Tekton ratchet experiences
- Thread starter Tonymanx
- Start date
milwaukeephil
Well-known member
I have that one. I'm not a pro, but I do a lot of wrenching. Mine has held up to beating on it with a dead blow and the 90 teeth has a nice smooth action.
The best use I've had for the bent handle has been reaching the rear caliper bracket bolts on a Chevy 2500 when I couldn't get an impact in. Used an Astro stubby socket and it reached right around back.
I'd buy it again.
The best use I've had for the bent handle has been reaching the rear caliper bracket bolts on a Chevy 2500 when I couldn't get an impact in. Used an Astro stubby socket and it reached right around back.
I'd buy it again.
I bought one from Amazon. Happy with cost ,and most features. Don't like:
Small diameter of handle grip area. Have a GearWrench ratchet with more comfortable handle.
Small diameter of pivot bolt for head. Seems to be same size as pivot as in my 3/8"
drive Snap on flex head.
Tested by loosening and tightening lug nuts on 1 ton truck. Handle yoke seemed to spread
a little bit, but springs right back.
Looked at similar Carlyle ratchet at NAPA. Was not fine tooth,
price was $78
Small diameter of handle grip area. Have a GearWrench ratchet with more comfortable handle.
Small diameter of pivot bolt for head. Seems to be same size as pivot as in my 3/8"
drive Snap on flex head.
Tested by loosening and tightening lug nuts on 1 ton truck. Handle yoke seemed to spread
a little bit, but springs right back.
Looked at similar Carlyle ratchet at NAPA. Was not fine tooth,
price was $78
toolaholic
Well-known member
Professional Tool User
Well-known member
I don't have any experience with the 90 tooth ones, but Tekton's 72 tooth ratchets have an annoying tendency to look up. I hope they fixed this problem with the 90 tooth ratchets.
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toddmorr
Well-known member
ordered the 1/4 QR 90 tooth several weeks ago. Not bad at all, esp for 15$ delivered. It is quite small, less than 4 inches but fits well in my hand. Back drag is typical but OK I guess, much more than any Koken. I only wish it had handle knurling.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I use the 1/4 & 3/8 drive 90 tooth fixed & flex head without quick release versions at work daily. No issues. I like the handle shape and ratcheting action is smooth as butter.
I wish Tekton would come out with a non offset handle 3/8 drive flex head ratchet measuring approx 13 inches long overall and a similar 1/2 drive version measuring 17-18 inches long overall.
I wish Tekton would come out with a non offset handle 3/8 drive flex head ratchet measuring approx 13 inches long overall and a similar 1/2 drive version measuring 17-18 inches long overall.
Coach James
Well-known member
I bought the 3/8, flex head for one of my employees. He's used it many times with no problems.
Coach
Coach
Motown
Well-known member
I have a 1/4 drive composet.the direction lever can go hooky every now & then .doesn't seem to engage properly and goes into a neutral state. Sarted doing this early on.
GrayEngineer
Well-known member
I enjoy and recommend Tekton ratchets. I have 7 of their 90t ratchets and one of the 3/4" drive 72t ratchets. I'd argue that they are on par or better then Snap-on dual80 ratchets. The 1/4" drive ratchets are better then Snap-on comparable. I'd say the Tekton 1/4" drive is on par with Nepros 1/4", albeit the fit and finish is second to none with Nepros.
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Sent from my SM-G975U using The Garage Journal mobile app
So far I haven't needed to give mine anything hard to do yet, but I'm amazed at the fit and finish of these tools at this price point.
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Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using The Garage Journal mobile app
What is it lubricated with ?
I wouldn't compare the new Tekton 90t's to their 72t composite. The composites are low tier in comparison.
My 1/4" 90t is still pretty new to me but I agree that the quality/price ratio is pretty amazing on these ratchets.
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In which ways do you think they're better than Snap on (outside of price) and on par with Nepros? Also something that's never factored in is long term durability. I know Tekton makes a pretty good product but these haven't been out for long. A year or so, right? Whats long term durability like?
Nineeightyone
Well-known member
My 90-tooth 3/8" was put through the ringer over the weekend swapping the transmission (and axle cups, and ball joints, and some other goodies) on my VW -- it was fantastic, well behaved, and the smaller swing angle was really useful for a couple areas in particular (slave cylinder and starter come to mind).
