Silverline 380552 Palm Ratchet Set 3pce 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2"

Works okay

Great value bit of kit, cheap and very, very cheerful. Works a treat. For around a tenner it's a must have addition to the kit box for those awkward situations.Example. Only yesterday I was working on the car and had a very awkward situation, the tool performed admirably. I had the Mother in law coming round at mid day for a social call. When she arrived I showed her the tool and it was a very important part of the car and I needed to replace it today to get the car back on the road for work, and that I'm very sorry but I wont have time to sit and chat over Tea n Biscuits. She was fine about it and brought me a cupa out to the garage. Luckily I saw her coming so managed to turn off the football and look busy. An excellent addition to the married mans tool box.

I needed a way of getting into a confined space in my engine compartment to loosen a bolt and thought this might be just right. I haven't done that job yet but have found this tool usefull when removing small screws or bolts in certain restricted areas as I can start by loosening the bolt with a conventional ratchet then switch to a palm ratchet for quicker removal(no long arm to get in the way of turning). There is no great leverage available with this item so it would be difficult to start loosening a tight bolt or finish off tightening up a bolt but it certainly helps to speed up the interim part of the job once the bolt is loose. A good addition to my toolbox.

Good quality product

Absolute junk. The gearing is awful and rough. The knurling is hardly there, nothing like the pictures in the description. Spend more and buy something decent. I wish I had.

Useful addition to any tool box good price & great service well recommended

very useful in tight places

Nice little ratchets which work well. At this price you can't expect swiss watch engineering. There aren't as many teeth (clicks per turn) as you might expect from something more expensive but they do allow you to work were there is not room for a traditional lever. Lack of leverage means you won't be able to supply the same torque as you would on a traditional tool. However any inability to turn things tightly enough is a design fault of your hand/arm not a fault of the tool.They did the job I bought them for very well and will be using them for a long time to come.

Sehr praktischer Helfer in guter Qualität zum fairen Preis.

Ordered 6 setsReturned 5 of them!!!Absolute cabbageGobchuteTurnscrew plastic

Tres pratique facile a utiliser super produit

Ovunque problemi di spazio impediscano l'uso di chiavi classiche, può sempre essere possibile utilizzare questi cricchetti reversibili compatti. Tre formati diversi per poter operare con ogni tipo di bussola, sia 1/4 che 3/8 o 1/2.Rispetto ai cricchetti a braccio è però minore la forza che è possibile imprimere ai bulloni: a volte, sia per avvitare che per svitare, può risultare insufficiente.

