Recommendation: Gear Wrenches

[iiibdsiil]

Hey Guys,

I was just looking around online, and found something that I think everyone should own.

Flex Head GearWrench Set

These things have saved my **** so many times. I keep my normal Snap-on wrenches in my box, and a set of these in my tool cart. I grab these most of the time. I have yet to break one either.

It's just one of those things you go "What the heck was I thinking not owning these?"

 

[SoCalGarage]

The stubby ones are even more life savers- ever had to change a motor mount on a newer VW (Passat)?? *&^%$#

 

[pl_silverado]

Honestly, i never saw a reason to buy flex-head ones. I have a set of Snap-on ratcheting wrenches, and i use them all the time. Where ever i cant get to, i have a set of snap-on midget wrenches that always work.

Although, i wouldnt mind adding a set of these to the toolbox.

 

[kartracer55]

I typically dont like flex head ratchets because its alot more work to make the socket stay on the bolt... There is a tendancy for it to lift up and off, damaging the hex. Id imagine something similar would happen here.

Im also not a bgi fan of gear wrench stuff, or at least the stuff Ive seen. their wrenches are just OK, the craftsman pros are nicer. Also, I used thier serpentine belt tool and It was ******* me off... Every little movement I made made the thing ratchet to the point where I had to get a new hold on the tensioner. Of course, the solid bar they give you in the kit is short as hell because your supposed to use it WITH the gear wrench, so I couldnt use that to hold the tensioner... I wound up just using A breaker bar to hold it... Save the $ on the kit

Jim

 

[eschoendorff]

I typically dont like flex head ratchets because its alot more work to make the socket stay on the bolt... There is a tendancy for it to lift up and off, damaging the hex. Id imagine something similar would happen here.

My wife got me the locking flexhead ratcheting wrenches from Craftsman for Xmas. Very sturdy and they stay where you set them. The only problem is that you cannot get a complete set from, say, 7-19mm.

 

[iiibdsiil]

My Blue Point ratcheting wrenches feel better in my hand, they are the fixed head with a normal angle on it, not straight. I haven't touched those in a long time, getting ready to sell em on Ebay.

Interesting that some of ya'll don't like the flex head. I seldom have a problem with it. I had one guy I worked with get pissed because he bought the straight ones, and then realized there were flexs available.

 

[mdsmith11]

Still browsing the tool threads....

In my occupation as a aircraft mechanic, gear/ratchet wrenches make my life so much easier. Many times we are called to fix/repair something that has to be correctly, safely and quickly. Also while I carry a toolbag with quite a bit of variety within, I use my ratchet wrenches (Craftsman) everytime I can to avoid a conventional socket/ratchet combination.

 

[cudacharlie]

Have you seen the SK ones? A locking mechanism that looks slicker than the KD Tools 'locking flex gearwrench', and also XL lengths, double box versions, but no stubbies. You gotta go KD for the stubbies. I have some KD non-locking flex ones, and they are great. The only complaint I have is that the non-locking ones can flex when you least need it; having the locking mechanism would seem to make it easier to keep the wrench on the fastener when wrenching at odd angles...

 

[chevy302dz]

Gearwrenches are probably the best "new" hand tool to come out in a long time. Also did you know that Blackhawk now makes reverseable gearwrenches up to 1 1/4".

 

[eschoendorff]

Gearwrenches are probably the best "new" hand tool to come out in a long time. Also did you know that Blackhawk now makes reverseable gearwrenches up to 1 1/4".

Where do you get your Blackhawk stuff? I can think of 10 places to get SK, but the only place that I see Blackhawk is at the Car Quest auto parts and the selection is very limited...

 

[kartracer55]

Where do you get your Blackhawk stuff? I can think of 10 places to get SK, but the only place that I see Blackhawk is at the Car Quest auto parts and the selection is very limited...

MSC sells the full line of both blackhawk and proto. The toolwarehouse sells a handfull of blackhawk items, but MSC has the biggest selection.

 

[eschoendorff]

MSC sells the full line of both blackhawk and proto. The toolwarehouse sells a handfull of blackhawk items, but MSC has the biggest selection.

Oops... I should have clarified... I meant "brick and mortar" stores...

 

[chevy302dz]

MSC has physical stores as does Grainger which also sells Blackhawk tools. And Carquest is a autoparts chain which if they do not stock what you want they can order it.