"Sidewinder Ratchet" ??

[kythri]

Anyone else have one of these?

My dad and I have been going through his stuff, trying to organize it and find out what he has, what he "needs", what's missing, etc.

He's got a bunch of stuff that he inherited from my grandfather that he never got around to organizing, and one of the things we've found (and that he pawned off on me) is one of these goofy jobs, which I see that HF sells now, but it's apparently been branded by "Popular Mechanics" in the past.

http://toolmonger.com/2007/04/02/from-the-toolbox-a-rotator-ratchet-old-school-style/

Is it supposed to actually ratchet? It's got a selector on it that seems a bit gummed up, but all this thing really does is spin the square drive when you rotate the T-handle, regardless of selector position.

I haven't taken it apart yet or anything, just brought it home from dad's place last night.

Just curious - looks like a couple past or present members here posted on the above Toolmonger link in ages past.

 

[Davefr]

I bought one of these decades ago. I thought it might come in handy but have never ever used it.

 

[ImportTuner]

Yep, I have one .. and have never used it. Still brand new. Turn the T-handle and it turns the ratchet. It was one of those impulsive buys that you regret later.

 

[KermitFrog]

We have one somewhere, not sure where. I have used it on occasion and it served well for a weird tight spot.

 

[retDAC]

HF calls it a "Speed Socket Wrench" and only carries 3/8".

http://www.harborfreight.com/mercha...ghth-inch-drive-speed-socket-wrench-4432.html


Aircraft Spruce calls it a "Sidewinder Speedwrench"/"Sidewinder Speed Wrench" and carries 14", 3/8", and 1/2".

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/topages/sidewinderwrench.php

 

[Hammer1963]

Same story here. One was given to me as a gift and I don't believe I ever used it before passing it along

 

[dtt454]

i used one once, it really saved me. have not used it since . yes it ratchets.

 

[Danglerb]

I think the new rotator style handle driven ratchets are the way to go.

 

[Red Green]

I used to have one. Was a gift from an older family member who was taken by the ads on tv back in the day.

I every time I tried to use it the head was to big. I think it got tossed in the scrap metal bin at some point.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

I've got one somewhere - I've used it twice that I know of, both times installing kitchen faucets.

 

[countryroad82]

I have one, bought it back in the day on impulse, the head is way too big to get into tight areas. That is where ratchet wrenches get used. I don't think I have ever used it other than when someone finds it in the drawer and askes me how neat it is, after I show them my Gearwrenches I can't give the thing away!!!

 

[Matt M PA]

I too have a Sidewinder and used it once. Very helpful that once. Has to pull the master cylinder/booster from my then 4 speed Superbird...and I could find no other way to get to the nuts under the dash.

 

[WVBrady]

I bought mine for putting nuts back on, where you can't get your hand in. For removal, I don't see any advantage over an air ratchet or a fine tooth ratchet.

 

[Caleb T]

Strange. Interesting, but strange.

 

[TheCarbideRat]

i use mine now and then. I removed the T and pinned a screwdriver handle to the stub so now the tool is all in a straight line.

 

[kythri]

Finally got a chance to get into my shop today, and took it apart.

The grease inside had coagulated into a nasty, pasty/gummy yellow-white mess. The whole thing was just terrible inside. Dad tells me the thing is 10-15 years old, so, no wonder.

Got it soaking in some Simple Green right now, I'll go out tomorrow and scrub it all up, lube it and re-assemble and see what happens.

Not expecting miracles, and not expecting it to be any kind of wonder tool, but as we all know, it's always fun to tear stuff apart and put it back together, so at least I've got that.

 

[scottieb]

yeah i was given one of these decades ago, i ended up keeping it in my vehical, it was at the time the only socket/ratchet "set" actually still in a case i had at the time! i have used it a number of times, mostly as a conventional set up but the t handle comes in handy for putting nuts/bolts back on! just my .02 cents!

 

[woody 73]

Strange story but at the HF store I visit they have a locking glass cabinet that they lock up their most stolen tools in; I would have never guessed in a million years that someone would have wanted to steal that particular ratchet but they keep in under lock and key.

 

[jrbracing15]

http://www.stanleytools.com/default...R=89-961&SDesc=1/4"+Drive+Rotator+Ratchet

this saved me once. had zero room to "ratchet" but the twist action worked perfect. its not something you will use often but its nice when you need it. and with the stanley one i linked you can twist back and forth and it will ratchet the same direction until you swap the reverse switch.

my local Walmart has these in stock.

 

[diesel research]

Was the sidewinder made in the USA?

 

[kythri]

I would guess not.

Mine has no markings on it whatsoever. The current crop from HF is made in China, I'd bet (didn't pay much attention).

Apparently, this thing was also branded as "Popular Mechanics" at one time, and from what I've seen, most of their re-branded stuff is/was imported.

