Why are Harbor Freight ratchets so good?

[Teken]

Many of the old Duro/Indestro ratchets were pressed flange design which made them unserviceable.I have a few examples,Many makers will rivet ratchets together for FOD requirements,I have a Britool ratchet like that.

Well this is the challenge to Caper, or anyone who has this ratchet. I want someone to take this thing apart!

Otherwise someone can send me one and I will pay for shipping and the tool, so I can take it apart!

Must . . . . See . . . Inside . . . Of tool guts!

 

[Indy_500]

I just picked up the roto ratchet yesterday and it worked great. Used it to change some spark plugs and like Indy I like the fact that you can use it like a screwdriver on long bolts. Only got the 3/8 but will probably pick them all up and maybe the stubby version also.

Those Composites look nice I'm gonna have to check them out and maybe add them to the growing collection. What's the part number/numbers for those all metal ratchets you have in picture? Not much talk about them yet.

The metal ratchets i have in the pic came with my 65 pc. socket set from HF. THey have 45 teeth and ratchet ok. They aren't nothing special but they are halfway decent.

 

[Rickster]

I bought the 1/4 dr roto-head ratchet a while back. Initially I thought it was OK, but now it sits unused in the for-sale bin. It's uncomfortable to use and the ratcheting mechanism & pivoting head are too stiff. I would not recommend buying one. I dumped it in favor of a used 1/4 dr roto-head Snap-on.

 

[Teken]

Are they loud when you ratchet it . . . They look to be given the design . . .

 

[Indy_500]

Are they loud when you ratchet it . . . They look to be given the design . . .

The metal ones are somewhat loud when ratcheting. My roto ratchet has gotten louder the more i've used it. I just got the composite ratchet but that's the quietest one i've seen at HF besides my thumbwheel ratchet.

 

[Teken]

The metal ones are somewhat loud when ratcheting. My roto ratchet has gotten louder the more i've used it. I just got the composite ratchet but that's the quietest one i've seen at HF besides my thumbwheel ratchet.

This time next year if you remember. I want you to take that roto apart if you can because you're the 3rd person who have said that it has gotten louder over time.

Hence why I want to know how to take this beast apart . . . Given that its a HF tool swapping it out would be faster and guarantee a new one.

But, it doesn't address how to take it apart, or if you don't live close enough to easily exchange said ratchet . . .

 

[scott37300]

Thanks for the post Indy, just got back from there and got 2 of the 3/8 bent handle ratchets Scott posted up above, on clearance for 3.97. And then bought 2 sets of stubby dual drive 72 teeth ratchets, one has the 1/4 and 3/8 drive and the other has 3/8 and 1/2 drive for 4.97, not sure how well these are made but figured for 5 bucks I would try them out and if they aren't that good I will give them to my little brother. He is 9(20 years younger) and gets all my fail tools and extras to play around with. Then bought a set of 3(1/4, 3/8, 1/2) 72 tooth stubby ratchets with a rubber grip for 6.97. Then some finger ratchets for 1.97 each. I didn't get any composites or rotating heads, just bought the clearance stuff today. Figure I will go back out when the others are on sale and pick them up, or get them one at a time with coupons.

Thanks again for the heads up! They also have impact swivel sets on clearance for 17 bucks. Really thought about picking up a set of metric and sae but didn't know the quality of the impact swivels. Also had some misc socket sets on sale but I didn't need any of them.

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

Thanks Scott for the pix. I see how that can be useful. The HF website has a couple similar on sale. One is a 3/8" composite for $7.99. ($6.99 for 1/4" and $9.99 for 1/2") I'll have to see what they have on the shelf when I make my weekly HF field trip.

As for the composite/plastic question, the composites that are used now-a-days are much better than the imports of 10 years a go. They have some hi-tech carbon fiber blends to make them light and strong. Not like old screwdriver handles that decompose and fall apart while sitting in a toolbox.

