stepless, toothless ratchet. where can i get them
- Thread starter lugnut89
- Start date
KnurledNut
Well-known member
i just sold a mac gearless ratchet here a bit ago. it was a well built unit and stamped USA.
they dont make em anymore, but you can find em used.
they dont make em anymore, but you can find em used.
Chadwilliam1
Well-known member
what are the downsides to the gearless ratchet?
BOG also made them.
blackz26
Banned
Don't the stepless ratchets still have teeth but the prawl is always engaged? I seen a video of them once. the company had what looked like a snap on ratchet to compare it too. That's ballsy! In my experience I've never been in a tight enough spot where one would be absolutely needed. I do however love my Blackhawk rotator ratchet. 0° action. But limited torque for breaking loose fasteners. Sorry didn't mean to jack your thread OP.
neophyte
Well-known member
Never used one, but Omega Technologies was the place that came up when I was looking into them a while ago. http://omegatec.com/standard-single-roller-ratchets.aspx They seem to be geared to aviation. If you're looking for a tool truck one. 
The fact that the Stepless Ratchet lady is making a pitch about worldwide licensing makes me think they may have only made some prototypes and don't have production in place.
The fact that the Stepless Ratchet lady is making a pitch about worldwide licensing makes me think they may have only made some prototypes and don't have production in place.
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http://www.browntool.com/Default.as...ductName,ProductNumber&Level=a&ProductID=1299
Only difference between a hilok gearless and a normal gearless is that there's a hole in the center of the drive end for an allen key. If you buy these in a set, which you can find on any aviation tool supply website, it will come with a variety of attachments (the drive end can be replaced with something else)
EDIT: also, if you keep browsing that website, you can find them in a few different lengths.
Only difference between a hilok gearless and a normal gearless is that there's a hole in the center of the drive end for an allen key. If you buy these in a set, which you can find on any aviation tool supply website, it will come with a variety of attachments (the drive end can be replaced with something else)
EDIT: also, if you keep browsing that website, you can find them in a few different lengths.
glenmore
Well-known member
The head tends to be a little big and the on/off switch is not as easy as with a typical ratchet.
They do not have teeth and are extremely strong, only way to fail is for the head to explode.
There are all sorts of chinese ones on ebay under "gearless ratchet". I had a MAC one and other than the head being large, it was pretty cool.
They do not have teeth and are extremely strong, only way to fail is for the head to explode.
There are all sorts of chinese ones on ebay under "gearless ratchet". I had a MAC one and other than the head being large, it was pretty cool.
There typically isn't an on/off switch. You would pop out the drive end and turn in around.
marlinspike
Well-known member
Stahlwille North America sells them. It's not part of the Stahlwille catalog. I'm told it's made in by Stahlwille North America in their machine shop, but I'm not 100% convinced that's accurate.
shoturtle
Well-known member
Stahlwille NA is an importer, I double they make any tools.
I think the only good options out there are the taiwan made ones right now.
I think the only good options out there are the taiwan made ones right now.
marlinspike
Well-known member
It might have been that they had a local machine shop making them. Either way, I was told they're made in USA, but again I'm skeptical.
shoturtle
Well-known member
Be interesting to see if it was. I like the toptul one form taiwan, and how it fairs against a decent made one like the toptul or a old USA made mac one.
SKAutomotive
Well-known member
Why is this called a gearless ratchet? That is a gear design called a hypoid gear.
shoturtle
Well-known member
interesting name for it hypoid gear, always consider it a orbital gear myself. Learn something new.
glenmore
Well-known member
Both the MAC one and the no-name brand one had a switch. The no-name brand one actually took two hands to change direction. One hand to jiggle the switch and the other hand to jiggle the socket/drive end. Not a very useful design.
rlitman
Well-known member
Huh, what are you talking about? Every gearless ratchet I have seen, is truly gearless. There are no teeth to engage. A hypoid gear still has teeth that engage another gear. Gearless does not work this way.
Have a look at the "roller ratchet" picture I attached.
As the central shaft is turned clockwise, the rollers roll towards the wider section of their pocket. Turn the shaft counter-clockwise, and rollers run into a taper that wedges them into the shaft.
