94607.html

Thing is, I bought them before I figured out that Menard's sometimes runs sales on Pratt-Read sets that make them cheaper. If I'd known that before, I wouldn't have bought these.
Click to expand...
 
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ATC

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Hiball said:
But... What about a .25 cent wrench from china compared to a .25 cent wrench from Taiwan?
.
Click to expand...

You don't have too look far. Taiwan vs China Gearwrench. Same price, but lower quality from the ones made in China.

How about USA vs China Craftsman RP ratchets and wrenches? Same price...shittier quality.
Kobalt, husky, Stanley....need I go on?
 
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stage20

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SASORacing said:
Yes! I was going to post the same set but you beat me to it. For the money these are.very nice and feel comparable to truck brands almost. They are about 10x less $ than truck brands too!
Click to expand...

About the only china piece I own. The #2 phillips owns all for the money. I have an old green one beat to death. Tip is still in new shape
 
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ecotec

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stage20 said:
About the only china piece I own. The #2 phillips owns all for the money. I have an old green one beat to death. Tip is still in new shape
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Ironic… My Klein #2 phillips rarely last 6 months. I think the Klein #2 tips are pretty bad.
 
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pauls_workshop

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monomach said:
Harbor Freight. It's one particular type. If you get anything different...well, don't do that.

Single: http://www.harborfreight.com/2-x-4-inch-phillips-screwdriver-94707.html

Set: http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-professional-screwdriver-set-94607.html

Thing is, I bought them before I figured out that Menard's sometimes runs sales on Pratt-Read sets that make them cheaper. If I'd known that before, I wouldn't have bought these.
Click to expand...

The Bolstered HF screwdriver set with the blue handles is also similarly good but heavier duty than the set above everyone likes. They are real good. - Paul
 
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BK13

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Loscaldazar said:
I don't know, but it says it is torque tested up to 1800 Ft-lbs. I Call BS.
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I'd like to meet the gut who can put an 1800 ft-lb rated stubby ratchet to the test.

On second thought, maybe not. LOL

I wonder if it is supposed to be 1800 in-lb, or 180 ft-lb. or neither.
 
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t4runner

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I may have missed it if this has already been posted. The Pro ratchets are 1/2 off on their web site. A long handled flex head 1/2 drive is $29 before any coupon.
 
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