NOS Easco RHFT 3/8 flex head ratchet

[davethorik]

There is a seller on ebay that has "more than 10" qty of Easco 721413 nos 3/8 flex head QR ratchets bin for $28.95. I just bought one for shits and giggles, figured GJ might want to know. Seller also has nos KD 3/8 flex QR ratchets but interestingly they are priced at $31.95.

I always had a soft spot for Easco ratchets. I prefer the knurled handle to Craftsman handle.

 

[drink]

You have got to show us some pictures of these ratchets.

 

[kospina]

I'm guessing this is the one:
http://m.ebay.com/itm/EASCO-721413-...SE-BUTTON-THUMBWHEEL-/222223645328?nav=SEARCH

 

[davethorik]

Yes. I have a soft spot for the RHFT ratchet.

 

[bonneyman]

There is a seller on ebay that has "more than 10" qty of Easco 721413 nos 3/8 flex head QR ratchets bin for $28.95. I just bought one for shits and giggles, figured GJ might want to know. Seller also has nos KD 3/8 flex QR ratchets but interestingly they are priced at $31.95.

I always had a soft spot for Easco ratchets. I prefer the knurled handle to Craftsman handle.

 

[Bdgjr215]

Thanks for the heads up.I just bought one of each ,the KD and the easco.I have the craftsman version that my buddy has been pestering me to sell to him for a hundred bucks.
When these guys show up ,I think ill let the craftsman go.

 

[gdocktor3]

How many teeth are those Easco ratchets? I have an older 1/4" Easco round head qr with thumb wheel and it's not as fine as I'd like. Not like my 1/4" SK round head.

 

[KnurledNut]

How many teeth are those Easco ratchets? I have an older 1/4" Easco round head qr with thumb wheel and it's not as fine as I'd like. Not like my 1/4" SK round head.

Without getting too technical, expect dual pawl "action" clicks of:
1/4...70
3/8...82
1/2...90

 

[gdocktor3]

Even the older ones? I think mine is 711106 and it doesn't feel very fine to me. I cleaned and lubed it when I got it a few months back. Not a bad ratchet, I was just curious. Feels more like my old 1/4" Craftsman round head. My 60t SK is much smoother.

 

[Fedwrench]

Even the older ones? I think mine is 711106 and it doesn't feel very fine to me. I cleaned and lubed it when I got it a few months back. Not a bad ratchet, I was just curious. Feels more like my old 1/4" Craftsman round head. My 60t SK is much smoother.

Actually, I think the ratcheting action is more like 41-43 teeth. They aren't quite as fine/smooth as the SK professional series ratchets but, a great ratchet all the same. I'm surprised a box of 40 year old ratchets showed up. The KD versions are probably newer but, it has been awhile since those were made too.

 

[warmpancakes]

I'm surprised a box of 40 year old ratchets showed up. The KD versions are probably newer but, it has been awhile since those were made too.

Military surplus, Our GOVT is great at misplacing stuff for years,

Around here the auctions for the old school autoplant workers are the best they lunchboxed anything that wasnt bolted down.

 

[Fedwrench]

Military surplus, Our GOVT is great at misplacing stuff for years,

I understand the Government/Military Surplus possibility but, a 3/8 drive flex head ratchet wasn't part of the number one common tool kit back in the day. I get the old Easco combination wrench sets and the Bonney metric open end
wrench sets you see on Ebay because, the government must have bought thousands of those sets in the 1980's when we transitioned from jeeps to HMMWVs. I'm thinking the ratchets might be left over from a parts distribution center closing. I know the KD versions were going for $15 a ratchet when Checker Auto Parts was closing out their remaining stock of KD tools a couple of years ago

On a side note, you would think that as popular as that ratchet is, either Armstrong or Craftsman Industrial would make it today under their name. I mean they're hawking the 36 tooth & non quick release round head, why not sell the one that was the real winner.

 

[gdocktor3]

. I mean they're hawking the 36 tooth & non quick release round head, why not sell the one that was the real winner.

Because Sear's top brass are real losers?