The problem with this design, is that it puts enormous amounts of compression on really small bearing surfaces of the roller. That can cause damage under high levels of stress, and I've also had them slip when really fine dirt gets in the mechanism, as it prevents the rollers from getting wedges.
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mrborohachi
Well-known member
I had the same ratchets they came in a 2 piece set with a 3/8dr and 1/4. I'm almost positive they were MIT(made in Taiwan)
It must have been 4-6 years ago that i got them from Autozone
I believe I remember seeing a Japanese made toothless ratchet from either Hozan or Ko-ken or Kowa in a catalog. I know for sure it was in the catalog for motorcycle tools.
Dave455
Well-known member
Britool made one in the U.K. in the 1980's! Brilliant tools! I think the bearing inside came from Timken or somesuch (British bearing maker)! The Britool 'name' has changed hands several times and is now only found on poor quality imported tools but... a company called "Britool Hallmark" (different outfit) still offer stepless / toothless ratchets. Not sure where they are made but don't look too bad! (Their screwdrivers are made in France and o.k.)
glenmore
Well-known member
quattrojon
Well-known member
I have the made in England 3/8 version that i bought in the early nineties. The chrome is wearing thin in places, but it has never let me down. They are hard to find these days, but they do crop up on ebay from time to time. The Hallmark version is made in Taiwan (but still a nice ratchet).
Miskin
Well-known member
Applesauce
Well-known member
Re: MAC gearless ratchet guts
This looks sweet! Any report on the function? Is the direction switch as easy to operate as a "geared" ratchet?
This looks sweet! Any report on the function? Is the direction switch as easy to operate as a "geared" ratchet?
vssjim
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The last American made gearless ratchet I remember was called a "Radian Ratchet"
they called it Radian Drive they also sold an air ratchet version . I did get a clutch bearing for the air ratchet but never had to fix a regular ratchet. They were from the mid to late eighties. I do know they were really made here some of the other ones from the same time not really sure due to the miss labeling problems some of the tool companies have had in the last fifteen years or so.
they called it Radian Drive they also sold an air ratchet version . I did get a clutch bearing for the air ratchet but never had to fix a regular ratchet. They were from the mid to late eighties. I do know they were really made here some of the other ones from the same time not really sure due to the miss labeling problems some of the tool companies have had in the last fifteen years or so.
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glenmore
Well-known member
Re: MAC gearless ratchet guts
IIRC the action had quite a bit of drag as somebody else has also mentioned. The other no-name ratchet I had was very difficult to change direction. It was definitely NOT the ratchet to reach for if you worked with them all day.
IIRC the action had quite a bit of drag as somebody else has also mentioned. The other no-name ratchet I had was very difficult to change direction. It was definitely NOT the ratchet to reach for if you worked with them all day.
mrborohachi
Well-known member
here's a 1/4 drive stubby gearless ratchet http://www.etoolcart.com/ratchet14drgearless3stubbytit11200.aspx
The one way roller bearing used in these designs is a sprag clutch. As stated the heads are typically larger to handle the large radial forces as opposed to the tangential force in a pawl design.
Snap on uses this design in a right angle screwdriver:
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=680939&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
Snap on uses this design in a right angle screwdriver:
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=680939&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
n8n
Well-known member
The recent thread about a supposed upcoming Snap-On gearless ratchet got me thinking about these again. I have limited experience with them; a friend bought some push-through stubbies at one of those sidewalk sale things and they were actually surprisingly useful. I've always wanted to try a quality full size version of these, but have never really seen any. I've seen references online to the Toptul ones but where does one actually buy them (in the US?) Also, I have a preference for metal handles, the round smooth handles like Snap-On, Kobalt, etc. are my favorites. I see a few "Sealey" (Titan?) ones on eBay; they're push throughs but otherwise look OK, but without reviews I'm hesitant to buy, I know they're cheap but I would rather not buy **** tools at all if I can help it (but they might be good?)
I found this thread
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95841&showall=1
and it seems that most of these ratchets are either out of production or have some drawback. Would love to find some of those old Blackhawks!
So... is there anything on the market that I can actually buy that's worth a try?
I found this thread
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95841&showall=1
and it seems that most of these ratchets are either out of production or have some drawback. Would love to find some of those old Blackhawks!
So... is there anything on the market that I can actually buy that's worth a try?
