Push thru ratchets?
- Thread starter radnack
- Start date
SeisMec
Well-known member
Whoa. I've never seen that. Does that mean you have to remove the socket and reattach it to reverse direction?
SeisMec
Well-known member
Had to find out what radnack was talking about.
https://products.wera.de/en/zyklop_ratchets_and_accessories_koloss_8002_c_koloss_all_inclusive_set.html
https://products.wera.de/en/zyklop_ratchets_and_accessories_koloss_8002_c_koloss_all_inclusive_set.html
seber
Well-known member
Why would you want that?
Yeah youd have to remove the socket i always thought they were pretty neat but never used one. i was hoping to find a cheap one but most so far ive seen were around 50 like those links above. Probably not worth the money though
rlitman
Well-known member
Exactly. It's a really old concept.
Here's an example of the ones I own. Made by WGB in Germany. I'm not sure where you can buy them here. I got them in a home improvement store in Germany.
In my case, the rubber handle rotates, and turns the square drive in one direction. Convenient for tight locations, though you can't get too much torque with that feature. It can still be used as a normal ratchet as well.
neophyte
Well-known member
It’s possible with pear head ratchets, and other ratchets with a reversing lever, to accidentally switch the ratchet rotation if you drop the ratchet, or bump the ratchet against something.
Round Head Ratchets with a reversing ring can can have the same issue if you don’t pay attention.
With push thru ratchets, once the socket is placed on the ratchet, it’s obvious if the ratchet has bern reversed, because the docket would get knocked off in the process.
Also, some push thru ratchet designs also allowed the square head to be pushed completely out of the ratchet, in case you needed a different head size or a specialty design.
Some older specialty ratchets were also made with a thru head design that allowed the ratchet to be used as a pass thru ratchet, and for these there were push thru square drive ratchet adapters so the ratchet could also be used for square drive sockets.
rlitman
Well-known member
I have a Stahlwille torque wrench like this, though it's not a ratchet. The (fixed) business end has a 3/8" square hole that the square drive goes in. I have one square drive that's just 3/8" square, with two spring loaded ball bearings. But I also have one that's 3/8" on one side and 1/2" on the other, so I can use it with both 3/8" and 1/2" sockets without an adapter.
Since the torque wrench is directional, I can also push the drive through to the top and use it upside down, to torque counter-clockwise.
Dakkyz
Well-known member
Arguably stronger design, but 3/8 doesn't make much sense.
CGT80
Well-known member
The Gearwrench tap and die ratchets that I have are pass through, but I don't know if they work from both sides since they have a reversing lever on top. The small handle has adapters to use 3/8s socket extensions. I'm not sure if Gearwrench has a socket set that is made the same way.
Push through has an anvil permanently attached. Its a really antiquated design but Wera seems to like to introduce useless "new" tools.
rlitman
Well-known member
Push through has an anvil permanently attached. Its a really antiquated design but Wera seems to like to introduce useless "new" tools.
Come to think of it, my Titan gearless ratchets have the same style permanent push-through anvil.
Gearless/clutch ratchets do it because there was no easy way to change the direction of the cams. At least such a ratchet also has a purpose in its no backlash/minimum swing arc. Not really any excuse for a normal geared ratchet though, which the Wera is. Its also non-serviceable if I remember right.
seber
Well-known member
HF has that. Have not heard good things about it though.
Qualitytools
Well-known member
My WERA 1/2 torque wrench has this feature. I believe that it creates a stronger ratcheting mechanism and eliminate the lever to switch direction. I use it all the time, I think it's clever.
tool_scrounge
Well-known member
Still being made. Sometimes the use requirements (such as non-sparking) dictate materials that do not lend themselves to a normal design (such as beryllium).
Here is an ad for one I sold a while back on the GJ
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142985&highlight=Ampco
Here is an ad for one I sold a while back on the GJ
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142985&highlight=Ampco
platypus20
Well-known member
I have Allens, Armstrongs, Williams, Protos, Macs and few others. Most are from the 40s and 50s, the Macs are 80s vintage and the Allens are roughly 2017.
Darby9
Well-known member
I've had this one kicking around the bottom of a toolbox for years--never knew what it was called or used for until this thread!
