mgt16
Part of things
Posts: 14
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As title my halfords one has given up the ghost and while I've been very happy with it I'm keen to know what else is about cant really afford snap on etc but don't mind spending a bit to get the right tool. So what do people recommend?
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I like Facom tools but other people will have their own favorites. A decent ratchet itself can cost more than a complete socket set from the lower end of the market so it depends on how much you consider an acceptable amount to pay. No point in asking people for recommendations if they recommend something like Snap-On, Facom, Bedford, etc that is outside your budget. Personally I've got quite a few of different makes and a basic Machine Mart does the job most of the time despite not being the lightest, smoothest, etc as simply it's normally the one nearest to my hand. Why not visit Halfords and Machine Mart to have a look at what they offer, try them out for feel, weight and such ? As I say maybe not the best but at least you can see them "in the flesh" rather than going on somebody elses recommendation and buying blind mail order only to find not to your taste. Whilst a debatable point whether to leave them dry or grease I always dismantle a new ratchet and grease the internals. I've still got a Kamasa ratchet I bought 30+ years ago that is in GWO so the grease can't have done it too much harm. BTW most of the time I use 3/8" in preference to 1/2". Have fun choosing  Paul H |
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Snap on stuff it epic really.My 1/4 and 3/8 drive ones are anyway.
Halfords stuff isn't that bad, I have a Halfords kit myself.
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,960
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Why not just buy a ratchet repair kit from halfords for about 5 quid?
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Once you buy Snap On you will never have to buy another ratchet Tom |
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hamps
Posted a lot
www.medwayrscentre.co.uk
Posts: 2,077
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Once you buy Snap On you will never have to buy another ratchet Tom very true |
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dazcapri
North East
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Posts: 1,061
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I've got a bahco 3/8 drive ratchet that's basically a Snap on copy,they're owned by Snap on now,not sure if the 1/2 drives are the same.I agree with composimmonite the machine mart ratchets are pretty good. I've also got Sealey Premier ratchets which are on par with machine mart they're £45 for the set of 3 1/4 3/8 and 1/2(AK6648)on Amazon
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Mk3 Capri LS
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Why not just buy a ratchet repair kit from halfords for about 5 quid? If you were happy with what you had until it failed, then this, surely? Certainly my Halfords Pro ratchets have lasted me best part of a decade now and have taken plenty of abuse in that time, and if and when they finally cry enough, I'll just buy a repair kit and hopefully give them a few more years life. |
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1990 Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 // 1991 Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 16v // 1992 Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 // 1999 Peugeot 306 Meridian HDi Estate
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not sure about the repair kits TBH.....
My Halfords 1/2 pro set is well over a decade old and after a lot of hard use over the years it eventually started slipping so I got the repair kit....easy to fit, only cost a few quid....Job Done.
Then it started slipping after about 6 months.
Got another repair kit and it lasted almost a year but is now starting to slip again.
In conclusion....
original Halfords Pro stuff - epic value.
Halford ratchet repair kits - gash.
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1986 Panda 4x4.
1990 Metro Sport.
1999 Ford Escort estate.
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fred
Posted a lot
WTF has happened to all the Vennies?
Posts: 2,957
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Bite the bullet and get snap on
have it for life
with snap on guarantee
worth the price
Ive got a account with them
pay weekly/monthly
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'79 Cossie ran Cortina - Sold
2000 Fozzer 2.0 turbo snow beast
'85 Opel Manta GSI - Sold
03 A class Mercedes
Looking for a FD Ventora - Anyone?
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sparkyt
Posted a lot
selling stuff
Posts: 1,767
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I've got a bahco set I've used for years I've put 5 ft bars on it and beaten it with a hammer . It's never let me down
I'm so happy with it Ive been and got a 1/4 set too . .
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iv never had any probs with my draper ratchet set...used a lot and never shown signs of wear
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grumpy
Part of things
Posts: 557
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Ive had 3/8 seigen brand one for 12+ years ,used most days. I originally bought it as it was completely identical to the Snap on set my mate bought but about 2/3rds cheaper .
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mgt16
Part of things
Posts: 14
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I tried getting the repair kit but it wouldn't fit my ratchet as it was for the professional and I have the advanced.
Lasted me a good 10 years I was tempted to get another but then you never know what else is out there.
I've settled for a tengtools ratchet in the end so wishe me luck!
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I used to use 1/2" ratchets, but my mate is a mechanic and he never does. Eventually he converted me over to the concept of using 3/8" drive for pretty much everything, a lot of mechanics these days do it. I do have an almost brand-new 1/2" ratchet but I never use it. Whenever I need to undo anything really tight, I go straight to a long 1/2" breaker bar, and then once it's cracked off I use my SP Tools 3/8" ratchet. Basically everything I ever need to do up is done with the 3/8" ratchet as well, except for wheel nuts and big suspension bolts that need to be tight, which are once again done with the big breaker bar.
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bl1300
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,678
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Jun 12, 2013 20:29:20 GMT
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I tend to a use a 3/8th drive ratchet normally as its easier to wield in the cramped spaces you need to work in under a cars bonnet. 1/4 inch is not man enough for anything but fiddly stuff although for that its good, 1/2 inch is too clumsy a lot of the time although it does have its uses, mostly my 1/2 inch sockets find themselves used with a breaker bar rather than a ratchet.
Halfords advanced tools are very good I never yet managed to break one and mine get a fairly hard life, I also use Draper expert stuff and would recommend their ratchets as reasonably good. The best ratchet I have though looks about 70 years old and came from a random stall at an autojumble, sometimes the old tools you find at car boot sales and the like can be very hard to beat.
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Current fleet.
1967 DAF 44
1974 VW Beetle 1303s
1975 Triumph Spitfire MkIV
1988 VW LT45 Beavertail
1998 Volvo V70 2.5
1959 Fordson Dexta
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dallow
Part of things
Posts: 253
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Jun 18, 2013 17:48:22 GMT
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Bluepoint seems quite good, its snap on's european brand and its a tad cheaper
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dazcapri
North East
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Posts: 1,061
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Jun 18, 2013 20:02:25 GMT
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There's a thread on garage journal about top brand tools that are available cheaper when the equivalent tool is made under a different name,the Snap On f80 ratchets are sold by Bahco as model no 6950(1/4dr),7750(3/8dr)and 8150(1/2dr) might be a cheaper way to buy a quality ratchet.
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Mk3 Capri LS
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