tekton ratchets

[lazer50]

Hello fellas. I have snap on, mac,armstrong, corn well, sk,craftsman professional and some some other good ratchets.i ordered an 1/4 flex head, 3/8 offset handle flex head and a 1/2 offset comfort grip tekton ratchets. I received the 3/8 and 1/2 last nite.the quality and finish is excellent for the price. I lubed them with red engine assembly lube and they feel great.the 1/2 is a little bulky but the 3/8 is great in fact i used to install a 8 inch parker vise on my weld table.im very happy so far hopefully the 1/4 quality will be this good!

 

[gdocktor3]

Have you any idea how they compare to HF?

 

[lazer50]

No i sure dont

 

[Greg85mcss]

I have both & they're very similar. The pittsburgh pro might be a little smoother. The tekton is quick release & I have a feeling that might be part of it. People have posted on here that they're made in the same factory.


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[a52-830]

i have a fair number of tekton tools. i just bought a set of ratcheting wrenches off amazon last week, and when i unboxed them friday night, one of the ratcheting parts was wedged.

i went on their web site, and filled out the form, including an image of the new set, and got an email later that night from them saying they would send a replacement out right away. well, here is it tuesday, and the replacement is sitting right next to the computer.

i dont know where they are built, but the service i get from tekton is great.

i do know that the same factory can make things to different tolerances and with slightly different materials.

the fit and finish on the mechanics tools i have from tekton, some wrenches and two or three ratchets, is also excellent, far better than what i see at hf.

 

[outdoorspace]

The ratchets are identical to the standard quick-release ones sold under Kobalt, really decent for the money.

There are multiple Meijer (supercenter chain in the midwest) stores under renovation nearby with some of the Tekton stuff on heavy clearance. I picked a full set of Channellocks (460, 440, 430 and 426 for $18 collectively) and the 1/4" and 3/8" Tekton master sets for $12 and $14 respectively with some weekend coupon fandangling. I figured the Tekton sets would be nice in the home or trunk but was impressed enough with them that I went back the next morning and picked up two more sets along with the drive adapter set and long 3/8" extension set to keep in the tool chest. I am obviously stoked for the deal and haven't really had time to put them through heavy use, but their master sets seem like one of the best values going even at full price. I'm tempted to go back a third time for an extra long 3/8" ratchet.

 

[PoorOwner]

I bought the extra long 18" 3/8 ratchet. I am not too impressed, the handle is noodle size and it flexes under moderate torque. I don't like the flex because it feels like it would let go and bust my knunckle. Put it down and switched to the GW xl wrench. No flex

 

[outdoorspace]

That's been my concern, PoorOwner. I remember some other members mentioning an uncomfortable amount of flex on the extra long ratchets. I'll probably take a pass. Thanks.

 

[Al Borland]

The Kobalt Taiwan ratchets, Harbor Freight Quick-release ratchet, TopTul, and Carlysle are all pretty much the same ratchet, made in the same place by William Co. in Taiwan. They make them for a whole bunch of others as well.
Decent mid-range ratty, Different brands may have different length handles. I know Carlysle has a variety of sizes.
The Kobalt and Harbor Freight units are identical inside, and although the Kobalt was initially smoother, the Harbor Freight was dry inside, and smoothed right out with a couple drops of 3-in-1 oil.

 

[gdocktor3]

So the HF ratchets are very similar to the Tekton's, which are identical to the Kobalt ratchets. I've handled all but the Tekton ratchets, many times, and each time I wasn't impressed. More than once I've stood in front of the Kobalt and HF ratchets playing with them and looking at them for quite some time, but I've never been impressed enough to buy one. They just don't feel like they're quality tools. I don't like the ratchet action as they feel "cheap" if that makes sense. The handles too. I will admit I'm a bit of a HF hater, but not a Taiwan/China hater as I have Craftsman 84t and Gearwrench 120xp and truly love them both. Those feel better in my hand and more like a professional ratchet compared to the plastic, toy like ratchets sold by these other brands. Am I the only one who feels this way? Maybe you need to use and appreciate a dual 80 or fine tooth Facom to really feel the difference.

Disclaimer: I'm not hating on anyone. If a tool works, it works. I'm just sharing my thoughts.

 

[gdocktor3]

So the HF ratchets are very similar to the Tekton's, which are identical to the Kobalt ratchets. I've handled all but the Tekton ratchets, many times, and each time I wasn't impressed. More than once I've stood in front of the Kobalt and HF ratchets playing with them and looking at them for quite some time, but I've never been impressed enough to buy one. They just don't feel like they're quality tools. I don't like the ratchet action as they feel "cheap" if that makes sense. The handles too. I will admit I'm a bit of a HF hater, but not a Taiwan/China hater as I have Craftsman 84t and Gearwrench 120xp and truly love them both. Those feel better in my hand and more like a professional ratchet compared to the plastic, toy like ratchets sold by these other brands. Am I the only one who feels this way? Maybe you need to use and appreciate a dual 80 or fine tooth Facom to really feel the difference.

