Ratchet Spanners (Wrenches)

[porsche930dude]

I have fixed head non reversable gearwrench in standard size. I use them everyday they are awesome. I want a metric set but i dont use them all that much so havnt gone for them yet. I absolutely hate the flex head ones. They are useless imo. I have one 10mm gearwrench i found somewhere and i hate it flopping all over the place. I did break the open end of the 9/16 taking off a bicycle pedal of all things but i did have a pipe on it. The new one was thicker so i guess im not the only one whos broke them. Also my 1/2" the ratcheting end was skipping I tried soaking it incase it was dirty inside but it didnt help. Both exchanged at advance auto

[gtc]

Originally Posted by masraum

But that eventually leaves the irritating gooey residue. I wonder if heatshrink would be better or if it would be too stiff.

Good idea... there are plenty of different thicknesses of heat shrink you could try.

I find i use the standard gearwrenches most often, followed by the flex heads, and finally the stubbies.

I'm really curious about the Wera Joker wrenches... they look pretty cool.
https://www-de.wera.de/en/great-tools/joker/

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by masraum

But that eventually leaves the irritating gooey residue. I wonder if heatshrink would be better or if it would be too stiff.

When you take off the tape? That's why I have two sets if so, one with, one without. If you only have one set, acetone.

[A930Rocket]

You never know what you’ll need sometimes, so having a variety is best.

I’ve been using e tape on universals forever.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by cabmando

My standard set won't allow the head of the bolt or the nut to pass through. My metric set the nut or head of the bolt can pass through. I like the standard set a bit better because I don't have to worry about pushing the box end past the nut when I'm tightening something.

This is actually my go-to lately, keep a set in my truck. Thru sockets, $20 at HF, hole all the way through the sockets for long bolts/studs.

[pmax]

Originally Posted by RWebb

If you can afford a Pooschey you can afford nice tools, even if you don't need them

Post count here we go....

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by dad911

This is actually my go-to lately, keep a set in my truck. Thru sockets, $20 at HF, hole all the way through the sockets for long bolts/studs.

Schwing!

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by gtc

Good idea... there are plenty of different thicknesses of heat shrink you could try.

I find i use the standard gearwrenches most often, followed by the flex heads, and finally the stubbies.

I'm really curious about the Wera Joker wrenches... they look pretty cool.
https://www-de.wera.de/en/great-tools/joker/

I have some Wera (and Wiha) tools at work (I wouldn't pay for them myself...)
They're...interesting. They look weak, but they're not. They have annoyances like little buttons that lock the little ball detent that keep sockets on...it's nice having a positive lock, but it's annoying having to deal with a lock every time you swap anything. However, they have all sorts of really kick butt design features, that always seem to be useful when I need them to be. Certain extra padding on a handle where you need it, or these sleeves on the ratchet extensions that let you hold it steady then spin the extension between your fingers for speed, all sorts of things. I wouldn't buy them, but I won't turn away if one is offered to me...

[Shaun @ Tru6]

[flipper35]

I have a craftsman set that has a lock for the swivel and it can lock in many different positions if need be. They do have to come off and flip to reverse which can suck when you don't look ahead and run out of room pulling the bolt out of the water pump and it gets up against the radiator fan housing. That one should come out last!

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by Zeke

it sometimes folds over and loses grip when you want it to stay rigid

I dread reaching that age

[vash]

LOVE THEM!!! love love love them.

you would use a ratchet anytime you could if you had the space. ratcheting box wrenches are the same.

[porsche930dude]

Anyone have one of these rotator ratchets they seem really handy i could think of more than a few times i could have used one. Lots of brands make them. They are kinda expensive. I just discovered them iv been looking for one with a female drive in the handle to put more torque on it that way and use it as a right angle drive but i guess they cant handle much torque like that
https://youtu.be/fzcYJOSG-7o

[maxnine11]

I have the 80 tooth Snap On ratcheting combination wrenches(fixed head) that I find very useful in some situations.
Snap On doesn't make a flex head ratcheting combination wrench (as far as I know) but their Blue Point line has them. I bought a couple sizes to try out. I like them enough that I'm going to get buy more to fill out the set.

The flex head flopping around isn't a problem with these, as the fastener that acts as the pivot pin can be tightened a bit to maintain some friction. (Torx head)

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by masraum

I have 2 sets (SAE & Metric) like this, and they are fantastic. They don't replace a ratchet and socket set, but they are a fantastic tool to have under certain circumstances.

+1 and the swivel head make ALL the difference in the world when it comes to usability.

[RWebb]

I am gonna reserve my lust for the double box end flex ratchet wrenches from SnapOff

17/19mm please

[john70t]

Size matters.

I bought an early set of non-swivel HF rachets, which are about 1/2" too large in OD.
Good for farm or industrial equipment until they break (which would probably be first use..)

But completely useless for any other.

[A930Rocket]

About 40 years ago I bought a set of Craftsman ratcheting box end wrenches. They were bulky but seemed like a good idea

After 25 years of ownership and not finding one time where they worked, I threw them out. My best friend and I always laughed about them.

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by porsche930dude

Anyone have one of these rotator ratchets they seem really handy i could think of more than a few times i could have used one.

My FIL bought me one (Kobalt) for a gift a while back. "Can't handle much torque" is an understatement. Mine blew out the first time I used it.

[slow&rusty]

An old school Polish mechanic I befriended told me you only need two (2) tools to work on an air cooled 911: