Gearless ratchets

plowhand · Apr 5, 2022

Does anyone own one?

Russ from MN · Apr 5, 2022

Not me, never heard of them. You might get more response in Tool Talk.

paul · Apr 5, 2022

Never heard of such, Im assuming some sort of tool?

Paul

fixerupper · Apr 5, 2022

Yes I have. Never used or owned one. They have been around for quite awhile bit must not all that good since it never became popular.

funky_g00 · Apr 6, 2022

I do not own one but have used them. I do like them. Eventually I will probably add them to my collection when I find some second handers. I have heard and witnessed myself where they are strictly an intended use tool. They will strip out easy when excessive force or a cheater pipe is used.

Kansas4010 · Apr 6, 2022

I bought a 1/4 inch Mac gearless ratchet years ago off the truck. I never was to impressed with it. I thought it would be great for tight areas. Instead the head of the ratchet is bigger than a geared style so it doesn't fit into tight areas. I think it's still in the bottom of the toolbox. Probably only used it a couple times. I really don't think it was smoother than a quality geared ratchet. Like I said that was several years ago so they've had time to improve them. I haven't been on a tool truck in years either so I haven't seen any newer versions.

Sprint 6 · Apr 6, 2022

Seems like every tool manufacturer tries gearless ratchets, then gives up on them. About 20 years ago, MAC made a big deal about having a gearless ratchet, then about 2 years later they were replacing them with a standard ratchet when they broke. Rep told me they found they weren't rebuildable like a geared ratchet because the way the pressure system worked to hold, stretched the head cavity, so rebuilds wouldn't last.

Hobo,NC · Apr 6, 2022

They have their place they are not durable when used as a breaker. Once you have the fastener broke free they work fine. Its the same with a gearwrench they complement a regular wrench break the fastener with a conventional tool then use the speed and usability of the gearwrench.

I have most gearwrench's they offer I broke one right off the bat using it as a conventional wrench to break a fastener. I learned they are to valuable as a time saver to torcher unless it was the only option.

I have one set of gear ratchets I use most every day its hung on my oil drain tank the hardest work they do is break a oil plug lose. Its fast, convenient, versatile and the set takes up little space. I used a mini gear ratchet yesterday doing some dash work it may set in my box for a year before it sees active duty again. It don't mater it worked save valuable time and ubder the circumstance was the best option.

This post was edited by Hobo,NC on 04/06/2022 at 05:02 am.

BarnyardEngineering · Apr 6, 2022

Rebuild? Sears caught hell when they started offering rebuilt ratchets instead of brand new ones when you brought in your clearly broken by abuse, ratchet.

I suppose Fapoff gets a pass because they're Fapoff.

big jt · Apr 6, 2022

I've got one. Believe it was called a Radian or some such. You push the drive hub through the wrench to reverse. Need to be careful not to get it backed into trouble.

It's a nice tool but pretty much lives in the toolbox, other stuff gets picked first.

jt

Gearless ratchets

plowhand

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Russ from MN

Well-known Member

paul

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fixerupper

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funky_g00

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Kansas4010

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Sprint 6

Well-known Member

Hobo,NC

Well-known Member

BarnyardEngineering

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big jt

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