Duralast 90 Tooth Encapsulated Ratchets: From Feel Good to Buzz Kill

#Duralast #Ratchet #AutoZone #BlueTools
In this video we showcase Duralast's 90 Tooth Encapsulated Ratchets. These were a serendipitous find at Auto Zone that caught my eye and won me over. If the aesthetic combination is up your alley, you will be happy to learn of a few other benefits these ratchets offer. However, I quickly went from thrilled with the purchase and initial inspection, to discovering a significant flaw that dampened the mood in the second half of the video.
!*!This is basically a two-segment video. The first 30 minutes highlight the find and what I like about the ratchets. The final 20 minutes showcase a pretty significant issue we discovered during initial testing.!*!
Time Stamps and Links
@0:00 Thanks
@0:50 Intro
@1:25 The Zone
-Fortunate discovery via an end cap at Auto Zone
@2:05 TBD Haul
@2:27 The Reveal
-Yep, I'm really excited about these
Duralast 51-006 1/4" Drive 90 Tooth Encapsulated Ratchet, $21.99
www.autozone.com/ratchets-soc...
Duralast 51-107 3/8" Drive 90 Tooth Encapsulated Ratchet, $26.99
www.autozone.com/ratchets-soc...
@4:00 Teenage Flashback
-Auto Zone was once a source for "immediate need" tools
@7:00 The Aesthetic Appeal
-These caught my eye and I was instantly drawn to them
@8:05 The Hybrid Shield
-Think of this like a composite ratchet...you've probably got one from Harbor Freight, Tekton, or a fly by night brand on the jungle site
@9:14 Composite Benefits
-Cool in the Summer, Warmer in the Winter
-Less likely to scratch paint, or other delicate finishes
@12:12 The Hidden Benefit
-These are incredibly SLIM
--I have no idea why this isn't an advertised feature
@13:00 1/4" Mechanism
@13:59 Cheap Ratchet, Expensive Side Cutters
@14:15 1/4" Ratchet in Hand
@14:58 3/8" Rathcet in Hand
@15:08 Ratchet Throwdown
@16:24 Craftsman USA vs Duralast
-The 3/8" is incredibly thin
@17:24 Stahlwille vs Duralast
@17:35 Hazet
@17:40 Koken
@17:49 SK
@18:04 3/8" Mechanism in Action
-Time will tell on the quality
@18:56 1/4" Duralast VS
-Stahlwille @19:00
-Koken @19:19
-Astro @19:28
@19:35 1/4" vs 3/8" Duralast
-The 1/4" is nothing crazy, but the 3/8" is super slim
@20:35 Nepros Blue Ion Plated Ratchet
-This falls into a Tier 1 Aesthetic Gem for me personally
@22:07 Matco Black and Blue
-This also falls into a high aesthetic preference
-It also has a very slim head
--The locking mechanism is still too stiff
---I will sometimes get it where it goes smooth, but then the next time I grab it, it will be locked up again and require pliers
@26:23 Duralast vs Matco
-Two unique color schemes, both up my alley
-Thin Heads @27:00
@27:30 Duralast Recap
-Love the looks, feel, slim head, and hybrid shield benefit
@29:55 Recap
-I can't stress enough...the enthusiasm is genuine
@31:45 Anyone Else
-Genuinely like the aesthetics and selling points with this ratchet?
@33:00 Your Thoughts
@34:27 Conclusion
@35:27 1/4" Socket Test Fit
-This turned out to be a very important add-on
@38:37 3/8" Socket Test Fit
@41:00 Wera Socket
-This one allows you to easily see the ball detent and it's center vs non-center position via the anvil
@42:40 Koken Correctness
@43:00 QC Pre-Cursor?
@43:30 Potential Issue Found
-After the testing and a quick look over, it seems to me that the anvil is machined poorly. Instead of having square edges, they have an active ridge that seems to be fighting against proper socket engagement
@44:57 Center Punch Highlight
-This is about as clear as I can make the perceived issue
@46:09 Feel Good to Buzz Kill
-Matco Issue @48:30
@49:50 Still a Buy?
-Aesthetics, Hybrid Shield, Thin Head on the 3/8" Drive...it is worth a shot
--I would suggest checking them in store to see if the anvil is squared off
@51:50 Looks vs Action
@52:00 Special Edition German Ratchets?
-I'd love to see it...how about you?
@53:12 Thanks for Watching
*Alpha Gloves*
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Music:
"Gearhead" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/...

