sK roto head back in production?

[stage20]

searching for an old 3870 and found this link.
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...tchet-10.5-skt43875/22980381-P?zoneAssigned=1
price is extremely steep.

 

[Jarhead0408]

I believe the price is reflective of the fact that this is the fine toothed model. I believe this is the Facom/SK partnership you're seeing for this one.

 

[stage20]

does facom offer one? ill have to check into it.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Facom had a listing / pn of the SK 43875 with their own PN that is discontinued.

The 43875 is also disco. and fine-tooth.

The 3870 is the original, discontinued, and fewer teeth.

I use my 3870s for everything 3/8. LOL at such a versatile piece being extremely steep at $82 brand new.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

When I was buying my roto's earlier this year I looked all over for a new SK without luck. Ultimately, I ended up with Snap On's because they were the only USA roto's I could find (I wanted to be able to get rebuild kits in the future). My only gripe with the Snap On 3/8" is the length; they are 2" longer than the SK which I find to be kind of excessive. They offer a 3/8" in a 1/4" body which I might pick up, but I'm worried about the strength.

Before the Snap On haters jump on me for paying too much, I bought my FHNF100 for $65 shipped and my THNF72 for $66 shipped on eBay, both brand new.

 

[Jarhead0408]

FWIW, if you find and buy a 3830, parts kits are readily available since they use the standard 3/8" rebuild kit as every other SK 3/8" ratchet.

I've got a few of them. Had to rebuild the one that was beat up the most.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

FWIW, if you find and buy a 3830, parts kits are readily available since they use the standard 3/8" rebuild kit as every other SK 3/8" ratchet.

I've got a few of them. Had to rebuild the one that was beat up the most.

That's was why I was originally going to buy an SK, but I couldn't find a reasonable deal on one. I ended up selling all my SK ratchets, so I figured Snap On would be the most likely of all the current manufacturers to offer a repair kit in 10 years from now.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Yea, finding one that isn't beat up and doesn't cost an arm and a leg can be hard to do.

I lucked out on two well used ones, $2 a piece, but paid about $25 for my one excellent looking one.

On eBay they get quite expensive.

 

[Skin]

I sold one I never used for around $35 a few years ago. Maybe I should of kept it as an investment . The fact that they don't offer it anymore is ironic considering SK was the original inventor of the modern roto ratchet. That said there are Taiwan fine tooth versions now with small QR buttons that I think are nicer. That also said the Tuff-1 stuff was top notch. Its a shame that design went with the departure of Facom.

 

[Bull]

I sold one I never used for around $35 a few years ago. Maybe I should of kept it as an investment . The fact that they don't offer it anymore is ironic considering SK was the original inventor of the modern roto ratchet.

Is this true? I recall seeing an ancient roto head marked "Owatonna" before.

 

[Skin]

For the modern style with the split down the middle I believe that was an SK invented design. Everyone has since copied it (patent has long expired). Here is the patent in question.

 

[redwrench60]

SK! Are you listening? Bring back the Roto! Make them in 1/4" and 3/8" drive and get them to Epstein's where they can put me down for two of each type.

 

[ttpete]

I bought my first 3870 in 1965. It was stolen sometime in the 80s, and I bought another, which I still have. At the time I bought the first one, the only other flex ratchet was the Champion Plugmaster, and the joints on those got sloppy quickly. Back then, there were no air ratchets and the only impact I had was a 1/2" IR 402, so the ratchet saw a lot of service.

 

[bigdav160]

Are their different head kits available for the 43875 ?

I'd like to revive mine.

 

[ganymede]

I sold one I never used for around $35 a few years ago. Maybe I should of kept it as an investment . The fact that they don't offer it anymore is ironic considering SK was the original inventor of the modern roto ratchet.

Is this true? I recall seeing an ancient roto head marked "Owatonna" before.

I vaguely remember that and one made in Providence too. Can't remember the name . Maybe one of the Allen gearless ratchets.

 

[stage20]

the original was built buy OTC i believe, but it is not the current split handle style you see all the brands using.

 

[dpaton]

Can confirm, called Advance and received an 'unavailable' status, with no restock info in the system.

 

[stage20]

there is one on ebay now for 76 bucks. new.

 

[Askme42]

SK! Are you listening? Bring back the Roto! Make them in 1/4" and 3/8" drive and get them to Epstein's where they can put me down for two of each type.

I agree. If the old ones cost so much there's obviously a market.

 

[dpaton]

I picked up and rebuilt 2 for less than $45 on eBay recently. They can be had cheap, but I agree, given everything from GW and HF and the rest, there's probably a market to sell them.

 

[s2ked]

I just picked up a brand new sk 3870, should i hold onto it and maybe it will be worth more later?

 

[Jarhead0408]

Wow. That one is MINT.

TO answer your question though, it depends on what you paid for it.

 

[jetdawg]

I have a nos 3870 thats at least 10 years old I would say, how much can I expect this thing to fetch if I list it on ebay would you guys reckon?

 

[s2ked]

Wow. That one is MINT.

TO answer your question though, it depends on what you paid for it.

I paid $80 for it. I figured its still cheaper than a snap on one and since this one is harder to find and mint condition , i had to pick it up.

 

[s2ked]

I have a nos 3870 thats at least 10 years old I would say, how much can I expect this thing to fetch if I list it on ebay would you guys reckon?

I paid $80 for mine to give you an idea... i might be willing to have a back up if your willing to sell? Lol

 

[Engine]

Does anyone know if SK is offering a 1/4" size roto head ratchet? I can't seem to find one on any tool websites. Did they make other sizes than the 3/8" in the past?

 

[s2ked]

Does anyone know if SK is offering a 1/4" size roto head ratchet? I can't seem to find one on any tool websites. Did they make other sizes than the 3/8" in the past?

Only 3/8" In the roto head. *****, I know.

 

[Jarhead0408]

GearWrench has a 1/4" roto head.

 

[s2ked]

the gearwrench ratchets are nice too but I prefer chrome handles, so i have the 100 teeth matco rotos... just food for thought...

 

[jetdawg]

I paid $80 for mine to give you an idea... i might be willing to have a back up if your willing to sell? Lol

Thanks s2ked, I haven't decided yet but it's hard to let it go so I might hang on to it for awhile.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Those Matcos are nice.

I noticed you have two sparkplug ratchets in the background. Which do you prefer? The dual 80 or the old model?