Ratcheting flare nut wrench

[5ubtle]

Anybody willing to admit that they've used one of these?



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082H91G6P/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I'm curious to learn how well they work, how durable, etc. Also, how long have they been around?

 

[mv213]

I saw those on Amazon and also wondered about them. Following.

 

[budget76]

with my experience using flare nut wrenches (brake lines) in the northeast, I am lucky to get them free with a normal wrench without stripping. doubt I'd have luck

cool concept though if you have uses and connections that aren't salted to death

 

[charbar]

Those would be pretty damn handy but the head looks too big to fit in most places to me. No personal experience with them though.

 

[5ubtle]

with my experience using flare nut wrenches (brake lines) in the northeast, I am lucky to get them free with a normal wrench without stripping. doubt I'd have luck

My expectation is that I'd use a quality, non ratcheting, line wrench to "break it free". In my opinion, the application for this is to run the flare nut out of the hole. That sometimes takes a long time using non ratcheting wrenches.

 

[dchawk81]

My expectation is that I'd use a quality, non ratcheting, line wrench to "break it free".

I never have that expectation.

 

[richfinn]

If I have to crack a brake pipe union loose, I'm almost certainly replacing the rusty brake line (at least since drum brakes and wheel cylinders have all but disappeared in Europe).

Cut the line and use a regular 6 point socket.

I mostly use line wrenches on fuel fittings nowadays, once they are loose you can unscrew by hand almost every time.

I think they are one of those tools that seem like a great idea, but in reality you would be better served spending $$$ on real problem solver tools

 

[dchawk81]

If I have to crack a brake pipe union loose, I'm almost certainly replacing the rusty brake line (at least since drum brakes and wheel cylinders have all but disappeared in Europe).

Cut the line and use a regular 6 point socket.

I mostly use line wrenches on fuel fittings nowadays, once they are loose you can unscrew by hand almost every time.

I think they are one of those tools that seem like a great idea, but in reality you would be better served spending $$$ on real problem solver tools

That's my method too. Usually the line itself won't survive any kind of twisting anyway.

I treat the plastic air lines on my truck the same way. Just plan to snip it off, use a 6 point wrench on the fitting, and add some line and a union.

I'll try to save it first but I don't expect it.

 

[speed bump]

Never used that style but when I did refrigeration I used these a lot and they work decently well for speeding up removal of flare fittings.

Home Industrial Tools Official Site | PROTO

Proto Industrial Tools - Safety Obsessed

www.protoindustrial.com

 

[5ubtle]

A positive review of the Amazon wrenches that I linked above:

The Amazon product page states "Date First Available: January 22, 2021"

A similar $200 set on Amazon.

Date First Available: July 17, 2020
The Patent No. in the description (8166849) was filed in Dec 2009.

Tribus Tools ratcheting flare nut wrench demo from 2017:

Made in USA and possibly the original.

Tribus apparently recently went out of business.
https://www.tribustools.com/

A negative review of the Tribus wrench:
(Don't watch if you are offended by foul language)

SK wrenches like the Protos SpeedBump has used:

 

[Ricky Joe]

I think Bonney made the original in the 1940s. No flex head, but ratcheting line wrench.

 

[5ubtle]

I bought a 15mm RatchetFix brand from AliExpress for $18 delivered.

I haven't used it on a flare nut yet, but I did some testing. The ratcheting mechanism seems strong enough. The first "point of failure" that I've experienced is the wrench spreading and allowing the nut to rotate "out of register" (see picture). When this happens, not only is it done turning the nut, but the wrench is difficult to remove from the nut because the ratchet is not reversible. This happened on my wrench somewhere between 40-45 ft-lbs. A conventional, Bonney flare nut wrench was able to get to 60 ft-lbs on the same setup (it might have gone higher, but that was enough for me).

 

[demarpaint]

I have a feeling they'd be more trouble than they're worth.

 

[WWheeler]

[...]

A negative review of the Tribus wrench:
(Don't watch if you are offended by foul language)

[...]

That was all I ever needed to see to know I would never buy a set of any wrench in that style even if they were free just pay $1.99 s/h.

 

[colintrax]

I have that SK style wrench, also made by Wright, mine are vintage Bonney.
They've worked well so far but I wonder if they're as good as traditional

 

[dnschmidt]

Astro made something similar which they have discontinued https://www.astrotools.com/product/5pc-ratchet-release-flare-nut-wrench-set-metric/. The Proto ones shown above do work well. The Gearwrench are complete ****.

 

[5ubtle]

Astro made something similar which they have discontinued https://www.astrotools.com/product/5pc-ratchet-release-flare-nut-wrench-set-metric/.

The Astro set went on sale at Amazon in May 2016.

 

[lugnut71]

I know the guy that designed the tribus and got the patent,etc younger man , smart, mechanics full time for Caterpillar, cant blame a guy for trying . Assuming he had to find someone to manufacture them. I would imagine its a big and expensive commitment to get the ball rolling.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

We've prototyped an extra-long stronger version of this in 22mm just for O2 sensors, but probably wont be revisiting full sets again.
Likely find it at SEMA with other things I'm working on

 

[u118224]

If I have to crack a brake pipe union loose, I'm almost certainly replacing the rusty brake line (at least since drum brakes and wheel cylinders have all but disappeared in Europe).

