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Now I realize why Cman raised panel ratchets ****

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tjmonsen5

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Today I was repairing my neighbors Explorer, she got in a front end collision, and paid me to replace the bumper, grill, and headlights. Well, all of the bolts that hold the plastic shroud to the metal bumper were badly rusted, and all only 8mm bolts!! I dont have a 3/8 to 1/4 reducer, or any 3/8 sockets smaller than 9mm. SO, i used my 1/4 Craftsman ratchet. Wow! When putting alot of force on that ratchet, it REALLY starts to hurt your hand! All those sharp corners on those things. Now i see why you guys all hate them!! I really have never had a problem with them untill now. I have always used my breaker bar or impact to bust rusty bolts loose.

Ill be looking for some new ratchets now. Im thinking the full polish craftsmans or the slim line ones. Maybe a gearwrench and buy the matco guts for it. Sadly i dont have the money for a SnapOn ratchet right now.
 
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lipadj46

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Get a williams USA 1/4" flexhead. They are pretty long for a 1/4" and are pretty much old school snap on ratchets. They go for around $25.
 
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Boiler

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Some options would be best. Flex heads, long handles, breaker bars etc would make the work easier. I'd have used a long wrench I think, based on the info.
 
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Hiball

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I would think there would be a abundance of Snap on tools around Crystal Lake, IL.
 
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blarf

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Well that's not too much of a problem, the ratchet will conveniently reverse for you to warn that you're putting too much torque on it.

The knurled, round handles are what I really like about the SK ratchets. They feel great in my hands. Mmmmm. My Craftsman 1/4" ratchet is of the round handle variety, but it's narrow enough to still hurt my hand if I put a lot of force on it.
 
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mooman

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Check the locla NAPA stores around here for a 1/4" Gearwrench set.
They've been blowing them out here for $10. I've picked up a bunch of them.
Maybe hard to find a metric set, but you'll at least you'll get the ratchet for $10.
 
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rayzor32

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Buffalo, NY
the craftsman will give you man hands you gotta wait till those blisters start to calluse then you'll be good. :bounce:

Id look into the flea markets for williams or armstrong ratchets. If you can wait long enough to save for a used snap on it will be worth every penny.
 
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Rickster

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Or you could buy one of these 1/4 ratchets from me! I've got an extra Proto, Armstrong and Cornwell for $22 each or a couple of Snap-on's for $28 each.

IMG_2939.jpg
 
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pfbz

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Seems like the right solution is an 8mm 3/8" socket and/or a 3/8"->1/4" adapter.

I'm sure even my Snap-on T-72 1/4" ratchet wouldn't be all that pleasant to use on a high torque application.

If you want an very inexpensive and very decent ratchet, try the Harbor Freight 1/4" and 3/8" composite 72 tooth ratchets. $7 and $8 respectively.
 
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tyreguy25

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The issue with the pear head ratchets is not the edges, but the fact that they auto reverse like mentioned earlier. It pisses you off to no end when you need to put some effort into a bolt.
 
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blarf

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tyreguy25 said:
The issue with the pear head ratchets is not the edges, but the fact that they auto reverse like mentioned earlier. It pisses you off to no end when you need to put some effort into a bolt.
Click to expand...

In all fairness, I find the raised panel handles to be quite a bit less comfortable than the alternatives even at not insane levels of force.
 
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tyreguy25

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Comfort isn't why these things ****. They are, functionally, a *************. They will auto reverse on you. Read the test mrholeshot did a few weeks back. The 3/8 Dr didn't even make 100 ft/lb before reversing itself. That can and does cause busted knuckles and diarrhea of the mouth.
 
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Hiball

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Im so glad the Raised panel Ratchets i purchased in the early 90's didnt give me any of these problems. I will admit they arent the most comfortable ratchet on the market but there price point and USA Branding made them appealing to me in the 90's. Its a shame reading about the current issues in regards to the "Autoreversing" feature. Maybe they will move there Ratchet production into some of the higher end Import brands.. Dunno.
 
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rsieracki

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I know an old now retired (34 yrs in the bus) Snap On Dealer that called craftsman "criplers" and went on on how many mechanics had been crippled and to step up to a Snap On.... sure its a marketing gimmic but also possible, and after owning and using both all i can say is.... There is a difference :)
 
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kythri

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Lebanon, OR
Hiball said:
Im so glad the Raised panel Ratchets i purchased in the early 90's didnt give me any of these problems. I will admit they arent the most comfortable ratchet on the market but there price point and USA Branding made them appealing to me in the 90's. Its a shame reading about the current issues in regards to the "Autoreversing" feature. Maybe they will move there Ratchet production into some of the higher end Import brands.. Dunno.
Click to expand...

I'm glad the ones I've purchased in the last 3-5 years don't give me any of these problems.
 
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blarf

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tyreguy25 said:
The issue with the pear head ratchets is not the edges, but the fact that they auto reverse like mentioned earlier. It pisses you off to no end when you need to put some effort into a bolt.
Click to expand...

Sure. But if you've got an older one they won't reverse so easily. IMO, even if you're not putting enough torque on one to reverse it, it's still pretty damn uncomfortable. I have one, and don't use it at all. I've got a few 3/8" ratchets, but my go to 3/8" ratchet is an old Williams one. The Craftsman RP ratchet just doesn't get any use.
 
