Which Proto 1/2 Ratchet

[Widgeon]

Purchasing a 1/2" Proto ratchet for farm use. Which Model should I go with. Feel like the 24 tooth would be be more durable for variety of uses. I can't figure out why the second one is $16 bucks cheaper.

Proto 5450 16" 24 tooth or Proto J5454F Round Head 15" 72 tooth.

https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Proto-J5450-Classic-Ratchet-16-Inch/dp/B001HW91IC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1529336299&sr=8-4&keywords=proto+1%2F2"+ratchet


https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Proto-J5454F-2-Inch-Ratchet-15-Inch/dp/B0040C2VJW/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1529336299&sr=8-7&keywords=proto+1%2F2"+ratchet

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Round head is a italian made facom design sold under proto.
Less teeth doesn't necessarily mean stronger, pawl on the pear heads only engages one (albeit large) tooth. I don't own the facom designed ratchets so I can't really say but I hear they are good.
24 teeth is very coarse and can get awkward when you have a really long handle. Head on the pear is thinner but then again it's a 1/2 long handle 24 tooth ratchet, not exactly going to be the first choice for tight spaces.

 

[JR 42]

That's a really good price on the 5454F ratchet... last time I looked, it was around $50.

JR

 

[Jeremy77]

Those 5450 ratchets are tanks. We use them every day in an industrial environment. They are amazingly smooth for a course tooth ratchet. Can’t speak to the other version that you linked but would highly recommend the 5450.

 

[M6erfan]

For $36 bucks the 5454F is a steal IMO. Both very good ratchets.

I own several of the 72t palm control ratchets and they are GTG.

The 24T Proto is very smooth with light almost non existant back-drag.

As others have pointed out, for a long 1/2" ratchet, higher tooth count can be an advantage.

 

[Wamsutta]

Go with the Proto J5450HTC

http://www.protoindustrial.com/en/i...n-90-Pear-Head-Ratchet-Long-18"--Full-Polish/

 

[paulsomlo]

Or a 5450XL - smaller head and 45 teeth: https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-J5450XL-Premium-Ratchet-15-Inch/dp/B001VXYG2S

And I hear there's a 25% off Zoro code going around.

 

[jumbojak]

I've been considering a Proto spud ratchet for the farm. Might be something to think about.

 

[scubadoober]

Buy that J5454F before someone else does. Seriously just do it. You will not regret it.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I was set on a williams for a few weeks, but after putting that proto in my wishlist it dropped even further, $34 and change with free shipping, had to do it.

 

[Snaparxon]

I have the Proto round head in a 1/2" flex. Nice ratchet. The head is a little tall but thin side to side. The fine teeth are nice on a long ratchet where swing is limited.
The other 24 tooth ratchets are a work horse for sure but if you have used ratchets with a reverse lever where moving the lever left tightens a bolt and moving the lever right loosens a bolt then that Proto may frustrate the hell out of you because it's reverse lever is the opposite. Moving the lever right tightens the bolt and left loosens the bolt.

 

[woody 73]

OP the first link for the $50 ratchet is a tank, darn thing has been around since Moses parted the red sea, very well made! Best ratchet to use in your farm work.

 

[Professional Tool User]

As long as you are not working in tight spaces, the low tooth count ratchet you have mentioned is fine, but otherwise, get the round head one.

 

[3baygarage]

OP the first link for the $50 ratchet is a tank, darn thing has been around since Moses parted the red sea, very well made! Best ratchet to use in your farm work.

I agree. Tried and true since Plomb.

39.99 new old stock shipped 5450 on ebay. Personally one of my favorites but I use the black, and also proto torque wrenches with that mechanism.

 

[kb1982]

Or a 5450XL - smaller head and 45 teeth: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001VXYG2S/?tag=atomicindus08-20

And I hear there's a 25% off Zoro code going around.

I'm going to have to agree with this guy. After trying out one of the 45 teeth premium pearheads, it didn't take long for others to show up in other sizes. They are also sealed up well, so a dunking in the mud won't cause them any problems.

