Toughest 1/4" ratchet

[HanShotFirst]

So here’s the reason for the question.

I do some ADV riding on my motorcycle (basically off-road touring). So this is for my motorcycle tool kit. I need to carry a minimum of tools, and light weight is very important. So I carry a ¼” ratchet and no sockets for which there are none on the bike. Fortunately most motorcycle things can be handled with ¼” socket/ratchet combo, but there are some larger sizes that can require some real bearing down. For many years I have carried my SnapOn TM70C, but I gotta say it’s not exactly my favorite ¼” ratchet. I keep it in there because it’s small, and I know the quality is high, but the mechanism (freshly rebuilt) is still a little sloppy compared to the SK, and the handle is VERY short.

But I also have a Williams M52A round head, and SK 40970 that I can replace it with. The SK is easily my favorite ¼” ratchet, but if I put it on the bike, I’ll have to buy another one. The Williams looks like the SK but with a longer handle, but there are differences, and those differences make the Williams feel (to me) that it’s just a lesser ratchet.

Question about the Williams – Anyone here beat the living **** out of one? How well did it hold up? Anyone have anything bad to say about that particular ratchet? If it’s good to go, then I don’t need to buy anything, and it will just go into my kit.

So the BIG question – SnapOn, Williams, or SK in the motorcycle kit? Or is there another ratchet out there that is significantly better than one of those three?

Don’t want to buy another ratchet if I don’t need to, but I’ll consider it if someone can make a good case.

 

[Tonyuk]

I believe snap-on sell a longer handle 1/4 ratchet with a swivel head. Will probably solve the length and some access issues.

With the brands you mention the strength of the drive end and teeth will be very similar, i would go with whatever you like best.

 

[IndyGarage]

Strongest one I have is probably SK, like the one shown above - but it does have a lower tooth count.

Believe it or not I use Kobalt 1/4 inch ratchets a bunch and they are pretty good, and I've never broken one.

My favorite 1/4 inch ratchet is the Wera Zyklop - the one with the swivel head - In the larger sizes it's OK, but in 1/4 inch it is excellent - it would be a great tool for a motorcycle toolkit because it works as a ratcheting screwdriver - a very good one.

 

[dnschmidt]

The round headed ratchets will ALWAYS be the strongest due to the inherent design.

 

[shawndp]

I have developed a recent fondness for the 1/4 size and have been pushing my luck using it on 14mm bolts and get away with it for the most part. Ratchet of choice is the THLL72 which is long enough to put some serious pressure - I think I read 90 ft-lb. That said the $15 Gearwrench flex head long handle 84T is performs extremely well for the $$.

 

[buffalobill]

I have a long hard handle matco that I like ok, probably fit your bill perfectly. Little expensive though.

 

[freudianfloyd]

Get a brand that you can swap out in pretty much any area you are riding. Either Kobalt, Husky, Tekton. That way if they break you can still get what you need relatively close by and replace it. If you break a Snap on or SK, you are going to have a hard time replacing it on the road.

 

[Hammer1963]

Cornwell offers a long handled version of a 1/4" ratchet with 72 teeth. I have one and it has been very dependable.

 

[HanShotFirst]

Strongest one I have is probably SK, like the one shown above - but it does have a lower tooth count.

Believe it or not I use Kobalt 1/4 inch ratchets a bunch and they are pretty good, and I've never broken one.

My favorite 1/4 inch ratchet is the Wera Zyklop - the one with the swivel head - In the larger sizes it's OK, but in 1/4 inch it is excellent - it would be a great tool for a motorcycle toolkit because it works as a ratcheting screwdriver - a very good one.

I actually have one of those Kobalt 1/4" ratchets and I must admit, it's a decent ratchet for sure; but I rarely use it.

The Wera Zyklo little tool kit with the bit set is something I have considered...a bit pricey, but quality is second to none.

 

[HanShotFirst]

Get a brand that you can swap out in pretty much any area you are riding. Either Kobalt, Husky, Tekton. That way if they break you can still get what you need relatively close by and replace it. If you break a Snap on or SK, you are going to have a hard time replacing it on the road.

The idea is to find something that is the least likely to break. If the tool breaks, it's all academic after that, because I'm stranded somewhere in the desert and parts replacement/warranty is the least of my worries.

If by chance I survive and get somewhere that has ratchets for sale, I'd just buy what is available to finish the trip.

 

[cliftonbros89]

I've been very satisfied with my Snap On TL72. Extra length, tough, ratchets great.

I'd maybe recommend the new SK ratchet, but I think it only comes in the standard length.


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[General Geoff]

Change to 3/8" drive sockets, get a compact 3/8" mechanism in a 1/4" long handle ratchet body. Even the finest, most expensive 1/4" square drive will be far weaker than a $5 Chinese 3/8" ratchet, let alone a high quality one. The extra half pound of weight from the beefier sockets is worth it IMO.

