I like the Harbor Freight cheap composite ratchets if I don't need anything to swivel which is almost never.
Your Current Favorite 3/8th drive Ratchet ?
- Thread starter ChrisD46
- Start date
I bought a couple of SK ratchets and they were awful - they got stuck in use. The ratcheting mechanism would jam and lock up.
In desperation, I cleaned and lubed them. Then I chucked an extension into a drill and ran it in each direction for about 10 minutes. Smoothed them out considerably.
For any ratchet, I recommend “breaking in” by spinning them for a while in a drill.
https://sktools.com/products/3-8-drive-lp90-teardrop-fixed-head-ratchet-8-in
Last edited:
SK ownership changed hands a while back. I'm not a historian of what exactly happened, but as I understand, they had a US factory making many of their tools, including the LP90 ratchets. Said ratchets were quite problematic for reasons you mention. Many were replaced, others got new internal guts under warranty. If working correctly, these are nice tools. Project Farm rated them excellent. I bought a couple of them, private labeled under the Olsa Tools brand, hoping they continue to work correctly. I'm not sure what happened to the US factory; most SK stuff is now made in Asia. I get the suggestion that they are still around, maybe working under contract to different companies. Hope so, anyway.
I bought the 1/2" flex head from SK, made in USA. While it is not total crap it isn't the quality I expected, it sits in the box unused since it was returned from being replaced 2 times under warranty without ever being used. I just cant bring myself to toss it in the trash.
SK now sucks. There's absolutely no excuse for it -- as a species we perfected the ratcheting mechanism 40+ years ago.
To now make a product as bad as the LP90s is like making a square wheel and saying "Dem round ones is tricky to git rite."
To make it worse, the whole buzz was supposed to be MADE IN THE USA. Whoops, that was embarrassing.....let's just pretend it never happened......
When you needed a rebuild kit -- which, incidentally, was the definition of insanity: replacing parts with the same parts and expecting a different result ‐‐ it took months to get them. After rebuild kits I literally tossed mine in the scrap heap.
The LP90 engineers went on to work at GM where they are presently basking in the glory of their 6.2 creation. Back in an environment of frequent failures and parts on intergalactic backorder, they feel right at home.
To now make a product as bad as the LP90s is like making a square wheel and saying "Dem round ones is tricky to git rite."
To make it worse, the whole buzz was supposed to be MADE IN THE USA. Whoops, that was embarrassing.....let's just pretend it never happened......
When you needed a rebuild kit -- which, incidentally, was the definition of insanity: replacing parts with the same parts and expecting a different result ‐‐ it took months to get them. After rebuild kits I literally tossed mine in the scrap heap.
The LP90 engineers went on to work at GM where they are presently basking in the glory of their 6.2 creation. Back in an environment of frequent failures and parts on intergalactic backorder, they feel right at home.
I should add that SK sent me the rebuild kit while the ratchet was still new.
It didn’t improve anything. It still locked up tight and became an expensive flex handle.
The motivation for spinning it by drill was desperation. If that didn’t work, I was going to throw it in the trash.
It didn’t improve anything. It still locked up tight and became an expensive flex handle.
The motivation for spinning it by drill was desperation. If that didn’t work, I was going to throw it in the trash.
The problem with mine was/is the flex joint, the ratchet end seems as far as I can tell without actually using it okay. The flex joint is loose but binds up very tight in a few places, loosening the joint screw just makes it floppy.
The chrome is poor like it didn't get enough plating, not what you would expect from a company that once rightly boasted the best tool chrome in the business "SuperKrome".
It seems like after all the skilled people got their last checks, they let the apprentices make the last batches.
If I really cared enough I could probably take it apart and fine finish the joint but to me it is not worth it.
have a old TRUECRAFT ratchet made in Japan is still a go to, whish they still made this brand of tools,lots of miles on them,wrenchs ets,,,,,also Crecent is a good ratchet,I have many others like old SK,Craftsman,Stanley,Wright,,.I use my tools and are not play things
I have several ratchets but my favorite is actually my “small form” Tekton. It’s a 1/4 drive flex head in size but has a 3/8 anvil. It’s one of the most versatile and useful ratchets I’ve ever used.
Ko-ken 1/4”, 3/8”, 1/2” drive, various lengths; Nepros 3/8” drive
Super low back drag, wonderful feel.
Tekton for all other ratchets. The best value and warranty I’ve seen yet.
Super low back drag, wonderful feel.
Tekton for all other ratchets. The best value and warranty I’ve seen yet.
Last edited:
How long ago was your experience? I paid more than I care to admit buying the Elsa Tools versions of those LP90's, and while they are working fine, if it's just a matter of time, I'll complain and try to get my hands on a rebuild kit preemptively.
I don’t remember exactly when it happened, around 2021 or 2022, I think. I think this was about the time that the company changed hands, so, while I don’t remember exactly, I do remember that I was disappointed.
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
I've found no reason to replace the Craftsman 3/8 ratchet in the Craftsman mechanic's tool set my grandfather bought 16 YO me in 1973. I think it was apart once for a clean and lube.
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2024
- Messages
- 239
$45 Koken Zeal from Amazon
I think they aren't an official reseller. You might get hosed on the warranty if you try. (Not positive, but from what I've read. Trying to piece this together myself as I make a decision.)
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2024
- Messages
- 239
$95 from the Koken USA site. Happy to chance it to save half.
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2005
- Messages
- 10,257
I'm always looking for a reason to use this tiny one from Tekton. I've used it way more than I ever thought I would.
Last edited:
Deleted... Cost too much. What's a poor boy to do?
Not a bad strategy. I didn’t realize the price would be so different.
Similar threads
