SK 1/2 Ratchet: Straight 15" or Flexhead

[notillfarmer2950]

Looking to drop some coin on a brand new SK 40170 1/2 ratchet with the 15" handle or a 42472 1/2 flexhead ratchet. My work includes a lot of tractor & farm machinery maintenance/repair, with occasional wrenching in tight quarters, where I'll need the additional leverage & strength of a 1/2" drive. I'm just wondering what one will stand up to the test of time, wear, & tear. I'm sticking with SK because of brand familiarity & ease of warranty. However I would also consider Wright Tool, although I have never used any of their products. Thank you for any input & it's much appreciated.

 

[Sunset_Z28]

I have the 40170 and it’s my go to often when I’m trying to break stubborn bolts loose. Being someone who also works on tractors and heavy equipment, 3/4” drive ratchets are also pretty nice to have. I love SK but I would be scared to use a flex head on some of the stuff I’ve worked on.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I have the 40170 and the new LP90 15" flex. Both seem beefy. I could be wrong but I think the 42472 is an inch or two longer. The DT100 mechanism upgrade makes a big difference too. In theory it should be strong than the orginal since it has 4 teeth pawl instead of 3.

 

[Stooge]

i have the 42472 17" flex ratchet and its a brute, and with the length, having a flex head to snake in places comes in handy. I don't mind SK's low tooth count on the round head ratchets, but I was thinking of picking up one of the mechanism upgrades to try it out on that one since it can fall victim to running out of space when you cant ratchet back enough with the low tooth count to engage. I was also planning on picking up SK's new 80222 non flex 24", 1/2"drive ratchet, though i wish they would release a flex head in that length.

 

[toplessHO]

theres always the piece of EMT slid over the handle to custom make your own

 

[montanafordman]

That's easy - get both!

I have the 40170 15" 1/2 ratchet and its my favorite ratchet, over my snapon dual 80s and any other brands/styles I have for two main reasons - one its virtually bomb proof - and the other is that it was my grandfather's. He used it working on his tractors for decades farming wheat and barley in northern Montana. Just last week I finnally purchased the long flex ratchet to go along with it. They both have their place. The flex has a little more utility getting it into more cramped areas by flexing the handle. The flex ratchet feels really nice and solid also so I don't think you will go wrong either way.

Pictures of said ratchets....

View media item 100343
View media item 100311

 

[BrandoJames]

Those SK's seem high ($100 on Amazon) for coarse-tooth ratchets.

Since you mentioned occasionally working in tight quarters, I'd go with a fine-tooth flex ratchet. On eBay, you can get a used Snap-on 1/2" SX80B locking flex for $150 with free shipping.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-on-SX80B-1-2-Drive-Dual-80-Technology-Flex-Head-Locking-Ratchet/283747855706?epid=1322281506&hash=item4210b0ad5a%3Ag%3AeowAAOSwSkpeIm%7EW&LH_BIN=1

 

[lardy1]

If it was my choice it would be the SK lp90 flex. SK 80300. It's getting up there in price but the SK low profile ratchet is a very nice unit.

 

[seber]

A few weeks ago I mounted a Class 3 tow bar to my Chevy Colorado. I had to stop the job and buy a fine tooth flex head to finish. Sometimes a fixed ratchet just can't get it done. I might have been able to do the job with a box end and double wrench cheater trick but the bolts took enormous torque to install and I figured by the time I got them all in I would have destroyed two wrenches.

 

[Mgdoug3]

The SK 42472 is $82.95 plus shipping through HJE. I wouldn't call the 1/2 SK round head ratchets course tooth since it's 50 tooth. For another $20 though you can install a DT100 and cut your arc swing in half.

 

[BrandoJames]

The SK 42472 is $82.95 plus shipping through HJE. I wouldn't call the 1/2 SK round head ratchets course tooth since it's 50 tooth. For another $20 though you can install a DT100 and cut your arc swing in half.

With shipping that SK will be about $100, as stated earlier. The Snap-on is $150 with free shipping. And why buy & install an add-on instead of just buying a fine tooth ratchet.

50 tooth sounds pretty low given your definition of "fine tooth". If the ratchet was "fine-tooth", then you wouldn't need an add-on.

 

[tym]

With shipping that SK will be about $100, as stated earlier. The Snap-on is $150 with free shipping. And why buy & install an add-on instead of just buying a fine tooth ratchet.

50 tooth sounds pretty low given your definition of "fine tooth". If the ratchet was "fine-tooth", then you wouldn't need an add-on.

Snap-On now has a $200 minimum for free shipping.

 

[BrandoJames]

Snap-On now has a $200 minimum for free shipping.

Hey Tym, the Snap-on ratchet I linked to is on eBay for $150 with free shipping.

 

[Mgdoug3]

With shipping that SK will be about $100, as stated earlier. The Snap-on is $150 with free shipping. And why buy & install an add-on instead of just buying a fine tooth ratchet.

50 tooth sounds pretty low given your definition of "fine tooth". If the ratchet was "fine-tooth", then you wouldn't need an add-on.

In my original reply I mentioned the SK DT100 because of the added strength. I went with the SK LP90 because the Snap-on equivalent was around $100 more off the truck.

 

[plinker]

My answer is both. I have a 24" 1/2 drive flex head (inherited) and get somewhat nervous reefing on it, so I bought the fixed head of the same length (matco).

I doubt you could go wrong with either style.