new professional grade harbor freight ratchets

[bcradio]

If you find a good way to reduce the floppiness please post it here. It'd be appreciated.

I have

When you are in the store looking to buy one, try them all at the flex joint and get the stiffest one you can. I did that and mine has been fine... its just like any flex head ratchet.

I really like how long they are (I only got the 3/8 and 1/2 long flex ratchets). These will definitely not be my go-to ratchets, but they will be useful in certain situations.

 

[stage20]

Not talking about a wave washer are you?

That's it!

 

[Hiball]

I have

When you are in the store looking to buy one, try them all at the flex joint and get the stiffest one you can. I did that and mine has been fine... its just like any flex head ratchet.

I really like how long they are (I only got the 3/8 and 1/2 long flex ratchets). These will definitely not be my go-to ratchets, but they will be useful in certain situations.

Huh.. That might have worked back in the pinned/splined days, But Ive never owned a Non Locking flex Ratchet that didn't tend to loosen up with constant use, So I would just tighten the hinge up on occasion. It sounds like these HF ratchets might need a Thicker Friction washer or some Loctite based off some reviews.

 

[creativecars]

Never had a flex head before so I picked up the 3/8" one tonight because why not. Ratchet seems well built so no complaints there. Tried it on a few bolts on the old tractor and it seems like the flex head wants to have it pop off and round off the bolts. I cranked down on the torx connector to try and tighten up the floppiness but to no avail. I'll try using it again but maybe I should be sticking with fixed head.

Ratchets should be used with two hands, one to support the head the other to move the handle. This is especially necessary with a flex head ratchet. Yes, if used incorrectly it will pop off and round off bolts.

 

[platypus20]

Not talking about a wave washer are you?

Or a Belleville washer

http://www.centuryspring.com/Produc...source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=brDisc

 

[Emmo213]

Ratchets should be used with two hands, one to support the head the other to move the handle. This is especially necessary with a flex head ratchet. Yes, if used incorrectly it will pop off and round off bolts.

That's what I ended up doing and it worked okay, it's just hard to reach sometimes. I'm also a very amateur tinkerer so it's still a learning process.

 

[Gmonkee]

Anyone try an o ring?

Not on one of these but on flex ratchet wrenches that got floppy. The regular soft O rings don't hold long. The harder grade ones installed new and fresh lasted about 5 months.

A wave washer is by far a better solution.

I still have a problem justifying a product that you have to cherry pick the good one from a bunch of them. At any price grade that screams QC issues have o be resolved in that product yet.
For me, better to wait until the reports from the field improve some.

 

[bobbycos]

Still looking for the 1/4" flex head.

going tonite to try and find the 1/4" pro flex

finally my local HF had the 1/4" tonite

got it to complete the set

i have used the 3/8" and the 1/2" so far with no problems

I also do not "gorilla" the bolts/nuts

 

[monomach]

I still have a problem justifying a product that you have to cherry pick the good one from a bunch of them. At any price grade that screams QC issues have o be resolved in that product yet.
For me, better to wait until the reports from the field improve some.

Honestly, I just felt up a whole box of 1/4 to pick out the one I had reserved and I didn't find any of them better than any others. There wasn't a single floppy head in there. They were all good. None of them needed tightening when new.

I'm guessing that the guys calling them floppy have never actually used a non-locking flex. If you hold a ratchet horizontally and the head stays still or only drops like 10-15 degrees, it's not floppy. If it moves when you put torque on it, it's working as intended. That's why non-locking flex ratchets ****.

 

[dnschmidt]

I'm confused. The point of a flex head ratchet is to flex. What are you guys calling floppy? Monomach has properly defined what I consider floppy. If it moves simply by gravity it's floppy but if I hold it and snap my wrist and it moves to 90 degrees from the handle then that's pretty much what a flex head is suppose to do. I agree that with ratcheting flex head wrenches a lock is sort of mandatory since they are often applied with one hand, but with a ratchet, which I always tend to use with both hands since it's often used with an extension, I find it less of an issue as I'm holding the head with one of my hands. Could this be much ado about nothing?

