Tite-reach impact extensions & alternatives

[Odd-job]

Wondering if anyone has any experience with these type of tools. Was looking at these a long time ago, back when Tite-reach was the only game in town. Now looks like there are some good alternatives. Planning to run mainly with my M12 and Astro stubby 3/8 impacts for "typical" DIY usage.

Tite-reach (Pro version not DIY version): ~$52

3/8" Professional Tite-Reach Extension Wrench

Where it All Started Our 3/8” professional wrench is where the concept started. The 3/8” pro is specially designed to handle the rigors of everyday use on the farm and in the shop. Designed to be used with your own sockets and socket wrenches, all of our wrenches have the versatility to work...

tite-reach.com

Mac: ~$123

1/4" Drive Extension Wrench 9"

Compact design and 0° swing arc provides users access in even the tightest working areas .Lightweight aluminum construction .Optimized gear ratio designed to reduce fastener removal time .Engineered to be used with a ratchet or impact tool

www.mactools.com

Snap-on: $220

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

More interested in functionality considerations vs the usual tool truck debates we like to have. Also any other alternatives out there?

Edit: Also read the previous posts debating if they were really impact rated as advertised, etc. Curious about the differences in design. Tite-reach uses a chain and sprocket system as does the snappy. Presumably the MAC does as well.

 

[Lucid Moments]

I have seen the first in your post but never used any because they seem a little gimmcky. How do they work for you?

 

[FuzzyTiger]

I've always been suspicious of how well they could transmit impacts but I've never used one

 

[2ndGearRubber]

While I have always been intrigued, I don't see it doing much for you. I wouldn't think the chain drive would take an impacting action effectively. If it's not an impacting application, a long reach ratchet or flex head offset wrench does the same thing.

My gut tells me I could blow one up pretty effectively. I would like to be proven wrong and be convinced to purchase one, as conceptually I like the idea.

 

[Odd-job]

Hopefully torque test channel sees this thread as an inspiration for his next Youtube video. I am skeptical too as I am guessing the chain and sprocket system absorb a lot of of torque similar to a long extension if not even worse.

Guessing my impacting air ratchet puts out 100 ft lbs or so on a good day with 150 psi air. If this loses even half the torque from a stubby nano or M12 I think it might be worth it as well as situations where there isn't enough room to swing a ratchet.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

...

Pssst. Would love to see you do a video on these if you haven't already.

 

[shawhite]

I've always been suspicious of how well they could transmit impacts but I've never used one

I don’t take it as it will transmit impacts I think it is more saying it hand handle an impact hammering on it without breaking the internal sprocket and chain.

 

[Torque Test Channel]

Pssst. Would love to see you do a video on these if you haven't already.

We have it scheduled actually. Just haven't purchased them yet. Want to at least inclue the Snap-On and it's a pretty penny for something that's going to 100% get mangled.
Knowing how these all work, seeing them impact rated sounds a bit dubious

 

[FuzzyTiger]

We have it scheduled actually. Just haven't purchased them yet. Want to at least inclue the Snap-On and it's a pretty penny for something that's going to 100% get mangled.
Knowing how these all work, seeing them impact rated sounds a bit dubious

Awesome! Do you have the Mac one on your list too?

 

[Torque Test Channel]

Awesome! Do you have the Mac one on your list too?

Snap-On, Mac, Tite-reach (would probably go the professional one shown here for impact duty?) thenAmazon special was the plan.
But about $500 to destroy which we'll probably not recoup. Gotta do it for science though!

 

[FuzzyTiger]

Science!

 

[Odd-job]

Looking forward to this test!

I might go ahead and buy the Tite Reach in the mean time mainly to get my Napa shopping cart to qualify for "free shipping". Cheap enough and doesn't look like it will take up too much room in the tool box.

 

[Torque Test Channel]

Dyno'd them all.

Havent done all the data analysis, but after testing them and going through them here's my cliff notes before we put together a vid and fit it in the schedule which takes weeks.

If using an impact:

Snap-On: i'd give a 7/10
Mac: 6/10
Tite professional: 3/10
Tite DIY: obviously would not make it

If using by hand:
Snap-On: No difference, all the same
Mac: No difference
Tite professional: No difference
Tite DIY: 3.5/10 for making it to its claim of 35ft-lbs and that's about it. Easy to break if you're not careful

If it were my money instead of the channels and I was using it for impacting I'd get the Mac. Similar performance to the Snappy, and both miles ahead of either Tite-Reach.
Please dont ask for specifics on why until we're able to make a video.

 

[Odd-job]

Dyno'd them all.

Havent done all the data analysis, but after testing them and going through them here's my cliff notes before we put together a vid and fit it in the schedule which takes weeks.

If using an impact:

Snap-On: i'd give a 7/10
Mac: 6/10
Tite professional: 3/10
Tite DIY: obviously would not make it

If using by hand:
Snap-On: No difference, all the same
Mac: No difference
Tite professional: No difference
Tite DIY: 3.5/10 for making it to its claim of 35ft-lbs and that's about it. Easy to break if you're not careful

If it were my money instead of the channels and I was using it for impacting I'd get the Mac. Similar performance to the Snappy, and both miles ahead of either Tite-Reach.
Please dont ask for specifics on why until we're able to make a video.