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Hiball

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blarf said:
Sure. But if you've got an older one they won't reverse so easily. IMO, even if you're not putting enough torque on one to reverse it, it's still pretty damn uncomfortable.
Click to expand...

When i was 18 and started wrenching on my own vehicles i never thought about them being uncomfortable i was just thrilled to have Tools. Now after i was introduced to some of the other handles out there its obvious there are better options out there in regards to comfort level. I affiliate it to back in the day before there was A/C in Cars and people learned how to adapt. People are Weak in my minds today, If it isnt Easy we're not interested.
 
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blarf

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Hiball said:
When i was 18 and started wrenching on my own vehicles i never thought about them being uncomfortable i was just thrilled to have Tools. Now after i was introduced to some of the other handles out there its obvious there are better options out there in regards to comfort level. I affiliate it to back in the day before there was A/C in Cars and people learned how to adapt. People are Weak in my minds today, If it isnt Easy we're not interested.
Click to expand...

Perhaps. I figure there are a number of things going against the raised panel ratchets. So far all of the other ratchets I have were cheaper (used) and older than my 3/8" raised panel. And they all feel much better in my hands.

If you're desperate and cheap, the HF Snap-On hold up better... and probably feel better too. :D

As far as automotive A/C, that would be... pre WW2, right? This guy popped up on Craigslist:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/tls/1895087870.html

Those sockets look awfully weak. I'm sure people could adapt, but wouldn't you rather have stronger sockets?
 
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Hiball

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blarf said:
Perhaps. I figure there are a number of things going against the raised panel ratchets. So far all of the other ratchets I have were cheaper (used) and older than my 3/8" raised panel. And they all feel much better in my hands.

If you're desperate and cheap, the HF Snap-On hold up better... and probably feel better too. :D

As far as automotive A/C, that would be... pre WW2, right? This guy popped up on Craigslist:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/tls/1895087870.html

Those sockets look awfully weak. I'm sure people could adapt, but wouldn't you rather have stronger sockets?
Click to expand...

Back then, that was all you needed :thumbup: I have a 1922 Hinsdale set and its very similar to that one.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40775
 
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tyreguy25

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blarf said:
Sure. But if you've got an older one they won't reverse so easily. IMO, even if you're not putting enough torque on one to reverse it, it's still pretty damn uncomfortable. I have one, and don't use it at all. I've got a few 3/8" ratchets, but my go to 3/8" ratchet is an old Williams one. The Craftsman RP ratchet just doesn't get any use.
Click to expand...

You pose a point, but the 44811 3/8 Dr ratchet was a decent tool, but is not any good anymore. They get worse with everyone I exchange out.
 
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a390st

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I have RHFT flex ratchets, which have the raised panel flex handle. I have used they quite a bit, and never noticed them being uncomfortable. My regular ratchets are SO, Matco, and CMan Next Generation. I've never had a complaint about the comfort of any of them.

I can personally confirm the issue with the pear head raised panel ratchets reversing. A 1/2" one at work turned loose on me and nearly broke my hand. I couldn't hardly use my right hand for days. I'll never forgive them for that. I've never had one of my ratchets do that.
 
OP
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tjmonsen5

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I like the ratchet, but this was the first time i put a considerable amount of torque on it. It really dug into my hand and hurt. My hands have been pretty raw the last few days from doing alot of wrenching, but still. I think a round handle ratchet would have been better. I have bought a 3/8 to 1/4 reducer so i dont need to deal with this ever again.
 
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tyreguy25

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If you need a place to send that ratchet, I will PM my contact info. I don't like them, but they aren't a poor tool, still better than the cheaper imported alternatives...
 
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RbrtAWhyt

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pfbz said:
If you want an very inexpensive and very decent ratchet, try the Harbor Freight 1/4" and 3/8" composite 72 tooth ratchets. $7 and $8 respectively.
Click to expand...

I'll second that. I was looking at them a couple of days ago and was surprised at how smooth they were. They seem to be really good ratchets for the money...
 
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cglasgow

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Hiball said:
Im so glad the Raised panel Ratchets i purchased in the early 90's didnt give me any of these problems. I will admit they arent the most comfortable ratchet on the market but there price point and USA Branding made them appealing to me in the 90's. Its a shame reading about the current issues in regards to the "Autoreversing" feature. Maybe they will move there Ratchet production into some of the higher end Import brands.. Dunno.
Click to expand...

FWIW, I did a mrholeshot-type test on a late-80s/early-90s vintage raised panel that I have. Sometime about 5-8 years ago I had it rebuilt. I don't remember when or even why, but I do remember that I had this one rebuilt instead of getting it replaced because I did not like the quality of the casting on the new one they offered me. Although I didn't notice it until I started reading GJ, the rebuild included a plastic selector. Wish I had known to request the old one be reused.....

Anyway, the ratchet held up to 140 lb-ft. I stopped there because I did not want to break it if the new ones are not as good....
 
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Mr.Nutcase

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mooman said:
check the locla napa stores around here for a 1/4" gearwrench set.
They've been blowing them out here for $10. I've picked up a bunch of them.
Maybe hard to find a metric set, but you'll at least you'll get the ratchet for $10.
Click to expand...

which napa???
 
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