Over on Instagram, Travis (@Toolsbydesign) shared a demo of the new Zero Degree gearless ratchet, which is now available at Home Depot and other online marketplace sellers.
If the Zero Degree gearless ratchet looks familiar to you too, that’s because it appears to be nearly identical to the Kobalt Direct Drive gearless ratchet (reviewed here) that came out at Lowe’s for the 2014 holiday shopping season.
The Kobalt gearless ratchet was decent, and came bundled with a small selection of sockets. The new Zero Degree ratchets look to have been refined slightly compared to the Kobalt design, but it seems the differences are cosmetic in nature.
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One thing Lowe’s and Kobalt never did was release gearless ratchets in other sizes or configurations. I spoke to the company behind the Kobalt Direct Drive ratchet at the time, and they were certainly capable of producing gearless ratchets in other sizes. But, as far as I am aware, Lowe’s and Kobalt only offered a 3/8″ gearless ratchet.
I was quite pleased at the time, with the Kobalt’s strength and incredibly minimal swing angle.
Reversible gearless and roller ratchets aren’t new – patents on this type of ratchet drive mechanism go back to at least 1949 (Wright Tool patent), and they have evolved over the years, such as by Roller Clutch Tools.
The compromise of gearless ratchets is the head size, which tend to be bulkier than pear-head ratchets.
It’s good to see Zero Degree bringing this ratchet back to market – and it also looks like they will eventually offer a 1/4″ size in addition to 3/8″ and 1/2″, which are currently available.
And, unlike the Kobalt, you can get the Zero Degree ratchets individually without also having to buy “multi-fit” sockets.
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At the time of this posting, the 3/8″ ratchet is $31.05, the 1/2″ ratchet is $31.77, and there’s a listing for the 1/4″ ratchet priced at $23.97. Zoro has all three ratchets at slightly higher pricing, and Walmart has the 3/8″ ratchet for less ($26.95), but it’s currently listed as unavailable.
Lowe’s discontinued and clearanced their Kobalt gearless ratchet at the end of the 2014 holiday shopping season. I eventually gave away my Kobalt test samples once the novelty wore off, as ratchets with more compact heads proved better suited to my needs than the smallest possible minimal swing arc.
I don’t know what Zero Degree’s plans are, and whether they’ll be selling the ratchet under their own name or if they are really shopping for private label partners (such as Home Depot’s Husky brand). But, either way, I hope this ratchet stays on the market for good.
While gearless roller drive ratchets seem a little gimmicky, it’s a solid design that works.
Price: $24-$32 depending on size
fred
I still have a Weha (German company : Weha Ludwig Werwein GmbH) gearless gimbal ratchet. I don’t find it very useful – and apparently it was not a best seller. One listed on eBay calls it “rare”
https://www.ebay.com/itm/275040611424
Franck B.
I also have that Weha! I think I picked it up in Germany at a hardware store.
My other gearless is an Apex that was branded as Allen (when Allen was producing a lot of ratcheting wrenches as well). Like the Kobalt, it has a little bit of backlash due to slop which means if you have get a current Gearwrench 180XP ratchet and it’s tight, the swing angle probably isn’t much different.
Stacey Jones
Yeah I have this allen too. https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/allen-gearless-ratchet/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
fred
HD also has a set of “gearless ratchets” – but they don’t claim zero-degree on these:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/2-Piece-Gearless-Micro-Ratchet-Set-TIT18202/302202995
Matt the Hoople
The HD app is saying they are not available in stores and OOS on line. No telling if they will ever become available (again?).
Bummer. Can see this type of ratchet for a limited use problem solver.
OldDominionDIYer
From the pictures provided the head doesn’t seem overly large, I guess I’ll have to take look at it in person. Interesting concept, does anyone know how durable they are, can they handle the same forces as a traditional geared ratchet?
fred
Amazon also list a 3/8 and 1/4 gearless ratchets made (or sold) by Sealey (Jack Sealey LTD – UK)
https://www.amazon.com/Sealey-AK562-Gearless-Ratchet-Wrench/dp/B000R9Y0XC/
From the picture they also don’t seem to have an overly large head.
Stuart
That’s a different brand, and it has a push-through reverse instead of being switch-reversible.
Here’s an older Snap-on gearless comparison: https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/snap-on-fzero-gearless-ratchet/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
fred
Do the switch-reversible ones change the cant angle or position of the rollers in the “one-way clutch to make the direction change?
fred
Snooping around – I found this on the Zero-Degree webpage:
“The Zero Degree® wrench is designed to use a hexagonal inner cam/driver that is integral with the square socket drive.
