Roto ratchets

[Schurkey]

I had three Roto Snappys, just like the photo above.

First was the 1/4" drive. Went missing, bought another. Found the original, so I had the dealer sell me a 3/8"-in-a-1/4"-body kit to put in the new one. Now the 1/4" has gone missing again...I suspect a relative of mine "liberated" it while we fixed the taillights of his car.

Also have a long-handled 3/8", which is now my first-choice ratchet.

I wish they were Quick-Release. Aside from that, they're wonderful.

 

[48548]

Here are my rotos...the top are all 100tooth even the hard handle.

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[48548]

One more pictures..

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[ihateminimumwage]

The older SO roto are 72 tooth, at least the ones I own.

Thanks for the correction, shows how well my memory is doing lately!

FWIW Snap-on's current 3/8 compact swivel head is 72-tooth #FHCNF72.

That's the only Roto I still have. Works great for hard to reach spark plugs.

 

[barrybeefburger]

Anybody have a 3/8 snappy in good condition, PM please

 

[dnschmidt]

When you have a ratchet that's impossible to open up to grease my solution is to dunk the head in ATF. ATF is a remarkable lubricant and can creep into the tightest areas. Not as good as putting Superlube on the teeth of the ratchet but when that's not an option the ATF is the best available solution.

 

[CR888]

There is an obvious reason the Snappy design has been copied by so many tool co's.

 

[Mgdoug3]

There is an obvious reason the Snappy design has been copied by so many tool co's.

Snap-on wasn't the first company to make a swivel head. I think SK took credit but I remember reading on here another company was first. I don't remember the name though. Any know?

 

[JBH]

One more pictures..

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Can the Weras' heads spin freely or are they limited to the angles at which the head locks?

 

[WWheeler]

I would add this about my Snap-on swivel heads. I don't ever use them to bust loose a really stuck fastener. I've never broken one, but I get the feeling I probably could if I really got on it. I'll pull hard as I can with just my arm, but won't go bracing a foot up against something to use everything I've got from my toes to my fingertips like I often do with a standard ratchet or flex head. If it's something I know is high torque &/or rusty I don't even grab my swivels.

 

[unslow1]

When you have a ratchet that's impossible to open up to grease my solution is to dunk the head in ATF. ATF is a remarkable lubricant and can creep into the tightest areas. Not as good as putting Superlube on the teeth of the ratchet but when that's not an option the ATF is the best available solution.

That is exactly what I do. It has saved several I thought I would have to junk.

 

[48548]

I don't think so, the slide is spring loaded and only works in a few positions. I will test when I get home later.

Can the Weras' heads spin freely or are they limited to the angles at which the head locks?

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[Mr_B]

When you have a ratchet that's impossible to open up to grease my solution is to dunk the head in ATF. ATF is a remarkable lubricant and can creep into the tightest areas. Not as good as putting Superlube on the teeth of the ratchet but when that's not an option the ATF is the best available solution.

I done this to the QR swivel head ratchets I have and not overly impressed with improvement it made, if could open them to tweak and grease they be really good buy .

 

[Prowagen]

Here are my rotos...the top are all 100tooth even the hard handle.

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I see you have the Genius hard handled roto's. How do you like them?

 

[48548]

They are fine, i would recomend them if you want 72teeth.

I see you have the Genius hard handled roto's. How do you like them?

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[ChevyEFI]

There is an obvious reason the Snappy design has been copied by so many tool co's.

Snap-on wasn't the first company to make a swivel head. I think SK took credit but I remember reading on here another company was first. I don't remember the name though. Any know?

US2977824A
Inventor Rueb Theodore Otto
Original Assignee Sherman Klove Company
Priority date 1958-12-08

https://patents.google.com/patent/US2977824

SK 3870. The original.

 

[Mgdoug3]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=186379 Post #8 says 1919 but it was a hex drive. The link in that post no longer works. I love my 3870 with the DT80 mechanism. If I have room, it is the ratchet I reach for first.

 

[mudflap]

Here are my rotos...the top are all 100tooth even the hard handle.

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Love that snappy hard handle..........

 

[48548]

Love that snappy hard handle..........

I swapped the head so it is 100teeth like the ones next to it.

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[anndel]

I have 3 Tektons (1/4", 3/8" and 1/2") in my truck box + 3 Carlyles in the toolbox + a Snap On 1/4" roto-head ratchet. I have a 3/8" SO on order with my driver. I love the Carlyles and SO which come in handy on many projects. The Carlyles will end up in the shop.

 

[Qualitytools]

Here are my rotos...the top are all 100tooth even the hard handle.

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Thanks for sharing! Looks like you have just about every brand . How does the WERA compare to the others?

 

[48548]

Thanks for sharing! Looks like you have just about every brand . How does the WERA compare to the others?

The wera i think is 72 teeth. Great if you like quick release and to be able to lock the head. Also good for a spinner as the rotating collar helps.

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[Qualitytools]

The wera i think is 72 teeth. Great if you like quick release and to be able to lock the head. Also good for a spinner as the rotating collar helps.

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Thank you!

 

[48548]

I can get pictures if you want...

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[48548]

Here are my sets..