GrayEngineer
Well-known member
The ratcheting mechanism is really solid on these, and the back lash when the next tooth is engaged is next to none. The Snap-on dual80 1/4 drive has a lot more back lash than they should, so the Tekton and Nepros both are better in my opinion. What's the point of having a fine tooth ratchet with a low swing arc if you have to overcome the lash that nearly doubles the swing arc? Durability-wise, I've intentionally been hard ony Tekton tools expecting them to break, but I still have yet to break one. I tightened up a lug nut to 90 ft lbs with the 1/4" flex head Tekton ratchet with a cheater pipe just to see if it could match what Snap-on claims with their 1/4 ratchets, and it took it like a champ. All in all, I feel that the Tekton 90t ratchets are the best bang for the buck on the market right now.
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Valid question I suppose. But really, long term durability? On a ratchet? When is the last time you broke a 1/4" ratchet (or any size ratchet for that matter)? Typically the anvils shear off before any other part of the ratchet fails. At any rate, given the support that Tekton has shown I have no doubt they would provide a rebuild kit or a replacement ratchet in the event one is needed.
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I always agree anytime this comes up. I’m a big fan of Dual-80s but the 72 tooth 1/4” flavors just don’t feel as nice as the larger drive sizes. I wish they could figure that out.
I really hope Tekton will make a long handled 1/4”.
Yeah good point, I don't think I've ever really broken a ratchet other than destroying one that had a massive massive breaker bar on it when I was a kid. Just something I think should be considered, but if they're not breaking left and right after a year, I'm sure they're fine.
I use my two GW 1/4" ratchet over my regular Snap On 1/4" ratchet but unfortunately not many companies make ratchets like a TLL72, for example. I love those ratchets and while the back drag might be a little high (I don't really have many complaints) its great for what I use it for and Tekton doesn't offer a ratchet in that size, for example. As far as Nepros, I've never owned one but people put Nepros stuff at the top of the chain, and you're telling me Tekton's making a ratchet on par with that for 10x less?
I feel like they're a really good value too, but on par with Snap on, better than Nepros? Idk...
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Tekton ratchets are made on Taiwan. The Asians CAN make things of high quality.
Snap-on is made in the USA, probably at Union wages. So yes, I can believe the Tekton can be similar in quality for much less. Paid $35 for Tekton half inch, fine tooth ,flex head, quick release, long handle. I took a gamble cuz Snap on cost $232.
Lisamelting
Well-known member
I have a few Tekton ratchets that I use every day in an industrial setting. The one I use the most is the 1/2" drive with 24" handle. I've used it every day for a year and a half removing 24mm bolts cranked down to 300 ft. lbs. For $50 is was worth every penny.
DerekV
Well-known member
I wish Tekton would come out with a non offset handle 3/8 drive flex head ratchet measuring approx 13 inches long overall and a similar 1/2 drive version measuring 17-18 inches long overall.
Yes [emoji106]
I have no doubt about Tekton being quality or the Asians making quality tools. 90% of my tool box is made in Taiwan tools. I don't know that they're better than the best, but I guess they must be, I'll have to get some more 90T stuff
Anyone else have info? Why would one buy Nepros when Tektons just as good?
GrayEngineer
Well-known member
I was comparing the Tekton ratcheting mechanism to Nepros, but if cost wasn't a factor I'd take the Nepros because the fit and finish is stellar and I enjoy the handle shape. If it were between a Snap-on and Tekton 1/4" (or even other drive sizes) I'd likely take the Tekton, but once you bring price in to the consideration Tekton wins all day.
Side note, Wera's all metal ratchets are awesome too. They are one of my favorite ratchets, and if they made a flex head all metal ratchets it'd be my go to ratchet every time.
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giants
Banned
GrayEngineer, thanks. I'm interested in the Wera Zyklop (8004 series) and I'm familiar with Tekton. Which Wera do you have and would you compare the two?
visionguru
Well-known member
Once my kids were no longer keeping me broke and I could begin to buy decent mechanics tools, I committed to USA made and never looked back (no regrets, in that regard). Since retiring, I've found that rounding out my tool collection with domestic tools was going to stress my finances more than it did when I was working. So, I took a long look at the foreign made brands. Personally, I believe Tekton fits my own personal needs the best. Most of what I still needed and need were like 1/2" drive metric deep wells and 1/4" metric deeps. Things that aren't used a lot in my case. Tekton sockets are OK by me in both performance and customer service.