 

[turnthewrench]

Proto J4749 - You'd need to muscle hard if you want to break it.

 

[ryan20021982]

Just use a 1/4" breaker bar, or a sliding T bar

 

[turnthewrench]

Just use a 1/4" breaker bar, or a sliding T bar

I believe the OP asked for a ratchet.

 

[buffalobill]

Change to 3/8" drive sockets, get a compact 3/8" mechanism in a 1/4" long handle ratchet body. Even the finest, most expensive 1/4" square drive will be far weaker than a $5 Chinese 3/8" ratchet, let alone a high quality one. The extra half pound of weight from the beefier sockets is worth it IMO.

We have one of those plastic backed chinesium 3/8 ratchets at work, I dunno man, you really think it's stronger than a snap on, proto, mac, or sk 1/4 drive? It's definitely not anything I want to lean on, I remember breaking those ratchets a lot when I was in highschool shop class.

 

[buffalobill]

https://www.tooltopia.com/sk-hand-t...MIt8CfoL-R1wIVRxtpCh0IIwmiEAQYCCABEgL8GvD_BwE

This in a 1/4 drive sk with a 6.5 inch handle, for 38 bux, might be worth an order...

 

[SantaAna12]

Iirc,.SO is one, if not the only, to load rate it's 1/4 ratchet. Los Caldazar had a Mod that you could consider.

On3 interesting option is the Nepros mini-flex 1/4.

I own both, but usually reach for the longer SO flex. Or the Zeal.

Would lik3 to try the Zyclops.

Lots of good choices.

Ask Autobacs in the Tools of Japan thread. He is sharp.

 

[DadsTools]

All the mentioned brands are good. I like SK. You can get a good used one just about on demand on eBay for about $15 landed. Can't beat the price for that level of quality, and you know already what to expect.

 

[DerekV]

Fortunately most motorcycle things can be handled with ¼” socket/ratchet combo, but there are some larger sizes that can require some real bearing down.

As a rider who carries tools when riding as well, I understand what you mean about weight/being minimalistic with your tool choices. But seriously, the max socket size in 1/4 drive is 15mm...I can't think of anything that size that's in a tight enough spot to require a 1/4 drive ratchet, let alone be super tight. And what about everything else (17, 19, etc.)? What about your spark plug(s)...are you using some elusive 1/4 drive socket or worse, a spark plug wrench?

Why not settle for a small-regular length (6-7") 3/8 ratchet? Virtually the same length as a long 1/4 ratchet, marginally heavier, significantly stronger and more versatile. That one drive size will take care of everything you need, even if you need to take your wheel off, for say, a flat tire. Even the smaller stuff that might be buried/stuffed somewhere, you can pretty much always get by with a 3/8, especially with a u-joint. A 13/16 (or whatever your flavor is) spark plug socket is smaller than a dedicated spark plug wrench too...

No matter how good the ratchet it, I'm never sticking a 19+mm socket (with adapter obviously) on a 1/4 ratchet unless I had NO other option...safety squints engaged The thing is, you do have an option, right now. Maybe it's time to rethink your riding toolkit. Take a wild guess at what size ratchet I carry Good luck

 

[B.S.A. (ret.)]

What about using your proven S-K ratchet and include a 6" long plumbing ****** of a large enough I.D. size to slip over the ratchet handle as a cheater bar when you need extra length. Rebuild kits are available from S-K (now in high tooth count as well) so I'd consider keeping a rebuild kit along with the mini cheater in the tool kit. Reliability is backed up by the rebuild kit and the cheater bar adds extra torque when needed.

 

[Mojave888]

I'm partial toward the Wera push through metal Zyklop. Bulletproof and smooth as glass.

http://products.wera.de/en/zyklop_r...he_zyklop_metal_ratchets_push_1_4_8003_a.html

 

[Olafur]

This is just nonsense.

Material in current ratchets and breaker bars is quite similar from Taiwan to Germany to the US. And the ultimate limit for 1/4" drive is about 70lb.ft for the best of them. This means with any of them, you are really testing things @50 lb.ft.

This means whatever the brand or ratchet mechanism you are using - 1/4" on anything bigger than 8mm fasteners is roll of the dice. To break loose 10mm and above you can easily go way beyond 70 lb ft breaking all the 1/4" drive stuff available. Even 8mm fasteners can do them in.

Not good emergency plan!

 

[HanShotFirst]

Just use a 1/4" breaker bar, or a sliding T bar

I have been thinking along those lines. Got a couple of ideas around the sliding T bar, and I may go that way.

 

[JimNC]

Do what NASA does, put yourself in a room with just the tools you think you need, then do the work that you might need to do. No extra tools, rags, vise, stand, just you and a dirt floor.