 

[mmack66]

I'm confused. The point of a flex head ratchet is to flex. What are you guys calling floppy? Monomach has properly defined what I consider floppy. If it moves simply by gravity it's floppy but if I hold it and snap my wrist and it moves to 90 degrees from the handle then that's pretty much what a flex head is suppose to do. I agree that with ratcheting flex head wrenches a lock is sort of mandatory since they are often applied with one hand, but with a ratchet, which I always tend to use with both hands since it's often used with an extension, I find it less of an issue as I'm holding the head with one of my hands. Could this be much ado about nothing?

It usually is at GJ.

 

[thesilverone]

Could this be much ado about nothing?

Like a 29 page thread???

 

[Loscaldazar]

Like a 29 page thread???

I've read that many pages of stupid fighting?

 

[Hiball]

I'm confused. The point of a flex head ratchet is to flex. What are you guys calling floppy? Monomach has properly defined what I consider floppy. If it moves simply by gravity it's floppy but if I hold it and snap my wrist and it moves to 90 degrees from the handle then that's pretty much what a flex head is suppose to do. I agree that with ratcheting flex head wrenches a lock is sort of mandatory since they are often applied with one hand, but with a ratchet, which I always tend to use with both hands since it's often used with an extension, I find it less of an issue as I'm holding the head with one of my hands. Could this be much ado about nothing?

If a Ratchet won't support the weight of its own Head alone, I'm inclined to call that "Floppy". I'm not saying that is the issue with this ratchet based off member opinions, but I did pick up the long 3/8" ratchet today so I'll make my own assessment after some use.

 

[Hiball]

Since I haven't seen any pictures of the Friction setup on these Ratchets I tore mine down for Pictures.

Spring Washer.



How I got it stand straight Up? Dunno but I quickly snapped a picture.



Typical adjustable screw, With some Blue Loctite still on the tip.



The Washer could definitely be a bit more convex IMO, but after tightening it up it seemed to Provide quite a bit of resistance to the flex joint. Ill report back after using it a bit.

 

[Ign]

I used my 3/8" composite today for some wrenching on my truck. So far I really like it, I could see it becoming my favorite 3/8"

 

[Smokeshow69]

Just picked up the 3/8th's short yesterday. Seems very quality and well made. I did disassemble it and put super lube in the mechanism and it quieted it down and made if feel more smoothe. I got it on sale at $20 and then tacked on a 20% off coupon for about $16. I will use it this weekend and see how I like it.

 

[1950mercury]

My local ad says they have a sealed head. The one i bought dont have a sealed head?

 

[stage20]

My local ad says they have a sealed head. The one i bought dont have a sealed head?

ive got three of them and they are what i would call sealed. no o ring, but if you take the cover off there is another bushing/washer. trash mont easily get in there, IMO. like some of the quick release ratchets.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

ive got three of them and they are what i would call sealed. no o ring, but if you take the cover off there is another bushing/washer. trash mont easily get in there, IMO. like some of the quick release ratchets.

HF's marketing dept is rather loose with their terminology IMHO...no seals = not sealed.

Using the HF depts. logic....the previous rats like the older composite and a Craftsman RP Ratchet is also sealed head...after all the pieces fit in the sungly and have a snapring...large chunks of rust wont get into a Craftsman RP either..

 

[Caparris]

Def. going to have to pick up a few of these.

 

[stage20]

has anyone tried cutting off the grip to see if the handle is finished chrome underneath? im getting ancy to cut one and find out.

 

[454cid]

has anyone tried cutting off the grip to see if the handle is finished chrome underneath? im getting ancy to cut one and find out.

I was wondering the same thing a few pages back. I still haven't purchased one. Not having a real reason to use a ratchet, at the moment, is stalling me from making a purchase. That, and I'm still enjoying my original composite ratchet.

 

[itsvegas]

has anyone tried cutting off the grip to see if the handle is finished chrome underneath? im getting ancy to cut one and find out.

I"d imagine its a smaller shank with a notch to keep the handle on! I'd like to see one done myself to confirm. Then add a hard handle if thats youre thing?

