New Snap-On Reversible Ratchet Wrenches

[ocloc24]

Hello all,

So I've done several searches and found little to nothing on the topic, which is surprising. Sometime last year snap on updated the design on their reversible ratchet wrenches, recessing the lever further and also adding a back plate to each wrench with 2 torx screws much like a normal ratchet.

My first question is, does anyone else who owns/ has used these notice any performance differences? Between the old soexrr vs the new soxrr? I have the new design in SAE and the older in Metric. My first impression was that the newer design has amazingly low backdrag.. hands down the smoothest rat wrench I've ever handled, and I've tried quite a few brands. I also own GW, Cman, Dewalts and some Matco DBE ratcheting flex. These new snap on blow all of those away, and in my short time with them, they seem to be quite durable as well(I don't baby them). I'm just looking for others impressions/experience with them.

Also, with the new designs easy access to the internals, has anyone tried opening these up and dropping a drop of lube in? The set I bought are all pretty well lubricated excepted one, which sounds bone dry. I've already taken a peek inside another one, to satisfy my curiosity. Wondering if anyone else has serviced these, as normally if a rat wrench is dry/locked up/rough I've always had to drop them in atf or something and deal with it leaking out for a week.

Thanks all.



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[ocloc24]

Here's what the internals look like on the new ones if anyone's curious.

This is the 1/2" SOXRR

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[Wamsutta]

Fantastic! Thanks for the pictures.

 

[gdocktor3]

Pretty sweet.

 

[TheMadMech]

I got an older set and have traded a few into my guy who has given me the new ones instead. I work in dusty dirty environments. The new style vastly out perform the old style.

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[dkroth]

There was another thread from a few months ago, for your reference:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=346864

 

[JDon99]

I got an older set and have traded a few into my guy who has given me the new ones instead. I work in dusty dirty environments. The new style vastly out perform the old style.

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Working in the batch house will definitely show how well these are sealed!

 

[ocloc24]

So as an update I decided to put a drop of the magical "Red Lube of Love" in each wrench(Very bored at work). These were unbelievably smooth to begin with, with lubrication they are almost too smooth! No backdrag whatsoever.

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[JDon99]

Are there any seals inside of the head?

 

[ocloc24]

None that I saw upon removing the back plate, just a snug fit and little to no play in the box/gear.

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[Wamsutta]

So as an update I decided to put a drop of the magical "Red Lube of Love" in each wrench(Very bored at work). These were unbelievably smooth to begin with, with lubrication they are almost too smooth! No backdrag whatsoever.

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That RLL might be a little too thick for such a fine tooth mechanism. That stuff is usually reserved for coarse tooth ratchets like 30 tooth.

 

[ocloc24]

That RLL might be a little too thick for such a fine tooth mechanism. That stuff is usually reserved for coarse tooth ratchets like 30 tooth.

I never used to but I tried a while back with one of my dual 80s, after getting sick of trying thinner lubricants and having them leak out everywhere. I found that as long as I only add a small drop I got pretty good results. Too much and it will start skipping though.

I know I probably shouldn't but I swear by RLL, although I've had good results with superlube as well.

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[Wamsutta]

I never used to but I tried a while back with one of my dual 80s, after getting sick of trying thinner lubricants and having them leak out everywhere. I found that as long as I only add a small drop I got pretty good results. Too much and it will start skipping though.

I know I probably shouldn't but I swear by RLL, although I've had good results with superlube as well.

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I use the RLL in MAC 30 tooth ratchets and Superlube in all the SO ratchets. I mainly use Superlube in the SO ratchets because it's the only lube I've found that's safe for the seals. Anything else I've tried causes the seals to swell up and then I can't get the ratchet back together.

 

[retDAC]

... My first impression was that the newer design has amazingly low backdrag.. hands down the smoothest rat wrench I've ever handled, and I've tried quite a few brands. I also own GW, Cman, Dewalts and some Matco DBE ratcheting flex. These new snap on blow all of those away, and in my short time with them, they seem to be quite durable as well(I don't baby them). ...

How do the heads compare in width and thickness to Dewalt?

 

[ocloc24]

I'm in for the night, but I can get you an exact answer tomorrow. Off the top of my head they're definetly slimmer but my dewalts are metric and my SO are SAE so they live in different drawers and I've never had them side my side. But I'm glad you brought that up, tomorrow since I have a few of the major brands who make ratchet wrenches, I'll post of some pictures comparing them against the different brands. I'm curious myself how they compare. Could be informative to prospective buyers as well.