Finished cleaning up the ratchet today. Had to get a hook/pick and scrape some rock-hard old grease **** out of it, but re-assembled it with some Permatex Ultra Slick Engine Assembly Lube (the so-called "RLL") and it's fully functional again.

 

[Vvmvbb]

Yeah, I bought a set of all three sizes of sidewinder on eBay 10 years ago or something. Still waiting for them to come in handy.
Now that Stanley sure looks very nice - thinking of replacing my sidewinders with those (and waiting 10 years for the Stanley to come in handy).
It's an illness, really.

 

[TheCarbideRat]

im pretty sure mine said made in usa on the package. And dang vvmvb u funny. But relax, ur among fellow sufferers.

 

[diesel research]

I tried some stanley rotators at walmart. Every one of them was binding and locking up. Seems they would need some TLC/inspection before use.

I had to ask about COO since we have so much other gimmicky junk like dogbones/bionic grip/gator grip coming from the good ol' USA.

 

[retDAC]

I got one of the 3/8" drive Stanleys at Wally World "just in case". Haven't used it yet but it seems to work well enough. No binding that I can tell. COO is Taiwan. Stanley actually has it in 1/4" and 1/2" as well. Seems they designed the tool for 1/2", then simply put different drive lugs in it for the other sizes. They could simply make another in 3/4", but I doubt they'd sell enough.

I wish they had put a female square drive in the **** like Proxxon, but the Stanley was only $23+tax. If I can figure out how to get that cap off the **** w/o damaging anything, would like to add a female drive myself.

Sidewinder actually makes some other stuff. http://sidewinderproducts.com/

 

[EricF]

I saw the sidewinder's at Pepboys back in what.. 1993?? I bought the 3/8" and the 1/4".. I think I use them to take up room in my drawer.

Now Stanley has a similar ratchet except it's thinner and you simply twist the handle instead of a t-bar.

 

[EricF]

I saw the sidewinder's at Pepboys back in what.. 1993?? I bought the 3/8" and the 1/4".. I think I use them to take up room in my drawer.

Now Stanley has a similar ratchet except it's thinner and you simply twist the handle instead of a t-bar.

 

[Gort the giant robot]

I have the same tool, but it is marked SKILLCRAFT and is in 3/8 drive. Mine is used for water pump fan bolts on older cars and trucks. No country of origin marks on tool.

Gort the giant robot.

 

[retDAC]

The Sidewinders at my HF have "Made in Taiwan" on the packaging.

 

[BHH]

Husky sells one that just looks like a normal ratchet.

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/3-8-rotator-ratchet-and-8-sockets/901344

 

[Dust]

I've had that Husky ratchet for years. It comes in extremely handy in a few spots. If the Sidewinder had a smaller head I'd grab one for sure, since it's longer than the Husky and has a t-handle for a bit more leverage, but as it is, it isn't worth it.

 

[retDAC]

The Husky model is identical to the Stanley except for the handle color scheme.

 

[trboxman]

I've had one of these for about 18 years. I got it before I had any air tools and found that it could really speed up disassembly and assembly. It gets used a heck of a lot more than my speeder, it's just as fast and doesn't require anywhere near the space to operate. I agree that the head is too bulky but I mostly use it with extensions where the head size doesn't matter.

 

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Was the sidewinder made in the USA?

The one I have indicates, "Made in Taiwan". At the time, a lifetime warranty is supposed to be fulfilled by Sidewinder Products Corp of Birmingham Alabama but it seems to be a Harbor Freight product now. I've had it about 20 years I'd guess. It gets used every now and then, but as others have indicated, the head is too bulky.

 

[erty67]

I have one that I got about 10 years ago. Been sitting in the box since. Anyone looking to buy one??

 

[RonnieC]

I have one of the Stanley rotators, and it worked well for places where there was absolutely no ratcheting room due to surrounding structural pieces. One downside is that it limits how much you can torque the bolt or nut, unless you have Popeye forearms.

 

[John4615]

I have an old Sidewinder but the ratchet mechanism broke. I saw many post about member having one and not using it. I used it all the time but can find any parts. Is any member willing to sell their Sidewinder that is just sitting around? I know I can buy one on ebay but don't want to pay what they are asking. Of if you have the head mechanism ( several gears) as parts I would be happy to purchase that. I will try to upload a picture # 1 is what I need but #2 will be a complete rebuild
Thanks

John

 

[platypus20]

I have 3 or 4 of the Sidewinder ratchets, I use one about once or twice a year, a times it’s handy, most of the time it’s drawer filler.

 

[Ign]

These have a cult following

What's the point? Oh, that's right -- it's to spin a square anvil without swinging a handle. Know what else does that? An M12 or pneumatic ratchet

 

[Ign]

I put this Hudgins (far right) in the Classifieds in '14 and collectors were falling over each other to get it.

I dunno how old the Hudgins stuff is but the head was so huge it was good for nothing, on a tool designed around the concept of limited access....