Has anybody tried the 3/8" HF Flex Handle Ratchet? It looks like it would be handy to have in the toolbox.

I have it, works really well, except for the fact that the on/off lever is backwards.

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

This time next year if you remember. I want you to take that roto apart if you can because you're the 3rd person who have said that it has gotten louder over time.

Hence why I want to know how to take this beast apart . . . Given that its a HF tool swapping it out would be faster and guarantee a new one.

But, it doesn't address how to take it apart, or if you don't live close enough to easily exchange said ratchet . . .

It's either pressed in, or the head threads in??? Maybe I'll take mine apart. maybe, lol.

 

[d33pt]

my gripe with the composite ratchet is that the direction selector is the opposite of what i expect it to be.

 

[Teken]

It's either pressed in, or the head threads in??? Maybe I'll take mine apart. maybe, lol.

Do it . . . .

 

[Hank McMauser]

If you are used to using older proto pear heads the direction lever will be normal to you

 

[Scout Driver]

Thanks for the post Indy, just got back from there and got 2 of the 3/8 bent handle ratchets Scott posted up above, on clearance for 3.97.

scott37300,

If you would, take a look and see if it would be possible to remove a head from one of these ratchets and install it facing the opposite direction. In effect this would make a ratchet with a backwards bend. Or.....would this just create a less-than-useful, odd-looking tool?? Curious because I'm tempted to buy another of these ratchets.

Scott

 

[PistolWhip]

I'll vouch for the composite ratchets. I love mine! They're smooth and light weight and have never let me down. Oddly enough, in a drawer full of Snap On, Mac, Matco, Toptul and Craftsman ratchets I find myself reaching for the HF Composites quite often.

 

[lipadj46]

Here is a chinese stubby 3/8 ratchet that I like. It came as part of the e-socket set. It is a fine tooth ratchet, tooth count I'm not sure as it is non serviceable, probably 60 tooth. It sure looks like it should come apart the 2 bolts holding the plate on even come off but the selector switch is riveted on, bizarre. Overall the chrome is great as is the feel. I had to have this set as it had a female torx socket I needed to remove my front seat. It is actually a nice little set, the bit holder has a little magnet in it to hold the bits securely.

 

[caper]

The metal ratchets i have in the pic came with my 65 pc. socket set from HF. THey have 45 teeth and ratchet ok. They aren't nothing special but they are halfway decent.

Those ratchets look an awful lot like Canadian Craftsman ratchets!

The ratchets up here at Princess Auto are mostly this style.They come in short,long and flexhead versions.They are really good in my opininon,I've used them for quite awhile,even had a long cheater pipe on the long 1/2" version I have.If you guys have this style at HF give them a try,they're a good tool.

 

[Indy_500]

This time next year if you remember. I want you to take that roto apart if you can because you're the 3rd person who have said that it has gotten louder over time.

Hence why I want to know how to take this beast apart . . . Given that its a HF tool swapping it out would be faster and guarantee a new one.

But, it doesn't address how to take it apart, or if you don't live close enough to easily exchange said ratchet . . .

I attempted to take it apart this morning. But my grandpa came quicker than i thought. Oh well i made $35 trimming a million trees and chopping them up and hauling them away. And i mowed his lawn, and trimmed his garden. Oh and i started to clean out this shack thing on the back of his garage that's fallen apart. I had it pretty cleaned out last time i was over but i kept on cleaning it today. Soon i'll get to take it down and make some more room for him. Oh and i climbed up on a 16 ft. tall ladder and cut down some branches overhanging his neighbors house. That was SCARY! i thought the thing was going to snap in half!

 

[bmrisko]

Here is a chinese stubby 3/8 ratchet that I like. It came as part of the e-socket set. It is a fine tooth ratchet, tooth count I'm not sure as it is non serviceable, probably 60 tooth. It sure looks like it should come apart the 2 bolts holding the plate on even come off but the selector switch is riveted on, bizarre. Overall the chrome is great as is the feel. I had to have this set as it had a female torx socket I needed to remove my front seat. It is actually a nice little set, the bit holder has a little magnet in it to hold the bits securely.

