So I was reading up reviews on the Mac axis ratchets and when they first came out it seemed that some people complained about the flex head models being a little loose and without a way to tighten the tension on the fork bolt. Have they improved that any or for any of you that have them do you mind them? I have a drawer full of dual 80s and Matco 88s but wanted to give the new MAC a try. I ordered a fixed head version to try the other day but wanted some opinions on the flex head versions.
Question on Mac Axis/ Proto 90 ratchets
- Thread starter DTB
- Start date
I'm in the not happy with mine crowd. The flex head uses a cheap flat wave washer to tension the head. When I get ambitious I was thinking about milling out the handle to accept a round spring washer like Snap on uses. They got everything else about this ratchet right but failed in the pivot head tension.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Call me finicky, but I don't like the looks of the cover plate not being flush with the ratchet body. They could've easily made it flush, but chose not to for some reason.
http://www.mactools.com/en-us/media/mac-tools-videos/axis-ratchet
http://www.mactools.com/en-us/media/mac-tools-videos/axis-ratchet
I'm with Andy mine works itself loose pretty frequently. Also the cover 'seal' if that's what it is deformed after about six months. I took it out and tossed it....but now if I tighten the cover plate tight, it binds when trying to switch direction. I was really hoping for a good product, and it's fair, but now it has problems and my Mac dealer *****. I bought the 18" flex version with the soft grip handle. I can tell you if Snap On came with a dual 80 like this it would be gone as soon as my dealer could hand me one.
Well thanks for the opinions. My fixed head version hasn't showed up yet so the verdict is still out on it but I think I will stay away from the flex.My Matco versions all lock and I run the dual 80s pretty stiff on the hinge so I don't think I'd want the floppy Mac.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have a mixture of MAC axis ratchets with all metal or soft grip, fixed & flex head version in mostly 1/4 & 3/8 drive. I do have a 1/2 drive flex head with the all metal handle. I also have two PROTO precision 90 ratchets, a short 3/8 drive flex head and a long handle fixed 3/8 ratchet.
First off, I haven't had any issues with the MAC ratchets. I like them. I would prefer the old style MAC screwdriver handle to the soft grip handle currently offered but, that's just me. There is a threaded screw on the flex heads to allow for tightening should you develop head flop. I do live in fear that the seal is going to pop out at any moment though
I did have an issue with the short 3/8 drive Proto Precision 90 flex head ratchet and wrote about it somewhere in the journal. The issue was that the head of the screw holding the flex head to the handle wasn't flush. It stuck out quite a bit. This bothered the hell out of me because, I place my thumb on the screw head for easy wrist action. I drilled out the counter sunk area slightly to provide for the screw head to be flush and that solved the issue. Now given how expensive these ratchets are, PROTO should have realized there was an issue and addressed it prior to the ratchets shipping. I do like the half knurled/half smooth finish on the PROTO handles though.
If you don't like these ratchets, perhaps the new 90 tooth ratchet from SK will be the ticket,
First off, I haven't had any issues with the MAC ratchets. I like them. I would prefer the old style MAC screwdriver handle to the soft grip handle currently offered but, that's just me. There is a threaded screw on the flex heads to allow for tightening should you develop head flop. I do live in fear that the seal is going to pop out at any moment though
I did have an issue with the short 3/8 drive Proto Precision 90 flex head ratchet and wrote about it somewhere in the journal. The issue was that the head of the screw holding the flex head to the handle wasn't flush. It stuck out quite a bit. This bothered the hell out of me because, I place my thumb on the screw head for easy wrist action. I drilled out the counter sunk area slightly to provide for the screw head to be flush and that solved the issue. Now given how expensive these ratchets are, PROTO should have realized there was an issue and addressed it prior to the ratchets shipping. I do like the half knurled/half smooth finish on the PROTO handles though.
If you don't like these ratchets, perhaps the new 90 tooth ratchet from SK will be the ticket,
There is no way that dinky little screw is going to compress the ears on the ratchet head to tighten up the pivot. All the friction comes from a dinky little spring washer the looses it's tension way to quickly.
HighPlainsWrencher
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2013
- Messages
- 218
I have the 18inch 3/8's drive flex head version. Bought it new and barely used it until one day I snapped the flex joint. I sent in a nice hardly used ratchet and what I got back was a pile of **** that looked like it had been riding around in a service truck all over hell being used as a ratchet and a hammer. I cant tighten the backing plate up even the slightest bit otherwise the selector jams up but at the same time the damn plate is so loose that the gears start to jump and skip while you are trying to use it. I cant say for certain but I wonder if he had a used trade in that he gave to me then sent mine in to get back a brand new ratchet that could be sold for new price.
That screw will tighten it up, but it's a PITA, and the design ***** regardless. As I said once Snap On has a similar length flex ratchet I'm done with it.
superautobacs
Well-known member
I have the 25" long 1/2 drive flex head that I've been using daily at work. I haven't experienced any flop, any skipping, or jamming. Not much to complain, other than the backing plate not sitting flush and wishing that the soft grip handle was a bit more larger in diameter.
stercorarius
Well-known member
I have the long flex head 1/2 drive proto. No complaints. Keep it in the service truck as my go to. The seal on the head did deform and have to be removed after the third use though.
Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk
Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk
I wanted to buy this ratchet, but at the difficulty in locating it, the complaints above, it seems like it makes more sense to go with a tried and true Dual 80, or the New SK model.
Shame too, I'd like to sponsor alternatives like Proto!
Shame too, I'd like to sponsor alternatives like Proto!
superautobacs
Well-known member
I forgot to add that I also have the long 1/4 drive flex head as well. Same experience and comments applies, as I did with the 1/2 drive flex.
I haven't seen anything about a comfort grip yet just the chrome handle. FLLF80. Guess I will see this week when they are released here.
For all the complaining about MAC Snap-On copied MAC's flex head design. The "ears" are now on the head.
davethorik
Well-known member
Then they both copied Cornwell. Older Cornwell breaker bars are like this. I'm sure they weren't the first to do it either.
Loscaldazar
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2013
- Messages
- 2,385
Yeah, I'm with dave, the design on the Mac flex heads is as old as dirt, and generally is used on breaker bars. Even Harbor Freight had this design on their breaker bars before Snap On or MAC had them on their ratchets
I also believe Snap On's 36" 1/2 drive breaker bar uses this kind of design too, and that's been out for years.
I also believe Snap On's 36" 1/2 drive breaker bar uses this kind of design too, and that's been out for years.
I broke my SO FHLF80A loosening a 21mm alignment adjuster. It broke at the flex head "ears" and I was reading up on how they changed those ears on the new longer handle model that just came out. They havent brought that change into this ratchet yet, though.
Ive been interested in the new Mac ratchet ever since it came out, but I dont have a Mac truck. I found a Brand new one on ebay for about 70 bucks (Xr1390fpa) and Figured Id buy it to replace the broken SO and sell the brand new SO once my truck guy warrantied it for me.
I got it today and posted it for sale.. but now reading these comments Im having second thoughts.
My flex head seems very tight. Is it going to loosen up fairly quickly with moderate use?
Part of my annoyance with the SO ratchet also, was the rubber grip would slide off sometimes. The Mac handle seems to be stuck on there much better.
Im liking the action of the Mac ratchet head sofar.. so will probably keep it, even though the sensible side of me keeps saying I should keep the SO since I ALWAYS will have a SO truck, no matter where I work, compared to MACs disappearing trucks
Ive been interested in the new Mac ratchet ever since it came out, but I dont have a Mac truck. I found a Brand new one on ebay for about 70 bucks (Xr1390fpa) and Figured Id buy it to replace the broken SO and sell the brand new SO once my truck guy warrantied it for me.
I got it today and posted it for sale.. but now reading these comments Im having second thoughts.
My flex head seems very tight. Is it going to loosen up fairly quickly with moderate use?
Part of my annoyance with the SO ratchet also, was the rubber grip would slide off sometimes. The Mac handle seems to be stuck on there much better.
Im liking the action of the Mac ratchet head sofar.. so will probably keep it, even though the sensible side of me keeps saying I should keep the SO since I ALWAYS will have a SO truck, no matter where I work, compared to MACs disappearing trucks
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I have ran into this same issue. I have gone years without Mac, Matco and Cornwell. I have always had SnapOn show up every week no mater where I have worked. The other companies just can't keep Franchise owners. They will get a new driver and he will be all gung-ho for the first few months then before you know it their truck is near empty and it takes months to get tools. The driver will always blame it on the company not having stock but we all know the real reason is they are on credit hold because they can't pay there bill. I believe SnapOn requires there franchise owners to have enough operating capital to run the business until it starts making money and in turn the drivers are able to stay in business.
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So I stand corrected. I dug my ratchet out of the back of the tool box and tightened it up. It does work but we will see how long. I just don't get how Mac can produce this great new ratchet and screw up something so simple.
I got them off ebay lightly used.
SnapOnAddiction
Banned
I don't like mine if you over lube them, say with assembly lube they skip under load (spark plugs) just got a rebuild kit for one for skipping to much.
Had issues with my apex made Matcos and Cornwell 72t with lube also I was using super lube lightly even and it made them lock up if you turned them with your fingers quickly.
The Cornwell issue was only with the 1/2 and the newer AN manufacturing Matcos are way better.
Have not had any issues with my flex head Macs being loose and if you order a rebuild kit for a flex head it comes with the washers and torx bolt.
Maybe you could switch the cupped washers for wave washers? Just a thought.
Had issues with my apex made Matcos and Cornwell 72t with lube also I was using super lube lightly even and it made them lock up if you turned them with your fingers quickly.
The Cornwell issue was only with the 1/2 and the newer AN manufacturing Matcos are way better.
Have not had any issues with my flex head Macs being loose and if you order a rebuild kit for a flex head it comes with the washers and torx bolt.
Maybe you could switch the cupped washers for wave washers? Just a thought.
superautobacs
Well-known member
Assembly lube into a fine-tooth mechanism just sounds like a recipe for disaster 
I'm not surprised that they would skip.
I'm not surprised that they would skip.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Too much assembly lube made the 90 tooth MAC ratchet skip? I'm curious to know what kind of assembly lube it was.