Buckgnarly
Well-known member
Got one reserved already......don't have an ETA though.
FHLLX80
FHLLX80
New Snap On long locking 3/8 ratchets
- Thread starter Buckgnarly
- Start date
purplezr2
Well-known member
Interesting as it has a different locking mechanism, wonder if other ratchets will switch to this method.
Ton ton
Well-known member
Keep your hands dirty and your money clean.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
Keep your hands dirty and your money clean.
Actually, you'll do much better in life if you keep your hands clean and your money dirty. See Wall Street for verification.
Actually, you'll do much better in life if you keep your hands clean and your money dirty. See Wall Street for verification.
Professional Tool User
Well-known member
I'm skeptical about this design being that much better than the previous Snap on one.
toddmorr
Well-known member
Probably works very similar to Matco, but looks lower profile than prior dual80. I'd consider it
demarpaint
Well-known member
It looks interesting.
RedneckWelder
Well-known member
**** I was hoping it was going to be the traditional locking mechanism.
I’m going to have to see one in person and check it out. Hope they have a non comfort grip option
I’m going to have to see one in person and check it out. Hope they have a non comfort grip option
Raineman
Well-known member
This ^. I can't stand that grip.
71firebird400
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2016
- Messages
- 142
Still waiting on the day where I look at my flex head ratchet and think “man I wish this thing had a lock”
I was working on my excavator starter and could only use one hand. I needed pressure to keep the socket on the nut. I had the flex bend about half way and had to put pull tension on the handle while tightening the nut. Locking in that situation would have made the job easier.
RedneckWelder
Well-known member
That’s exactly why I haven’t purchased the 18” non locking flex that SO has currently. It would be extremely useful for getting in places but without it locking getting it on and getting it to stay on a bolt is a lot more difficult.
OP
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
Long handle and out of position needs locking!
purplezr2
Well-known member
I have a non locking one and I use it quite a bit, that said I will more then likely get the locking one as well.
javyLSU
Well-known member
Not a fan, I actually like the current Snap-on locking flex mechanism because of how easy it is to operate without looking at it.
RedneckWelder
Well-known member
I find it far superior to the Matco design when using a crows foot. Also easier to deal with when wearing gloves. The Matco is extremely low profile but can be difficult to deal with when you start throwing grease and goo in the mix.
Snapped-off
Well-known member
I hate their current locking mechanism. I'll have to check this one out whenever it gets released
NFH2740
Well-known member
Uh-huh. The locking mechanism readily slips on my 1/2" drive models; the longer SLX80A in particular.
The positive lock on my Armstrong 3/8" and 1/4" ratchets hasn't failed yet.
kbeefy
Well-known member
99% of the time I despise my non-locking flex head ratchets. I hated all flex heads due to that. Then I got a Mac XL 3/8 locking flex head... I love it, it's my go to and my favorite ratchet by far.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
I'm on the non-locking side of this argument. To me wherever the locking detents are they are never where I want them to be. I also use flex head ratchets as spinners and locking ***** for that purpose.
Ton ton
Well-known member
I do use flex head ratchets, but non-locking so far. I have not been able to justify buying a locking flexhead ratchet.
SRU1436
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have Non locking tekton flex head ratchets and I don’t like them because the move around too much. I’d like to try a locking flex head but am being frugal. I know this is blasphemy but I feel I already have too many ratchet, and I don’t have a lot. 
dnschmidt
Well-known member
The last thing on Earth I am is frugal. I just don't like locking flex head ratchets. God gave me two hands one to hold the ratchet head on the bolt and the other to turn the handle. What's the problem? I started my flex head ratchet journey with a Williams B-54 and it's still my fave.
Mr Ratchet
Well-known member
Looks like a modified upside down version of the Armstrong/Gearwrench/Husky/Matco locking system. The yoke/forks being on the ratchet head instead of the handle. To me it looks like a vast improvement over the current SO locking system. I still like the A/G/H/M style better especially the Armstrong/Matco that has the lever recessed.
The great thing about some of the locking flex heads is you can leave them unlocked if you don't want it locked for some reason. They act just a non locking flex with no detents. Non locking with no detents is my least favorite ratchet style.
Yesterday I was under a truck pulling on my Husky long handle 1/2" drive ratchet with a 15/16" socket. Had the handle locked one notch backwards and pulled one handed with confidence.
The great thing about some of the locking flex heads is you can leave them unlocked if you don't want it locked for some reason. They act just a non locking flex with no detents. Non locking with no detents is my least favorite ratchet style.
Yesterday I was under a truck pulling on my Husky long handle 1/2" drive ratchet with a 15/16" socket. Had the handle locked one notch backwards and pulled one handed with confidence.
Everyone's ratchet preference is different. I actually hate flex ratchets with detents. It seems the detent is never in the right spot. I much prefer a tight joint with no detents. If Snap-on comes out with a 3/8 with the new locking mechanism in the 12 to 14" range with a hard handle I might not be able to resist.
Jweebothee
Well-known member
I hope so, if it does come in a hard handle I know I’ll have 3 in black blue and purple if available, I really don’t like the comfort grips at all,
If it’s not then I plan on getting a soft grip anyway and converting it. Not exactly cost effective but neither is Snappy in the first place.
demarpaint
Well-known member
+2 No grip would work fine for me.
javyLSU
Well-known member
If I’m not using an electric ratchet it’s because of a clearance problem, and fixed head ratchets won’t solve those problems. I noticed I hadn’t touched my fixed head ratchets in months after I got my FHX80A, so I sold them.
My guy had them today but only in red, hopefully I have a green one in my hands next week.
He said no on hard handles, comfort or bare only.
These are 20" long which will make my longest 1/8" ratchet by a long shot!
demarpaint
Well-known member
Any ETA on "bare?" Thanks.
He had them too.
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The current 18" flex head is super useful, consider it more of a breaker bar with a really nice ratchet.
I'm looking forward to trying one of these new ones, not ordering until I've got my paws on one.
demarpaint
Well-known member
Thanks!
The old locking mechanism had room for improvement, but I guess that didn’t stop me from buying 3 or 4 of them in various configurations. I will never be sold on soft-grip though. I don’t mind buying $200 ratchets, but it’s a deal breaker when expensive tools look like **** after a week.
kudakev615
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2017
- Messages
- 174
my SO guy had them on the truck today so i picked one up. he said they were on promo for $180ish with some random free low cut socks with umbrellas on them?? and reg price was $230ish, what are you guys paying for them?