New Snap On FK80 Ratchet

[wvrailroader]

I recently bought a new Snap On FK80 3/8" drive stubby ratchet at work. This is my first Snap On ratchet of any kind. I must say that after all the hype on here, I am pretty disappointed. It has way more backdrag than any other ratchet I own, including some cheap Benchtop ratchets from KMart.

I have taken it apart, cleaned it and lubed it with Super Lube and it made no difference. For a stubby ratchet in tight places, this one wouldn't be much help with all the backdrag. I have many other ratchets including Armstrong, Benchtop, Proto, SK and Thorsen and have never had this problem.

Is there possibly something wrong with this particular ratchet? I have never had one that a good cleaning and lubing didn't help. I had just really hoped for more I suppose given the price and Snap On's reputation. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[rtole]

I feel the snap ons have less drag than anything else. I put the 1/4 to the test, first the armstrong 88, fail , gearwrench 120, fail, snap on 72......better than both. Blower motor resistor on 97 k1500. On top of the box, no room to get a hand in there. Had to hold the ratchet by the end of the handle. Snap on was by far the best for me. Glad I have more snap on than anything else.

 

[rtole]

All 3 are well used......all 3 recently cleaned and super lubed. The armstrong also auto reverses on me. I like the look of it, but I am not very happy with it at all. My least favorite of my ratchets
I know others like them. I will keep my dual 80 and gearwrench 120.

 

[Conductor562]

WV Railroader….I'm a West Virginia Railroader too

 

[cheechi]

My F80 is fairly stubby. I kid, I kid.

I don't have that issue with mine. Bought it used, haven't opened it up to check anything. I know it's a few years old but don't know exactly how. I won't say it's smooooooooooth but it is pretty smooth. And I have the 120xp and plenty of 72 from all over. I don't like how long it takes to where you can start ratcheting so I don't reach for it first. But when I do use it, I haven't had that issue with it.

 

[SC-AW11]

Backdrag gets better/less with use

 

[daddy2coull]

I bought an fk80 about two years ago. I find it awesome and use it more than my f80.

 

[DieselRiver]

I have the same and love it, have no issues and haven't lubed it yet after 3 months of use

 

[BFHtime]

Return it. Your Snap-On guy should take care of it. My guy would. I had a ratcheting screwdriver that had alot of drag in both directions. I tried to break it in with a cordless impact, ( no load so just spinning, no impact) spent 45 min. messing with, thinking just a little more every few minutes. I then tried another screwdriver I had, then gave up. I thought I was wasting my time. I was. He took it back and gave me a new one. I showed him what I did to it, he gave me another, no questions.

Don't be irritated every time you need to use it. I buy nice tools so I don't have to deal with that shtuff. Return it, get a new one, lube it; and then for a while when you pick that one up you will think, yeah, thank goodness I sent it back, and man that is a nice tool to use. This is what I do.

I notice that my 1/2" dual 80's lubed are close to the smoothness of a lubed 100 tooth round head. The 3/8 seem to be the least smooth.

 

[wvrailroader]

I may just return it then. It seems smooth, just a lot of drag. I tried the cordless drill trick last night for a good little while and it didn't help. I have a 3/8" Proto 5252F that is the smoothest 3/8" I have ever used. It makes the Snap On seem awful. I will just have to wait till Friday and see what the Snap On guy has to say about it.

 

[dankicksass]

The only SO made ratchet I ever had issue with from new was a 1/4 Bahco Dual-80, it was a little rough. Took it apart, cleaned and lubed it. Good as new.

 

[Hiball]

Curious? Have you actually had issues where it wouldn't loosen a fastener or is this a hand/feel thing? I would rank dual 80's at the top in back drag and sk a close second in 1/4 and 3/8 drives. I changed the water pump/timing chain today on a 4runner and it was simply amazing how it handled even the loosest bolts in the "No hands" zone.

 

[kams1973]

I was going to suggest chucking it up in a drill, but you've already tried that. All the dual 80's I have are smooth with little drag.

 

[wvrailroader]

I just got it and haven't had a chance to use it, so it is just a "feel" thing. I am going to try using it to see if maybe it really isn't as bad as it seems.