Thanks. Good thing Napa jacked up the price on the Tite reach enough that I held off on pulling the trigger. Looking forward to the video.

 

[Torque Test Channel]

Here ya go:

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Ah, so the dream is dead. I never considered the vibration as a potential issue. Thanks for the research, looks like they're not a whole ton of use.

 

[Rabid Badger]

You guys are awesome.

 

[shawhite]

I think they have their purpose but i would not have guessed they would lose close to 50% of the input torque.

 

[dnschmidt]

I always thought they were a gimmick. If they somehow used gears instead of a chain I'm sure that would work better but any chain drive has a ton of slop in it so I never figured they would be very good.

 

[Odd-job]

Many thanks for the review. Guess I will be saving my money after all.

 

[CS454]

For what it's worth, in our shop only one mechanic has managed to kill the Mac 1/2" variant and that was using a 3/4" gun stepped down to 1/2". The chain didn't break, the case popped. Before that, he used it for about a year without issue...Mac guy handed him a new one no problem.

 

[tester19]

Well I have the entire set of three and thought they were so cool when I purchased them. I have the Tite Reach brand as they were the first to market.
But I have NEVER used them?? Turned out to be a impulse purchase.

Has anyone used them? Ever found something that could not be reached with regular sockets/extensions/universal/wobble joints or hand wrenches? Felt like it was a wasted purchase as they are (or were) about $175 or so for the 3 wrenches.

Even looking at the examples used to show how they function it seems you could just as easy do it with regular hand tools?
Maybe I am missing something too? Since there are now several different brands out there including Snap-On so they must be selling them to somebody?

I would NOT recommend buying theses unless there is a special situation that requires them. Which I am still looking for!
.
.
.

 

[Steve_P]

I'm actually very impressed that the Mac and SO did so well at transmitting torque from an impact. Yes, it's terrible overall, but it's a chain, and impact hammering gets absorbed by the chain's motion; and after a few uses, the wear in the pins. I've never needed one of these, but if I did, I'd get the Mac.

 

[unslow1]

I've always wondered why they weren't made with gears.

 

[superautobacs]

These types of tools are not a new concept. I have a Bluepoint chain drive extension that's 1/4 female and 1/4 male on the other end. They were made in USA and offered in various styles/sizes.

There's a Japanese manufacturer called Merry that has offered them for many, many years as well.
Another Japanese manufacturer is ANEX. They have a geared version that's for impact use (not as deep a reach, but still an offset drive).

I've used the Titereach professional for a few years and it has been AWESOME. I've used it in many, many jobs. I would never think of using an impact to drive it...never have and never will. Its only seen an M12 cordless ratchet and the occasional hand ratchet.
I use it to work on small fasteners. Using 8-14mm sockets.

 

[Steve_P]

I've always wondered why they weren't made with gears.

because that's waaaay more expensive than two sprockets and a chain. And besides the cost of 9? gears, it also requires greater manufacturing tolerances to get the centerline distance correct between the gears.

 

[javyLSU]

I’ve got the MAC versions in 3/8” and 1/2”, they’ve been absolute gems the few times I’ve had to use them. Throw in the fact that I got them both for $80 total and it was money very well spent.

I didn’t even know they made a 1/4” version, don’t know if I can think of a use for that, and I have (and use) 1/4” impact sockets.

 

[digitalbilly]

I found this one on Amazon looks like the internals is more durable has 4 screws holding it together.
not my picture i just wonder if the chain is better quality than the tite-reach torque rating is not that great but you get alot for around $72
I don't know why no one has made one with gears rather than a chain.

 

[digitalbilly]

because that's waaaay more expensive than two sprockets and a chain. And besides the cost of 9? gears, it also requires greater manufacturing tolerances to get the centerline distance correct between the gears.

i would easily pay 4x the price for gear driven

 

[Odd-job]

geared would definitely be nice as it would mean less chain slop.

1 1/2 years after I posted this thread and I still haven't been able to convince myself to take the plunge. Long reach fuel ratchet and impacting Kuani 3/8 ratchet + low profile sockets seem to get the job done 99% of the time. Still waiting for a "you ****" deal to make me take the plunge.

 

[Zewnten]

I've only had one job this would be useful on other than that? Unfortunatley it's a very **** job so I'll probably buy one haha.

 

[ecotec]

I've only had one job this would be useful on other than that? Unfortunatley it's a very **** job so I'll probably buy one haha.

Do tell… what is the job that this makes easier.

And if anyone else has good examples of what they use this tool on, I am interested.

 

[Zewnten]

Do tell… what is the job that this makes easier.

And if anyone else has good examples of what they use this tool on, I am interested.

Track adjustment on compact equipment

 

[progress is fine but]

Don't need the for-impact use but there are a bunch of 6mm bolts on the timing belt cover on a Honda Odyssey which is tight against the shock tower. The 1/4 drive version would be perfect.

 

[Odd-job]

Don't need the for-impact use but there are a bunch of 6mm bolts on the timing belt cover on a Honda Odyssey which is tight against the shock tower. The 1/4 drive version would be perfect.

Two years later....I still haven't taken the plunge yet, but the Facom/Mac version that popped up in my Amazon feed didn't seem like it would hurt the wallet that badly.