Sk dt upgrade kit?

[AreYaSerious]

So are the new DT ratchet kit worth the money to upgrade? Like if so for what drives etc. I have been picking up sk tools from suggestions from this group (thanks for that) is the DT worth it when you already have another high tooth ratchet from a different brand? I'm sorry for always asking these newbie questions all the time btw.

 

[ldg397]

I will let you know next week. I just ordered one in 3/8 along with a thumbwheel ratchet.

 

[AreYaSerious]

I will let you know next week. I just ordered one in 3/8 along with a thumbwheel ratchet.

This is exactly the drive I wanna know about., but curious about the others as well.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I like the DT upgrades for the 3/8 and long 1/2 drives. The 1/4" drives are almost perfect the way they are. My 3770 and 3870 both have the DT80 in them. I didn't get any for my 45170s. The ratchets are short enough I'm not too worried about arc swing or I can grab another ratchet.

The DT100 is a nice upgrade where you need a lot of strength. The original pawl has three teeth. On the DT100, there's 4 so it should be stronger. I have the DT100 in a 40170 and a 42470 but I think it's a better upgrade in the 40170 than the 42470.

Back drag isn't anymore noticeable than the original mechanisms. Overall I'm happy I bought the DT upgrades. If you need to replace a broken or worn out mechanism, the DT upgrades are a good option.

 

[kb1982]

I have the dt100 kit in the 42470. It comes in handy for tight bolts that I can't fit a 15 inch ratchet in or my stubby impact. In this pic, it's surrounded by a SK Tuff one 72 tooth and Carlyle 90 tooth. The mechanism feels better than the Carlyle, but not as silky smooth as the tuff one, but I believe it would be the tougher one of the two SK ratchets.

Sent from my Z962BL using Tapatalk

 

[Ben1967]

Ive got one in my 3/8, and 1/2 long ratchet. Have had no issues, great little kit, well worth the upgrade, great for tight spaces!

 

[M_George]

I picked up old 1/2 and 3/8 ratchets at a flea market just to try them out. They work great.
The best price I know of for them is at https://www.harryepstein.com.

 

[nelstomlinson]

I have all three sizes, and regret none of them. I won't bother buying another 1/4" size, but all my 3/8" and 1/2" ratchets got the kits, because for those drive sizes it's a substantial upgrade.

 

[Negen]

He only high tooth count ratchets I own are Armstrong maxx I have the SK dual pawl kit in my 3870 and I have a dual pawl wright 3427. For me I put a thin layer of super lube grease around the teeth and then use super lube oil on the mechanism and the ratchets are smooth and nice. For round heads I think I prefer the wright better but either is just as nice and just as smooth.

Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Ben1967]

If you do decide to buy, buy from https://www.circlecsupply.com, best deals, and cheapest!

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I like using my flex head 3/8 ratchet, the dual tooth kit let's me use it more often. I like mine, but I dont see a reason to upgrade my 1/4 ratchet. It's fine tooth enough for the spaces the head can fit in.

 

[AreYaSerious]

I have the dt100 kit in the 42470. It comes in handy for tight bolts that I can't fit a 15 inch ratchet in or my stubby impact. In this pic, it's surrounded by a SK Tuff one 72 tooth and Carlyle 90 tooth. The mechanism feels better than the Carlyle, but not as silky smooth as the tuff one, but I believe it would be the tougher one of the two SK ratchets.

Sent from my Z962BL using Tapatalk

Sweet Ratchet collection

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I tried one out in my 1/2 long handle. Its staying, no regrets.

 

[The collector]

I like the DT upgrades for the 3/8 and long 1/2 drives. The 1/4" drives are almost perfect the way they are. My 3770 and 3870 both have the DT80 in them. I didn't get any for my 45170s. The ratchets are short enough I'm not too worried about arc swing or I can grab another ratchet.

The DT100 is a nice upgrade where you need a lot of strength. The original pawl has three teeth. On the DT100, there's 4 so it should be stronger. I have the DT100 in a 40170 and a 42470 but I think it's a better upgrade in the 40170 than the 42470.

Back drag isn't anymore noticeable than the original mechanisms. Overall I'm happy I bought the DT upgrades. If you need to replace a broken or worn out mechanism, the DT upgrades are a good option.

I just put the dt in my 45183 3/8 flex I love it

 

[The collector]

He only high tooth count ratchets I own are Armstrong maxx I have the SK dual pawl kit in my 3870 and I have a dual pawl wright 3427. For me I put a thin layer of super lube grease around the teeth and then use super lube oil on the mechanism and the ratchets are smooth and nice. For round heads I think I prefer the wright better but either is just as nice and just as smooth.

Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app

I have both wright and sk DT both I gotta say the wright seems smother but I feel like the sk is stronger

 

[lardy1]

I like it in the 1/2" drive. The 3/8" drive......not so much. Too much backdrag compared to the original.

 

[The collector]

I like it in the 1/2" drive. The 3/8" drive......not so much. Too much backdrag compared to the original.