Sent from my Z962BL using Tapatalk

 

[M6erfan]

For $35 shipped I picked up one of the J5454F's too. Couldn't resist

 

[M6erfan]

OP the first link for the $50 ratchet is a tank, darn thing has been around since Moses parted the red sea, very well made! Best ratchet to use in your farm work.

I agree. Tried and true since Plomb.

39.99 new old stock shipped 5450 on ebay. Personally one of my favorites but I use the black, and also proto torque wrenches with that mechanism.

I understand that this is the same 24t design Ko-ken uses in their ratchets. If so, I couldn't agree more. Strong, smooth, and the lightest back drag I've ever experienced.

 

[M6erfan]

Holy fast shipping!



Ordered yesterday and just came to my door.

 

[Wamsutta]

That's one of them Facom/Proto crossbreed hybrids.

 

[M6erfan]

That's one of them Facom/Proto crossbreed hybrids.

Yup. SK & Proto Palm Control ratchets are Facom design

 

[Wamsutta]

That ratchet head is all Facom. The handle is all Proto. S-K doesn't enter into the equation; which is probably a good thing.

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

Holy fast shipping!



Ordered yesterday and just came to my door.

Sweet ratchets. I have the flex head version and it really is nice.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Holy fast shipping!



Ordered yesterday and just came to my door.

how the hell , hasn't it been less than a day?

 

[M6erfan]

how the hell , hasn't it been less than a day?

Seller was "Shoplet" which, according to the packing slip, is about 30 miles from me. Shipped UPS ground yesterday afternoon.

 

[Fsatsil]

Or a 5450XL - smaller head and 45 teeth: https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-J5450XL-Premium-Ratchet-15-Inch/dp/B001VXYG2S

And I hear there's a 25% off Zoro code going around.

I own a few of the Proto XL ratchets and I love them they are a little on the heavy side but for farm use that’s just what you want

 

[xin]

Holy fast shipping!



Ordered yesterday and just came to my door.

How teeth this got?

 

[AceofSpad3s]

How teeth this got?

72 teeth

 

[xin]

72 teeth

What is length - also can you put a lot of torque on this one?

thanks

 

[ChevyEFI]

I can't figure out why the second one is $16 bucks cheaper.
Proto 5450 16" 24 tooth or Proto J5454F Round Head 15" 72 tooth.

https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Proto-J5450-Classic-Ratchet-16-Inch/dp/B001HW91IC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1529336299&sr=8-4&keywords=proto+1%2F2"+ratchet

https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Proto-J5454F-2-Inch-Ratchet-15-Inch/dp/B0040C2VJW/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1529336299&sr=8-7&keywords=proto+1%2F2"+ratchet

Roundheads don't need warrantied like pear-heads, so they can pass the savings onto you!

 

[Widgeon]

Thanks, went with the J5454F. Going to be here in a couple days, hopefully before the weekend. Thanks,

 

[AceofSpad3s]

What is length - also can you put a lot of torque on this one?

thanks

15" in the long 1/2 drive
Mine is in the mail, and m6 got his yesterday so I doubt either us will be much help commenting on long term durability, but from what I've heard the mechanism are pretty strong. Common problem is grease hardening if they are sitting for a long time, so just clean that out. Failure point with most modern designs tends to be the anvil going before the mechanism, from the (albeit not most professional) testing I've seen online. I think it's fair to say as long as you aren't jumping up and down with a 6 foot pipe, most 1/2 ratchets should be plenty strong.

If I like it I'll get a 3/8 regular length as well, pretty cheap on amazon and the head looks very compact.
The 1/4 ones aren't recommended due to the head being big compared to the other sizes.
I got to do some transmission fluids and tire rotation soon, so I'll be able to take it for a spin. Should be a breeze for it since it's only 100ft/lb but I should be able to get a feel for how it handles.

 

[victor252]

If that Amazon seller runs out, this place has them for $24 plus shipping.
https://www.cleanitsupply.com/p-556...MIwZ2K-_Lg2wIVxNrACh2W8An9EAEYASAEEgJjjPD_BwE

I love the info on here but this forum is an expensive habit. I don't even need a 1/2 ratchet right now...or do I?

 

[drtyler]

...
The 1/4 ones aren't recommended due to the head being big compared to the other sizes.

I disagree.

The Facom R.161 and Proto J4752F are my favorite 1/4" drive ratchets, and I used them a lot. Low backdrag. The size of the head is not a problem, nor is it particularly big.

One downside may be the short length, but it's not been a problem for me. Some here have converted the 3/8 J.161 ratchet with the 1/4" drive, making a 7" 1/4 ratchet.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I disagree.

The Facom R.161 and Proto J4752F are my favorite 1/4" drive ratchets, and I used them a lot. Low backdrag. The size of the head is not a problem, nor is it particularly big.

One downside may be the short length, but it's not been a problem for me. Some here have converted the 3/8 J.161 ratchet with the 1/4" drive, making a 7" 1/4 ratchet.

If space isn't a particularly big deal than sure, but compared to other options that's pretty chunky. The 3/8 has a very small head compared to a 3/8 SK, but the 1/4 proto is bigger a 1/4 SK.

pics stolen fromm Kirbot

 

[M6erfan]

The Facom is indeed a 'tall' ratchet head in 1/4", but in use its never been a problem for me. Here is a pic lined up with some of my other quarter ratchets...

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Got it in the mail. Finished very well, knurling is a bit dull for my tastes though. Grease wasn't dried but I decided to clean it out anyway and use mmo, disassembly was much less of a hassle than ones with retaining rings or pear heads with tiny ball bearings.
Put blue locktite on it, back 1/4 and was good.

Head is smaller than a SK 1/2 in diameter, about same thickness. Backdrag compared to a cornwell SR30, New Britain 45 and SK, I had a hard time telling, all of them are about the same I'd say. My pear head Horror Fright clicker torque wrench has better back drag than all of them since it's a knock off of the Proto 24T mechanism.

Felt confident when leaning on it breaking some lugs. The palm control is a novel feature, I think it'd shine with a 3/8 regular length because it'd be easier to palm the ratchet and zip bolts out quick with a nice short and light 3/8, 1/2 is heavy, then a long handle makes it even worse to move quickly in that sort of fashion.

Overall for $35 it'd say it's very good. I don't think I'll run out to buy a 3/8 though because I already have a ton of regular 3/8 stuff and don't think it's different enough for the $25 on one.

 

[Widgeon]

Thanks for the info. Still waiting on mine. Hopefully be there when I get home.

 

[victor252]

Yes, thanks for quick review. I also ended up buying one. I don't need it know...but eventually I will. So for $24 plus shipping, it was worth it. I'll see if I need to re-grease it when it arrives.

On a related note, is the main difference between Proto and Mac ratchets just a matter of Mac having more teeth. I bought that 3/8 drive Proto set for from Grainger a while ago and besides the 45 teeth in the ratchet that comes with the set, I can't see much room for improvement.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Yes, thanks for quick review. I also ended up buying one. I don't need it know...but eventually I will. So for $24 plus shipping, it was worth it. I'll see if I need to re-grease it when it arrives.

On a related note, is the main difference between Proto and Mac ratchets just a matter of Mac having more teeth. I bought that 3/8 drive Proto set for from Grainger a while ago and besides the 45 teeth in the ratchet that comes with the set, I can't see much room for improvement.

I'm not really too up to date on MAC, the ones I see on their website are 72t except for the roto head that is 100t and taiwan I hear?
72T looks like facom, which isn't too shocking since they are all owned by the evil stanley black and decker omnicorp.

 

[GrayFlattop]

Go with the Proto J5450HTC

http://www.protoindustrial.com/en/i...n-90-Pear-Head-Ratchet-Long-18"--Full-Polish/

I need another ratchet(s) like another hole in my head, but this newest design has been tempting. How's the action.

I'm a big fan of the older round-read design - the 5452A (standard length) and the 5454A (long handle), but they are of course discontinued. Nice fine-tooth action, reliable (for me) - many years in an industrial setting serving out semi-retirement in the home workshop. No mud out in the field, just oil and dirt.

The long handle seems to have a lower tooth count, but of all my ratchets, the "A" model RHFT from Proto is usually the first one I reach for. They do pop up on ebay from time to time. Unless I've missed the backstory somewhere on reliability, I've been very happy with all of mine for the last few decades.

Just my $0.02