Slim head, 3/8 Flex head ratchet recommendation

JeffKeryk

JeffKeryk

Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
27,601
Location
Los Gatos, CA
Looking for a slim head 3/8 flex head ratchet for those crazy tight places.
This will get little use. DIY only. Not sure I need a big buck tool.

Any recommendations? There is a Capri model that might do the trick.
Thanks in advance.
 
Tekton ratchets have pretty slim heads and seem decent for the cost.

I can't speak for the very latest Capri ratchets (the ones with the black and blue plastic grips), but the ones they have sold for the past few years do not have slim heads.

Someone on here (maybe Critic?) took a 1/4" ratchet and replaced the square drive with a 3/8". I'll see if I can find the thread later. Seems like it was a Matco or Snap-on ratchet, I can't remember the details. Probably more $$, but depends on how slim you need it to be.
 
drtyler said:
Someone on here (maybe Critic?) took a 1/4" ratchet and replaced the square drive with a 3/8".
Click to expand...
That seems to be popular / possible with Snap On 1/4" ratchets. Haven't heard of people doing it with other brands.
 
I have this custom snappy. Something longer...
PXL_20220228_023759720.jpg
 
The Critic said:
Not the nicest ratchet, but it works:
https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-38-in-drive-long-reach-dual-flex-head-ratchet-67994.html
Click to expand...
This was going to be my reco based upon OP's standards of "crazy tight" and DIY.

This saved my bacon on p/s pump bolts in a '94 Caravan, crammed between the unibody and FEAD.

Go into the store and choose the one you want. Look for flex heads that aren't floppy -- even if they're adjustable -- and reversing mechanisms that are smooth and feel ratcheting action and backdrag. Most are good but there's a lemon in every bunch.

This should be in every guy's box. It's inexpensive enough to not be a big gamble but useful enough to be worth having.

EDIT: head thicknesses on mine are .354" for 1/4" and .422" for 3/8"
 
The Critic said:
Custom Matco 3/8”

View attachment 174253

Snap-On TLLF72

View attachment 174254
Click to expand...
Can’t quite make out the measurement because of the angle, but I assume the TLLF72 is about 1/4 thinner?

I have the various lengths of SO 1/4 and love them. I don’t have a flex head. Maybe I’ll buy one someday.

The better portion of wrenching that I do a which isn’t big suspension fasteners I do with 1/4” drive tools.

Heck, if I can remove and install a diesel engine injection pump with 1/4 drive tools, there isn’t much that they can’t do on a car that doesn’t require 50+ ft-LV of torque and will thus need bigger fasteners and a heavier ratchet.
 
JHZR2 said:
Can’t quite make out the measurement because of the angle, but I assume the TLLF72 is about 1/4 thinner?

I have the various lengths of SO 1/4 and love them. I don’t have a flex head. Maybe I’ll buy one someday.

The better portion of wrenching that I do a which isn’t big suspension fasteners I do with 1/4” drive tools.

Heck, if I can remove and install a diesel engine injection pump with 1/4 drive tools, there isn’t much that they can’t do on a car that doesn’t require 50+ ft-LV of torque and will thus need bigger fasteners and a heavier ratchet.
Click to expand...
Just remeasured. Looks like the Snap-On is about 1/16” thicker than the Custom Matco ratchet. This is the ratchet head (w/o the drive end).

Also, I’ve found that long 1/4” ratchets will flex quite a bit if you use them to remove fasteners that require more than 30-40 ft lbs of breakaway torque.
 
The Critic said:
Just remeasured. Looks like the Snap-On is about 1/16” thicker than the Custom Matco ratchet. This is the ratchet head (w/o the drive end).

Also, I’ve found that long 1/4” ratchets will flex quite a bit if you use them to remove fasteners that require more than 30-40 ft lbs of breakaway torque.
Click to expand...
But the drive end and stack up length with a socket is what really matters when things get tight.

For torque needs - if you need that much torque you aren’t really going to be able to get with some stubby 3/8 either.
 
Trav said:
The Napa ratchet heads are small in comparison to most others and the quality is good. I don't own one but the new Gearwrench models like like the head is small.

https://www.amazon.com/GEARWRENCH-D...ds=gearwrench+120xp+3/8&qid=1692698551&sr=8-1
Click to expand...
The GW XP120 Flex-head and locking Flex-head ratchets are both very good, and reasonably slim. They're hard to beat for the price. Not SO or Matco quality but a good bang for the buck. I'm anxiously waiting to see the new 100 tooth SO ratchets, they're supposed to be thinner than their current offerings. For now they'll only be offered in 3/8" drive and not around until January according to the local SO guy around me.
 
dlundblad said:
https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-38-in-drive-long-reach-dual-flex-head-ratchet-67994.html

As goofy as it looks, it’s a pretty nice ratchet to have around. The 3/8” can take a lot of torque too.
Click to expand...
This ratchet has saved my backside for super tight spaces. I don't think anyone else has something as thin. I have broken one so I keep 2 in my box now, they are cheap enough. One notable use is 6.0 powerstroke fuel banjo bolts. Nothing else will clear without lots of disassemblely
 
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