Also, ratchets are convenient and fast, but those aren’t critical features when you’re stuck in the desert.

 

[Zapp Branigan]

The strongest 1/4 inch ratchet I have is a 3/8" ratchet. My 1/4 in round head USA Allen is probably the most successfully abused one I own though. It's one of these.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Allen-1090...006132?hash=item1a36e32774:g:l9QAAOSwmCVY~ump

 

[ryan20021982]

I believe the OP asked for a ratchet.

I am aware of that

 

[General Geoff]

This is just nonsense.

Material in current ratchets and breaker bars is quite similar from Taiwan to Germany to the US. And the ultimate limit for 1/4" drive is about 70lb.ft for the best of them. This means with any of them, you are really testing things @50 lb.ft.

This means whatever the brand or ratchet mechanism you are using - 1/4" on anything bigger than 8mm fasteners is roll of the dice. To break loose 10mm and above you can easily go way beyond 70 lb ft breaking all the 1/4" drive stuff available. Even 8mm fasteners can do them in.

Not good emergency plan!

I concur, which is why I recommend a 3/8" drive ratchet and sockets.

 

[ptgarcia]

I ride too, and a 1/4" drive ratchet is not in my tool kit. I use a standard length 3/8" drive which can handle everything a trail repair might need except for axle bolts, in which case I carry the Motion Pro T-6 combo levers. Adventure bikes are heavy so I don't really see the point in saving a couple ounces on a tool that may be needed to get you home safely.

 

[HanShotFirst]

As a rider who carries tools when riding as well, I understand what you mean about weight/being minimalistic with your tool choices. But seriously, the max socket size in 1/4 drive is 15mm...I can't think of anything that size that's in a tight enough spot to require a 1/4 drive ratchet, let alone be super tight. And what about everything else (17, 19, etc.)? What about your spark plug(s)...are you using some elusive 1/4 drive socket or worse, a spark plug wrench?

Why not settle for a small-regular length (6-7") 3/8 ratchet? Virtually the same length as a long 1/4 ratchet, marginally heavier, significantly stronger and more versatile. That one drive size will take care of everything you need, even if you need to take your wheel off, for say, a flat tire. Even the smaller stuff that might be buried/stuffed somewhere, you can pretty much always get by with a 3/8, especially with a u-joint. A 13/16 (or whatever your flavor is) spark plug socket is smaller than a dedicated spark plug wrench too...

No matter how good the ratchet it, I'm never sticking a 19+mm socket (with adapter obviously) on a 1/4 ratchet unless I had NO other option...safety squints engaged The thing is, you do have an option, right now. Maybe it's time to rethink your riding toolkit. Take a wild guess at what size ratchet I carry Good luck

For spark plug, I use the factory tool as it's very light weight, and hollow and other things can store in the middle.

For my bike I haven't run into anything that I use a ratchet for, that is field fixable where I really need larger than 15mm. I do have wrenches that are larger, as well as some specialty tools, etc.

For the past 25 years, the 1/4" ratchet has been sufficient, so I'm not seeing a reason to change to 3/8". Just that the SnapOn is getting a little sloppy even with a fresh rebuild, and I'm not crazy about it.

 

[dr_clyde]

I ride ADV, and I keep a Snap-on flex head 1/4" dr. ratchet in my toolkit. I rarely need to use my tools on the bigger stuff, and when I do, I can fit an actual wrench on it.

I have used the snappy hard, no issues. Fits nice into tight spaces like into the battery compartment and in behind my panniers to get at the seat screws.

What do you ride? I have an 05 KLR 650.

 

[HanShotFirst]

Do what NASA does, put yourself in a room with just the tools you think you need, then do the work that you might need to do. No extra tools, rags, vise, stand, just you and a dirt floor.

Also, ratchets are convenient and fast, but those aren’t critical features when you’re stuck in the desert.

I have been doing this for 25 years, it's not as if this isn't tested. I have done a LOT of work using nothing but my portable kit.

Understand, it's not as if the 1/4 ratchet and sockets are the only tools I have.

 

[HanShotFirst]

I ride ADV, and I keep a Snap-on flex head 1/4" dr. ratchet in my toolkit. I rarely need to use my tools on the bigger stuff, and when I do, I can fit an actual wrench on it.

I have used the snappy hard, no issues. Fits nice into tight spaces like into the battery compartment and in behind my panniers to get at the seat screws.

What do you ride? I have an 05 KLR 650.

Very similar. I ride a '94 KLX-650...been riding it for a long time, done a lot of work on it. Have a pretty good idea what works and what doesn't work. It's a much better bike than the KLR's but parts are getting hard to find, so I know I'll be parting ways with my beloved KLX in the future.