Titan ratchet review.

[exophyusical]

Hi guys, I've been lurking around here for awhile now, because there doesn't seem to be a lot of info around on Titan ratchets I decided to do a review on a couple that I've been using for a while now. I use them at my job as a Millwright and I bought them because one of the Journeymen I apprenticed under always used them, he claimed that despite the low price they were about as good a ratchet as any, and they certainly did work well. I've seen the same ratchets with a variety of different brands stamped on them but the Titan brand seems to sell them the cheapest. They come with a life time guaranty.

I purchased a long handled 1/2" drive 32 tooth ratchet and a 3/8" drive 72 tooth ratchet. The 1/2 inch was $32 and the 3/8 cost me all of $12. Both have been good ratchets. Both are very smooth, the handles are comfortable, and they have a nice solid feel, I lean on them with confidence when I need to. While the heads don't have an overly low profile they are small in diameter, the 3/8 in particular is nice in tight spaces. I've used the long handle to break some pretty tight nuts up to 1 5/16", and to bar over big engines, I've broken quite a few long handle ratchets of various brand names but this one has been good so far. It is very smooth despite its low tooth count, more smooth than a few 48 tooth ratchets I have used, I will be buying more of these in the future.

 

[retDAC]

Thank you for the info. Would you provide pix & model #s?

 

[exophyusical]

Heres a link.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200304491_200304491

 

[cburnscrx]

Yep, love em!!! Actually the most recent review on that link is mine. I would recommend them to anybody in any situation.

 

[kippieland]

Basically the same ratchet from Lowes, HF, and most other Taiwan made. I have a couple of them in different sizes. Good ratchets, smooth feel, but not as nice as the higher end ratchets I have. But good for the money!

 

[bob from indiana]

I have one of the Titan 3/8 and 1/4 inch drive reversable flex handle ratchets. A guy at work had one that I liked. I find it very handy and use it quite a bit. I am impressed with the tool.

 

[jmm]

When I read the title I was hoping you were talking about this ratchet. They sell it at Tractor Supply, but I first saw it at Northern Tool and assumed it was a Titan tool. For some reason I couldn't find it on the NT website. It seems to be fairly decent for a 20 dollar ratchet. Don't mean to divert the OP's thread, but anyone have any info on these ratchets?

 

[tilly79]

I have that ratchet jmm. It is the most compact ratchet out of the 15 or so 3/8 drive ratchets I own. Its is fine tooth but not 72, maybe 60? I bought it at a flea market. The guy selling it had about 10 brand new ones and was selling them for $8 each.

 

[jethro29]

I have two titan ratchet that I bought at napa I think about 7 years ago.these things are awesome,i use one of them daily and they just keep working,never a slip or anything.i think I paid like 6.99 for the stubby 3/8-1/4 inch and like 11.99 for the longer 3/8.

 

[STGFordCrazy04]

I "think" NT is doing away with Titan and their Northern line and replacing it with Klutch.


Its a shame because I have the Titan reversible ratchet wrenches in 1/4- 1 1/4" and 6-27mm and the polished Northern combo wrenches in 1/4- 1 1/4 and 6-32mm. Very, very good wrenches for a total of $300ish. I've played around with the Titan 3/8 flex head ratchets and I liked the way they feel for the $. Just never bought one

 

[joedodge]

I've had a 1/2 drive and a small 3/8 roto head for alot of years use them professionally as a diesel tech. There at home now, I never had an issue, a guy I work with uses them exclusively they hold up great and when they fail....they just give u a new one.

 

[exophyusical]

Basically the same ratchet from Lowes, HF, and most other Taiwan made. I have a couple of them in different sizes. Good ratchets, smooth feel, but not as nice as the higher end ratchets I have. But good for the money!

Quite true, they might not be as nice as the SO and Matco ratchets but they are far better than a lot of mid range stuff that costs 3-4 times the price. The long handle Titan I have has performed better than my Snapon long handled swivle head though, that stupid thing has spent more time broken than it has functional, I flinch every time I have to put out on it.

 

[619DioFan]

From Titan tool company I have the long reach ratchets ( non flex head ) in 1/2 , 3/8 and 1/4 drive. Have the 1/2 inch drive with offset handle ( real knuckle saver ) 1/4 drive long reach flex head ( really small head on that one - great for tight areas ) also have titans 3/4 inch drive by 40'' long breaker bar and the 1" drive by 40" long breaker bar. all have performed really well with no issues. bought them all from Northern tool.

