The worst ratchet ever...

[foghorn1966]

hangfirew8 wrote "It is so floppy a floppy-head that it is useless for any purpose. I tried tightening the sides but no go."

I have an S-K from the early '90s (what ever version of S-K that is...) that is just like that. The ratchet itself is nice & smooth, but pretty much useless. I'm hesitant to really pull on it.

 

[MikeF2316]

I have a Princess Auto version of that ratchet, and I agree with those that say the Craftsman RP ones are worse. But even worse than those are the ones that Canadian Sears sold from when they broke from Sears USA in the 90s. These ones are round head ones, and they have horrendous back drag. I have a set with a ¼" & ⅜" drive, and I never use them.

 

[vssjim]

hangfirew8 wrote "It is so floppy a floppy-head that it is useless for any purpose. I tried tightening the sides but no go."

I have an S-K from the early '90s (what ever version of S-K that is...) that is just like that. The ratchet itself is nice & smooth, but pretty much useless. I'm hesitant to really pull on it.

send it back to SK they will replace it, there customer service is great

 

[Mgdoug3]

My worst ratchet was a 1/4 drive Stanley that came in a kit. It would lock up or change directions every time I used it. I have picked up enough 1/4 drive ratchets I decided to see if I could fix it. Upon disassembly parts and springs went flying. I could have looked for the parts and found them but the ratchet had too much plastic inside for my liking so I just threw it in the trash but kept the springs.

 

[Yarpo]

Is it correct of me to assume you mean my video:

Hey man just wanted to say good video, I liked the flow and also the background music throughout most the video. Not sure why but it was almost relaxing I guess.

That said, do others have the same issue with the Pittsburgh for this reason? I was looking at getting a few new ratchets for work and I guess I WONT try that out, or should I just live with the floppy flex head?

 

[Jason280]

Has to be the generic round heads with the tristar plastic rear selectors, followed by raised panel Craftsman ratchets with the plastic selectors.

 

[Shehzada]

Thanks for the update on PM tools. I was still in high school​ in the 90s.

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[Parrothead]

Has to be the generic round heads with the tristar plastic rear selectors

Yep, those are by FAR the worst ratchets I’ve ever dealt with. Pretty sure the break when you look at them.

 

[DadsTools]

Has to be the generic round heads with the tristar plastic rear selectors, followed by raised panel Craftsman ratchets with the plastic selectors.

This. Others have mentioned the same kind.

I generically call them Chiwan round heads. We've all seen them. Many of them can be the worst. Occasionally I see one that was made with a little better quality. A little.

But if we're setting parameters of brand names, for instance, the Chiwan RHs doesn't even count. Then I'd agree it's the CM RPs with the plastic selectors. Worse than what HF sells today--at least the ones they sell that aren't Chiwan RH.

I also agree to an extent with those who dislike the CM RPs in general. Never liked the way they felt and worked. I'm not sure I'd go as far as to say "worst rat ever made", but were certainly my least favorite of any brand name offering.

 

[jd_1138]

Thanks. Didn't know PM manufactured automotive tools. I only thought of the magazine.

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Ollie's Discount Store has almost a full line of Popular Mechanics tools for super cheap. They don't appear too bad, though I've never used them.

 

[CR888]

Has to be the generic round heads with the tristar plastic rear selectors, followed by raised panel Craftsman ratchets with the plastic selectors.

Yes, yes & yes! Arhh when your fixing something at a family or friends house & someone puts one of them tri-star ratchets in ya hand.

 

[Wamsutta]

I watched the video. The guy did a good job. He says he's from Pittsburgh, so I wonder where he gets that southern accent from.

 

[Tonyuk]

They would be better riveting the thing to the spec they like.

We have a shop called halfords who sell a long flex 3/8" ratchet and they use a form of rivet, never came loose on mine. Any issues just return it and get a new one.

 

[ex-x-fire]

Yep, those are by FAR the worst ratchets I’ve ever dealt with. Pretty sure the break when you look at them.

Yeah, they had a few of those at a swap meet I went to yesterday. They aren't worth the ink used to mark the price.

 

[Snakebyt]

the flexhead on my 24" snap on comes loose all the time, I just assume that is an issue with most all flex head ratchets

 

[byoungblood]

Not sure about all the distaste with the C-man raised handle ratchets. They aren't my favorite, but I use one everyday at work and have yet to have it fail me.....

I could name other brands I wouldn't buy, including US made ones, before I would say that about the C-man ratchet.

At one point they weren't that bad. Sometime in the late-90s early-2000s they got extremely inconsistent. I got one as a warranty replacement and ended up having to swap it almost immediately because it didn't really ratchet, it just kind of freewheeled on the back stroke. Then it would occasionally slip. That's when I started hunting for a better option.

I certainly wouldn't call them the worst though. There are plenty of cheapo no-name ratchets out there to take that prize.

 

[gregpack]

I enjoy Garnett tools' videos. He like quality stuff, but seems to get the value proposition. I don't own an HF flex head, but if they all get as floppy as his was, that would drive me insane.

