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Ratchets and wrenches bought for a specific task

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toolaholic

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Jul 26, 2012
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Location
PA
I normally use my Armstrong straight and locking flex heads in all drive sizes as my go to ratchets . I like the thin head and square handle . I bought the gearwrench 120s in 1/4 3/8 and 1/2 to work in tight quarters . The 3/8 120 was a big help in installing a O2 sensor in my Yaris. I like the Armstrong’s so much I will never use the gearwrench 120s as my go to ratchets . Same with wrenches , the SK x beans only come out to play when in s tight spot. My go to ratcheting wrenches are SK g pro. The x beams were a godsend installing a manual
transmission mount bushing install on my scion FRS. Would never use them on a daily basis because the six point is a pain to put on fastener .
 
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sberry

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Jun 18, 2005
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Brethren, Michigan
I bought handfuls of singles off the shelf from farm stores when we had projects or found ourselves looking for them. Toss them in tractors, trucks, golf carts, remote locations etc.
 
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sberry

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Jun 18, 2005
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Brethren, Michigan
I only occasionally use ratchets. I use air ratchets some, impacts and common combo wrenches. I don't find most work in tight quarters but reach most things with extensions, drive it out from hard to reach places.
Really have a half a dozen common ratchets I use, nothing special.
I use 1/2 air ratchet the most. I find I can do most work that 3/8 can do, it's so much stronger can reef tight stuff loose and more power just makes it go.
More than fine teeth it's not having to turn it at all.
 
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T

toolaholic

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Jul 26, 2012
Messages
2,123
Location
PA
sberry said:
I only occasionally use ratchets. I use air ratchets some, impacts and common combo wrenches. I don't find most work in tight quarters but reach most things with extensions, drive it out from hard to reach places.
Really have a half a dozen common ratchets I use, nothing special.
I use 1/2 air ratchet the most. I find I can do most work that 3/8 can do, it's so much stronger can reef tight stuff loose and more power just makes it go.
More than fine teeth it's not having to turn it at all.
Click to expand...

That reminded me of the time I changed the water pump and lower intake manifold on my Dakota R/T. The accessory bracket was held on by countless 9/16 bolts. Reassembly was taking forever with a ratchet . I zipped em in with a ingersol rand 1/4 air ratchet( I have a small 4.3 gallon PC compressor ).
 
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iWrench

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Aug 13, 2018
Messages
30
Location
USA
I work on Teslas and to adjust rear toe during an alignment you need to get into a tight space with an 18mm wrench. I've found the perfect length to use is the 18mm snap-on "short" wrench. A stubby wrench doesn't offer enough leverage while a regular length wrench is too long and a pain to try to fit in there. Damn wrench was about $40 but well worth it IMO because I do a ton of alignments. I don't use the wrench for anything else.
 
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kctyphoon

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Jun 9, 2014
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Jersey/Staten Island
I keep the HF extending 1/2” ratchet in my truck just in case of a flat, along with a cheap flip socket lugnet set.

I have a ALOT of homeowner grade ratchets in different types - but usually just wind up using my gear wrench stuff now. For the money, its hard to beat gearwrench. I recently found a discarded and seized up 1/2” drive long handle Armstrong ratchet at work. I picked that right up and brought it home to clean out and grease up. Haven’t had a chance to use it yet.
 
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Fedwrench

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Dec 9, 2007
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14,945
Location
Valley of the sun
Depending on what you work on, I think most professional auto techs have certain tools they purchased to perform certain tasks.

I know many years ago I purchased long pattern 13, 18, & 21 mm flank drive plus wrenches because, i was doing a lot of GM front end alignments.

The oil filter cap wrench meant for an Olds Intrigue plastic oil filter cap, fits like 90% of wix filters.

A 20 mm flare combination wrench was the best thing since sliced bread when GM had external fuel filters.

I've always found different length flex head ratchets in 1/4 & 3/8 drives to be a godsend when working on current model vehicles.

Although not a ratchet or a wrench, hose clamp pliers and disconnect tools can be very vehicle make & model specific dependent.

Of course these unique special purpose tools go the way of the do do bird when a vehicle goes out of production. I have a tee handled 9/16 ratcheting wrench that I used to remove upper shock nuts on a Crown Vic along with a 4mm ratcheting wrench to adjust crown vic headlamps. haven't used either one in years. :beer:
 
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mikeinri

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Joined
Nov 29, 2019
Messages
8,206
Location
MA
A variety of large sockets for hub nut removal over the years. Also a huge pipe that I've only used once as a cheater bar (to get the hub nuts off one of my trucks).

Several tiny wrenches for caliper and wheel cylinder bleeder screws.

A funky flat wrench for removing a carb on a tractor engine.

A thin walled socket for adjusting rudders on my sailboat.

A 9/16 ratcheting wrench for installing and removing the weight tray on my tractor.

A ratcheting wrench (forgot the size) for my Honda snowblower shear pins (got tired of chasing down the socket set every time a shear pin let go). The Honda shear pins are extremely soft and break easily.

I know I'm forgetting a lot more...

Mike
 
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davethorik

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Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
4,992
Location
Norka, Ohio
I have a Heyco made in Germany shallow chrome 12 point 21/32" socket in 3/8 drive that I use occasionally at work.

There is not much available in that size, I dont believe it is a standard size. I could find no wrenches of any kind, a couple US tool mfrs offer sockets that size, but only in 1/2 drive. Strangely Heyco Germany offers it in 3/8, and was only like $9 bought as a single socket. :confused:

I could probably get by with 17mm or 11/16, but my OCD got me on this one (case hardened flange nuts measure right at .656" across flats).
 
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lardy1

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Joined
Mar 17, 2019
Messages
3,387
Location
Michigan
I'm picking up a used New Britain 1/2" ratcheting adapter this morning to put on the 1/2 drive torque wrench. I'm getting it specifically for the rear wheels on Whatshername's Harley Tri-Glide. I'm tired of removing the socket off the lug nut over and over or using a 1/2" ratchet but having to stop before overtightening.

Just home use stuff but I don't have any other intended use for it.
 
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IPFreely

Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2020
Messages
20
Location
DMV
Needed it to remove aftercoolers on diesels. Huge time saver and it broke loose bolts my shorter regular wrench couldnt budge. When I backed the bolt out too far against a metal support, just switched directions until I could get clearance to remove the wrench.
 
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