Snap on air ratchet differences

[techenthusiast]

I need to buy an air ratchet either my next paycheck or two.

Im thinking about a snap-on one because I know they make quality air tools to last. And I only want to buy it once.

I want it to be a 3/8 air ratchet.

What is the difference between the FAR7200 and the FAR72C? From what I'm reading, the torque is only a difference of 5ft/lb ?


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[redwrench60]

I have owned both. They are built on the same architecture but the 7200 has a rubber grip and a rotating collar that acts as an adjustable air regulator. Power wise I can't tell a difference. I didn't like the 7200; the rubber handle got slippery and chewed up fast and the regulator got loose over time and would rotate during use. It was also a slight bit bulkier in the handle which seemed inappropriate.
I prefer the FAR72C. It is consistantly the strongest air ratchet I've tried and I've tried them all. Matcos, Aircats, Ingersolls, none of them will pull a sick cat off the toilet. I have one at work that I've been using daily for over 10 years. I've used it so much that I wore out the friction ball that retains sockets on the drive end and it fell out. But since Snap On still carries parts I replaced the drive body and it still works just fine.

The only complaint I might have, and it applies to either model is over time the head has the tendancy to move out of allignment with the button which is annoying. You have to twist the body and head back to where it belongs then properly loctite and tighten the hell out of the body nut that holds the two halfs together. Minor annoyance.

 

[skruft]

I have a few of these. They are good and powerful but (I think) heavy. I have not had to rebuild one. I do not see the rubber grip or button as useful.

Once I bought one used and it would not work because someone had gotten the head full of oil in a place that must stay dry. It had a sort of braking system where two discs press together. Not sure if that is one of these models or not.

 

[techenthusiast]

I'm going to go with the 72C after reading your input. Although it's more than half of one of my 2 week paychecks. Thanks for the help guys. Also I was wondering if they make a green rubber boot for it?


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[redwrench60]

The boot, any boot is worth getting and replacing when worn out. They keep all the dirt and grit out of the head mechanism and helps keep the lubricating grease in. (You do grease your air ratchet heads ....don't you?)

 

[bimmer630]

I always liked the so air ratchets but the price was high and I scooped up a Chicago pneumatic that was advertised as being the highest torque on the market, and it does work pretty great. I've had it for over ten years and its still going Strong

 

[techenthusiast]

The boot, any boot is worth getting and replacing when worn out. They keep all the dirt and grit out of the head mechanism and helps keep the lubricating grease in. (You do grease your air ratchet heads ....don't you?)

This is going to be the first air ratchet that I own

I have several snap on air tools and my
Boss has been telling me I need to buy an air ratchet to save time. There have been countless times at work, on a daily basis that I should be using one.

I'm worried about breaking things if the torque is too much but I guess I'll get used to getting the feel of it? Is the variable speed difference from low to high very sensitive? Because I accidentally break things even with my small mg325

How do you grease them besides air tool oil and how often should I do it? Does snap on sell a specific product made for that? If so I'll get that too


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[redwrench60]

One of the best design features on the FAR series is its variable speed trigger button. You can simply 'creep' the ratchet by barely pushing the button or you can go full throttle for max torque. Lots of air ratchets are hard to feather on something delicate; they're either wide open or nothing. Too easy to break bolts with one like that.

Any air ratchet has a learning curve. You will need to get used to the reactionary forces it gives you and the torque output and speed it delivers. My advice? Wear gloves at first if you're new to air ratchets and use firm footing then hold on tight, they're strong and will surprise you if you're not ready.

Finally, yes there is a special type of grease you inject through a flush type grease fitting in the direction selector knob in the head about once a month if you use it a lot. You use a small palm held grease gun intended for flush type grease fittings on many air tools. Snap On sells the grease for air ratchets but it's expensive. I looked up the specs for it and cross referenced it to a type of Mobile synthetic grease that I can buy a whole tube of and save a ton. I forget the number but I can get it tomorrow at the shop. I bought it at Grainger through the shops industrial account.

 

[sweetk30]

fyi snap-on rep told me years ago the a-b-c sub model at the end is the oldest to newest versions . and if you send one in for reman or buy one already remaned if its older it gets the better upgrade parts inside when done .

so don't be afraid of a good reman or used unit . that's how I got my snap-on air ratchet . workin great for years .

 

[Hpozzuoli]

This is going to be the first air ratchet that I own

I'm worried about breaking things if the torque is too much but I guess I'll get used to getting the feel of it? Is the variable speed difference from low to high very sensitive? Because I accidentally break things even with my small mg325.


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You won't break anything or over torque anything with an air ratchet. I use mine when I am backing out or running down a large number of bolts. I wouldn't rely on any air ratchet to tighten something that needs to be tight. It also won't break tight stuff loose. The air ratchet will get you there, then your ratchet or torque wrench will finish the job.

 

[redwrench60]

You won't break anything or over torque anything with an air ratchet. I use mine when I am backing out or running down a large number of bolts. I wouldn't rely on any air ratchet to tighten something that needs to be tight. It also won't break tight stuff loose. The air ratchet will get you there, then your ratchet or torque wrench will finish the job.

Lol, you must not be using an FAR72C! They absolutely will break bolts and or hurt you in the process if you're not carefull. It also will break loose most bolts or nuts and run them out in one action. Great for tight areas with no room for hand ratchets/breaker bars, which is just about everywhere on a vehicle in these days of packing as much **** under the hood as possible.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Lol, you must not be using an FAR72C! They absolutely will break bolts and or hurt you in the process if you're not carefull. It also will break loose most bolts or nuts and run them out in one action. Great for tight areas with no room for hand ratchets/breaker bars, which is just about everywhere on a vehicle in these days of packing as much **** under the hood as possible.

Nope. I have an old mac. I have been looking at the far7200 or the 72c. I want something that is just a little more useful. Something that can do mounting bolts for bolt on stuff. Not sure if the 7200 would work. I have heard about the 72c, but never used one.

 

[skruft]

Grease or oil only according to the instructions!

 

[greasemonkey44]

They are monsters; co worker had one and it was a killer. I hate smashing my hand so I use extensions and a long breaker bar. A good 3/8 impact does most of that kinda work with some extra adapters. Which is why I haven't bought one

 

[redwrench60]

How do you grease them besides air tool oil and how often should I do it? Does snap on sell a specific product made for that? If so I'll get that too

This is the grease gun head with the cartridges Snap-On sells and the big cartridge of Mobil equivlent grease bought from Grainger.

 

[techenthusiast]

This is the grease gun head with the cartridges Snap-On sells and the big cartridge of Mobil equivlent grease bought from Grainger.

Is there a part number on that grease gun? I can't see it on my phone. Thanks


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[Jarhead0408]

I'm going to go with the 72C after reading your input. Although it's more than half of one of my 2 week paychecks. Thanks for the help guys. Also I was wondering if they make a green rubber boot for it?


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Dude, just get a Far72B/C off of ebay.I've bought two for less than $40 apiece. If one ever breaks I'll send it back for a rebuild and still have less than $200 bucks in the pair.

 

[outdoorsman310]

Lol, you must not be using an FAR72C! They absolutely will break bolts and or hurt you in the process if you're not carefull. It also will break loose most bolts or nuts and run them out in one action. Great for tight areas with no room for hand ratchets/breaker bars, which is just about everywhere on a vehicle in these days of packing as much **** under the hood as possible.

Yeah they are great air ratchets. He needs to learn trigger control and you can use it as a normal ratchet to break stuff loose and tighten it if it doesnt have the guts. it can definitely strip and break many bolts if you are not careful.

 

[redwrench60]

Here's the grease gun head.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675928&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Here's the cartridges that screw on the grease gun head.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675928&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

or the assembly together

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675928&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[redwrench60]

Yeah they are great air ratchets. He needs to learn trigger control and you can use it as a normal ratchet to break stuff loose and tighten it if it doesnt have the guts. it can definitely strip and break many bolts if you are not careful.

Yup, there's a learning curve to stout air ratchets. You'll learn to respect it after it WWF body slams your hand into a bracket cause' you were holding it like a *****.....

I love Snap-On air ratchets, all the others aren't worth hitting a fat hog in the *** with.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

the FAR72 ratchets are the BEST air tool snap on makes, hands down. very powerful. it's the only snap on air tool I'd own.

 

[techenthusiast]

Here's the grease gun head.



http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675928&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog



Here's the cartridges that screw on the grease gun head.



http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675928&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog



or the assembly together



http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675928&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Thanks for the links and help. I plan on buying the whole assembly along with the ratchet to make
Sure I protect this investment.


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[chadster1]

I was not uncommon for me to see FAR72B/C ratchets that had been used professionally for 10 years.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Funny, I bought an FAR7200 b/c I wanted the rubber handle. I bought it and only used it a few times. I'm not in a production environment. The thing was just so dang noisy. I practically gave it away when I sold it.

 

[techenthusiast]

Do they make a green FAR72C boot?

 

[techenthusiast]

Ordered the far72c and grease gun assembly, bill of about 520 including shipping from snap on website

my snap on die grinder has a grease fitting for the head, says grease every 8 hours of use... will I be able to use the grease gun assembly and same grease that I ordered also for my die grinder head?

 

[Buckgnarly]

Just got an FAR72C and am quite impressed. I know guys who are not big SO fans who have recommended me this, and damn, they were right!

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I find torque is only half the equation. Rpm is the other half. Sometimes in an air ratchet or even an impact gun, you want speed over torque. Ingersoll makes a nice ratchet. Have you considered a cordless ratchet from some of the main companies?

 

[techenthusiast]

I find torque is only half the equation. Rpm is the other half. Sometimes in an air ratchet or even an impact gun, you want speed over torque. Ingersoll makes a nice ratchet. Have you considered a cordless ratchet from some of the main companies?

Well I have considered but it's too late my snap on far72c arrives next week and I'm happy with my purchase. Thanks though

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I've heard good things. Good luck with it! Your money was well spent

 

[techenthusiast]

I just received my far72c, and when it was advertised to have a rubber boot I was hoping for a protective rubber boot for the body... I understand the important purpose of the one that it came with but I was wondering if they sell a boot for the body also?

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

A boot on the body would be quite annoying. The head is protected by the boot which also helps to keep lubricants in and grime out. But on the body of the tool if oil or anything got under it it would twist and such. It's not jewelry it's a tool

 

[Schurkey]

I had a low-torque Snap-On air ratchet that was similar to the Big Boy referenced here. I liked it for spark-plug replacement. Sold it awhile ago because I rarely used it once I quit wrenching professionally.

I thought the Mac AR1776 air ratchet design was the New Hot Ticket when I first saw them. I've never used one, or known anyone that had one. What you you folks think of them?
http://www.mactools.com/en-us/Power-Tools/Air-Ratchets/AR1776/3-8-Drive-Air-Ratchet-3-3-CFM

 

[redwrench60]

I'm unaware of any rubber boots for the body, just the one for the head.

Yes the ratchet grease will work fine for your die grinder and by every 8 hours they mean 8 hours of actual trigger time. I shoot two pumps in mine every month or two. The only thing you don't want to use that ratchet grease in is an impact wrench that takes grease in the hammer case. There's a special type of grease for that.