As far as the Carlyle it is just pricey enough to keep me from buying them unless they're on sale. For usually just a little bit more I can buy US made Williams or Proto through a ZORO sale. My local NAPA keeps a lot of the Carlyle hidden in the back. You have to look at their catalog and ask for it, while they keep the janky ones on the shelves up front. However, If I was a regular at NAPA I could see them being a goto brand. -I did find a great pair of Carlyle long nose multitool pliers that has become a favorite for my maintenance pouch.

 

[Jaysreal]

That said, do others have the same issue with the Pittsburgh for this reason? I was looking at getting a few new ratchets for work and I guess I WONT try that out, or should I just live with the floppy flex head?

Appreciate it! I would say it has a well documented history of becoming loose easily BUT if they did in fact correct the situation then at $20 it's definitely worth a try. To be fair, the new warranty exchange ratchet has a Torx head fastener at the flex joint vs a hex on the four others I have returned, which leads me to believe there has been an "update" I just don't have the interest in trying it again.

The way I see it:

Fool me once, shame on me.

Fool me 4 times, then you're a con artist.

So it's gonna sit there until I do a "giveaway"

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[Jaysreal]

One thing though that people have kind of missed though, was the ease of warranty replacement. Congrats to harbor freight for that. In the end, didn't you opt for the shorter 3/8 drive flex head?

Thanks Fed, and Yes, most missed the fact that 5 Ratchets later, I never had to pay a single dime past the initail purchase and the exchange is as simple as walking in and grabbing a new one.

I ended up with a shorter one because they didn't have the same exact one in stock and I had no interest in returning just to pick another up.

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[Mechanical Noise]

I have a couple of the long handle 3/8" drive Pittsburgh Pro flex head ratchets. They're both kinda floppy and I expect they'll get even floppier. My Craftsman RP flex heads got floppy, too. But I traded 'em in because the ratcheting mechanisms went bad. By then, they weren't bad ratchets, they were no longer ratchets at all.

My HF flex heads still work, even if they sometimes work best with two hands. I just figured that is the nature of inexpensive flex head ratchets.

My one really nice flex head ratchet is a SK long handle 1/2" drive. BRIGHT chrome, the kind that makes other chrome look gray. Low backdrag and always a perfect, confidence inspiring, forward engagement. And, of course, the flex head stays in place.

I really don't like to use it much. If I mess up perfection, I can't ask for a do-over.

 

[Shehzada]

Ollie's Discount Store has almost a full line of Popular Mechanics tools for super cheap. They don't appear too bad, though I've never used them.

Thank you. I loved visiting Ollies when I lived in PA.

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[potato]

i wonder if you cut a slit in the shaft like the swivel heads have if it could be tightened more.and maybe a panhead bolt and nut.like this but not as long.

 

[Wamsutta]

I'm always having to loosen the heads on Snap-on ratchets when they're new because them come from the factory too tight.

 

[mbshop]

interesting. yep, I had mac ratchets and rarely had any issues at all. I retired with the ones I bought in the 70s.

The MAC ratchets from the 70s through the 90s. Very stiff, the cover screws fell out daily, clunky, weak teeth, very low tooth count and fairly pricey, flex head styles would break at the head joints other than that they were fine.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Looks very similar to the kit I bought at Walmart to change a starter out on the side of the road. The ratchet wasn't able to break the bolt loose before the square part that the socket fit on, sheared off.

I bought a PM set after taking the first set back and still use the PM tools today.

THESE are the ones I got at Kragens. Down to the porta-potty blue ring. Calling that set garbage is an insult to honest garbage...

WHAT (pardon me) **** IT WAS... YEECH!!!

 

[greggo]

I third ,forth ,fifth the lousy Craftsman brand especially the 1/4" ratchets

 

[Jim c]

Worst ratchet set ever back in the early 1980’s sold at the drug store I think mine came in a blue box and cost I think 3.95 .... when I tried to use it in a serious manner, the ratchet was all jammed up had to keep backing it up to get it free. Then, when I finally got it lined up and ready for some torque... the socket just mushed as I rotated handle. First I thought that I maybe wrung off the. Bolt, then realized that the socket teeth had just mushed out of the way. Probably put about 25 to 30 ft lbs on it.

 

[DadsTools]

Worst ratchet set ever back in the early 1980’s sold at the drug store I think mine came in a blue box and cost I think 3.95 .... when I tried to use it in a serious manner, the ratchet was all jammed up had to keep backing it up to get it free. Then, when I finally got it lined up and ready for some torque... the socket just mushed as I rotated handle. First I thought that I maybe wrung off the. Bolt, then realized that the socket teeth had just mushed out of the way. Probably put about 25 to 30 ft lbs on it.

Sounds like it had a Chiwan RH.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

I have one... certainly not the worst. Actually very good for the money for a home-gamer. Add some blue Loctite and tighten-up the joint screw.

 

[Tonyuk]

Perhaps use something stronger than loctite?

 

[mfewtrail]

Yes, yes & yes! Arhh when your fixing something at a family or friends house & someone puts one of them tri-star ratchets in ya hand.

