Update: I bought some Superlube and lubed the ratchet internals and it still binds up. Its a defective product. They stopped including a wave washer to help hold the drive gear in place. My ratchet also has horrible tolerance between the casting and drive gear causing lots of play. Going to take it into Hobo Freight today and let them know about it and see if a third replacement is somehow better. Heres a really good video for an explanation of the issue: m.ua-cam.com/video/2BoIyRQm-lg/v-deo.html He also just uploaded another video showing off multiple ratchets with different machining done.
I warranty mine 2 days ago binding up, after 2 years of diy use. Not very extensive use. Bought them once never again. Good thing they are cheap and they still do the job for a significant amount of time.
A lot of new ratchets are dry right off the shelf. As others mentioned, try disassembling the head and add lube. Everyone seems to have their personal preference on what lube they use. Some swear by Superlube synthetic grease. Many claim that is the lube included with Snap-on rebuild kits. For fine tooth ratchets I use a couple drops of 3 and 1 oil. When using a grease apply it very sparingly. If you like the feel of the ICON with the comfort grip handles, give the DieHard line of ratchets a try.
@@mlieser1230 I bought some SuperLube since thats what it seemed like the general agreeable thing was on some fourms. Still binds and locks up. Its a defective product. They used to include a wave washer which would help hold the drive in place with tension but stopped including them on pretty much everything other than 1/2”. And I just took mine apart again and the tolerance’s are terrible, lots of play in the drive gear. I pinned a comment with a link to a really good video explaining the issue.
I did, got a third one. The third one had the same locking problem until I put a crap ton of superlube in it. It work without locking up now but im pretty sure it slipped at one point when I was using it. Its also just strange the the flex head works with no lube at all, but the fixed will lock up and pretty much not work.
I always disassemble, clean, and lube every ratchet i buy. Every time with any new one. It makes a big difference, and i haven't had a problem since. I guarantee they forgot to put the wavy washer between the anvil and plate. They added that with the recall, and one gets through without it every now and then. I've bought one since the recall that didn't have it, so i took it back and checked that the new one had the washer before i left. It keeps the anvil from "cocking up" to one side and rubbing the retaining plate. They're really a stellar ratchet otherwise. But i always check for excess play in the anvil before purchase now and buy the smoothest one on the rack.
@@shadow7796 Mine does not appear to have any kind of washer, it has the back plate, drive gear, pawl, switch, and the ball and springs. I cant take apart my flex head because the torx bolt came so tight it stripped trying to loosen it.
I think it's luck of the draw. My 1/4 straight head ratchets are doing the same. My flex heads are fine. But others are saying the same. My straight head 1/2 has no issues. None of my flex heads either. I've warrantied both 1/4 with the same issue.
There are a lot of brands out there besides Snap-On. If you’re approaching Snap-On as the best option that will never fail you are going to be disappointed. They all break at some point or just wear out. When you buy Snap-On you are paying for a lot more than just the ratchet. You are paying for the service, financing, truck credit, etc by even though you don’t need all of that or want it. It’s all baked into the price.
I just like Snap On the most out of everything Ive used. Not gonna buy everything Snap On because these days that just unreasonable. Cornwell guy thats in my area is really cool but Ive never used Cornwell stuff. Main thing to me is Made In the USA. Im trying to buy USA, Japan, Germany, etc. Icon stuff is supposed to be tool truck competition but at least with the ratchets and sockets, they feel far inferior to Snappy. Only sucky thing is that the Snap On guy in my area apparently is pretty bad.
@@JonahLyman1776 My 1/2 snap-on ratchet binds even though I barley use it, the snap on ones don't feel right to me. I prefer the lower tooth count ratchets like MAC and Icon, I don't think snap on Is any better imo but I will continue to support my Snap dealer as he cuts me deals on tools and is good guy.
Some ICON stuff is good but ratchets are best avoided (even at sale/clearance prices) vs other options in the same full retail price range . Only the flex head ratchets had a recall (flex heads likely came from different manufacturer). They a clunky design and they wasted the effort on copying snapon head font and switch look which didn't do it any favours. Far better ratchets can be had out of Taiwan such as super ten head design by high-five or options from likes of tekton, olsa, capri, toptul, facom and so forth .
Yea Icon ratchets seem like a hit or miss. I really like the 1/4” flex head and the Flex Head 3/8” is alright. I swapped the internals from the fixed to the flex head and the it worked good in the flex but the fixed with the flex internals still locked up. So it must be some kind of machining in the fixed head. I did notice the the flex has a larger head but it seems to work better. I warrantied it again and packed the new one full of super lube and it works better, it still feels sloppy though and no where near a Dual 80 Snappy.
@@JonahLyman1776 Would also like to know. My giant expensive icon breaker bar likes to lock up and not let me change the direction. Purchased summer 2023
@@JonahLyman1776Just use the superlube grease they sell in store. It's the same stuff SnapOn uses for their ratchets. A lot of people say that's the first thing you have to do since most batches of ICON ratchets come from the factory pretty dry.