The cam/driver is surrounded by six cylindrical rollers that are, in turn, enclosed by a hardened cylindrical race that is machined into the forged steel handle.
The rollers are held in position by a non-ferrous metal cage that shifts the wrench between forward and reverse.
Magnets (a newly patented design) hold the selector in position and two snap rings retain all of the components in the pocket in the head of the handle.
The roller clutch design uses cam rollers in place of teeth to provide a Zero Degree® swing arc, a Zero Degree® back-drive, significantly longer tool lifetimes, and greater than ANSI strength.”
Franck B.
They generally do not handle as much torque as even older standard pawl traditional ratchets.
I think part of why 3/8 is the popular size for these types of “ratchets” is that the head is larger than you would normally want, but not strong enough in that scale for what people would do with 1/2 drive.
I still find them unusual and also have a set of Titan brand (3/8 + 1/4) and a Channellock brand. They really aren’t my go-to for a 3/8 driver though.
MM
You are correct about the torque.
For general purpose use I prefer a traditional toothed ratchet, though it needs to be a fine one. The swing arc may be larger than zero but it is still fine enough that it can be used in 99% of applications. And meanwhile it is plenty strong when you have to bear down on it. There are very few jobs a “gearless” ratchet can do which a fine-toothed ratchet cannot because of swing arc constraints. Meanwhile there are many jobs a gearless ratchet cannot do because of torque constraints.
Matt the Hoople
I think this sums it up. Gearless ratchets are, to me at least, a problem solver. Handy to have when you need it but otherwise a dust collector.
fred
I agree for most home applications. I have one oddball one (the Weha) that I don’t recall when I last used it.
But for our fabrication business – when using Hi-Lok fasteners – I think that they were most used. Thats because a gear-less roller ratchet can be easily designed with a center through hole and small (or no) arc swing for use in tight spots. That hole allows you to insert a hex key (or more commonly a driver) to hold the Hi-Lok bolt while you tighten the collar until you shear off the drive nut. The no swing action allows you to install fasteners close to bulkhead walls. Proto (probably others too) make Hi-Lok ratchets (e.g. Proto 5LP82) that have center holes too – but I think that roller ratchets are in more common use.
Nathan
I have a gearless ratcheting screwdriver device that I love – marketed as Souix Tool but they didn’t make it. It was promotional device. anyway it’s sort of like a 3 degree tool.
I’m intrigued I noticed it seemed to disappear in the market. Never wanted a 3/8 one but did consider a 1/4. Ideally this would be neat paired with a swivel style in 1/4 drive and with QR. which it looks like this has.
interesting find.
Koko The Talking Ape
Looks awesome! But yes, I’ll have to look at it in the store. It’s hard to get an idea of the head size in pictures.
Mike
Shimano used to make a bike hub with this same roller design. The engineering fail in these is that they wear out pretty quick. The hubs would always fail after just a couple years of hard use. Usually at the worst time. I would expect the ratchets to suffer the same issue. It’s a flaw in how the locking device works.
Eric
Box Components sells the Stealth Hub (previously sold by True Precison), which is popular with BMX racers for the instant engagement for quick power transfer off the starting gate. Onyx also sells a sprag clutch hub that’s popular with mountain bikes. Both are known to be extremely reliable and can handle more than enough torque for powerful riders, but are quite a bit heavier than their traditional pawl alternatives.
Kevin
I’ve never actually owned one of these ratchets that use a clutch instead of a gear and pawls. I’m curious what the compromises would be. There has to be some backlash, maybe some slip under some specific loads. I’m not sure but the do look interesting.
Jared
I keep meaning to try this style of ratchet. Wurth’s might be where I would start (https://shop.wurth.ca/general-tools/professional-hand-tools/ratchets-sockets-sets/ratchets-ratchet-adapters/stubby-gearless-ratchets). Their push-through though, not switchable.
From what I read about gearless ratchets, they need very precise tolerances to work their best. Hopefully Zero Degree has it worked out. They do look nicer than the Kobalt predecessor – I always like to see knurling!
Shawn Scott
I have the Kobalt zero degree in 1/4, 3/8, & 1/2 inch. Bought them about 5 or 6 years ago. Never really used them, so not sure how good they are. To me it seems like they would slip if enough torque was applied.
DHCrocks
MAC used to have a zero degree ratchet, I wanted one back in the day….. seems like a great idea. I have some fishing reels that use a roller bearing instead of the typical gears and they are so so smooth with zero play which is nice.