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[Thax]

I have the metric set , these wrenches are phenomenal. They easily outperform every ratcheting wrench ive ever owned or used before. I traded in my Matco set for these and do not regret it. They have incredibly smooth backdrag , very good fit on fasteners and seem to be tough. I was warranting out a Matco wrench every 2 months or so , not a issue so far with the snappy's. The cost is really steep, but they are by far the best out there.

 

[Tonyuk]

Nice to finally see a ratchet spanner that can be re-built.

 

[ocloc24]

So here is a side by side comparison to a few different ratchet wrenches of different brands. All are a 5/8, with the exception of the DeWalt which is a 16mm (I figured close enough). Gearwrench are older Made in Taiwan models, the non reversible snap ons are about 3 year old so obviously the older design. It was nice to see such a vast improvement. I don't have any of my old reversible snap on handy unfortunately.

I took my calipers and measured across each wrenches box end measuring the outer diameter and also the thickness/height of the box end. Below is the list of each wrench, with the first number representing the O.D., and the second being the height of the box end. I know this is not a perfect test as I'm not comparing against all reversible or all of the same style. But hopefully it is helpful to some. I double checked all measurements to provide some accuracy.
-Snap On Reversible(New Design)
28.68mm
9.96mm
-Snap On Stubby (Old Design)
30.57mm
11.20mm
-Snap On Non-Reversible (Old Design)
30.30mm
11.11mm
-Dewalt Non-Reversible(16mm)
29.50mm
10.45mm
-Mac Double Flex Head Combo
29.15mm
10.03mm
-Pittsburgh Flex-Head
30.71mm
10.72mm
-Craftsman Non-Reversible
32.72mm
10.39mm
-Gearwrench Flex-Head
30.13mm
9.95mm
-Gearwrench XL Double Box
32.20mm
10.41mm
-Pittsburgh Stubby
30.76mm
10.73mm

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[ocloc24]

Thank you very much.

*Thumbs up*
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[chrisnazzy]

Nice comparison. Thanks for taking the time to provide pics of so many common ratcheting wrenches.

Pretty clear winner there if someone was less concerned with price and more interested in having the smoothest, thinnest and longest ratcheting combo wrench. Not to mention quality, warranty and ability to be rebuilt.

I want a set someday for sure!

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[ocloc24]

Nice comparison. Thanks for taking the time to provide pics of so many common ratcheting wrenches.

Pretty clear winner there if someone was less concerned with price and more interested in having the smoothest, thinnest and longest ratcheting combo wrench. Not to mention quality, warranty and ability to be rebuilt.

I want a set someday for sure!

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Thank you.The main reason I did this was when I was looking at these while shopping around I couldn't find too much information on them, so hopefully someone else can benefit from this information.

I will say this, the GW did the job just fine, even the HF are more than worth the 20 something bucks. Snap on just knocked it out of the park on these. My only gripe is the selector lever is recessed and pretty difficult to reverse, it would be difficult in a tight spot. Outside of that though I would say these are probably the best money can buy.

I do have a set of matco double box end flex in Metric, they're pretty awesome as well, they just don't make them in SAE
Now if only snap on would release DBE flex ratcheting wrenches with Dual 80 mechanisms. They're current DBE still have the old bulky heads and they only have the ones with a single end that ratchets. If they redesign them in line with these new ones I'd buy them in a heartbeat.

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[Flash21]

Guys - How are these newer design ratcheting wrenches holding up?

 

[Ton ton]

I understand that this is an ancient thread. I'm as curious as the above poster about the longevity.

 

[Ton ton]

Much appreciated, tool man.

 

[RickyLahey]

I recently watched a YouTube video of someone using a snap on jig to prove no other won’t fit. I checked out the measurements of Bacho but they are slightly bigger, seems KS tools and bacho are the same product.

I don’t doubt the Snap on are fantastic but has anyone come across a Taiwan ratchet wrench to compete with the dimensions of the snap on?
.

 

[will335i]

I recently watched a YouTube video of someone using a snap on jig to prove no other won’t fit. I checked out the measurements of Bacho but they are slightly bigger, seems KS tools and bacho are the same product.

I don’t doubt the Snap on are fantastic but has anyone come across a Taiwan ratchet wrench to compete with the dimensions of the snap on?
.

Williams

 

[bsaint]

Williams

I have the Williams ones they are different. New style Snappy are unique right now to them

 

[will335i]

I have the Williams ones they are different. New style Snappy are unique right now to them

I am aware he was asking about a set that can compare with the dimensions. The Williams are close and are high quality. I have the reversing flex head in SAE and Metric and the regular ratcheting in Metric.

 

[bsaint]

No way the Williams are not even close. The outside radius is way bigger per wrench.

And they are really thin on the open end side and really fat on the ratcheting