Ratchet head thickness. Does it matter?

[Eric Nordstrom]

I think it was toolglutten that stated the snap on was thicker than his gearwrench. I didn't do exact But here are some pics.
http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq11/EricNordstrom/PagosaSprings2008094.jpg

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I've yet to have a problem with any of my Snap-on ratchets.

I'll sacrifice having a thinner ratchet head for a stronger gear, i can drop my weight on a 3/8" Snap-on to break bolts loose and they hold up without issue. That's worth the extra "39%" thickness in my eyes.

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

Little posting assistance.

-BWP

 

[Eric Nordstrom]

Little posting assistance.

-BWP

Thanks!
I'm still having trouble w/ all the pics.
Oh well.

 

[Theo]

It would matter to me if I didn't have the appropriate sized ratcheting wrench and I had to get in somewhere tight.

Outside of that I'm not sure a thin head is the #1 feature I'd need in a tool.

Off the top of my head I can't think of an application where I'd have to get in somewhere too tight for a ratchet, but not acceptable for a ratcheting wrench. Can anyone think of one?

 

[Eric Nordstrom]

It would matter to me if I didn't have the appropriate sized ratcheting wrench and I had to get in somewhere tight.

Outside of that I'm not sure a thin head is the #1 feature I'd need in a tool.

Off the top of my head I can't think of an application where I'd have to get in somewhere too tight for a ratchet, but not acceptable for a ratcheting wrench. Can anyone think of one?

That's what I was thinking. The pic shows that the sk- and the Proto are bigger than the rest.Thanks Eric

 

[Moose-LandTran]

The only time i that comes to mind of a ratchet head being too thick is the top bolt on the rear brake calipers of MK V Golfs. This is easily worked around with a universal joint/socket and an extension.

And the thick ring on a ratcheting wrench is too thick for the nuts on lower link arm ball-joints, on the front suspension of VAG B5/6/7 platform cars. Either work slowly with an open-end wrench or use a wrench with that odd ratcheting open end.

 

[nissan_crawler]

It would matter to me if I didn't have the appropriate sized ratcheting wrench and I had to get in somewhere tight.

Outside of that I'm not sure a thin head is the #1 feature I'd need in a tool.

Off the top of my head I can't think of an application where I'd have to get in somewhere too tight for a ratchet, but not acceptable for a ratcheting wrench. Can anyone think of one?

I can think of THOUSANDS of those exact situations, but I work on planes. This is why I got rid of my Sk ratchets.

 

[Theo]

I can think of THOUSANDS of those exact situations, but I work on planes. This is why I got rid of my Sk ratchets.

Yeah, but aircraft are all held together with rivets and glue and spit so why would you ever even need a ratchet?

 

[eschoendorff]

Honestly, I think the whole ratchet head thickness thing is over rated. In the rare case that the thickness of a ratchet is such a big deal, I just grab a gearwrench anyway...

 

[Merkava_4]

Hey Eric,

That ratchet on the extreme far left that's almost outside the picture - is that a MAC ?

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I've used Gearwrenches as a ratchet, with both their attachments, and the Craftsman ones (socket cap 43303).

But I have also been working where I only had the tools in my portable box (not enough stuff to use one over the other).

Never a one size fits all problem, that is why there are so many tools.

 

[paramudduck]

I have ran into spots where you can't get gearwrenches in. The extensions make it just a lil too long or a little too short. No matter how many different lengh extensions you fiddle with.

Then the ratchet thickness and/ or socket depth make a difference.

 

[PowderKeg]

On rare occasions in the past, I've had a bout of FRHS - Fat Ratchet-Head Syndrome - with my trusty Crafty round-head-fine-tooth-quick-release ratchets (whoa, too big of a mouthful - forever hence to be known as Crafty's Finest Ratchets

FRHS is just one of MANY reasons to own more than one ratchet or ratchet brand! And no, I don't think 220 (and counting) is going a little overboard...

 

[Lightning]

If the ratchet head is too thick you can use a crow foot or torque extension to access those tight spots. If the torque is really high though the crow foot may not be a good option. Wobble extensions may also be usefull.