From the quoted thread: Looks like oldjacks predicted the future...
4) What will happen in the future when SO runs out of teeth to add to their ratchets and what will be their next step? You can bet a Gearless Ratchet will happen eventually as how else are they or anyone else going to get people to buy new ratchets? Yup, they got to come up with something new.
This isn't exactly new stuff, but surely Snappy will market it as a technological break through.
It might also be another rip-off of a vintage Blackhawk product. Ever seen a Snappy 3/4" drive lock-on socket? I believe that Blackhawk was the original manufacturer behind this particular design.
It will be interesting for me to see what Snappy has done with this old idea.
Vintage Blackhawk free-wheelers were pretty sweet.
Dave455
Well-known member
Many of the features of socket wrenches and handles that we take for granted were actually Blackhawk innovations! They weren't gimmicks either, in fact I believe they were the finest tools ever made!
The Blackhawk Lock On sockets were simply superb, and the fact that mine are still not only usable, but still noticeably better than many other makes, 70 years after they were purchased by my Grandfather confirms this! Never had one of their free wheeling ratchets but suspect they worked well! The ones I like the look of best are the 'dome headed' ones from the 50's, but they must be mega rare!
Sadly, many of the innovative tools pioneered by Blackhawk are not currently available from any manufacturer! The Japanese firm Ko Ken offer many of the patterns, but sadly not these! (Although I get the impression that Ko Ken is headed up by an enthusiast striving to make better tools, rather than a board of brown nosers trying to earn brownie points from the big cheese by forever cutting costs, so who knows what may be offered in future)!
There is a Blackhawk thread here with some more info! It's a great read!
The Blackhawk Lock On sockets were simply superb, and the fact that mine are still not only usable, but still noticeably better than many other makes, 70 years after they were purchased by my Grandfather confirms this! Never had one of their free wheeling ratchets but suspect they worked well! The ones I like the look of best are the 'dome headed' ones from the 50's, but they must be mega rare!
Sadly, many of the innovative tools pioneered by Blackhawk are not currently available from any manufacturer! The Japanese firm Ko Ken offer many of the patterns, but sadly not these! (Although I get the impression that Ko Ken is headed up by an enthusiast striving to make better tools, rather than a board of brown nosers trying to earn brownie points from the big cheese by forever cutting costs, so who knows what may be offered in future)!
There is a Blackhawk thread here with some more info! It's a great read!
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n8n
Well-known member
CRTDI, those pictures are practically pornographic! Even if that was a conventional 36 tooth ratchet I would still want one just for the look alone. It's a shame that they dropped that line, although undoubtedly today it would be equipped with some kind of "cushion grip" plastic handle that would look like dog vomit 10 minutes after entering a real work environment... 
superautobacs
Well-known member
CRTDI,
Thank you for those scans! Very cool!
NKC, a Japanese firm, has produced gearless products for some time. Unfortunately they closed their doors earlier this year, for good.
They had a worldwide patent on their design, IIRC. Their tools were used by Volkswagen, at the assembly line.
Here's just a few examples:
They also made gearless ratchet adaptors:
From left: Snap-on, NKC, Ko-ken
Thank you for those scans! Very cool!
NKC, a Japanese firm, has produced gearless products for some time. Unfortunately they closed their doors earlier this year, for good.
They had a worldwide patent on their design, IIRC. Their tools were used by Volkswagen, at the assembly line.
Here's just a few examples:
They also made gearless ratchet adaptors:
From left: Snap-on, NKC, Ko-ken
alwaysFlOoReD
Well-known member
3baygarage
Well-known member
Old thread I see, but what the heck, we all like pictures.
My BOG 1/2" ratchet. It has to be flipped over to change direction. Works perfectly and so far I've resisted the urge to open it up and see what's in there. If I ever do and lose any parts I blame you guys.
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n8n
Well-known member
Only can find one reference to it here...
http://www.samstagsales.com/images/stngr38.jpg
http://www.samstagsales.com/stahlwille.htm
They say it's an Asian import, at a glance probably Titan? I'm going to have to break down and try one someday.
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http://www.samstagsales.com/images/stngr38.jpg
http://www.samstagsales.com/stahlwille.htm
They say it's an Asian import, at a glance probably Titan? I'm going to have to break down and try one someday.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk