Well, that didn’t work like I wanted.

[OneEyedMan]

I’ve bought several CAT ratchets and all have been Snap On so far. Last year I came across CAT part number 468-5748 that showst an FLF80 in the book. I called to order one, price being marginally less than SO thus not a great bargain, and found them on back order. I called again in December and they told me there was an updated part number and I could order one so I did.

The ratchet came in today and was a bit of a surprise all the way around. I haven’t looked to find the OE but there can’t be too many players.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

Stahlwille with a bespoke handle.

 

[51dueller]

Here's the Stahlwille:

 

[Steve_P]

Project farm tested the Stahlwille flex head. Interesting that Cat is sourcing at least one ratchet from them.

 

[OneEyedMan]

Amazon has the ratchet for about $170. I paid $140 with $45 shipping. Kind of a wash if you want to be the only kid with one.

The parts guy was incredibly accommodating so I went through with the purchase to preserve future relations.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Now that is a cool ratchet!

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Callelle]

I might have to get one of those. I've always wanted to try a Stahlville ratchet but never could convince myself to actually buy one. Having the Cat logo changes that a bit.

 

[Steve_P]

Amazon has the ratchet for about $170. I paid $140 with $45 shipping. Kind of a wash if you want to be the only kid with one.

The parts guy was incredibly accommodating so I went through with the purchase to preserve future relations.

How come you had to pay shipping? Was it a special order that wasn't in stock in the US? Reason I ask is I ordered some tools from CAT that were shipped to the dealer, where I picked them up, and there wasn't a shipping charge.

Edit- you should add the pics to the CAT tools thread if you already haven't.

 

[OneEyedMan]

How come you had to pay shipping? Was it a special order that wasn't in stock in the US? Reason I ask is I ordered some tools from CAT that were shipped to the dealer, where I picked them up, and there wasn't a shipping charge.

Edit- you should add the pics to the CAT tools thread if you already haven't.

The store managers office is across from the parts counter and he chimed in about it being a special order from Germany, claimed there was $500 in special shipping and all I was charged for was the UPS to the dealer.

Every other tool I’ve ordered from them came from a depot four hours west of us with no shipping. This was a totally new experience for me. I wanted the previous part number and that led me to here. I wasn’t informed about the shipping beforehand, I just finished the transaction to keep a good relationship with them.

 

[ChevyEFI]

How come you had to pay shipping? Was it a special order that wasn't in stock in the US? Reason I ask is I ordered some tools from CAT that were shipped to the dealer, where I picked them up, and there wasn't a shipping charge.

Edit- you should add the pics to the CAT tools thread if you already haven't.

I got charged shipping by the nearest CAT dealer for a couple things for pick up. The following week, there was a free shipping and something $/% off promotion for online purchases, noticed by my wife because of cookies and ads. lol

 

[whateg01]

What's the appeal of a tool stamped cat?

 

[OneEyedMan]

What's the appeal of a tool stamped cat?

Two reasons for me.

The previous tools I’ve bought from Cat were Snap On tools at a reduced price.


Once I reached fulfillment of tool needs, a tool to perform any and all tasks encountered to this point, I wanted to ad another “want” tool to the box.

 

[Steve_P]

I got charged shipping by the nearest CAT dealer for a couple things for pick up. The following week, there was a free shipping and something $/% off promotion for online purchases, noticed by my wife because of cookies and ads. lol

Odd how this works. To be clear, I ordered my few tools online. It gave a total. No shipping. No tax. After I picked them up, I was billed on my CC and was charged tax, which I expected since I'm not a business, but of course no shipping.

Dealers, from CAT to Toyota, order parts multiple times a week and there should be no shipping charge for something that's a normal stock item in the US- that's included in the cost of the item. In the case of the ratchet, it appears it was a special order from Germany, so I can see that. But for some USA made screwdrivers or wrenches, no.

 

[Steve_P]

What's the appeal of a tool stamped cat?

What's the appeal of a shirt that says "Harley Davidson"? Because dealers stay in business not selling motorcycles but selling but merch like this. "I'm a Harley owner, come talk to me at the breakfast bar at Super 8"

And I have now pissed off half of the white guys here that are over 50

Edit: I'm sure almost all of the usual contributors here are white guys over 50. Including me.

 

[whateg01]

What's the appeal of a shirt that says "Harley Davidson"? Because dealers stay in business not selling motorcycles but selling but merch like this. "I'm a Harley owner, come talk to me at the breakfast bar at Super 8"

And I have now pissed off half of the white guys here that are over 50

Edit: I'm sure almost all of the usual contributors here are white guys over 50. Including me.

Got it! It's for the tool polishers in the group!

 

[Callelle]

What's the appeal of a tool stamped cat?

The same reason there's an appeal for a tool in purple, at least to me. I like it.

 

[OneEyedMan]

I’ve looked this ratchet over and I will say the locking mechanism is better what SO has used on the last several versions. As a rule I don’t use quick release ratchets or locking flex heads so my opinion may not matter.

 

[impactims]

What's the appeal of a tool stamped cat?

Usually if it says "CAT" it is a private label product made by Snap-on.

So, it's a way to buy Snap on for cheap.

When folks see CAT tooling, they think Snap-on.

That is the appeal. And if a tool that says CAT turns out to be something other than Snap-on, it's a letdown, as evidenced here in this thread.

 

[whateg01]

Usually if it says "CAT" it is a private label product made by Snap-on.

So, it's a way to buy Snap on for cheap.

When folks see CAT tooling, they think Snap-on.

That is the appeal. And if a tool that says CAT turns out to be something other than Snap-on, it's a letdown, as evidenced here in this thread.