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[Scotty_B]

The first 3/8 ratchet I grab for out of my toolbox is usually my Gearwrench roto. I can't break it and it's very comfy to use. So I wouldn't necessarily write those off. It's an older Taiwanese-made one, though, not the more recent ones made in the PRC. Could make a difference. You might want to consider the Crescent-branded ones for sale at Cripe Distributing. It's the same Taiwanse-made ratchet as the Gearwrench.

I think Snap-on got the roto ratchet right with their 100-tooth versions. They are incredibly strong. There are several videos on YouTube that demonstrate their strength. I watched one where the guy who posted the video built some kind of pneumatic machine to test the breaking strength of ratchets. The Snap-on 3/8 noticeably flexed and finally broke at something like 300 ft/lbs of torque. It was the gears that broke and the ratchet returned to it's original shape. You could easily replace the mechanism and the ratchet would be good as new. Very impressive, IMO. Also extremely pricey. eBay bids can get crazy even on a used one.

The Carlyle ones are very nice if you want a higher tooth count than the 72-tooth Gearwrench and similar ones. They are not cheap, though. They are priced in between the Gearwrench and Snap-on, but a little closer to Snap-on unless you catch one on sale. Probably easy to warranty if you have a NAPA in town. Not quite as strong as the Snap-on, though. I watched another video where the Carlyle bent, and stayed bent under extremely high torque. It's probably not going to be an issue if you use the ratchet properly. I have a 1/4" drive Carlyle roto, and it's probably my most used ratchet. I love it.

Although I've never experienced any problems with my Gearwrench 3/8, I broke down and literally just purchased an SK 3870 on eBay. Can't wait to get my hands on it. The seller refurbished it, breaking it down and cleaning it. Then reassembling it. Looks like it's in really good shape, too. No chipping on the chrome, which seems to be an issue with a lot of these used SK rotos. I'm thinking about getting one of the new DT mechanisms for it, virtually doubling the tooth count to 80. I'll have to try it out and see if it spins like a screwdriver as well and comfortably as the Gearwrench, though.

As others have mentioned, if 72-tooth count is good enough for you, there are a lot of options out there. If you like the comfort handle, there are tons. If you want a smooth steel handle, the Genius roto ratchet might be a good option. You can get one for about $50 on eBay. If you want a knurled handle, you might want to keep your eyes out for a used SK 3870. They are constantly for sale on eBay, although the price and condition vary a lot.

If you want to get spendy, you can't beat the Snap-on, used or new.

 

[anndel]

I have 3 Carlyles and 2 Snap-ons.

 

[CR888]

I only have one roto, its a S.E.K tools Japan 45 tooth in 1/4" drive size. Its small at less than 6.5 inches. Gotta get a high tooth 3/8" & maybe 1/2".

 

[Mr_B]

Can't go far wrong with the carlyle 100 tooth when on sale .
Crescent a good lower cost option for 72tooth and nice design, you can strip those and lube them to make smoother plus ability clean/service means they likely perform and last pretty well .
The HF ones okay but that QR type can not be stripped as QR is flared on under the release button .

 

[nbpt100]

Thanks for sharing your perspective on this. I was shopping VIM's website this morning and your post was just what it took to get me to add this to my cart. I have never been disappointed by VIM purchases so I'm looking forward to it coming.

On that note - some excellent deals on VIM's website under promotions and hot deals.

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Weekend Warrior......It has been a few months since you ordered your 3/8 VIM ratchet. Can you give us some first hand feedback?

 

[wkndwarrior29]

Weekend Warrior......It has been a few months since you ordered your 3/8 VIM ratchet. Can you give us some first hand feedback?

I'll preface this by stating that I am not a professional.

I bought the 1/4 version. It states 2.5 degree on it which leads me to believe it is 72 tooth with two pawls. My experience with fine ratchet is limited to ez red, Cobalt, and a matco 88. It's also my first roto ratchet.

I used it on a couple of under the hood projects recently, mostly fasteners torqued 28nm and below.

This ratchet feels as smooth as the 88 with very low backdrag.. I can't think of an instance where finger threading the fastener to start it wasn't enough to get it going. It is comfortable to use and I appreciate the quick release head.

Potential cons:
It doesn't impact me, but I'm not doing production work - changing directions does require 2 hands.
The tensioning wheel to lock the head rotation is a little of a pain, I keep it snug enough to rotate the head but where it isn't loose. I suppose this would be an advantage over one without the ability to tighten.
The handle is also a bit thick for my liking. I only used it in T configuration once - and really for a 1/4 size I doubt I'll use it again as it really isn't necessary to get the torque. On the same note though it was a comfortable configuration while tightenting 16+ fasteners consecutively on the intake manifold.

That being said, its my go to ratchet for work that doesn't require tight clearances. I'll probably order a 3/8 model next time i buy from VIM.

Here are a couple pictures next to my ez red stubby quarter stick. Let me know if you have any questions.

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[Qualitytools]

Here are my sets..

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48548, so it appears that not only you have the sets that include the ratchets but additionally, you also have a ratchet of each size separately. I just received my Wera 3/8, nice but have not had a chance to use it yet. Thanks for helping to answer my questions

 

[nbpt100]

I'll preface this by stating that I am not a professional.