[@MILEStoner86]

I missed out on the blue 1/4 duralast ratchet. Even took em off the website Fantastic pick up

[@JamesMKE]

I just picked up the 3/8 on a monthly sale for $22 and the 1/4 was on clearance for $10 so both for $32 for 90 tooth light weight ratchets is a deal. Can't complain at all as a DIY guy.

[@braho4998]

Might be fun to open them up and take a look at the guts. They seem like a good option for battery terminals considering I’ve touched both terminals on more than one occasion!

[@lonestarmopars]

I might do that...Batteries are a great option. If you ever see the spark marks on my OG Craftsman, one is from a battery, lol.

[@Bmw_Z3R]

as a CDJR dealership technician i solely use these to disconnect batteries, 600v, 400v, 12v. auxillary. They are my go to battery ratchet.

[@MrWesleyDP]

Dude, I think my thoughts pretty much mirrored yours on these. When I saw them all I could think was BLUE!! And as a Kentuckian (though now in Indiana, I will never be a Hoosier) Blue speaks to me on a deep level. So, I bought them. I love that they have a lifetime warranty, they feel good in my hand, and they are Blue...which, is honestly the most important thing about them. I picked up some Makita Metric and SAE impact sockets (3/8 and 1/4) on the recommendation of some Carpentry types that said they covered most of their job site needs and seemed pretty durable given their inconsistent usage. I figure these Blue (and therefore awesome) ratchets would be a good addition to that load-out. I still carry my Nut Grips of course, but they get their own box and only get used when needed. Admittedly, I have only piddled with these ratchets so I am intrigued to see your take. Added Later: Checked the fitment with the Makita impacts, normal Millwaukee stuff, and some Koken Nut Grips. For both 3/8 and 1/4 I saw the same issue with Makita and Millwaukee. Oddly, the 3/8 Nut Grips had the best fitment overall moving just a bit.

[@lonestarmopars]

Haha, nice! If I could get any company to produce ratchets with my ideal aesthetics, it wouldn't be super far off from these. They just look killer. A couple of changes, yes, but for an off the shelf ratchet, the eye candy was too much. I also think the 3/8" slim head is a big selling point...sadly the 1/4" is more run of the mill, but still slimmer than many. Yeah, I need to check more sockets. I think the ratchet's anvil and slim case contribute to the issue, but certain brands can mesh better than others. It is still functional, but I worry about higher torque loads with the socket pulling away like that. I may have to look into Makita's impact sockets. Hopefully the ratchets hold up for both of us...for Mopar blue and Kentucky Wildcat blue, they are still winners, haha.

[@scrambler350]

Bets on how many months away we are from MILWAUKEE releasing a set of these in RED and BLACK for twice the price...????

[@lonestarmopars]

I could definitely see that happening. $25 is about the max I'd want to go on something like this.

[@john4kc]

I'm here because I saw these blue ones on the web somehow and searched... Looks like the anvil is taller on these and the ball is closer to the tip. The ball location has to be the issue.

[@NobleWizard]

Have you looked at the industrial finish on the snap on ratchets?

[@thebigmuffin724]

I love my snap on ratchets but they are thiccc. I’ll have to find one if those. Maybe oem tools makes one for the green gang

[@lonestarmopars]

Yeah, these would be a great compliment for tight vertical confines. They are wider that most ratchet heads, but if thin is what you are after, they've got it covered. OEM's Green would be pretty sweet too.

[@dreamcat4]

for the stiff matco ratchet, and for any stiff tools, then the solution to loosen up must be to do thus: 1) take isopropyl alcohol, or other degreaser, and flush out all the grease. then 2) take valve grinding compound. and work it well into the joint or area that is too stiff. 3) keep repeating the movement of the tool mechanism to work the valve grinding compoind into wearing the surfaces. so you are effectively grinding the surfaces with an abrasive paste. now, you might have other types and grits of abrasive paste, or you might take an emory paper, and burn up the backing, and then mix the ashes into some clean grease. in order to make your own homebrew grinding compound of a specific coarseness or grit. anyhow, hopefully the grinding has been sufficient and successfull operation. then step 4) you need to thoroughly flush out and rinse out with either the isopropyl alcohol (ipa) or acetone, or your other preferred and suitable de-greaser. so all the grinding compound is completely flushed out of your tool. then 5) new grease again. whatever grease you typically like to use. mine is a brown lithium based grease, for example like mobilix ep1. but of course you might instead use something else. for example machinists like to use wey oil. or whatever other appropriate lubricant for the tool. i hope this tip is useful more generally, since other hand tools also can arrive to tight movement action. right from the factory.