Cut the line and use a regular 6 point socket.

I mostly use line wrenches on fuel fittings nowadays, once they are loose you can unscrew by hand almost every time.

I think they are one of those tools that seem like a great idea, but in reality you would be better served spending $$$ on real problem solver tools

Off topic, but I recently saw a lot of Renault Clio's in Portugal rockin' the rear drums. I think they're the official rental car there.

 

[jsackin]

Just got a deal on these sets from a government supplier. Most people that find them useful are refrigeration guys. The ones we got say "Stride". Have some random Bonneys in the basement and I've seen Wright and SK also private label these as well. Wouldn't be surprised if Stride was the one that was making these for everybody but not super familiar with their line. I've also seen ratcheting crowfeet on government deals, but they're usually really big.

Stride Ratcheting Flare Nut Wrench Set (51200-00-474-7227)

Stride Ratcheting Flare Nut Wrench Set (51200-00-474-7227)Wrench Sizes - 3/8 7/16 1/2 9/16 11/16 3/4 13/16 7/8 15/16 1"Army Green Wrench Roll

www.harryepstein.com

 

[GeoBruin]

Just got a deal on these sets from a government supplier. Most people that find them useful are refrigeration guys. The ones we got say "Stride". Have some random Bonneys in the basement and I've seen Wright and SK also private label these as well. Wouldn't be surprised if Stride was the one that was making these for everybody but not super familiar with their line. I've also seen ratcheting crowfeet on government deals, but they're usually really big.

Stride Ratcheting Flare Nut Wrench Set (51200-00-474-7227)

Stride Ratcheting Flare Nut Wrench Set (51200-00-474-7227)Wrench Sizes - 3/8 7/16 1/2 9/16 11/16 3/4 13/16 7/8 15/16 1"Army Green Wrench Roll

www.harryepstein.com

Well, I just bought these. I've been contemplating the ratcheting flare nut problem for some time and this style seems like the best combination of function and strength. Plus the size range on this set is great. Thanks Jori (is it Jori?)

 

[colintrax]

Just got a deal on these sets from a government supplier. Most people that find them useful are refrigeration guys. The ones we got say "Stride". Have some random Bonneys in the basement and I've seen Wright and SK also private label these as well. Wouldn't be surprised if Stride was the one that was making these for everybody but not super familiar with their line. I've also seen ratcheting crowfeet on government deals, but they're usually really big.

Stride Ratcheting Flare Nut Wrench Set (51200-00-474-7227)

Stride Ratcheting Flare Nut Wrench Set (51200-00-474-7227)Wrench Sizes - 3/8 7/16 1/2 9/16 11/16 3/4 13/16 7/8 15/16 1"Army Green Wrench Roll

www.harryepstein.com

I actually got my small set of Bonney from yall

 

[bonneyman]

If I were starting out in HVAC again today I'd just get a set of those Strides from Epstein's.

 

[jsackin]

Well, I just bought these. I've been contemplating the ratcheting flare nut problem for some time and this style seems like the best combination of function and strength. Plus the size range on this set is great. Thanks Jori (is it Jori?)

It's Jori!

 

[GeoBruin]

It's Jori!

Thanks! Just got my shipping confirmation.

 

[5ubtle]

I have a feeling they'd be more trouble than they're worth.

Everybody is going to have a different tolerance for aggravation. I won't be buying any more until I have a specific use. If I could get a set of 7 (or so) from 8mm to 19mm for about $50, I would buy them before needing them. The current price of $150 for a set of 9 is not for me.

That was all I ever needed to see to know I would never buy a set of any wrench in that style even if they were free just pay $1.99 s/h.

I think that my wrench is better made than the Tribus wrenches that JUSTIN STURGILL TRUCKING was showing.

 

[demarpaint]

Everybody is going to have a different tolerance for aggravation. I won't be buying any more until I have a specific use. If I could get a set of 7 (or so) from 8mm to 19mm for about $50, I would buy them before needing them. The current price of $150 for a set of 9 is not for me.

I agree about different tolerance for aggravation, but I see even $50 for the set you described a waste of $$. For the few times a year I might need a line wrench I grab my Stahlwille flare-nut wrenches and not worry about having a problem. The ratcheting design looks like a headache in the making. The possible slight gain in time using a ratcheting type line wrench doesn't matter to me.

 

[richfinn]

Off topic, but I recently saw a lot of Renault Clio's in Portugal rockin' the rear drums. I think they're the official rental car there.

Oddly enough I'm in Funchal Maderia (Portuguese Island) this week, lots of EV hire cars and scooters knocking around, I'll get some pics

 

[Marsim]

I got a partial set of nos imperial strides for $1 a piece at a flea market a few months ago. They're ok, but no way would I pay full retail for them. I use this one alot, works 10x better.