Torque on ratchet wrench?

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Hey guys. I'm just wondering what your experience with gear wrench ratcheting wrenches as far as torque on the ratchet end is concerned. The few shop jobs I've had the shop had a set and a few were always broken (spin freely like a broken pawl). How much torque can these take? I don't ever break a bolt free with the ratcheting end, but will use the ratcheting end on smaller bolts with no worries.

 

[rockwithjason]

i have never broken one.

 

[evandonald]

I had a well used and abused set provided for me at work. I work with the Canadian Forces as a mechanic. I have been very hard on them and I have broken many bolts loose with the ratchet end even though I know I shouldn't. I have't managed to break any of them yet. They are gearwrench brand but I am unsure if they were made in China or Taiwan.

 

[ADSR]

Someone on here said the GW ones are good for 90ft/lbs

Not sure if this is correct or not.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Someone on here said the GW ones are good for 90ft/lbs

Not sure if this is correct or not.

For all sizes? Dunno about that. Probably less for the smaller sizes and somewhat more for the larger sizes. Still I think below the torque tolerance for the open end which I've spit out before but people didn't want to hear it.

COO probably also matters.

 

[DodgeMech]

i got the big set of 0 offset 21-25 gear wrenches from sears a couple of years ago...and i've put my 24 mil through hell and back...used it to bust loose control arm nuts with my 15/16 williams wrench doubled onto it...ain't missed a lick

 

[joejeep92]

I have put way more torque on them than I should have. They hold up very very well.

 

[Skin]

Matco had a promo video at one point of them stressing 13mm Snap-On, GW, and of course a Matco to their limit. Without putting much stock into which came out on top, all failed at well over 100 foot pounds (I think the range was 140-170). You wont be able to put near that much torque onto any of them without chaining or using a pipe. The extra long high performance style versions are a different story.

 

[DodgeMech]

Matco had a promo video at one point of them stressing 13mm Snap-On, GW, and of course a Matco to their limit. Without putting much stock into which came out on top, all failed at well over 100 foot pounds (I think the range was 140-170). You wont be able to put near that much torque onto any of them without chaining or using a pipe. The extra long high performance style versions are a different story.

Why did matco bother with the gw wrench? The matco is a gw wrench with matco stamped onto it haha

 

[Fedwrench]

Why did matco bother with the gw wrench? The matco is a gw wrench with matco stamped onto it haha

Possibly, depending on model. However, Matco was actually the first truck brand to bring current fine tooth ratcheting wrenches to market. Initially, their Pro Swing wrenches were US made, probably in Armstrong Factories since Matco doesn't make anything themselves but, tool boxes. the Pro Swing series are great wrenches!! Especially the standard length models that have a fixed boxed end on one side, and a ratcheting boxed end on the other end. They're probably the best designed ratcheting wrenches since the fixed boxed end provides you strength without compromise when breaking a fastener loose or for final tightening.
Matco does hawk some Gearwrench clones but, most of their current ratcheting wrench line up comes from Kabo in Taiwan. Especially, the 90 tooth spline models. Kabo makes some excellent ratcheting wrenches not just for Matco, but Cornwell, the old SK G Pro series, and others.

 

[DodgeMech]

Possibly, depending on model. However, Matco was actually the first truck brand to bring current fine tooth ratcheting wrenches to market. Initially, their Pro Swing wrenches were US made, probably in Armstrong Factories since Matco doesn't make anything themselves but, tool boxes. the Pro Swing series are great wrenches!! Especially the standard length models that have a fixed boxed end on one side, and a ratcheting boxed end on the other end. They're probably the best designed ratcheting wrenches since the fixed boxed end provides you strength without compromise when breaking a fastener loose or for final tightening.
Matco does hawk some Gearwrench clones but, most of their current ratcheting wrench line up comes from Kabo in Taiwan. Especially, the 90 tooth spline models. Kabo makes some excellent ratcheting wrenches not just for Matco, but Cornwell, the old SK G Pro series, and others.

When abouts did the kabo wrenches start? I ask cuz at my old job we had a good set of matco ratchet wrenches(don't think they were 90 tooth)...had the slight offset, were very thin, and had fdp type open ends...anyway, those are good wrenches...I'm betting the US made ones

 

[quattroJoe]

I've got a complete set of 0* offset metrics from 6-19mm that I use most often, as well as stubbies and XLs that are both nearly complete sets, and a decent collection of SAE standard length and stubbies that don't see as much use. I've yet to break a single one, and I use them to break bolts loose all the time (even though you're not "supposed" to.) That said, I don't do anything stupid with them- if the bolt is too tight to break by hand with an XL then I go for a breaker bar or other tool. Most of mine are Taiwan made, with a handful of China singles I bought to fill gaps.

It's been my experience with other Gearwrench tools that the warranty is pretty hassle-free, so I don't worry too much about breaking them.

 

[e30bradley]

I have a matco set of ratchet wrenches and they are f.in awesome. I use them whenever I can (over my fd+ non ratcheting).. I used them daily in a diesel shop for about 2 months and have been hanging on the things for maybe a year now. they still work like they did when I got them. I used to have a set of flex head gearwrenchs and broke one. Just use them how you want and if they break warrantee them.

 

[Skin]

When abouts did the kabo wrenches start? I ask cuz at my old job we had a good set of matco ratchet wrenches(don't think they were 90 tooth)...had the slight offset, were very thin, and had fdp type open ends...anyway, those are good wrenches...I'm betting the US made ones

If they had teeth in the open ends they were made by Kabo. The Armstrong made ones only ever had little subte notches cut out in the open ends. Keep in mind taiwan is where the modern ratcheting wrench was born so I wouldnt get too caught up in coo.

 

[4x4gearhead]

Matco us made ratcheting wrenches are very nice. The only problem I've had with my 3/8" to 3/4" combination set is that the 1/2 in wrench has a crack in the box end. It still works fine and the crack isn't through all the way. This wrench for the most part was lightly used and not abused. I need to chase down the matco truck since he doesn't stop in(new guy just last year.) my old distributor went out of business in 2011.

 

[skife]

i bent a bluepoint 13mm with a 6ft piece of exhaust while pulling wheel bearings on a jeep in the jy.
never broke.

in my experience they only break when used with an impact

 

[fasteddie313]

break one and then youll know...

then just take it back for a brand new shiny one...

im never afraid to break tools because I use warranted tools..

 

[AV tinker er]

I would imagine when they go it would be a serious knuckle busting experience.

 

[justme-]

I've used my GW sets for many years as an advanced home mechanic. They all but replaced my socket set and combination wrenches for 90% of tasks. Finally broke my 8mm trying to free a stuck bolt on my Cummins. Napa had a replacement the next day - only issue I had was the set I have is so old it has a "ring stop" so nuts won't pass through. Great for working on studs and blind on fasteners, but no longer made.

would not hesitate to use them for all but backing an impact.

 

[Dcampbell98xj]

That's why you get these. http://www.tooltopia.com/gearwrench-85989.aspx
Break it free or crank it down and then use the ratcheting end. Iv had mine for a year of daily auto use and haven't broken one. Everyone in my shop asks to borrow them while doing alignments. Finally they are buying their own.

 

[AndrewV]

4yrs on mine, not hurting at . Been stressed to prob. the max.
Now used the hf one, a tire tech had, split my knuckle open(he was dropping a drain plug, i said can i use for a sec)