[@lonestarmopars]

I've honestly wondered if they applied the black chrome too think and didn't have that in the design tolerances when they originally had the chrome only option, but regardless, it is just reckless oversight. This should have been caught in prototyping and corrected pre-production. I've done everything short of what you describe and nothing has worked more than a few swaps before it is back to nightmare mode. I can probably get some grinding compound from a buddy...that is a lot of work to make a brand new ratchet that expensive simply function properly.

[@georgebonney90]

Duralast ratchets were good,once. Catus maximus has a good catalog of probably most of them

[@michaelmckinney1519]

Sir, is the socket just not pulling out a little bit lining up the socket detent/hole with the detent ball on the ratchet. I assume the ratchets are made with enough clearance to work with all brands of sockets.

[@lonestarmopars]

Not sure...I think the anvil design is the issue as it forces the socket up. If I were to take it apart and mill that square, I think it would correct the issue. I would have to disassemble and mic everything for measurements, but when you place the sockets and they pop up, the ball detent isn't centered and generates more play across the board. The setup is fully functional, but I would worry about high torque loads with the play. Definitely a strange setup vs the norm of what I have seen.

[@jamesridley1437]

Matches your mopar mat that what attracted you to it 😂

[@lonestarmopars]

You can never go wrong with black and blue! It is a pretty good match to Mopar blue though...Matco is a lighter blue.

[@kittytrail]

@@lonestarmopars and how does the black oxide Cornwells with the blue comfort grips compare? 🤔

[@drscopeify]

The interior mechanism looks identical to Taiwanese Apex stuff so my guess is that they make the composite body in China and the internals are shipped from Taiwan but it is just my guess. I bought the 1/4" as it was on sale for $10 and I do really like it for messing with battery terminals, I have had sparks fly one too many times and leave a burn mark on a ratchet so this is great for that. The worst are German cars with the battery under the passenger seat, you have to be a contortionist to work in there

[@lonestarmopars]

Very possible. That was a great pickup for $10! People kind of underestimate the composite ratchets for stuff like batteries. I'm in the same boat...was tightening down a valve cover bolt on a 440 and the head of my Craftsman hit the J-box....it sparked and started burning a wire to the battery. The ratchet still wears the battle scar and as a 14 year old at the time, it left quite the impression. Needless to say, I always disconnect the battery, lol.

[@louiewiessv5756]

I have the 3/8s used it the past 6months daily, no problems other than when trying different ones on shelf some where smooth others really chunky lack of lube . Can’t pull screws out cause there striped but it works great , model number is scratched off but duralast logo it still there. I’m a scooter mechanic.

[@michaeldeel7998]

i have a lot of the older duralast 36 tooth ratchets and love them.... they took them out of the store like 5 or 6 years ago.. OEM tools still makes them in Matte chrome..

[@lonestarmopars]

I may have to check them out. There seems to be a lot of people that really like their chrome ratchets.

[@michaeldeel7998]

@@lonestarmopars yeah everyone talks about how HotRod mag. Did a torque test on the 1/2 drive and it made it to like 800 foot pounds

[@ihavethedocuments2580]

​@@michaeldeel7998I swear they were MAC 36 tooth clones. It was a great design

[@michaeldeel7998]

@@ihavethedocuments2580 yeah bout the same thing,or like the USA Williams 36 tooth ratchet.. I bout every OEMtools ratchet they had all drive sizes, flex head and regular..

[@scrambler350]

Went in to get a battery at Autozone and ALMOST walked-out with one of these ratchets as well - took a lot of self control not to buy them just because they look cool.

[@lonestarmopars]

Exactly how they got me...I went back to grab a little OEM case on closeout and spotted the ratchets on the end cap. May not be for everyone, but they just look great in my opinion. Glad to know others agree on the aesthetics.

[@MrCheezeus]

so ... i think it's made by apex ... and ... that seems to be an apex / gearwrench thing even the extensions have that weird ramp thing... so i kinda don't think that revision is coming lol

[@rodrigodelallata7140]

I was tempted in getting a Matco flex head just like that but same problem it would not flex it was stuck. So, I backed off it. all the ratchets were like that the ones this guy had in his tool truck, a real shame.

