Tight Clearance Ratchet Torque

[JHZR2]

Is it safe to assume that a tight clearance ratchet can handle less torque than a regular one?

McMaster says this:

Wrenches are premium quality and have a reversible ratchet. Made of alloy steel, except 5372A72 – palm style – which is made of high strength polycarbonate and has a soft rubber coating. High-torque wrenches have a pear-shaped head that tends to provide more torque but requires a 5° to 15° handle swing. Tight-clearance wrenches have a round head that requires a 0° to 8° handle swing (unless noted); they're great for use in confined spaces.

I think Im interested in an 80 tooth (72 tooth perhaps) ratchet, but not sure what to go with. Has to be US made.

Thanks!

 

[The_Jeff]

I would have to assume the friction only ones (like the zero degree one) can take much less torque.

Everything else 72-80 tooth has a lifetime warranty, so have at it, I say. They all provide the same torque... until something snaps.

 

[ajchien]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Is it safe to assume that a tight clearance ratchet can handle less torque than a regular one?

McMaster says this:

Wrenches are premium quality and have a reversible ratchet. Made of alloy steel, except 5372A72 – palm style – which is made of high strength polycarbonate and has a soft rubber coating. High-torque wrenches have a pear-shaped head that tends to provide more torque but requires a 5° to 15° handle swing. Tight-clearance wrenches have a round head that requires a 0° to 8° handle swing (unless noted); they're great for use in confined spaces.

I think Im interested in an 80 tooth (72 tooth perhaps) ratchet, but not sure what to go with. Has to be US made.

Thanks!


I think that is a bad assumption. Ratchet gear and pawl design as well as the steel and manufacturer has a lot to do with the durability and torque too. There are certainly high tooth count ratchets that are very strong. A pear shaped head can be high tooth count. A round head can be strong.

Snap on, Williams, craftsman premium, Cornwell, wright, matco and perhaps more that I haven't mentioned all have USA made high tooth count ratchets that are well respected.

 

[Stu_Rock]

Yes. It's easier to get a round-head high-tooth-count ratchet to slip a tooth because the teeth are not as deep.

Do it more than a couple times and you round the teeth and it becomes really easy to slip.

A quality round-head ratchet can withstand a lot of torque, but a quality pear-head ratchet can withstand a monster amount of torque.

 

[ajchien]

Here are 2 links based on a few folks that decided to torture their ratchets:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=134260&showall=1

http://www.sonic.net/~alexz/Ratchet%20shootout.pdf

And if you're curious about ratchet innards:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88511

 

[OVERKILL]

Get the Snap-On. I absolutely love mine.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: Stu_Rock
Yes. It's easier to get a round-head high-tooth-count ratchet to slip a tooth because the teeth are not as deep.

A quality round-head ratchet can withstand a lot of torque, but a quality pear-head ratchet can withstand a monster amount of torque.


Originally Posted By: JHZR2

McMaster says this:

Wrenches are premium quality and have a reversible ratchet. Made of alloy steel, except 5372A72 – palm style – which is made of high strength polycarbonate and has a soft rubber coating. High-torque wrenches have a pear-shaped head that tends to provide more torque but requires a 5° to 15° handle swing. Tight-clearance wrenches have a round head that requires a 0° to 8° handle swing (unless noted); they're great for use in confined spaces.


These posts are both over-generalizations and should be taken with a grain of salt or ignored completely.

Neither the round head nor the pear head ratchet design are inherently stronger or weaker than the other. It's all dependent on how the mechanism is designed.

There are round head ratchets where the pawl engages a lot of teeth on the ratchet head and can handle a lot of torque. There are also pear head ratchets where the pawl only engages one or two teeth on the gear and they can't take as much torque.

Also, course tooth ratchets aren't inherently stronger than fine-tooth ratchets. It also all comes down to the design of the ratchet.

 

[Stu_Rock]

I accept your criticism of my post, but this is not completely true:
Originally Posted By: stephen9666
Also, course tooth ratchets aren't inherently stronger than fine-tooth ratchets.


But this is completely true:
Originally Posted By: stephen9666
It also all comes down to the design of the ratchet.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2

I think Im interested in an 80 tooth (72 tooth perhaps) ratchet, but not sure what to go with. Has to be US made.


1. Which drive size?
2. Long handle or short handle?
3. Flex-head or rigid?
4. Comfort handle or plain steel?

 

[Merkava_4]

That's the problem with you JHZR2, you start a thread and you don't get back to people to answer their questions.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
That's the problem with you JHZR2, you start a thread and you don't get back to people to answer their questions.

HUH? Dont know that I actually do that much, but if I do, I am sorry.

As for your questions:

1. Which drive size?
1/4 and 3/8". I have read some compelling arguments regarding using 1/4 drive whenever possible, due to weight, minimal torque application, etc., so 1/4 is not an afterthought for me anymore like it was in the past. For my alternator bushing job that I did on my BMW a week ago, I used 1/4 a lot and it was good.

2. Long handle or short handle?

Both, but generally tight clearance means mittle place to work, so short handles are more important at least to start.

3. Flex-head or rigid?

Either. I like my flex head ratchets, but either will do. Im not a pro that needs every last tool.

4. Comfort handle or plain steel?

Plain. I dont wrench enough to need a comfortable handle, plus Id guess t could get in the way in some cases.

 

[ajchien]

Originally Posted By: stephen9666
Originally Posted By: Stu_Rock
Yes. It's easier to get a round-head high-tooth-count ratchet to slip a tooth because the teeth are not as deep.

A quality round-head ratchet can withstand a lot of torque, but a quality pear-head ratchet can withstand a monster amount of torque.