I bought the 1/4 version. It states 2.5 degree on it which leads me to believe it is 72 tooth with two pawls. My experience with fine ratchet is limited to ez red, Cobalt, and a matco 88. It's also my first roto ratchet.

I used it on a couple of under the hood projects recently, mostly fasteners torqued 28nm and below.

This ratchet feels as smooth as the 88 with very low backdrag.. I can't think of an instance where finger threading the fastener to start it wasn't enough to get it going. It is comfortable to use and I appreciate the quick release head.

Potential cons:
It doesn't impact me, but I'm not doing production work - changing directions does require 2 hands.
The tensioning wheel to lock the head rotation is a little of a pain, I keep it snug enough to rotate the head but where it isn't loose. I suppose this would be an advantage over one without the ability to tighten.
The handle is also a bit thick for my liking. I only used it in T configuration once - and really for a 1/4 size I doubt I'll use it again as it really isn't necessary to get the torque. On the same note though it was a comfortable configuration while tightenting 16+ fasteners consecutively on the intake manifold.

That being said, its my go to ratchet for work that doesn't require tight clearances. I'll probably order a 3/8 model next time i buy from VIM.

Here are a couple pictures next to my ez red stubby quarter stick. Let me know if you have any questions.

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Thanks.....I agree with you on the two hands needed to change the direction. Sometimes I can do it with one but it took some practice. The wheel to lock the roto head can be a bit fussy. But I appreciate the ability to lock it with out having to use another tool. So it is still a plus over most other roto ratchets. The ability to lock it when using it as a nut driver with the T Handle is a big plus. But you have to unlock it and move the head to change the ratchet position. I think you would with any Roto.
The handle width and thickness have not been an issue for me at all so far.

 

[Scotty_B]

Finally got an SK 3870. There's nothing wrong with my GearWrench 3/8 roto, but I couldn't resist.

Pretty good shape. Like I said before, I've noticed that a lot of the 3870's have chrome chipping on them. Which I always thought was weird since SK is known for their excellent chrome. This one has just a couple of minor, barely noticeable chips. It's otherwise in fine condition. Even though the seller said he had cleaned and rebuilt the original 40-tooth mechanism, I went ahead and replaced it with one of the new DT80 mechanisms. It's excellent and easy to swap. Nice job SK/Ideal!

This ratchet is a hoss! It's heavy – not quite as nimble as my GearWrench. My biggest complaint about it is the handle. I don't mind the knurled handle, and I know a lot of folks even prefer it. But I feel that the knurled part is too short and doesn't fit as comfortably in my hand as I would like. I'm sure I'll still use the hell out of it, though.

Like I said before – I think Snap-On got the roto head ratchet right with their 100-tooth model, but it's beyond my budget. Even used. I've seen a bunch of YouTube videos that have tested the Snap-On to its breaking point. It's impressive.

I'd love to see someone test the SK against the Snap-On for strength, but I doubt that's going to happen since the SK is no longer manufactured and a bit of a collector's item to many. It took me months to win a 3870 at a reasonable price that was in reasonable shape.

Like I said, the DT80 mechanism is a really nice update for a classic ratchet. I really can't understand why SK/Ideal doesn't bring this one back.

A couple of pics:

 

[1foxracing]

My 1/4" models pictured here, I also own some in 3/8's but no 1/2 drive models.

 

[jgromada]

I have a VIM 3/8 swivel that i really like because you can lock the angle that the ratchet head is at. The ratchet mechanism is very good as well. I tried a few other swivels and i did not like that problem of the head slipping with the others. I have never used the T handle feature this has.


I also bought a Pittsburgh pro 1/4" swivel which i do not like and it surprised me because i generally liked HF ratchets. Just not a great "feel" although it does work.

 

[nbpt100]

Rotos have become my go to ratchet. I dont even use my flex head any longer. A few months back I picked up a Kobalt 3/8 roto at some ridiculous price on sale. It was like 8 dollars. It is pretty smooth and my only complaint is the handle. I would prefer a soft rubber handle vs. a polished bare handle so when I am using it like a nut driver I can get a better grip and more torque.
I am sure those Wera are smooth and have a nice handle but the head looks bulky. That may make it hard to use in tight spots.

 

[Rabid Badger]

I wanted a set of rotos for a long time but didn't want to spend the money for Carlyle or better and avoided the Pittsburghs because of their back drag. Then I realized that the whole point of these is that once the fastener is loose enough for back drag to matter you flip it up and spin it like a screwdriver.

I picked up a full set from HF and a set of their comfort grip screwdrivers and ended up with these. The handles are great for spinning and add some length on the 1/4 and 3/8 for a little extra leverage. Also, after some oil and a little break-in the back drag has become quite reasonable.

For under $50 all-in they're just about impossible to beat. They've become my go-to ratchets.

 

[toolmutt]

^^^^^I did the same, just in 3/8 only.

 

[Rabid Badger]

^^^^^I did the same, just in 3/8 only.

I actually copied yours after I saw it in another thread. Just cheaped out on the handle.