Picked up a Flex Head Duralast Ratchet today

[Suprman]

I'm slowly rebuilding my tool collection from when most everything got stolen along with my truck back in april of 2010.

anyway, I read the reviews for the Duralast ratchets on here and decided while i was in Autozone picking up a 5/16 wrench and vacuum hose and brake fluid to give to a buddy (his clutch stopped engaging in his honda and i figured instead of fixing it for free again or having o tow him when it happens again, I'll just buy him the stuff and show him how to do it.) I would pick up a duralast ratchet since they are relatively cheap.

Since I just bought a CMan Pro 3/8 ratchet i decided to get the flexhead version to mix it up. it was normal price of 22.99 (non flex head was 15.99). The Flex head design is new to me and I can see how it could come in useful in tight places.

here are some photos comparing the Three 3/8 ratchets I now own thanks to GarageJournal!

 

[Kirbot]

They make great ratchets and I'm sure you will be very happy with it.

Those prices surprised me though, thats actually quite a bit cheaper than the stores around me.

 

[Suprman]

They make great ratchets and I'm sure you will be very happy with it.

Those prices surprised me though, thats actually quite a bit cheaper than the stores around me.

yeah I was surprised at the price as well, if they are half as durable as everyone here thinks they are they will be one of the best Bang for you Buck tools ever.

 

[jeffk14]

Last fall, that ratchet was $39.99 at my local AZ. I passed. I noticed the other day that the price was down to $22.99. May have to reconsider.

 

[Pro-Painter]

At $39.99 I believe I would have passed as well.

I paid $24.99 for mine and $15.99 for the standard 3/8" ratchet.

 

[wornoutoldman]

That looks like an older snap-on alright!

 

[jay50]

that looks like an older snap-on alright!

,,,,,,,

 

[MrMark]

Who makes Duralast?

 

[jay50]

Who makes Duralast?

Trying to stir up the pot tonight, eh?

 

[Busted Bolts]

Trying to stir up the pot tonight, eh?

On your mark- get set- GOOOOOOO!

 

[trout]

Isn't the price drop the result of a switch in COO and lower quality?

 

[Kirbot]

Isn't the price drop the result of a switch in COO and lower quality?

Only the ratchets sold in sets have lowered in quality.
The one the OP bought is the same as they have always been.

I don't think there was any price drop, they are just priced differently in different parts of the country.

 

[RLRRLRLL]

autozone changes prices like crazy. seems every week or every other week they have pages of labels to change. i worked there for 2 years. one time i put new labels on all the wrenches...they went up by like 2 bucks each at that time i think, dont remember for sure. but prices there change alot. but i think the ratchets have been 15.99 and 22.99 as long as i can remember, well for the standard and the flex that is.

 

[jeffk14]

I don't think there was any price drop, they are just priced differently in different parts of the country.

Yeah, the price has dropped at the store near me. $39.99 last fall. $22.99 now.

Back when it was $39.99 at my store, it was $24.99 about an hour away.

 

[dsaabm]

I love mine. Did the Kirbot "cut two coils off the dentent spring mod" filled it with Superlube and haven't looked back. Great ratchet.

 

[Suprman]

I love mine. Did the Kirbot "cut two coils off the dentent spring mod" filled it with Superlube and haven't looked back. Great ratchet.

got a link to the mod? also should i open it up and lube it before i use it? should i also do that to my craftsman pro i bought a couple weeks ago?



Thanks

 

[Kirbot]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87874

I probably wouldn't bother doing it the Craftsman pro.
Fine tooth ratchets generally don't need it.

 

[Suprman]

Re: Picked up a Flex Head Duralast Ratchhttp://www.garagejournal.com/forum/neet today

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87874

I probably wouldn't bother doing it the Craftsman pro.
Fine tooth ratchets generally don't need it.

cool, thanks! where can i get the SuperLube?

 

[84bimmer]

Re: Picked up a Flex Head Duralast Ratchhttp://www.garagejournal.com/forum/neet today

cool, thanks! where can i get the SuperLube?

Oh ****! That just reminded me I need to goto ACE Hardware and pick up my special order. My store didn't stock it so I special ordered it. Did that two Saturdays ago, they said it would be in that Friday. Cost was $5 for 3oz tube, a buck cheaper than ordering it online (free shipping to store).

http://www.acehardware.com/product/...r+lube&origkw=super+lube&searchId=51138738964

 

[Wes28376]

Re: Picked up a Flex Head Duralast Ratchhttp://www.garagejournal.com/forum/neet today

cool, thanks! where can i get the SuperLube?

Harbor Freight

 

[makgreens]

Afteer about. A month of trying to find out who made the ratchets I got their made in a factory in taiwan....good answer when the employee is asking...glad I'm outta that place

Be careful with the flex and you may want to put some blue loctite on the small bolt that holds the head on....we had one for store use and I had to tighten it constantly....didn't hewlp no one was a real wrench turner who used it...I used my own tools haha

 

[Suprman]

Afteer about. A month of trying to find out who made the ratchets I got their made in a factory in taiwan....good answer when the employee is asking...glad I'm outta that place

Be careful with the flex and you may want to put some blue loctite on the small bolt that holds the head on....we had one for store use and I had to tighten it constantly....didn't hewlp no one was a real wrench turner who used it...I used my own tools haha

thanks for the tip, why not red loctite if i may ask?

 

[stricht8]

Don't use red loctite! You will not be able to open up the ratchet unless you heat the fastener.

 

[Suprman]

Don't use red loctite! You will not be able to open up the ratchet unless you heat the fastener.

i was just thinking of usig it on the flex joint screw, not the ones that old the cover on.

 

[stricht8]

i was just thinking of usig it on the flex joint screw, not the ones that old the cover on.

Oh, then that should be fine.

 

[Greatbear]

Because of you GJ people I bought one of those Duralast flexheads a couple months ago just to see what the big deal was, besides, I needed a light-duty ratchet that would be kept in the basement workshop for non-automotive work. It was well worth the 20-something bucks it cost. A little fine-tuning with better lubrication and the thing works well. I also picked up an odd double-jointed HF Pittsburgh "Pro" flexhead for tough areas. For 12 dollars it was a surprisingly decent tool, 72 tooth and well finished. Again, I blame GJ peeps for piquing my curiosity. The Snappy Truck is stopping by the shop tomorrow, so I can repent.