Originally Posted By: JHZR2

McMaster says this:

Wrenches are premium quality and have a reversible ratchet. Made of alloy steel, except 5372A72 – palm style – which is made of high strength polycarbonate and has a soft rubber coating. High-torque wrenches have a pear-shaped head that tends to provide more torque but requires a 5° to 15° handle swing. Tight-clearance wrenches have a round head that requires a 0° to 8° handle swing (unless noted); they're great for use in confined spaces.


These posts are both over-generalizations and should be taken with a grain of salt or ignored completely.

Neither the round head nor the pear head ratchet design are inherently stronger or weaker than the other. It's all dependent on how the mechanism is designed.

There are round head ratchets where the pawl engages a lot of teeth on the ratchet head and can handle a lot of torque. There are also pear head ratchets where the pawl only engages one or two teeth on the gear and they can't take as much torque.

Also, course tooth ratchets aren't inherently stronger than fine-tooth ratchets. It also all comes down to the design of the ratchet.


I'll agree with Stephen9666. Case example would be craftsman's rhft ratchet vs. their current craftsman RP ratchet.

The rhft has a fine 80 click round head mechanism. On the inside, there's 40 teeth with dual pawls where there are 3 teeth engaging at a time. The RP has a pear shaped coarse 36 clicks. On the inside, there's 36 teeth, and a single pawl that engages a single tooth at a time.

Number of pawls and number of engaging teeth are other factors to take into account other than round fine and pear coarse tooth ratchets.

There are plenty of fine tooth pear head ratchets. Snap on's dual 80, matco 88, cornwell , craftsman premium etc. there are also a few round head coarse tooth ratchets like the classic SK.

To the op, if you have the money I think the most well respected brand would be snap on's t72 and f80. It's pear shaped, fine tooth, dual pawls, and with numerous engaging teeth.


Snap on ad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdtQigDMYB8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[Vikas]

Go to your nearest HF store and go crazy. Some of their ratchets are screaming bargains; don't leave the store without a composite (or two) and a swivel (or two). I have both in 3/8 and I am going to pick up 1/4 on my next haul. Their extensibles are also good but they are little bit heavier than I would like them to be. All of them are 72-teeth ratchets. Each of them are about $10 or under with a coupon. Just make sure you buy Made in Taiwan not MIC.

However, if you are really looking for a true low profile ratchet, I do not think HF has one yet.

 

[stephen9666]

I'll agree that the HF roto-head ratchets are great for the price. I like the roto-head design more than a regular flex head ratchet. I think roto heads are easier to control.

I have the 3/8" roto head.

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-8-eighth-inch-quick-release-swivel-head-ratchet-96782.html

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
Go to your nearest HF store and go crazy. Some of their ratchets are screaming bargains; don't leave the store without a composite (or two) and a swivel (or two). I have both in 3/8 and I am going to pick up 1/4 on my next haul. Their extensibles are also good but they are little bit heavier than I would like them to be. All of them are 72-teeth ratchets. Each of them are about $10 or under with a coupon. Just make sure you buy Made in Taiwan not MIC.

However, if you are really looking for a true low profile ratchet, I do not think HF has one yet.


He said it has to be US-made. He's not a supporter of China Freight, and I can identify with that.

Snap-On, Williams, MAC, Armstrong....etc. There are plenty of American-made choices.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL


He said it has to be US-made. He's not a supporter of China Freight, and I can identify with that.

Snap-On, Williams, MAC, Armstrong....etc. There are plenty of American-made choices.


The HF roto ratchet that I linked to is actually made in Taiwan, not China. Also, I think most of the HF ratchets are made in Taiwan, except the cheapest sets of sockets and ratchets.

To the OP-
A couple good choices for fine tooth ratchets would be Armstrong Maxx and Wright.

I have both. The Armstrong have recently been updated to 88 tooth, same as the MATCO ratchets. But, there is still older 60 tooth stock floating around. Here are a couple pics of mine:

The Wright ratchets are also very, very nice. I think the Wright dual-pawl is actually my favorite ratchet design. My favorite is the 3490, which is an 82 tooth, fully polished 3/8" drive ratchet. It's also shown in the pic above directly to the right of the Armstrong.

You can get NOS closeout ratchets from Harry Epstein for $25 + shipping.
http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/MiscInventory/3490-C.html

Also, an ebay seller has them for $34 shipped.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wright-Tool-3490...=item589277afd3

 

[JHZR2]

Thanks!

Why is it NOS? Out of business? Business shipped to China?

When buying stuff, I like to buy new US made stock to be sure that someone is staying employed. Nothing wrong with their wares, and so long as that is the case, great... Just curious why it is NOS.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Thanks!

Why is it NOS? Out of business? Business shipped to China?

When buying stuff, I like to buy new US made stock to be sure that someone is staying employed. Nothing wrong with their wares, and so long as that is the case, great... Just curious why it is NOS.


NOS = New Old Stock. The Harry Epstein ratchets are new, but they've been in storage for years and the company probably sold them cheap because they're old. The one I got is dated 1996. Harry Epstein specializes in buying closeout tools and selling them. They also sell many new tool and are an authorized Wright dealer.

Wright is one of the few tool companies dedicated to USA made tools, so pretty much all of their tools are still USA made. They still make the 3490 ratchet. The ebay link should be a recently-produced ratchet. Also, there are many more Wright dealers on ebay and the internet.

http://www.wrighttool.com/

 

[stephen9666]

Here's a (somewhat cheesy) video about Wright Tools.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_H5qVR52YU&feature=related

 

[Merkava_4]

The Cornwell JR72 would meet the requirements of being U.S. made and having 72-80 teeth. The contoured chrome handle is the most comfortable in the industry. The only obstacle is the somewhat high price and the fact that you have to chase a truck down to get it - since they don't have online sales.