[@lonestarmopars]

Oh dang...good to know the truck was like that. I've had people tell me they break in, eventually. The thing is I have used that unlocked, soaked it, made a point to work it side-to-side with pliers when I'm charging a battery, and it has still not gotten right. I'll have times where I can lock and unlock 2-3 cycles and then it just goes back to stiff. With my bad thumb, it doesn't happen. You shouldn't have to shimmy the head while applying insane pressure to flip the switch either. They are great looking ratchets...very slim heads, but how that gets out of production like that is beyond me. On the bright side, I may never get to the point of it skipping, haha. Glad you got to test stuff out before being stuck with something you'd be unhappy with.

[@DownHillgamer]

The blue duralasts look like a plastic gearwrench 90t

[@boosted2.4_sky]

Agreed..they appear to be made by Apex Tool 👍

[@lonestarmopars]

Yeah, I mentioned that they had made some of their ratchets...I have never owned any gearwrench stuff...would be interesting to compare. Not sure I want to buy a ratchet just for that, but the internals would give a pretty solid identifier.

[@LilasTools]

​@@lonestarmoparsYou would be very happy with a 120xp flex!

[@kittytrail]

the old made in Taiwan 72t composite ratchets like the ones sold by HF were mostly seen as gimmicky and soon to be failures ubtil people started using 'em and now most mechanics have a couple or more laying around as they're tough and reliable at least as long as you don't get the Wish or Temu copydogs specials. hoping Duralast OEM did their homework on durability and toughness too. 😽👌

[@lonestarmopars]

Oh yeah, I love the OGs. They do mar pretty easy, but past that and sometimes having the selector switch move itself to center, they are great...especially for the money. My 1/2" Tekton is super beat up, but still ticking. Short of the socket issue, these seem like pretty decent ratchets for the money, especially considering how much I like the aesthetics.

[@kittytrail]

@@lonestarmopars is the socket "problem" only with the Ko-ken ones, especially the Z-EALs? if so it's due to the different "dimpling" inside the socket for the anvil ball that makes those so great and with less "stack height" when used with the Ko-ken ratchets. now for those tasty Duralast, if only they made a 10 or 11" long 1/4" one i'd get a box of them pretty fast. 😸

[@michaeldeel7998]

well one thing is for certain, you never know what your gunna find when your lookin for butt splices. lol

[@lonestarmopars]

Haha, true.

[@chadroy16]

BS count: 5 (edit, it is 6) i have a 3/8 composite ratchet from Stahlwille and i love it despite it having less teeth than most babies ugh, please stop scaring us with the gross matco flex head, id rather use my face to loosen fasteners than touch that ratchet The ratchets look cool, but i am very skeptical that coating will last, but i hope you prove me wrong. the anvil on the duratech is a similar profile to impact driver anvils, where it has a larger radius but the impact anvils are longer to compensate, maybe they didnt have much confidence in the anvil strength so they gave it extra radius for strength? the ratchet looks sweet but the thinness is compensated by having a huge wide head. thanks for the videos as always

[@lonestarmopars]

Thanks for counting! No kidding...I have never seen a composite from Stahlwille...I'll have to see if it is still in production (I've also never looked, so that might be part of it). Yep, no clue on the coating...I know the Pittsburgh and Tekton's hold up, but they do gash pretty easily...that is also using them sparingly. I'm not sure what was going on in the design process...there is a lot of really great stuff that gets offset by pretty bad stuff. It is a bit wider, but if you are just needing vertical clearance, that thing is really thin. Funny thing is I've been tempted to order a Matco in orange and black...actually nearly did it Friday night, but they apparently only make them in locking flex heads. Guess it is my sign to stay away. I really just need a magnetic pry bar holder, but do NOT want the default red. Corwnell's blue would be the best fit, but it is easier to get Matco's.

[@chadroy16]

​@@lonestarmoparsdamn, I wrote put a big reply and something went wrong lol The part number for the ratchet is nr.450. I really like the thing. It has the reverse switch halfway down the shaft which was super handy for installing and levelling new conveyors for a certain online shopping tycoons new distribution centre. I hope the blue coating is revolutionary and sticks around for the long haul. Will be interesting to find out sometime in the future. Cornwell is super interesting because it seems for me here in Australia, I have no access to it. There are snap on trucks and some trucks that have brands like stahlwille but not Cornwell.

[@lonestarmopars]

Also, I just checked and it appears the Stahlwille composite has been discontinued. May make Collin check on it, haha.

[@chadroy16]

@@lonestarmopars well I thought there was one on the Australian e bay. I went to check and let you know if it was still there. But it turns out it's a half inch version that I do not have and very much want lol

[@chadroy16]

@@lonestarmopars there's a 30 second video on KZbin if you search stahlwille 450 ratchet. He got it from the same guy I got mine from lol