Dustin
Kobalt had a 1/4″ gearless ratchet too, part number 0747424
Jerry
I have one with the push through center to reverse it. Got it at a military surplus place .any years ago. Not sure if it was true or just a line I was fed, but the guy at the store told me the military used them in submarine tool kits because they were silent. No way at all for me to know if it is true but I do know that sub detectors used to ‘listen’ for subs so it’s a possibility. Mine has a fairly large head, and I’ve pulled about as hard as I could on the handle with zero problems. Ratcheting action is extremely smooth and dead silent. Even the push through feature is silent. Makes for a nice conversation piece.
I’m pretty sure they work on the same principal as the starter bendix in your car.
Anson
Certainly sounds like a line. I imagine that an insulated tool non-ratcheting wrench would be a better choice. That or a hand breaker on a u-joint. It’s a great story line, a sub running silent in a wartime stance doing repairs while dodging blockades kinda thing.
Davethetool
After reading through both the article and comments I haven’t been convinced to try one of these ratchets. Seems like it’s an old idea that gets reincarnated under a different brand or company name for the purpose of making sales to all those who have never used one. Perhaps a Bob Villa commercial may help?…lol
Jerry
To be honest, the only real advantage mine has is that it is silent. Modern fine tooth ratchets don’t really take more swing to use, and the head is notably smaller as well. Don’t get me wrong, it works fine, but a fine tooth ratchet is cheaper, and has equal or greater strength with a more compact head. On clearance cheaper than a standard ratchet, why not, but I wouldn’t pay extra for one.
MM
There do exist some gearless ratchets which are extremely compact, even smaller in some ways than a traditional toothed ratchet. For example:
https://www.amazon.com/RR80SP-Technologies-Double-Clutch-Ratchet/dp/B08761DY3R
But things like that really are a niche tool, for 99% of work I think a geared ratchet is the better tool for the job. I own many ratchets but not a single one is gearless.
fred
Roller ratchets like the one in your link are often used for Hi-Lok fasteners. Aircraft applications often place fasteners close to bulkheads and clearance can be an issue.
In our fabrication business – we used quite a few Granco close quarter wrenches and roller ratchets for our aviation customer work. But these are really more specialized (as you say niche) tools. BTW – Hi-Lok ratchets typically have a pass-through hole for hex-driver access.
Here a listing from MROTools:
https://mrotools.com/search.aspx?find=close+quarters
Gription
As others have said, this type of design has been around far awhile. In the early 80’s a company named “Radian” marketed these – albeit with the “push-through” design for reversing. I’ve had a set since then, but honestly I rarely have used them because I was not crazy about the “push-through” aspect. They had a small “palm ratchet” in 1/4″ that I picked-up back then as well. That one has seen quite a bit of use.
Honestly, in retrospect it seems like a bit of a novelty. If you have an 80 or 100 or 120 tooth ratchet, you’re probably fine unless you collect ratchets (NTTAWWT).
Jared
Is this the mechanism Rolgear uses on their screwdrivers? They don’t have any discernable clicks and are liquid-smooth.
MM
I believe so. The name also makes sense. “Rol” in “Rolgear” sounds like “roller”. They probably have a roller clutch inside.
syfisyko
I bought the 3/8″ and 1/4″ from Home Depot and received the 3/8″ today. There doesn’t appear to be any slack in the mechanism. I’m looking forward to using it.
Scott Taylor
I have yet be be able the cause the kobalt to slip or break, use them all the time, they are my go to 3/8 ratchet. I have cranked down on them to where a had to get the 1/2 breaker bar to loosen ot back up. Bought one on a lark. When I saw two on clearance for like $5 with the crappy sockets i picked two more up, one for dad. Only problem I had with them was changing directions. Fixed it by putting red tape on the tighten and black tape on the loosen, now i just never change the selector. I don’t see how the pawl design would be anywhere near as strong as the roller bearings.
P
I bought the 3/8 and 1/4 of these, mostly out of curiosity. I kind of collect ratchets. My father has the 3/8 Kobolt gearless. They are designed slightly different, but have the same general mechanism. The Kobolt has an inset retaining ring on both sides, and what looks like a more robust internal mechanism that holds the rollers. The difference does not appear to be the load bearing piece, so it doesn’t matter. The new model is also held together with one snap ring around the base of the anvil. I took it apart this morning. The silver part of the head is not as deep as the Kobolt, but the black part around the anvil is raised up with a conical taper. Combined they are the same overall depth as the Kobolt is, but reduced interference somewhat in the areas where it tapers.
James
I wish these were available from Canadian distributors, but I checked online and in-store and they do not seem to be stocked.
Josh
They are now available at princess auto.