Note: The following comments apply after repair unless otherwise noted.The Quality Issue is that repair of this set is required for proper operation and durability. This design is produced by Silverline 380552, Pittsburgh 94011, and True Power 1111. Typical of this inexpensive set, it was delivered in a sealed package and was non-functional when opened and required repair prior to use. Details of the repair are presented at the end of this article. If you are not handy at fixing tools, or feel uncomfortable about repairing tools, you should probably consider something else.Also typical of this type of set, the internet picture is misleading and does not disclose that the palm ratchets are not all chrome plated and are not even all metal (the ratchet direction knob is black plastic). The descriptions of the Pittsburgh 94011, and True Power 1111 have similar problems on the internet.This set is more expensive than the domestic Pittsburgh 94011 and True Power 1111 Sets, but there is slight difference in quality. The fit of the parts is better in this set. The 1/2 inch drive has poor machining on the finger wheel gears, and is machined out of round. The ratchet operation of the 1/2 drive varies in smoothness with rotation. The socket is moderately difficult to remove from the 3/8 Inch drive. The socket wobbles on the 1/4 inch drive. Due to the cost of shipping of this set, it is more expensive than the equivalent Pittsburgh 94011 and True Power 1111 Sets.The key features to look for when considering a Finger Ratchet, Thumbwheel ratchet, speed ratchet or palm Ratchet are: Ratchet or non-ratchet selection, number of teeth in ratchet, Force required to operate ratchet, Diameter of finger driver, overall length, contour of finger wheel, texture of finger wheel, pliability of finger wheel, whether a dual driver is needed, quick release function, and resistance to automotive contaminants. The fit of the parts is important for function and seal against contamination. The presence of sharp edges is important for comfort and preventing injury. The materials used are important for quality and durability. Workmanship is also important for quality and durability. The ability to apply limited torque with the device is important. The amount of effort used to install and remove a socket is important for usefulness. Whether the socket is retained without wobble (especially important in 1/4 square drive) is important. The method of retention of any bit driver present must be evaluated for usefulness. The durability of any markings on the ratchet must be evaluated. The accuracy of the description of the ratchet is should be evaluated against what was received. It should be noted whether the ratchet as received is ready to use or required repair before use. The importance to be applied to these factors depends on the individual and the use intended.For the Silverline 380552 Set, the major factors are: Three-Piece palm ratchet set, 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2-inch square drive; Knurled, chrome plated metal finger wheel with beveled edges on finger wheel; easy socket installation and removal from the black oxide coated socket post for 1/2 and 1/4 drive; a black plastic ratchet direction knob; and relatively smooth ratchet operation (after repair). The maximum diameter is approximately 1.5 inches (1.505-1.507) for all three drivers. The thickness of the finger wheels is as follows: 1/4-inch finger wheel thickness-0.440-inches; 3/8 inch finger wheel thickness-0.611-inches; 1/2-inch finger wheel thickness-0.639-inches. Overall lengths are as follows: 1/4-inch overall length-0.998-inches; 3/8 inch overall length-1.231-inches; 1/2-inch overall length -1.564-inches. The number of teeth in the ratchet mechanisms is as follows: 1/4-inch driver number of teeth-43 (8.4 degrees); 3/8 inch driver number of teeth-39 (9.2 Degrees); 1/2-inch driver number of teeth-45 (8 degrees). This set is made in China. The overall fit of the parts is better than the Pittsburg and True Power. The overall Quality of the parts is no better that the Pittsburgh 94011 and True Power 1111 Sets. These palm ratchets will not be as durable as all metal palm ratchets such as the 4137com palm ratchets. These palm ratchets are not for automotive use in the presence of solvents that would attack the plastic ratchet knob.Note that the Silverline 380552 set is not as shown on the web site in the picture: The ratchets are not all chrome plated, only partially chrome plated, and the knob is made of plastic.Purchase of the Silverline 380552 Set assumes that you already own or have access to sockets, adapters, extensions, screwdriver bits and “spinners”.The Silverline 380552 Set is heavy in weight and intended for applications which do not involve solvents which would attack the plastic parts.The materials used in the Silverline 380552 are not indicated in the packaging. They are not drop forged.The Silverline 380552 Set ratchet action as repaired is relatively smooth and requires little resistance to function (after repair). This device can be used with a “spinner” such as the Cal-Van 104-3 if you need to hold the drive stationary while ratcheting.To always ratchet independent of the resistance of the fastener, use the Silverline 380552 with the Cal-Van 109 and the appropriate adaptors. Connect the Silverline 380552 to the 1/4 square (f) post of the Cal-Van 109, and set both devices to ratchet in the same direction, hold the Cal-Van 109 finger wheel stationary with one hand and use a tightening or loosening motion with the other (depending on the setting) and the assembly will ratchet on or off any fastener independent of the fastener resistance.The Silverline 380552 square drives have the typical ratchet drive spring loaded ball to retain the socket under use. The amount of force to remove the socket is less than average for the 1/4 and 1/2 drive and more than average for the 3/8 drive.A black plastic knob with a raised ridge for finger grip controls the direction of ratchet action by rotation. There is no non-ratchet setting on this device (no center off). Arrows and “R” and “L” and cast into the ratchet direction knob.You will need adaptors to use 5/16 and 1/4 screwdriver bits with the Silverline 380552 Set.With my right hand and with some discomfort I can apply 20 inch-pounds of force with these ratchets using a KD tools 2955 torque wrench as a measuring tool. This is sufficient for most screwdriver applications. This is well below what is required for typical 3/8 socket applications. However, some applications like carburetors require large sockets but low torque. Another device will be required to supply sufficient torque for automobile fasteners. While the Silverline 380552 Set is sufficient for most screwdriver applications, another device will be required to supply sufficient torque for Torex seat belt fasteners for instance. This device will probably be used to snug up fasteners for final tightening by a torque wrench.If your application requires pushing on the Silverline 380552 Set such as installing wood screws, this is possible, but other devices like an electric drill with a bit adaptor, are more suited for this type of application.I recommend that if you want a low cost set and recognize that you have to repair the set prior to use, that you purchase the TruePower 1111 which has better quality parts and the shipping cost is less. However, if you have a Harbor Freight Tools store near you and can purchase the set by visiting the store, your set will cost less than the TruePower 1111 with shipping.For repair, the set was disassembled (remove helical spring, slide socket holder out of finger wheel, depress plunger and remove ratchet direction knob, remove pawl and pawl shaft. The burrs on the helical spring were removed. The helical springs were adjusted for proper fit. The sharp edges were filed off of the socket holder. The excess plastic was trimmed from the ratchet direction knob. The Knob spring length was trimmed for proper ratchet operation (1.5 to 3 turns of the spring removed). The knob plunger length was filed for proper fit. The lubrication on the parts was removed and the parts cleaned with solvent. The knob springs were adjusted for proper ratchet operation.