 

[sk farmer]

I understand the Government/Military Surplus possibility but, a 3/8 drive flex head ratchet wasn't part of the number one common tool kit back in the day. I get the old Easco combination wrench sets and the Bonney metric open end
wrench sets you see on Ebay because, the government must have bought thousands of those sets in the 1980's when we transitioned from jeeps to HMMWVs. I'm thinking the ratchets might be left over from a parts distribution center closing. I know the KD versions were going for $15 a ratchet when Checker Auto Parts was closing out their remaining stock of KD tools a couple of years ago

On a side note, you would think that as popular as that ratchet is, either Armstrong or Craftsman Industrial would make it today under their name. I mean they're hawking the 36 tooth & non quick release round head, why not sell the one that was the real winner.

not splitting hairs but i believe it was o'reilly selling the flex ratchets, i bought 2 of them.

as far as the rhft? i don't know who is capable of making them. even though i would put them right up towards the top of the ratchet heap there is a fair amount of work making them. that ratchet is a fairly complicated piece of machinery to make. two pawls, the offset position of them, the quick release mechanism, the snap ring grooves, the teeth broached in the head. lots of little parts that have to be just right.

compare them to most ratchets on the market now with a simple floating pawl. those ratchets that basicly have a pawl, a gear and some springs have to be easier and cheaper to make than a rhft. not saying they are better that the rhft but i doubt they can be made cheaper and sadly that is what most people look at.

well that and don't forget the people who market craftsman are stupid...............

 

[davethorik]

Im not surprised per se that nobody raised the RHFT from the dead. It sounds like Armstrong/Danaher or whoever owns it now has their head firmly lodged in their ***.

You can't say that they are too expensive to make, Wright has the dual pawl ratchets that function much the same, except no thumbwheel and they use the "keychain" snap ring which i think is better than a c-clip. Truth be told i prefer Wright but i still like traditional RHFT.

I still have an Allen branded 1/2 drive RHFT nos i bought from cripe a few years ago. I also have a nos Allen 1/4, as well as a Craftsman 1/4 that isn't nos but great shape. I'd really like to find a 15" long 1/2 drive but they aren't common. I used to have a KD 3/8 flex, but I gave it to someone who needed it more than i did.

 

[sk farmer]

Im not surprised per se that nobody raised the RHFT from the dead. It sounds like Armstrong/Danaher or whoever owns it now has their head firmly lodged in their ***.

You can't say that they are too expensive to make, Wright has the dual pawl ratchets that function much the same, except no thumbwheel and they use the "keychain" snap ring which i think is better than a c-clip. Truth be told i prefer Wright but i still like traditional RHFT.

I still have an Allen branded 1/2 drive RHFT nos i bought from cripe a few years ago. I also have a nos Allen 1/4, as well as a Craftsman 1/4 that isn't nos but great shape. I'd really like to find a 15" long 1/2 drive but they aren't common. I used to have a KD 3/8 flex, but I gave it to someone who needed it more than i did.

notice i didn't say too expensive to make, i said other styles are cheaper to make. craftsman prefers to sell cheaper, questionable tools and spend money on advertising which they do a pile of.

the wright, an excellent ratchet that i also have a few of is however a much simpler design than the typical rhft. yes, it is dual pawl but it lacks the thumb wheel and quick release. features that add multiple steps and parts to the mfg. process. the wright as you mentioned has the exposed ring. nothing wrong with that but machining one groove around the mechanism on the wright is far easier than machining a groove around the mechanism and inside of the handle like the rhft. while i don't think the rhft mechanism is too expensive to make it is hard to argue that other styles are more than likely much easier and cheaper to make.

 

[davethorik]

notice i didn't say too expensive to make, i said other styles are cheaper to make. craftsman prefers to sell cheaper, questionable tools and spend money on advertising which they do a pile of.

the wright, an excellent ratchet that i also have a few of is however a much simpler design than the typical rhft. yes, it is dual pawl but it lacks the thumb wheel and quick release. features that add multiple steps and parts to the mfg. process. the wright as you mentioned has the exposed ring. nothing wrong with that but machining one groove around the mechanism on the wright is far easier than machining a groove around the mechanism and inside of the handle like the rhft. while i don't think the rhft mechanism is too expensive to make it is hard to argue that other styles are more than likely much easier and cheaper to make.