That I can understand. I used to pay close attention to which power tools craftsman private labeled that were "good brand" in disguise.

 

[Shergar]

Flipside, someone in CAT is making sure their only putting there name on aircraft quality brands.

 

[Steve_P]

Most CAT ratchets have been the crappy Williams (old SO) ~30 tooth designs. This Stahlwille is light years more advanced than the now Williams 1970 designed SO ratchets- which I have many.

Yes, it's not a dual 80 at half the price, but SO is very careful on not letting you do this. There is a reason that CDI torque wrenches only have ~30 teeth. There is a reason that you can't buy half the SO catalog from CAT at a fraction of the price.

 

[road ruiner]

are the Cat wrenches full polished chrome?

 

[richfinn]

Usually if it says "CAT" it is a private label product made by Snap-on.

So, it's a way to buy Snap on for cheap.

When folks see CAT tooling, they think Snap-on.

That is the appeal. And if a tool that says CAT turns out to be something other than Snap-on, it's a letdown, as evidenced here in this thread.

A lot of Real Mechanics think Stahlwille is an excellent tool brand on par with Snap-On

 

[impactims]

A lot of Real Mechanics think Stahlwille is an excellent tool brand on par with Snap-On

Yeah, but when you buy CAT specifically because you want Snap-on for cheap and it turns out to be something else, anything else, you are not getting what you wanted, hence the disappointment of the OP.

 

[richfinn]

Yeah, but when you buy CAT specifically because you want Snap-on for cheap and it turns out to be something else, anything else, you are not getting what you wanted, hence the disappointment of the OP.

Reading his comments about Snap-On flex head locking mechanisms, I would say he's already warming to the Stahlwille

 

[Steve_P]

Yeah, but when you buy CAT specifically because you want Snap-on for cheap and it turns out to be something else, anything else, you are not getting what you wanted, hence the disappointment of the OP.

I get it, but "wanted" is irrelevant. I want the Victoria Secret models to come to my house nightly and pleasure me. If I paid for this fantasy on CL, I have no realistic justification to be disappointed when something that I wanted to happen doesn't happen.

Most of us would love to easily buy dual 80s at 50% off new online. But assuming you might get a dual 80, even though there's NO evidence of this happening already, shouldn't be a disappointment- you gambled and lost, but still got a great ratchet and not a POS. The CAT tools thread is well documented on what is SO and what's not. There is no evidence there of this ratchet being a dual 80. OP gambled and lost; it happens.

When you buy it NOT knowing and still get a premium German made ratchet instead of a POS 30T Williams, that isn't the end of the world. He gambled if he expected a dual 80 and lost. He wasn't misled, he took a chance. We have all now gained knowledge based on his being the first to try.

 

[OneEyedMan]

I get it, but "wanted" is irrelevant. I want the Victoria Secret models to come to my house nightly and pleasure me. If I paid for this fantasy on CL, I have no realistic justification to be disappointed when something that I wanted to happen doesn't happen.

Most of us would love to easily buy dual 80s at 50% off new online. But assuming you might get a dual 80, even though there's NO evidence of this happening already, shouldn't be a disappointment- you gambled and lost, but still got a great ratchet and not a POS. The CAT tools thread is well documented on what is SO and what's not. There is no evidence there of this ratchet being a dual 80. OP gambled and lost; it happens.

When you buy it NOT knowing and still get a premium German made ratchet instead of a POS 30T Williams, that isn't the end of the world. He gambled if he expected a dual 80 and lost. He wasn't misled, he took a chance. We have all now gained knowledge based on his being the first to try.

Quick summation of my posts. I ordered a part number that shows an 80 tooth ratchet. Price is $180, not 50% of SO, so not a bargain.


That part number is no longer supported. Not a problem, I don’t buy Lotto tickets, I buy tools. There is a new number (which in every situation I’ve come across means a change to the part, either in design or manufacturer) and I pull the trigger. The ratchet in the first post is what shows up. I admire Hazet and Stahwille tool so no problem there.

Edit to ad: I didn’t do enough research. The catalog lists the ratchet as SO branded. I had hoped that it was stamped CAT like their other ones. I guess the replacement is a bigger win than I thought.

 

[walker.jonathon93@gma]

How come you had to pay shipping? Was it a special order that wasn't in stock in the US? Reason I ask is I ordered some tools from CAT that were shipped to the dealer, where I picked them up, and there wasn't a shipping charge.

Edit- you should add the pics to the CAT tools thread if you already haven't.

I've always had to pay shipping what gives

 

[finn]

Yeah, but when you buy CAT specifically because you want Snap-on for cheap and it turns out to be something else, anything else, you are not getting what you wanted, hence the disappointment of the OP.

It not unusual that when you try to work the system, the system wins.

Cat doesn’t sell SnapOn tools.

They sell Cat branded tools, some of which are manufactured by Snapon, some not.

It’s not that difficult to understand.

 

[walker.jonathon93@gma]

It not unusual that when you try to work the system, the system wins.

Cat doesn’t sell SnapOn tools.

They sell Cat branded tools, some of which are manufactured by Snapon, some not.

It’s not that difficult to understand.

They sell some great tools cheap. Anyone that doesn't already have quality sockets, especially the universal would be crazy to pass on them.

I've bought a lot more stuff from williams than cat but more and more of their sockets are the Taiwanese blueprint style..

 

[bonneyman]

Amazon has the ratchet for about $170. I paid $140 with $45 shipping. Kind of a wash if you want to be the only kid with one.

The parts guy was incredibly accommodating so I went through with the purchase to preserve future relations.

I've employed logic like this as well and it's paid off over the years. Good help can be hard to find, so - when you come across one - paying a little extra or taking a "hit" is a good investment.