I have that little set as well and the stubby ratchet has been a lifesaver doing spark plugs on the GM 5.3...especially the 2 closest to the firewall. All it takes is that ratchet and a swivel spark plug socket ($1.99 on clearance at Tractor Supply).

 

[bchee]

After looking at one I was stumped as to how it comes apart,still you might have a valid point. I wonder do you immerse them in an oil bath in order to lubricate them ?

I have both 1/4 and 3/8.
The 1/4 uses a "retaining" ring/clip. I have disassembled it.

The 3/8 I can't figure out.

Are you guys also aware that the handles changed?
I've posted about it before.

 

[bchee]

Here's a 2008 thread addressing the 3/8 ratchet disassembly
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24179

 

[arkangel06]

Why are Harbor Freight ratchets so good?

Because you've never used anything better?




















Runs and hides....

 

[Garage_Mahal]

My garage dog chewed the end of my HF composite ratchet. Not a problem you'd have with metal handles. Let me dig around a bit in the bite-marks to see if I can figure out the core. It sure feels too stiff to just be plastic. I love the composite wrenches when it is cold outside. They are the only ones I use in winter.

 

[spartyon8]

I read somewhere that the composites are steel ratchets with a composite handle for comfort.

 

[Indy_500]

Because you've never used anything better?




















Runs and hides....

I've used a couple snap on for small amounts of time, and i wasn't impressed at all. They were older they weren't no dual 80's but seriously under $10 per ratchet? why would you need a snap-on one when these do the same thing?

 

[reyna14]

Has anyone dropped the plastic ratchets on a concrete floor? How do they hold up?

I actually like having those HF ratchets. I have all three sizes in my track toolbox and don't baby them. I've stood on the 1/2" to remove the axle nut on my race bike without a hint of problem. I use them at work and they stand up to being soaked with Skydrol, super nasty stuff. I've dropped them, thrown them, and used them as hammers for some things when I was too lazy to go to the box to get a real one. I've busted more than one Craftsman ratchet with less abuse. I like having a crappy set of ratchets that I can toss around and beat on things with, too. I have Snap On ones but just can't find it in myself to treat them the same.

 

[Indy_500]

Well i made a redneck lawnmower tonight and used my composite ratchet quite a bit. I dropped it a half dozen times and i torqued the heck out of it and it's still good as new. Except for the scuff i got in it from trying to cut off the plastic tag thing.

 

[Wingnut65]

I just stopped my the Largo HF and picked up the $5.99 bent handle flex head ratched, but the price rang up wrong! It came out to only be $3.97!

 

[arkangel06]

I've used a couple snap on for small amounts of time, and i wasn't impressed at all. They were older they weren't no dual 80's but seriously under $10 per ratchet? why would you need a snap-on one when these do the same thing?

Do you know what to look for when it comes to quality, just because the tooth counts higher it doesn't make it better.

 

[BWright]

I've used a couple snap on for small amounts of time, and i wasn't impressed at all. They were older they weren't no dual 80's but seriously under $10 per ratchet? why would you need a snap-on one when these do the same thing?

You will learn young padawan, eventually.

 

[Teken]

Here's a 2008 thread addressing the 3/8 ratchet disassembly
http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24179

Alright tease! I went and read that thread but it ended up that you and the others still don't know how to get this thing apart . . .

Way to go and dangle that carrot . . .

 

[gonzoengineer]

I don't know -- I have their ratchets (the swivel style with the black/red handle) and three of their breaker bars and they impress the hell out of me. I plan on going back for a set of their traditional ratchets soon too. The breaker bars are the best to me, mostly because I've had so many Craftsmen breaker bars fall apart.