I do agree, the Wright are probably easier and less expensive to make than rhft. Weren't some of the rhft non quick release from the factory? Regardless, im stoked to get one of these nos.

 

[davethorik]

Thanks for the heads up.I just bought one of each ,the KD and the easco.I have the craftsman version that my buddy has been pestering me to sell to him for a hundred bucks.
When these guys show up ,I think ill let the craftsman go.

I was always shocked those Craftsman go for so much, i know i wouldnt pay a lot for one.

How many teeth are those Easco ratchets? I have an older 1/4" Easco round head qr with thumb wheel and it's not as fine as I'd like. Not like my 1/4" SK round head.

I counted about 70 clicks, but i may have missed some. Id guess fedwrench is probably right, 40ish teeth and twin pawls. The craftsman 1/4 is a lot smoother than either of the nos Allens i own, but it has been used. Probably depends on the ratchet, but i have a SK 40970 converted to 3/8 and its as smooth as the Craftsman, perhaps a tad less back drag.

 

[Bdgjr215]

I just got email notification that both my ratchets shipped.that was fast!!!!!!!
Let you know when they show up

 

[aspireguy95]

Thanks just ordered one

 

[davethorik]

Tracking says it was delivered today. That was quick! I have packages delivered to my parents house as Ive had problems with them disappearing at my apartment, ill get it this weekend sometime.

 

[areyouanywhere]

Thanks for posting, I ordered one also.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EASCO-721413-3-8-DRIVE-FLEX-HEAD-RATCHET-WITH-QUICK-RELEASE-BUTTON-THUMBWHEEL-/222223645328?hash=item33bd8fba90:g:A7EAAOSwHoFXsO~c&item=222223645328&vxp=mtr

 

[Super Sport]

Didn't need it, bought it anyway. Thanks OP!

I've always liked the Easco Raised Panel design. I've been trying to assemble an Easco wrench set to replace my backup Craftsman RPs. Same quality, only a little more unique.

 

[davethorik]

Only 4 left i should get paid commission

 

[mikebaker1129]

3 now.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Didn't need it, bought it anyway. Thanks OP!

I've always liked the Easco Raised Panel design. I've been trying to assemble an Easco wrench set to replace my backup Craftsman RPs. Same quality, only a little more unique.

Which wrenches are you missing ?

 

[Tellingthem]

I got one as well. Got a few old NOS Easco items already so this will fit right in.

 

[Renchi]

I grabbed the last one . . . . .

. . . . . Why? I do not know.

 

[bluebolt]

I thought about getting one but I already have an Easco RHFT flex 3/8, graned it's not NOS LOL.

I did pick up a long handle 1/2D Easco RHFT today in good working order.

 

[timbitca]

Dang, I would have grabbed one.

I want a Crafstman flex 3/8 rhft, but I have no doubt I'll never find one locally so this would likely have been as close I would have come

 

[davethorik]

It showed up! Looks flawless aside from a couple dings.

 

[wasabiboys]

that ratchet looks great dang. missed that one

 

[Fedwrench]

You have to remember that when that ratchet was made tools weren't viewed as jewelry and polished They were meant to be used and weren't necessarily perfect out of the box. Good looking ratchet, now go get it dirty

 

[KnurledNut]

Cant help but wonder if camarotoolman bought a few...

 

[Bdgjr215]

Came home to a package today,i think i like the feel on the grip of the easco but the detent at the flex is more positive on the K-D.In the morning Ill compare it to the craftsman I have.

 

[davethorik]

You have to remember that when that ratchet was made tools weren't viewed as jewelry and polished They were meant to be used and weren't necessarily perfect out of the box. Good looking ratchet, now go get it dirty

Oh i know, this ratchet is far from perfect as far as finish is concerned. My Allens are like this too. This ratchet only has 3 detents, i thought i remembered my KD having 5. As far as detented flex heads, I'm not a big fan. However, i like this ratchet, it has a nice balance.

 

[jcfields]

.

 

[aspireguy95]

The seller has listed these again for anyone still looking