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[Webby the Bear]

Hi guys

As above really want the above, especially for caliber bracket bolts that you can't get a gun in to.

Currently borrowing one of the lads snap on one. Got to be near a metre long. But his came in a set for about a trillion pounds.

Any good quality reasonably priced ones?

[Gaffers]

Breaker bar?  Much less wonga than a long ratchet

[Webby the Bear]

Yeah got a breaker bar guff. But these things are so useful and speedy.

[Webby the Bear]

Nice sealey one on the net.

[4x4]

What about a ratchet adaptor to fit on breaker bar 

[biggriffin]

Breaker bar?  Much less wonga than a long ratchet

As above,with a short extension, crack the bolt then use a standard ratchet to undo. Job jobbed 

[henryd]

Only snag is Webby,a ratchet with a long handle has a weak link,yep the ratchet will break if leant on with a big hairy arm,make sure that replacement repair kits are available so it can be repaired as and when

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

Breaker bar?  Much less wonga than a long ratchet

As above,with a short extension, crack the bolt then use a standard ratchet to undo. Job jobbed 

This, absolutely. Just been using this exact technique on the Merc. Twenty quid ish for a Halfords breaker bar and its a thing of beauty.

[Nick W]

A long handled ratchet and a similar length breaker bar are NOT interchangeable! Compared to a short ratchet, the long ratchet drastically reduces the effort required to undo large, long bolts

You use the breaker for loosening large tight nuts, but the ratchet is almost as good as a cordless impact wrench if you have room to swing it. They are great for wheel nuts, suspension bolts and winding bearings in and out. They are much cheaper and far better value for DIY work. I've a 600mm 1\2" Snap-on one that is due a rebuild as it's starting to slip as I use it all the time. It has the 72 tooth ratchet, so doesn't take much to swing it. Somewhere I have a SO ratchet adapter that's much coarser, and have barely used it.

Sealey do one for about £50, that anyone who has doubts about their usefulness should try.

A long handled ratchet doesn't require impact sockets either.

A long handled 3\8 ratchet is pretty handy too; turning the V6 crank with one when doing cambelts is so much better on the hands. The 1/4 one that was part of the SO set isn't something that I'd buy again, but I only paid £100 for the three tools

[Rods2]

Like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-AK6698-Ratchet-Wrench-Flexi-Head-Extra-Long-600mm-1-2-Sq-Drive/390534813955?_trksid=p2054897.c100204.m3164&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140407115239%26meid%3Daf234f0d0cb043379958382f16ba4e3b%26pid%3D100204%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D30%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D230532090583

[Nick W]

Like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-AK6698-Ratchet-Wrench-Flexi-Head-Extra-Long-600mm-1-2-Sq-Drive/390534813955?_trksid=p2054897.c100204.m3164&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140407115239%26meid%3Daf234f0d0cb043379958382f16ba4e3b%26pid%3D100204%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D30%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D230532090583

Just like that. Try pulling the light press fit of a rear wheel bearing with a standard size ratchet, then use one of these. No effort, but lots of control. No comparison, and that's a good price.

I would buy this sort of tool before an impact because it is so much more useful.

[aaronjb]

At that price I'm highly tempted to pick one up

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Bought a Sealey long ratchet, £20 new. (this was the 300ish mm, admittedly) played with it a bit. Nasty 'tang-tang-tang' noise from the mechanism. Bought a Halfords long ratchet - £25, has a flexi head, the mechanism feels so much nicer, better finish all round, comes with a lifetime guarantee, too.

Appreciate this isn't helping you on a 600mm kind of length you're looking at, however, I have to say, once the breaker bar has done it's work, just 'cracking' the bolt/nut, I've always defaulted back to a 'normal' length ratchet with no real issue. This Halfords with the flexi head having that extra couple of inch over standard is the best ratchet I have used, and is spot on. Frankly any longer and it'd be annoying/awkward to use (imagine inside a wheel arch for instance)

Of course Mr The Bear you have to use what you want to use, but personally between my ratchets...
-standard 3/8 drive,
-the 1/2 drive (that bit longer, but twice the weight, AND annoying when you're on your back and it slips, and falls on your face!)
-my 3/8 drive long flexi-head
I've no feel of any need for an even longer ratchet.
Got the longest Breaker bar Halfords had - just over £20 as I recall, and love it. As I say, a couple of cranks on that and I'm straight on anything with the flexihead ratchet without ever feeling 'I wish I had a longer ratchet for this bit'

Can second what Nick W says, too. Used my flexi-head on turning the crank, on my back, and that extra leverage helped no end with that.

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

I still have the scar from when I slipped with my 1/2" ratchet and smacked myself in the eyebrow.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

I still have the scar from when I slipped with my 1/2" ratchet and smacked myself in the eyebrow.

Had a wobbly tooth for a few days, thought it was going to fall out. 


Cars is fun!