shoggoth80
Well-known member
So, I put the newest ratchet in my drawer to use today. Snap On FK100. 3/8 stubby ratchet. Higher tooth count, thinner head, and shorter than my Duralast stubby. Jobs used on: thermostat and water pump.
I rather like it. There's a couple draw backs, but nothing major. First, I can sneak it into a lot of spaces. That's the primary reason I sprang for it. It performed really well for running down my water pump bolts. It also did well running down my thermostat housing bolts. Plop a wobble extension on there, and it's pretty versatile for fitting into my palm.
I think the steel selector lever is a smart change. It takes a solid flick of the thumb... But I don't mind that. I would rather have to make a deliberate direction change, than accidentally knocking the selector the other way.
It's a smooth mechanism. My FNHF100 is also 100 tooth, but it's also worn in at this point... So the roto is a little smoother. I think the stubby will wear in pretty similarly.
The back drag. That's a point I've read about. It's heavier than my roto 3/8 and 1/4, but nowhere near as heavy as my 71-10 1/2 drive. Nothing putting my thumb on the head, or putting a finger on the extension doesn't solve. Might be a big deal to others... But I've used quite a bit of old, coarse tooth stuff. Especially when younger. No big deal to me. Again, I imagine it'll lighten up some with use.
It also has the freewheel symptom if you push on the selector. This I'm meh about. It's not something I imagine being an issue, as there's not many spots I get myself into where I'm backing up into something that hard, or exerting that much force on that exact spot. It does take a fair bit of pressure to cause it.
Overall, I like it. Not the most objective review. Lol. Ultimately time will tell. First impressions are positive, and it adds a layer of extra capacity/capability to the box.
I rather like it. There's a couple draw backs, but nothing major. First, I can sneak it into a lot of spaces. That's the primary reason I sprang for it. It performed really well for running down my water pump bolts. It also did well running down my thermostat housing bolts. Plop a wobble extension on there, and it's pretty versatile for fitting into my palm.
I think the steel selector lever is a smart change. It takes a solid flick of the thumb... But I don't mind that. I would rather have to make a deliberate direction change, than accidentally knocking the selector the other way.
It's a smooth mechanism. My FNHF100 is also 100 tooth, but it's also worn in at this point... So the roto is a little smoother. I think the stubby will wear in pretty similarly.
The back drag. That's a point I've read about. It's heavier than my roto 3/8 and 1/4, but nowhere near as heavy as my 71-10 1/2 drive. Nothing putting my thumb on the head, or putting a finger on the extension doesn't solve. Might be a big deal to others... But I've used quite a bit of old, coarse tooth stuff. Especially when younger. No big deal to me. Again, I imagine it'll lighten up some with use.
It also has the freewheel symptom if you push on the selector. This I'm meh about. It's not something I imagine being an issue, as there's not many spots I get myself into where I'm backing up into something that hard, or exerting that much force on that exact spot. It does take a fair bit of pressure to cause it.
Overall, I like it. Not the most objective review. Lol. Ultimately time will tell. First impressions are positive, and it adds a layer of extra capacity/capability to the box.
