Gearwrench has recently announced a new line of 120XP fine-tooth ratchets. These new teardrop ratchets, available in 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″ drive sizes, have a 3° swing arc that bests the 4.3° arc featured in the new 84-tooth ratchets Gearwrench introduced just a couple of months ago.
The super-short swing arc is achieved via a double-stacked pawl that alternately engages a 60-tooth gear. Additional ratchet features include a low-profile teardrop head, flush-mounted reverse switch, enclosed head design for dust-resistance, and a long full polish chrome handle.
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Individual ratchet sizes, a 3-piece ratchet set, and several combination SAE plus metric socket sets will be included in the initial launch. Yellow latches on the blow molded socket set cases help the new sets stand out from existing product offerings.
- 3pc ratchet set with EVA foam tray
- 51-pc 1/4″ 6t standard and deep socket set
- 56-pc 3/8″ 6t standard and deep socket set
- 49-pc 1/2″ 6t standard and deep socket set
jesse
That’s all well and good, but how much torque can this mechanism handle?
Stuart
No idea, but it should be able to handle anything most people can muster without a cheater bar.
Harry
Get Gearwrench to post a picture of the “stacked double pawl”. Are the three standard length ratchets the only 120 tooth acting ratchets available or are they going to offer a 120XP flex head? Are these ratchets PRC or Taiwan vintage?
While you’re talking to Gearwrench, get them to update that woefully out of date website of theirs that still has new products from 2009 and newsletters from 2010. facebook isn’t the only option for getting your product information out to the masses.
Stuart
It’s exactly as it sounds – two pawls that sit on top of each other. I took one apart and was too panicked about not being able to get it back together to take photos. Luckily I got it all back together, so I’ll be taking it apart again real soon.
There’s no word as to whether 120XP flex-head ratchets are in the works, but I’ll try to find out. My guess is that the roto ratchets and flex-heads won’t be updated any time soon if at all.
The ratchets are made in Taiwan.
Harry
I’m assuming that the 120XP ratchet is the same size ratchet body as the standard Gearwrench 60/84 tooth ratchet. If so, that would require the stacked pawl gears to be half as thick as a regular 60/84 pawl gear. How many pawl teeth engage the drive gear on the new stacked pawl set up?
Chris
A 72-tooth, round head, double-pawl mechanism that I have (making it work like a 144-tooth) has a total of 12 teeth engaged by the two pawls. I think that’s plenty of engagement. Even though a pear head design like the 120XP has roughly half the standard thickness of a round head ratchet, it should still be able to handle plenty more than the industry minimum.
jesse
What tool is it?
Chris
It’s Triangle’s Nano ratchet. The ratchet was featured on toolguyd in the past.
Jeff
That is a good wratchet
Chris
The 120XP working with just a 3° swing–I would take that with a grain of salt.
In reality, when you factor in the different tolerances of the ratchet mechanism, the dimensions of anything that you fit against the drive end: socket, extention, etc. will all play a role in determining what the working swing arc is. The more you add to the drive end, the more play there would be.
ant
diminishing returns.
you’ve gone from 5 to 3 out of 360.
Jerry Smith
I dont own one but would like to try one. I am disabled , and need all the extra help with all the torque I can get.