 

[stage20]

I"d imagine its a smaller shank with a notch to keep the handle on! I'd like to see one done myself to confirm. Then add a hard handle if thats youre thing?

yea. i had posted several pages back or maybe in another thread. i have a few yellow handle mac handles ive had and no use for them. id really like to force one on to see how it would go, or just leave the handle exposed if it was finished. decisions....

 

[itsvegas]

yea. i had posted several pages back or maybe in another thread. i have a few yellow handle mac handles ive had and no use for them. id really like to force one on to see how it would go, or just leave the handle exposed if it was finished. decisions....

I would put money on it bein smaller dia with a notch for the grip to stay on!

 

[bubinga]

My harbor freight doesn't stock superlube anymore. Hardware stlre doesn't either but they still carry the spray.

$6.82 & FREE Shipping
at Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...VTA6OO7VC&condition=new&coliid=I37M805HGD555E

 

[bubinga]

this thread is so f'd up.

does anyone really know or care what this thread is about it is about anymore?

you would think by this time someone would have some real world experience but i guess not. i tried to impart some but that did not work out so well.

Why do you always seem so nasty?
You are the reason I deleted my subscription to this thread.

 

[xbeatles4x]

Can someone do me a favor. What are the dimensions of the 1/4 ratchet head specifically the depth?

Thanks.

 

[sk farmer]

Why do you always seem so nasty?
You are the reason I deleted my subscription to this thread.

because i am.

if the truth is nasty then so be it. if you deleted your subscription because of what i said compared to all of the other stupid things others have said in here........well then i just don't know what to say.

oh wait, i do know what to say. if you didn't want to see my posts and unsubscribed, why are you looking at and quoting things i said weeks ago?

 

[oldtools]

Just bought the 3/8 composite. I will get the 1/4 drive when it come out. Surprise, none of the truck brands have composite ratchet.

 

[Dirty Diesels]

Just bought the 3/8 composite. I will get the 1/4 drive when it come out. Surprise, none of the truck brands have composite ratchet.

Snap on does an insulated composite Orange coloured ratchet.

 

[1foxracing]

Can someone do me a favor. What are the dimensions of the 1/4 ratchet head specifically the depth?

Thanks.

Not a exact measurement but I did photograph mine.

 

[sponfit]

has anyone tried cutting off the grip to see if the handle is finished chrome underneath? im getting ancy to cut one and find out.

I"d imagine its a smaller shank with a notch to keep the handle on! I'd like to see one done myself to confirm. Then add a hard handle if thats youre thing?

It's a smaller shank with two flats and it is chromed all the way down. The overall length without the handle is 5 5/8". Also, you don't need to cut the handle as it will slide right off.

 

[stage20]

It's a smaller shank with two flats and it is chromed all the way down. The overall length without the handle is 5 5/8". Also, you don't need to cut the handle as it will slide right off.

Thanks! Ill try to get round to it tomorrow and post back if I can get nother handle on it.

 

[stage20]

It's a smaller shank with two flats and it is chromed all the way down. The overall length without the handle is 5 5/8". Also, you don't need to cut the handle as it will slide right off.

no go for me on my 1/4 or 3/8. i didnt even bother with the half. had the anvil cranked down in my vise and tugging on the handle. wouldnt come off with any amount of force from me pulling.

 

[cmcnei]

Bought the new 1/2 long reach flex today after watching this youtube video ratchet stress test. That is one strong ratchet that was almost unbreakable with a 4 foot breaker bar added! link below. A must see.

 

[lightning02]

Bought the new 1/2 long reach flex today after watching this youtube video ratchet stress test. That is one strong ratchet that was almost unbreakable with a 4 foot breaker bar added! link below. A must see.

the guy in the video is a member here. he make a thread about it as well.

 

[Caparris]

Bought the new 1/2 long reach flex today after watching this youtube video ratchet stress test. That is one strong ratchet that was almost unbreakable with a 4 foot breaker bar added! link below. A must see.

Yeah, I've got to get me a few of those. I had been looking at snap on ones but for the price I might as well try one or two of these first.



What's the cheapest way to buy several?

 

[Syntax_Error]

Yeah, I've got to get me a few of those. I had been looking at snap on ones but for the price I might as well try one or two of these first.



What's the cheapest way to buy several?

Bring several super coupons and several buddies.