 

[kippieland]

Quite true, they might not be as nice as the SO and Matco ratchets but they are far better than a lot of mid range stuff that costs 3-4 times the price. The long handle Titan I have has performed better than my Snapon long handled swivle head though, that stupid thing has spent more time broken than it has functional, I flinch every time I have to put out on it.

They but the Craftsman RP stuff to shame. I personally really the like the extendable 1/2 ratchet that this. I have the HF version but its sold by many different companies like Titan. I like in my road box since it acts as a breaker as well.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002LTJRIY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[TwoInch]

i have these in the "Tool Shop" brand from menards, i bought them on clearance for a couple bucks, solely to cut the handles way down and make shorty ratchets.

IIRC, the mechanism is almost identical to the Kobalt style. arent they also available at HF?

 

[doan]

titan, Kobalt, ez-red, and other are all very similar and are made by apex. The titan brand has both 36 and 72 tooth, ratchets. Almost all of Kobalt except for the really long handles ones are 72. The lower end non-kobalt at lowe's looks like titans low end.

A Lot lot of the ones at HF look like the above as well, but made slightly cheaper. some of them cannot be disassembled to lube.

I like the Kobalt versions the best, but they are pricey if not on sale. All of the Apex 72 ratchets are better than the current craftsman RP's.

I would not be surprised to find that all of them come from the same factory, and the vendor can specify the quality.

 

[TwoInch]

apex? you sure about that?

 

[cburnscrx]

titan, Kobalt, ez-red, and other are all very similar and are made by apex. The titan brand has both 36 and 72 tooth, ratchets. Almost all of Kobalt except for the really long handles ones are 72. The lower end non-kobalt at lowe's looks like titans low end.

A Lot lot of the ones at HF look like the above as well, but made slightly cheaper. some of them cannot be disassembled to lube.

I like the Kobalt versions the best, but they are pricey if not on sale. All of the Apex 72 ratchets are better than the current craftsman RP's.

I would not be surprised to find that all of them come from the same factory, and the vendor can specify the quality.

While the Titan and the Kobalt (and HF) ratchets LOOK the same, they actually are not. I took them all apart to see the differences.

The main differences are the fact that the Titan does not use a screw that goes into the selector and instead relys on a dimple to hold it in place. One other differenc is the thickness of the pawls, the Titan uses thicker pawls and will not swap into the Kobalt.

Interesting note, the screw on the selector actually causes more issues than the dimple. If the screw is too tight you can make the ratchet lock in one place. You can't do that with the Titan.

The Titan is on the left, then the Pittsburgh flex, then the Kobalt flex.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cburnscrx/8785885650/" title=><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8540/8785885650_fcf98fd9ee.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="image"></a>

 

[Bull]

I've heard speculation that Titan ratchets are made by Kabo, but never Apex. Curious to know the truth.

 

[Marion3]

I have the 3 piece extra long flex head set at work. No complaints in a year of owning them.
Buying a set for at home too

 

[retDAC]

I've heard speculation that Titan ratchets are made by Kabo, but never Apex. Curious to know the truth.

I don't know who makes the ratchets, but the Kabo and Titan pass thru socket kits are identical.

Kabo: http://www.ebay.com/itm/HOLLOW-DRIV...-MET-21Pce-DIN-STD-KABO-TOOL-Co-/251275357458

Titan: http://www.titan-us.com/default.aspx?page=item detail&itemcode=17400

 

[Tim-Bob]

I have the Titan long flex head set and they've been great. I managed to break the 3/8. Called titan and they sent me a repair kit immediately. One of the better CS experiences I've had.

 

[Bull]

Do any of you have the Titan anodized socket rails? They look pretty nice.

 

[superautobacs]

I've heard speculation that Titan ratchets are made by Kabo, but never Apex. Curious to know the truth.

I've never seen Kabo making any socketry tools with a square drive end...ie. conventional ratchets with a pear head or round head.

Judging by the large size of those heads, I'm pretty sure those Titan ones are made by John Metal Tools Industrial

 

[cburnscrx]

I've never seen Kabo making any socketry tools with a square drive end...ie. conventional ratchets with a pear head or round head.

Judging by the large size of those heads, I'm pretty sure those Titan ones are made by John Metal Tools Industrial

I'd have to agree, those are the same ratchets...Now if I can just find the IRN series here in all 3 sizes.