Tools of Japan
- Thread starter Frankstools
- Start date
xin
Well-known member
gbh, this is one of my favorite ratchets. It feels heavy and safe in the hand.
Who makes that rachet?
xin
Well-known member
Negen
Well-known member
superautobacs
Well-known member
Negen
Well-known member
Arc swing and clicks are a bit different with most koken ratchet's. They use either two or there Pawl's. Similar to the sk dt upgrades. They have good documents and YouTube videos for those curious.
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superautobacs
Well-known member
I don't understand what you mean. Ko-ken uses either two-step or three-step dogs for their pawls on their pearhead ratchets. The SK upgrades are an opposing double-pawl mechanism in a roundhead ratchet....totally different animal all together.
Negen
Well-known member
OK yeah thanks maybe I got confused with another brand I need to read the catalogue again I thought someone made made similar.I don't understand what you mean. Ko-ken uses either two-step or three-step dogs for their pawls on their pearhead ratchets. The SK upgrades are an opposing double-pawl mechanism in a roundhead ratchet....totally different animal all together.
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Glad to hear you like the Koken 3753NB, gbh. Its heft, deep knurling, and distinct clicks give it a real macho feel. The kind of wrench you'd use to work on your Harley.
I also really like my Koken Z-EAL 3/8" ratchet due to its excellent finish and precise feel. But compared to the 3753NB, the Z-EAL feels a bit -- dare I say it? -- dainty. The kind of wrench you'd use to work on your Vespa.
Yes, if you consider a 24T to be fine-tooth.
ChevyEFI
Well-known member
The knurled quick spinners caught my eye (I lost a 2756 at a salvage yard yesterday and will replace with SO or Ko-Ken.)
Just to be sure I am not missing anything.
2756 Are these still flat across the back on new stock of Non-Zeal?
3756 - Same question.
4756 - Same question.
2756z-1/2 I didn't expect to see this one!
Are there any reducer versions from Ko-Ken?
If anyone can point me to posts for vendors who ship to the continental U.S. (I am aware of the usual) that would be awesome.
superautobacs
Well-known member
The new stock, non-Zeal quick spinners are no longer flat across the back.
The difference between the standard and Zeal version is a small dimensional difference, both in diameter and height (Zeal version being more compact).
The major difference is in the machining of the ball detent (the Zeal has the patented design).
Ebay, Amazon.co.jp, Global Rakuten stores like i-Tools, KYS, etc.
Forgive me Japanophiles, for I have sinned.
I am doing a bit of work on my Audi A4, which is starting to get to 'that' age. VW in their wisdom use quite a few triple square (XZN) type bolts on the vehicle, and I had nothing for them.
I looked on Rakuten and Koken had a 7 piece 3/8" drive set for about au$125, plus presumably about $30 shipping. Some more searching later I found that my local Bunnings (big-box hardware store) had an 11 piece 1/4-3/8-1/2" drive Kincrome set for... $36. Kincrome are nothing special but they're made in Taiwan and seem to be better than unbranded junk from China. I picked a set up on the way home from work and they don't look too bad, tried in one fastener and it seemd a nice fit. The set has a great range of sizes, from M4 to M18, the M8 is repeated in 1/4 and 3/8 and the M12 in 3/8 and 1/2". I am not going to wear them out with use, it's just for some DIY occasionally.
It certainly seems to be the most logical way to go, but it's messing with my newfound GJ-inspired tool snobbery something fierce!
Any input from pro mechanics here? Do VW/Audi use the M9/M11 triple squares at all? Those are not in the kit.
FYI: https://www.kincrome.com.au/spline-bit-set-11-piece-short
I am doing a bit of work on my Audi A4, which is starting to get to 'that' age. VW in their wisdom use quite a few triple square (XZN) type bolts on the vehicle, and I had nothing for them.
I looked on Rakuten and Koken had a 7 piece 3/8" drive set for about au$125, plus presumably about $30 shipping. Some more searching later I found that my local Bunnings (big-box hardware store) had an 11 piece 1/4-3/8-1/2" drive Kincrome set for... $36. Kincrome are nothing special but they're made in Taiwan and seem to be better than unbranded junk from China. I picked a set up on the way home from work and they don't look too bad, tried in one fastener and it seemd a nice fit. The set has a great range of sizes, from M4 to M18, the M8 is repeated in 1/4 and 3/8 and the M12 in 3/8 and 1/2". I am not going to wear them out with use, it's just for some DIY occasionally.
It certainly seems to be the most logical way to go, but it's messing with my newfound GJ-inspired tool snobbery something fierce!
Any input from pro mechanics here? Do VW/Audi use the M9/M11 triple squares at all? Those are not in the kit.
FYI: https://www.kincrome.com.au/spline-bit-set-11-piece-short
ChevyEFI
Well-known member
Thanks bacs. Thought I had seen an updated non-Z version somewhere.
OD, Audi has XZN9 on some brakes. Maybe time to audit all the fasteners of your vehicles!
OD, Audi has XZN9 on some brakes. Maybe time to audit all the fasteners of your vehicles!