I keep a pretty sizeable tool kit in the trunk of the car usually. I mostly use it for randomly working on stuff for family or friends rather than for emergency use. The majority of people I know have a lot of tools, but finding them can be like a scavenger hunt.


One of the first socket sets I purchased($10) came with one of those tri-star ratchets. It broke when I was testing it out on the first use. The fastener I was trying to loosen was torqued to 10 ft-lbs. Any ratchet should hold up to that indefinitely. I guess I got the one made with the last few drops of pot metal. The sockets from the kit were marked Taiwan, but the ratchet was unmarked. I still have those sockets and they're surprisingly decent. They have excellent chrome on them and are a tad thicker than most name brand cr-v sockets.

 

[Shane6377]

I enjoyed the video for what it was... one man’s honest opinion on a tool. One thing I respect is that he stated specific reasons (floppy head, bad directional switch) that makes this the worst ratchet in his opinion. I hate it when people trash a product but don’t explain why. I may not share the same opinion but props to Garnett for making a quality video and sharing his opinion.


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[CR888]

One ratchet I thought would be a 'worst ever' candidate was a 1/4" 72t comfort grip I bought online delivered from China to my door for $2.99. I was testing/practicing pawl spring reduction to see if there were any consequences of 'taking it too far' when reducing back drag. The little ratchet arrived and immediately surprised me how nice the chrome was and general feel of it. The selector toggle was a little iffy but not necessarily worse than ratchets I'd paid 10x plus for. Well after taking the springs down little by little to the point 'clicks' were no longer pronounced and the back drag was near zilch I grabbed the 4ft cheater pipe and went to my land cruiser truck. After undoing all the lugs on two wheels (100ftlbs set by me with a click torque wrench) I was surprised to say the least. I had 2 adapters fitted to the drive so I could fit a deep 22mm impact socket. I never pushed that little rat to the point of failure but sure was surprised the torque it could handle. I still have it and it works fine but as I kinda spoil myself with maybe 15 various 1/4" rats I don't ever use it. But not because its a cheap piece of chinesium chit, but because I have better (more expensive) options I tend to grab first. But in all honesty its probably stronger than some Japan & Taiwan rats that cost a LOT more $$.

 

[Mikeske]

Low bid government ratchets from the 1970's, Boy have I seen some junk that seemed that looking crossed eye at them would break them, rough action maybe 24 teeth with a couple teeth broken right from the supply folks. Thorsen, Globemaster and some others that were terrible and knuckle busters. I had a Thorsen that broke loosening a bolt for a fender one time. 9 stitches later I bought in my own Craftsman ratchet and used that after that.

 

[DFB]

Hey I'm connoisseur of cheap ratchets

I have a PM set the ratchet is horrid both the action and the grip, I also have TSC JobSmart teardrop flex head some one gave me looks nice an the head positioning is decent but the corners on the head are so sharp they'll nick anything including your knuckles ad the groves in the handle so sharp I tried o rings Now that's one to throw


On the other hand I selling some imports Powerbuilt on my tool table. They weren't bad for cheaps had round head long handle flex in 3/8 much nicer finish than the TSC and straights in 3/8 and 1/2 drives. Sold a lot of them too easily more than doubling my money

All my Craftsman raised panels are packed with heavy grease. It makes them quiet and smooth

HF composite are my new fav's for cheaps. I like the black 1/2" and the offset 1/4" the best

I agree HF ratchets in the low end sets are really bad and even worse than one of tin box ratchets which btw I still have one (3/8 drive with knurled and the extension bar too!) only thing that didn't fail

When I resold some sets on my tool table I felt so bad I actually took the ratchets apart and greased them the action was so rough and on soe you couldn't even get the direction dial to change I think the were the tri star design some one mentioned earlier. I have one stubby flex like that. I had bought for a just in case scenario never used probably never will either.

 

[ex-x-fire]

One ratchet I'm impressed with is the Duralast 3/8 flex (73-871) for $22. I do think its better then the HF flex.

 

[Druder]

I'm curious if the HF and other cheaper brand flex head ratchets are getting floppy from being the first ratchet people reach for no matter the task or if it happens even if you use it as a specialty item when a regular ratchet won't fit? I just picked up a flex head 3/8 knowing it will sit in the drawer more than my regular set but will make some projects a lot easier.

 

[davethorik]

I'm curious if the HF and other cheaper brand flex head ratchets are getting floppy from being the first ratchet people reach for no matter the task or if it happens even if you use it as a specialty item when a regular ratchet won't fit? I just picked up a flex head 3/8 knowing it will sit in the drawer more than my regular set but will make some projects a lot easier.

Do they have pins or screws at the joint? (Not familiar with them myself)

The pin type will wear out regardless of brand. Having a screw usually keeps this from happening as fast, but they wear too.

 

[anndel]

I haven't encountered one yet. I have Snap On down to HF and each did the job.

 

[Druder]

Do they have pins or screws at the joint? (Not familiar with them myself)

The pin type will wear out regardless of brand. Having a screw usually keeps this from happening as fast, but they wear too.

They have a torx screw, some guys use a business card as a shim to tighten them back up. I just know for my needs it shouldn't get loose for years.