Why do Snap On ratchets come without quick release?

[PepperCrab]

I know there are some models which have this but most don't. I personally find them so important, but why doesn't SO ratchets have them?

 

[Pro-Painter]

My guess is most people don't like the quick release feature on ratchets. I know I like ratchets without the quick release better. IMO, It's a non needed feature.

 

[SMKS]

I think you can build a lower-profile ratchet by not having quick release. Also, the quick release button can get bumped and drop the socket.

I'm not an opponent of quick release, but the brands I like don't seem to offer them very often.

 

[shanker]

I used to prefer the quick release...since getting a few new ratchets that do not feature quick release, I'm on the fence.

I do however like that sometimes I can use the quick release to my advantage, like some sockets have a hole rather than just a detent, that I can line up with the ball in the ratchet to make it so that the socket will NOT come off w/o depressing the quick release button

 

[jethro29]

quick release makes it to easy for a socket to accidently come off ,and usually in a horrible spot.

 

[I can fix anything]

Quick release is stupid.

Heres the Snap on quick release.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=12898&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[treasureseeker]

Snap on has a quick release (FR936) but it isn't a fine tooth (only 36) Ratchet. I believe the head would too large.

 

[NinetyTwoFifty]

The FR936 is without a doubt my favorite ratchet.

 

[mrshaun]

it does make the ratchet a little tall and will not work in really tight spots.
so they made tr936 fr936 sr936.
not sure if they have any plans to go 80tooth yet.

 

[Bart Simpson]

Snap On does offer quick release on the basic standard handle ratchets and has offered it for many years.

On the older 700 series Snap On ratchets it was possible to modify the other models to QR.

This link has a lot of QR ratchet info including what is available from Snap On and others.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86639

 

[Toolhorder]

No need

 

[route246]

The only time I see any value is when your fingers are very greasy and you don't have a rag handy where you are, such as stuck under a car and you need to swap a socket and you don't want to come out from under there. Otherwise, I agree, it's not really useful. I rather have a socket locked in place securely with no risk of it popping off at the wrong moment.

Quick release is stupid.

Heres the Snap on quick release.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=12898&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[Freeborn John]

I've always happily used my F723A as my first choice since the day I got it, it never occurred to me for a second that other people might not like quick release.
Makes me wonder what other odd habits I might unknowingly have!

 

[Ledslinger]

The answer is screaming at you! Duh! Snap On!

 

[mrshaun]

sometimes a greasy 3/8 10mm socket on a new ratchet is a pain, but it does not fall off when you are using it.. .

 

[Seanbev24]

sometimes a greasy 3/8 10mm socket on a new ratchet is a pain, but it does not fall off when you are using it.. .

I'll take that trade off any day. I have never had a socket fall off any of my snap-on ratchets while working on something. There are some places where if a quick release button gets hit, you're screwed.

 

[NinetyTwoFifty]

I've had cheaper QR ratchets that were so loose they'd drop the sockets if you breathed on them. But my Snappy FR936 won't do that. The button requires firm pressure to release.

Also, I have a Taiwan-made Stanly "Pro" ratchet the has the QR button flush with the head. That one is nearly impossible to accidentally release.

 

[moronmountain]

I've had cheaper QR ratchets that were so loose they'd drop the sockets if you breathed on them. But my Snappy FR936 won't do that. The button requires firm pressure to release.

Also, I have a Taiwan-made Stanly "Pro" ratchet the has the QR button flush with the head. That one is nearly impossible to accidentally release.

Yeah I've never "bumped" a socket off my FR936 either. It REALLY holds on to the socket, and the head is smaller than my F80. Like I've said before, it's my oily mess and spark plug go to ratchet.

 

[shotgunfatcat]

My only complaint is when you have a tight nut, then the socket comes off and stays on the nut, other than that, no problems. And they look nicer, oh well.

 

[Rico.]

I use mostly Facom tools and I find them absolutely a joy to use. I have both
the standard and quick release versions of the 3/8 and 1/2 drive ratchets.
The quick release button is very firm on these and is also very slightly below
the profile of the ratchet. For these reasons it is impossible for a socket to
come off by accident but it also means that a greasy 10mm socket is also easy
to get off quickly.

I find myself always going for the quick release ratchets, they are still super
smooth 72 tooth and great to use.

facom lock on ratchet by Rico UK, on Flickr

 

[Octarine]

You can get qr ratchets from snap on the ones i know for sure are shr80, fhr80, sr80a may be others as well.

 

[Subyroo651]

You can get qr ratchets from snap on the ones i know for sure are shr80, fhr80, sr80a may be others as well.

Yep, the current QR Models are as follows, with the "H" signifying the Soft-Grip handle.

1/4" - TR72, THR72
3/8" - FR80, FHR80
1/2" - SR80a, SHR80a

 

[GoBlue]

The qr feature needlessly over complicates a ratchet. I think many here share my view.

 

[countryroad82]

I bought an FHR80 a little while back because I used to hate not having quick release, I like it to an extent, but after I got used to not having a quick release on my F80, I find myself reaching for the F80 more often than not.

 

[canuckian]

I find the qr ones come in handy if I have to be switching off different sockets often in the same project. I suppose I could pre load different ratchets but sometimes I don't have the room where I'm working or the forethought to preload the ratchets.

 

[PowerGenGuy]

I have 2 go to rats, one snappy FH80 with no QR and a Maximum with a QR. I have never accidently hit the quick release and dropped a socket, but I appreciate QR when hands are dirty and need to get that 10mm off or the 3/8.

 

[Wakefield]

As was explained to me somewhere on this forum quick release involves hollowing something out,so quick release will probably never be able to be as strong as one with a solid drive anvil/square and gear. Although the old roundhead Craftsman with quick release seems to be fairly strong. I think that was the one that busted off a whole lug stud on a '67 Olds that the nut had been put on too tight with an airgun. Quick release could get stuck if you get sand in it.
Perhaps for someone who has everything they would want some of both.

 

[shampoop]

I only like using quick release ratchets when i'm doing something that is not in a very tight spot that my hands are going to be super dirty/greasy.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

I use QR ratchet when I know my hands are going to be too slippery to take the sockets off.

And QR ratchet was my first ratchet.

 

[yevangelis]

Ha, I've been using my ''cheap'' stanley taiwan quick release ratchets for 5 years and have never had a socket fall off by accidentally hitting the button which sticks out a good 1/8th. also the teeth on the pawl wore out before anything else broke.

but the absolutely awesomething with qr raised buttons is, that you can hold the button with your finger and turn the ratchet when the nut is too loose to activate the ratcheting mechanism.

also qr is better for flex heads, easier to put sockets on and pull off.

and i can switch between sockets stupid quick by pushing the button, leaving the socket standing and just popping it into the next one in line, then back again, huge time saver.

 

[Your Father]

My wife will only use quick release ratchets.

 

[oldtools]

It is also more difficult to seal the ratcheting mechanism if it is qr. most SO ratchets are sealed.

 

[greenepa76]

I use both. Depends on situation. I usually don't like quick release, but when I don't want to drop a socket or extension in a deep area, I'll use both locking extensions and a QR ratchet along with a socket that will retain a fastener.

 

[bobcatdan]

Every good mechanic has a pocket screwdriver in his shirt pocket to pry off greasy sockets.

 

[cglasgow]

Every good mechanic has a pocket screwdriver in his shirt pocket to pry off greasy sockets.

Why not just get one with QR and not worry about the screwdriver? ;-)

~ducks~

 

[pcpro15]

Why not just get one with QR and not worry about the screwdriver? ;-)

~ducks~

Because that makes too much sense

 

[shampoop]

Also, to those people who don't own SO ratchets, the ball detents happen to put an absolutely perfect amount of pressure on the sockets, so pulling them off is never a big deal. A lowlier ratchet may hold them on too tight or too loose. Take my HF air ratchet for example, if you align the hole in the socket with the detent ball on the air ratchet, it is VERY difficult to get off even with a screwdriver/pry bar.

 

[tbobbo]

After the last thread on this, I bought a qr ratchet. I still hate qr! If you dont line up the hole in the socket to the pin.......it falls off. I use impact sockets for everyday use, i only use my chrome stuff if i am in a tight spot. Maybe that is one reason for me not liking them. I still love a high quality ratchet with a ball detent. They never fall off, and i have no trouble taking them off.

 

[Griff93]

I have an FR936 that has never dropped a socket. It takes enough pressure to push the quick release button that this is a non issue. I wish they would make a long quick release. I would buy one. It's not that I use a quick release ratchet for everything I do but it would be nice when you know your hands are going to get covered in grease. That said, other cheap quick release ratchets do **** and will drop sockets.

 

[Wakefield]

Is it true that there wasn't any such thing as quick release until/after Sears introduced it with some of the Craftsman stuff in the 1960's ? I think there was a lawsuit about whether Sears improperly took a patent away from one of their employees who invented it