Disclaimer: I'm not hating on anyone. If a tool works, it works. I'm just sharing my thoughts.

 

[Al Borland]

Honestly, the Husky 72 tooth, which is a derivative of the GearWrench is a pretty good wrench. It seems that most of the mid-level and cheap ratchets are made by a couple factories and badge-engineered for different companies.
The Taiwan Kobalts, out of the box felt like I was winding a watch, smooth and solid. The HF was close after oiling, but was used for quite a while dry.

Pretty much any ratchet these days is decent, all of the above are way better than any of my old Craftsman ratchets, and at least as good as my old SK Wayne or New Britain Ratchets.
Of course, the SK Waynes and New Britains are 40+ years old and likely not as good as new.

 

[M6erfan]

My take...Tekton ratchets are good. For the price, very good. The 72T Taiwan mechanism is pretty decent, the finish is great, the fit is average. Tekton ratchets have large heads and are bulkier in my hand than Facom or Snap-On. The best about Tekton, IMO, is their outstanding customer service, lifetime warranty, and price.

They are very good tools for the money...

 

[Fedwrench]

The Kobalt Taiwan ratchets, Harbor Freight Quick-release ratchet, TopTul, and Carlysle are all pretty much the same ratchet, made in the same place by William Co. in Taiwan. They make them for a whole bunch of others as well.

I wouldn't lump Napa's Carlyle in with the others. Most Taiwan made pear head ratchets use a ratcheting action similar to the classic Proto design with two small pawl wedges. The Carlyle 60 & 90 tooth ratchets do not use this design and instead use a floating pawl design similar to what is found on Gearwrench, MATCO, Armstrong Maxx, and others. I also believe Kabo makes Carlyle's ratchets.

 

[erty67]

my kobalts tend to be my go-to ratchets. If they're the same, I'd say they are good. Only got the kobalts because I caught a set on clearance.

 

[lightning02]

The Kobalt Taiwan ratchets, Harbor Freight Quick-release ratchet, TopTul, and Carlysle are all pretty much the same ratchet, made in the same place by William Co. in Taiwan. They make them for a whole bunch of others as well.
Decent mid-range ratty, Different brands may have different length handles. I know Carlysle has a variety of sizes.
The Kobalt and Harbor Freight units are identical inside, and although the Kobalt was initially smoother, the Harbor Freight was dry inside, and smoothed right out with a couple drops of 3-in-1 oil.

i havent seen any Carlysle ratchets that are the same as the HF ones so not sure if there in the mix or not. im sure others will know better tho

 

[M6erfan]

The Kobalt Taiwan ratchets, Harbor Freight Quick-release ratchet, TopTul, and Carlysle are all pretty much the same ratchet, made in the same place by William Co

The Carlyle ratchets I have are nothing like the Harbor Freight I have. Carlyle is on a different level...

 

[MrGiggles]

I have the extra long 1/2 fixed Tekton ratchet and a 3/8 low profile. Both have great chrome, and the long ratchet has proven to be very durable.

I have many HF composite and flex head ratchets, all of which have proven to be strong and durable. I've put some serious torque to the 3/8 composite (I expected it to break), but it held up just fine.

I have a GW 120xp in 1/4 that works just fine, and an 80 tooth in 3/8 that I had to send back because of selector problems.

 

[oldldh]

I bought 10 of the Tekton ratchets, when Amazon had their $15.00 off $50.00 sale, during the Holidays, last year...

So far they've done very well...

I haven't noticed the 18" 3/8" Drive Ratchet flexing, however, I've leaned on the 1/2" drive 24" ratchet, and it has acted like a breaker bar...

Paired with my 120 tooth GearWrench FlexHead set, I've got my needs pretty well covered...

Total cost: $240.48...or an average of $ 17.17 each...

Can't beat that with a big stick...

(When I'm reincarnated as "SnapOn Man", all this will change, however...)

 

[John in OH]

The Carlyle ratchets I have are nothing like the Harbor Freight I have. Carlyle is on a different level...

I agree. I don't think you can lump Carlyle in the same bucket with HF or Kobalt. The Carlyles are quite superior.

 

[Al Borland]

Haven't had the opportunity to dissect a Carlysle, but a co-worker has a couple, they are non-flex and the working end looks identical, Same size quick release button, screws in the same spots, lever in the same spot (side-by-side comparison), Grip/handle has detail differences, but...
They may not be the current version of carlysle.