I'll have to try the 1/2 I figured the 1/4 is already 60p never had any issues with them... usually if stuff gets tight I just bust my nepros out small heads low backdrop and low arc swing but I'm usually working on my 210 Cummings in my lobster 99% of time plenty of room

 

[bonneyman]

I had several of the ole 45170 3/8" standard ratchets, so grabbed a DT kit to upgrade one of them. I think it's a nice addition. (Plus it leaves me a regular gear as a spare for the other 2-3 rats I have).

I think that the DT "doubling" kit was a masterstroke by S-K. Most folks like the round heads, but the major complaint has been it's not a fine tooth ratchet. The old 41 toother just couldn't compare with the 90 tooth rats made by just about everybody else. The DT kit solves that issue. There are millions of S-K round head rats out there, and eventually all will need a rebuild kit. One can slap in a DT kit, it swaps right in with no mods, the owner get finer action, and doesn't have to buy a whole new ratchet. Really smart move on their part IMHO.

 

[The collector]

Love this thread

 

[gatewaysysop]

I like it in the 1/2" drive. The 3/8" drive......not so much. Too much backdrag compared to the original.

Holy thread necromancy. Guess I missed out in 2018 so I'll add my thoughts to this zombie of a thread.

I have read about increased back drag here and elsewhere, more than enough times to put me off on the kits. The price seems a bit steep too, but there are probably deals to be had if you're patient and look around. I'm not really that patient, and I also like to keep spare gut kits for my oft-used ratchets. Between those two things, it becomes too expensive for me to bother with it.

To each his own, but I have higher tooth count ratchets that fill the niche this retro-kit is targeted at, so for me it's sorta like a solution in search of a problem. I also dislike the selector design compared to the original. Call me crazy, but I also prefer the sound of the original mechanism to the buzzing of my other high tooth count ratchets. Last but not least, I'm not a fan of SK's quality control on their newer offerings. If their 90 tooth ratchets weren't such a **** show, maybe things would be different.

Again, just my $.02.

 

[sparky 1971]

Holy thread necromancy. Guess I missed out in 2018 so I'll add my thoughts to this zombie of a thread.

I have read about increased back drag here and elsewhere, more than enough times to put me off on the kits. The price seems a bit steep too, but there are probably deals to be had if you're patient and look around. I'm not really that patient, and I also like to keep spare gut kits for my oft-used ratchets. Between those two things, it becomes too expensive for me to bother with it.

To each his own, but I have higher tooth count ratchets that fill the niche this retro-kit is targeted at, so for me it's sorta like a solution in search of a problem. I also dislike the selector design compared to the original. Call me crazy, but I also prefer the sound of the original mechanism to the buzzing of my other high tooth count ratchets. Last but not least, I'm not a fan of SK's quality control on their newer offerings. If their 90 tooth ratchets weren't such a **** show, maybe things would be different.

Again, just my $.02.

The same newbie brought back two threads from 2011 this week. I think people get to searching online for an answer to something, stumble across an old thread through google, join, and start commenting without realizing they are raising the dead.

I have two each of the original style 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 ratchets with one of each having the DT kits. The 3/8 and 1/2 are phenomenal, but the 1/4 really doesn't make much a difference.

 

[gatewaysysop]

The same newbie brought back two threads from 2011 this week. I think people get to searching online for an answer to something, stumble across an old thread through google, join, and start commenting without realizing they are raising the dead.

That or they saw enough of the militant "this has been discussed already, use search, noob!" comments and decided to raise a dead thread instead of starting a new one. If so, I can't blame them.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Still loving it in my long handle 1/2"

 

[VolvoRyan]

I guess it's always good to give occasional feedback:

-1/4": I was warned about the DT's and didn't try.
-3/8": Meh.
-1/2: I like.

Funny thing is that right when Great Star bought SK, I thought, "maybe I'll buy one last ratchet before things shake up". I bought a 3/8" standard round head. I use that waaaay more than the one with the DT kit.

-Ryan

 

[lardy1]

I put my 3/8" DT in my road box. I'm a big fan of SK roundheads. My 3/8" drive flex gets used a lot. But I've never upgraded it and have no plans to. I have other high tooth count ratchets that fill that role.

 

[sparky 1971]

I have two of each size ratchet (1/4, 3/8, and 1/2) in the original length. There is a DT kit in one of each of them. I have found that the 3/8 and 1/2 are worth it, but there was nothing wrong with the 60 tooth 1/4" drive in the first place. The DT kit doesn't really make it any better. I have also added the 3/8 kit to my bent handle flex, roto head, and both the flex and straight stubbies. I have the 11" straight and 11" flex that I want to add the kit to, but can't locate one anywhere besides SK, and I'm not paying $38 for it when I was buying them for about $12 from Circle C supply.

 

[lardy1]

I miss those Circle C prices on SK Tools. I've been wondering if maybe that relationship may rekindle under the new ownership.

 

[sparky 1971]

I miss those Circle C prices on SK Tools. I've been wondering if maybe that relationship may rekindle under the new ownership.

It would be nice but I'm not holding my breath. CC has Proto and Wright now. I doubt it would make much financial sense to add another premium line. We can always hope though.

 

[vssjim]

It would be nice but I'm not holding my breath. CC has Proto and Wright now. I doubt it would make much financial sense to add another premium line. We can always hope though.

They also added a lot of GearWrench to the site, they are such a great company to deal with when you order from Circle C it ships out fast.