Reed Prince
Well-known member
Japanese tool polisher.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/anT3_HQRNac" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/anT3_HQRNac" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Haha, awesome.
wkndwarrior29
Well-known member
Thanks to this group for starting a new addiction... My first amazon.jp order came today. I'm very impressed with the quality of the tools and the packaging. Here's a shot of the new stubby ratchet next to my old snappy.
Also of note, the order took 4 business days to arrive in PA.
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Also of note, the order took 4 business days to arrive in PA.
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Prowagen
Well-known member
What’s the part number on the stubby? It’s cool!
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Lucky! I have an amazon.de order that got from Germany to the US, through customs, and to my city in 4 days...but it has been stuck in a USPS "Network Distribution Center" since June 30th! Sadly, that is not an exception with USPS packages here. Had they sent it via i-parcel or straight through with DHL I would've gotten it 2 weeks ago.
That Tone ratchet looks interesting. I hope you tell us how you like it.
wkndwarrior29
Well-known member
Thanks Guys, the tone ratchet is an RH3FCHS 3/8 drive. I really like the satin finish and feel. It also feels like a lower back drag than the matco 88 head that I have. I actually found info on it in this thread. I should be doing some work in the next couple of weeks to give it a try. My first thought was, damn, I need these in every size.
I was also happy with the rest of the stuff, those wrench adapters are heads and shoulders better than the craftsman ones I've been using in the way they retain themselves in the wrench. I was able to piece the Woody order together cheaper than any of the kits and substituting two common sizes with Tang thru.
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I was also happy with the rest of the stuff, those wrench adapters are heads and shoulders better than the craftsman ones I've been using in the way they retain themselves in the wrench. I was able to piece the Woody order together cheaper than any of the kits and substituting two common sizes with Tang thru.
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Stumbled across this site.
Some interesting info on it.
http://alloy-artifacts.org/japanese-tool-makers.html
Some interesting info on it.
http://alloy-artifacts.org/japanese-tool-makers.html
New release from SP air. Flat "sealed" head ratcheting air ratchets. They've had this flat head version out for many years, primarily sold through MAC, however not in impacting. A little pricey but nice and small like the impacting round heads that have been around for awhile. No need to worry about backing the head into an obstruction with this guy.
Thanks, I'll check it out. Koken don't even list an XZN-9, Hazet have them in a couple of lengths but other than that it seems to be all brands I've never heard of so presumably out of China or Taiwan.
I was going to check out Astro Products this week since there are 2 of them within 20 minutes. Anyone know anything about this place or am I going to be disappointed? How are the Astro branded tools? Japanese make?
It’s a bit further but I was also going to drive to the factory gear in Fukuoka.
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It’s a bit further but I was also going to drive to the factory gear in Fukuoka.
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Negen
Well-known member
I could be wrong but isn't the astro that is here in the forums called astro pneumatic ? And different from the Japanese brand astro?
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I think i should start a usa made tool company called snap off.... snap for short.
looking for a pebble 4766 or any 47xx pebble hinged handle
Yeah I was referring to Astro Products which is a tool reseller chain that seems to have their own line of tools as well. I didn’t know if they have a decent selection or if it’s full of self branded (possibly made in Taiwan) tools. I’ve only been on the website and I’m guessing that’s not representative of what you can get in the store.
I’m looking for basic hand tools, as I’m chucking my Pittsburgh’s.
My two questions are:
1) what’s the selection like in the store
2) how are the Astro branded handtools? The price makes me wary
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I’m looking for basic hand tools, as I’m chucking my Pittsburgh’s.
My two questions are:
1) what’s the selection like in the store
2) how are the Astro branded handtools? The price makes me wary
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I like Astro products store but they can be hit and miss. I have visited two in my city and they are quite different from each other, odd for a franchise but that's what I found. One has far fewer items so I don't bother going there. You can find a few Snap On, Stahwillie, Lisle and other foreign brands but of course the most plentiful are the made in Taiwan/China tools. Of these Chinese tools I've found them to be of reasonable quality and price, nothing too nasty, but, as always, you get what you pay for.
If you can find a Hodaka store (that isn't part of a supermarket, but, a stand alone tool store) you'll find eveything you could ever need in Japan.
Here's a Hodaka in my neighbourhood.
Apart from a few tools such as torque wrenches in locked display cases there are, with few exceptions, no theft prevention devices attached to anything, kind of nice to see.
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Negen
Well-known member
http://www.exitevideomagazine.com/2015/10/japans-harbor-freight-astro-products.html
This first site talks about astro products. A Japanese retailer from what it sounds like?
http://www.astrotools.com
This second link is astro pneumatic which is top quality stuff and mostly I think Taiwan OEM's.
I am sure some one might be able to have more insight.
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This first site talks about astro products. A Japanese retailer from what it sounds like?
http://www.astrotools.com
This second link is astro pneumatic which is top quality stuff and mostly I think Taiwan OEM's.
I am sure some one might be able to have more insight.
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That is an excellent description of Astro products store.
theamcguy
Well-known member
Just ordered off eBay. Thank you for the heads up.
Reed Prince
Well-known member
Looks like I wasn't the only one who imagined something different when they read "Vessel battery driver".