The only Tekton ratchet I have is their 3/8 drive composite which I bought out of curiosity. I am already well stocked with domestic ratchets and a couple of imports that I swallowed my pride and bought. I would have no qualms about buying their ratchets if I needed them. I believe that, generally, they are as good as anyone in their price range and you just can't beat their customer service, in my opinion.
The only Tekton ratchet I have is their 3/8 drive composite which I bought out of curiosity. I am already well stocked with domestic ratchets and a couple of imports that I swallowed my pride and bought. I would have no qualms about buying their ratchets if I needed them. I believe that, generally, they are as good as anyone in their price range and you just can't beat their customer service, in my opinion.
BrandoJames
Well-known member
I've got a Tekton 1/2" torque wrench that you could call a "quasi-ratchet". The lock nut seized this summer after less than a year of light DIY use. I had to spray it down with Kroil and then put it on the shelf for a couple of weeks before the lock nut was free.
So yeah, "locking up" may be a pattern failure with some of Tekton's ratcheting tools.
I like the small 1/4 drive, Tekton is one of the brands I use to fill in holes for those optional tools. I think Tekton is a good value.
"The Asians CAN make things of high quality."
You can have whatever quality you want built in China, you just have to pay for it. China has the ability to engineer a product around a price point, if you need a 5 cent ratchet they can do it....if you need a $150 ratchet, they have the resources to do that as well. Just don't compare your 5 cent ratchet to the other guys $150 ratchet. and create unrealistic expectations.
"The Asians CAN make things of high quality."
You can have whatever quality you want built in China, you just have to pay for it. China has the ability to engineer a product around a price point, if you need a 5 cent ratchet they can do it....if you need a $150 ratchet, they have the resources to do that as well. Just don't compare your 5 cent ratchet to the other guys $150 ratchet. and create unrealistic expectations.
Locker537
Well-known member
I've been very happy with all my Tekton purchases.
giants
Banned
Thanks.
Any idea why that happened?
Did you turn the torque setting back to its lowest setting when not in use?
How did you manage to spray the Kroil in, eg through the middle of the shaft or down the center of the nut at the end?
Thanks
BrandoJames
Well-known member
I have no idea why the lock nut seized. Since it’s a calibrated tool, I babied that torque wrench. After use, I'd always clean it, set it back to 10 ft/lbs (per user manual), then store it in it's case. I reach for it one day this summer and the lock nut is frozen. I couldn’t budge it, not even with vise grips.
I almost threw it away. Instead I sprayed Aerokroil all around the lock nut where it meets the threads, then put it back in its case. A couple of weeks later, I decide to give it one final go. Take it out of the case, and unbelievably the lock nut turns in my hand. As you can tell, I’m part of the Aeorkroil Cult, lol.
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Ton ton
Well-known member
I have to find a retailer for tekton 1/2 " ratchet. Any thing close to Harrisonburg or Charlottesville,VA?
Ton ton
Well-known member
I did try the find a retailer button and came up with Kinston,NC.
Ton ton
Well-known member
I am not familiar with Meijer's.
giants
Banned
I'm becoming disenchanted with Tekton ratchets. I used to think they were the bee's knees. However, the ratcheting mechanism in all of mine is noisy, the same as my Harbor Freight and Taiwanese Craftsman; when I disassembled the latter two, there was absolutely no lubricant inside, despite my being the original owner and lightly using them for a few months. I believe that my Tekton are the same.
I'm having trouble justifying paying twice to three times as much for a Harbor Freight ratchet which works perfectly fine (lobster claw head notwithstanding) and does everything I need to with no questions asked lifetime warranty, albeit would benefit from a CLA, than a functionally equivalent Tekton that needs a CLA.
I'm having trouble justifying paying twice to three times as much for a Harbor Freight ratchet which works perfectly fine (lobster claw head notwithstanding) and does everything I need to with no questions asked lifetime warranty, albeit would benefit from a CLA, than a functionally equivalent Tekton that needs a CLA.
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