Question about Matco locking flex ratchets?

[losabio]

Do the Matco locking flex ratchets have click stops/detents when the head flexes, or it it just a continuous free movement of the ratchet head? (I'm hoping for click stops.) Thanks for any info y'all can provide.

 

[efb16acrx]

no click

 

[Sterff]

Do the Matco locking flex ratchets have click stops/detents when the head flexes, or it it just a continuous free movement of the ratchet head? (I'm hoping for click stops.) Thanks for any info y'all can provide.

There are slots to lock it in different positions.

 

[Askme42]

I just bought the Armstrong version and bought an 88 tooth replacement kit.

 

[losabio]

no click

There are slots to lock it in different positions.

I think that the locking feature might be as good as/better than clicks for the way that I use flex ratchets. Only one way to find out, right? (There have definitely been instances where a tool looked awesome to me on paper, only to be frustrating to use in real life -- and vice versa.) Thanks everybody for the info.

 

[DTB]

Free movement when it is unlocked. You can tighten the pivot screw though. I rarely use mine unlocked however, but you can if you have to.

 

[NFH2740]

There are slots to lock it in different positions.

That is what I love about the Armstrong version.

 

[Skin]

Free movement when it is unlocked. You can tighten the pivot screw though. I rarely use mine unlocked however, but you can if you have to.

Just for clarification its not free moving as in floppy. The actual locking gear doubles as a friction pivot when unlocked (its spring loaded and pushes into the head).

 

[losabio]

Just for clarification its not free movie as in floppy. The actual locking gear doubles as a friction pivot when unlocked (its spring loaded and pushes into the head).

Oh, I'm totally getting one of these then. I picked up the SK 3/8" RH flex and the HF double-ended long flex -- both with floppy heads -- and when I finally got a chance to use them for repairs, the floppiness of the heads drove me up the wall. I guess when I use a flex head to get at a somewhat inaccessible fastener, I'll set the angle beforehand and then try to reach with the ratchet and stick the socket on the bolt head. The click detent flex heads provide enough stability for me to jiggle/finesse the socket onto the bolt, whereas sometimes the floppy ones just droop backwards when I try to get the socket seated. It's already frustrating enough to try to get to these bolts, and adding a floppy flex head to the mix just makes my blood pressure go up. (My previous experience with flex heads were the GW 60t flex ratchets with click detents.)

 

[wittycow]

If you get a Matco version, make SURE it is a good one! Many of them do not lock in place completely straight / flat. I went through 3 of them with before I found one that locked completely straight when I locked it in position. All of them were slightly crooked

 

[Askme42]

If you get a Matco version, make SURE it is a good one! Many of them do not lock in place completely straight / flat. I went through 3 of them with before I found one that locked completely straight when I locked it in position. All of them were slightly crooked

And that matters why?

Use a standard ratchet in that case.

 

[DTB]

Just for clarification its not free movie as in floppy. The actual locking gear doubles as a friction pivot when unlocked (its spring loaded and pushes into the head).

Correct, I just meant you were not limited to specific angles the other ratchets with detents have. You have a free range of motion however you choose. The head does not flop around loosely.

 

[JDon99]

There is a spring washer in the ratchet head pivot that provides a constant amount of friction between the handle and the head itself. I suppose you can tighten the bolt to make the pivot tighter, but I don't think that is how it was designed. You will like them OP