@@JonahLyman1776 I use a moly based grease for my ratchets. It's what I have on hand at work. I have seen lately tho there might be too much slop in the ratchets which is causing it.
you should pretty much just always clean out and relube every ratchet you buy. there is no point in relying on some factory worker in a 3rd world country to grease your ratchet properly when all it takes is a torx screw driver and 1 minute of your time. half the icon ratchets i bought literally didnt even have lube in them but once you lube em up they work great.
I have dual80 techangle that came locking up the same way, but all my other dual80s came feeling great, same with my standard handle 3/8 120xp(very tight locked up) but my locking flexhead 120xp is butter smooth. I think when you buy so many ratchets you are bound to get a bad one here or there.
Update: I bought some Superlube and lubed the ratchet internals and it still binds up. Its a defective product. They stopped including a wave washer to help hold the drive gear in place. My ratchet also has horrible tolerance between the casting and drive gear causing lots of play. Going to take it into Hobo Freight today and let them know about it and see if a third replacement is somehow better.
Heres a really good video for an explanation of the issue: m.ua-cam.com/video/2BoIyRQm-lg/v-deo.html
He also just uploaded another video showing off multiple ratchets with different machining done.
I warranty mine 2 days ago binding up, after 2 years of diy use. Not very extensive use. Bought them once never again. Good thing they are cheap and they still do the job for a significant amount of time.
A lot of new ratchets are dry right off the shelf. As others mentioned, try disassembling the head and add lube. Everyone seems to have their personal preference on what lube they use. Some swear by Superlube synthetic grease. Many claim that is the lube included with Snap-on rebuild kits. For fine tooth ratchets I use a couple drops of 3 and 1 oil. When using a grease apply it very sparingly. If you like the feel of the ICON with the comfort grip handles, give the DieHard line of ratchets a try.
@@mlieser1230 I bought some SuperLube since thats what it seemed like the general agreeable thing was on some fourms. Still binds and locks up. Its a defective product. They used to include a wave washer which would help hold the drive in place with tension but stopped including them on pretty much everything other than 1/2”. And I just took mine apart again and the tolerance’s are terrible, lots of play in the drive gear. I pinned a comment with a link to a really good video explaining the issue.
Return they should carry a lifetime warranty
I did, got a third one. The third one had the same locking problem until I put a crap ton of superlube in it. It work without locking up now but im pretty sure it slipped at one point when I was using it. Its also just strange the the flex head works with no lube at all, but the fixed will lock up and pretty much not work.
Clean, grease, then use. It will get better like your flex head. I put mines on a drill and spin it for about 5 minutes.
I always disassemble, clean, and lube every ratchet i buy. Every time with any new one. It makes a big difference, and i haven't had a problem since. I guarantee they forgot to put the wavy washer between the anvil and plate. They added that with the recall, and one gets through without it every now and then. I've bought one since the recall that didn't have it, so i took it back and checked that the new one had the washer before i left. It keeps the anvil from "cocking up" to one side and rubbing the retaining plate. They're really a stellar ratchet otherwise. But i always check for excess play in the anvil before purchase now and buy the smoothest one on the rack.
@@shadow7796 Mine does not appear to have any kind of washer, it has the back plate, drive gear, pawl, switch, and the ball and springs. I cant take apart my flex head because the torx bolt came so tight it stripped trying to loosen it.
I think it's luck of the draw. My 1/4 straight head ratchets are doing the same. My flex heads are fine. But others are saying the same. My straight head 1/2 has no issues. None of my flex heads either. I've warrantied both 1/4 with the same issue.
There are a lot of brands out there besides Snap-On. If you’re approaching Snap-On as the best option that will never fail you are going to be disappointed. They all break at some point or just wear out. When you buy Snap-On you are paying for a lot more than just the ratchet. You are paying for the service, financing, truck credit, etc by even though you don’t need all of that or want it. It’s all baked into the price.
I just like Snap On the most out of everything Ive used. Not gonna buy everything Snap On because these days that just unreasonable. Cornwell guy thats in my area is really cool but Ive never used Cornwell stuff. Main thing to me is Made In the USA. Im trying to buy USA, Japan, Germany, etc. Icon stuff is supposed to be tool truck competition but at least with the ratchets and sockets, they feel far inferior to Snappy. Only sucky thing is that the Snap On guy in my area apparently is pretty bad.
@@JonahLyman1776 My 1/2 snap-on ratchet binds even though I barley use it, the snap on ones don't feel right to me. I prefer the lower tooth count ratchets like MAC and Icon, I don't think snap on Is any better imo but I will continue to support my Snap dealer as he cuts me deals on tools and is good guy.
Sometimes the spring washer under the faceplate is missing, I took one from another ratchet and it fixed the issue
Checked my Flexhead, it doesn’t have one but it has no issues.
Some ICON stuff is good but ratchets are best avoided (even at sale/clearance prices) vs other options in the same full retail price range .
Only the flex head ratchets had a recall (flex heads likely came from different manufacturer).
They a clunky design and they wasted the effort on copying snapon head font and switch look which didn't do it any favours.
Far better ratchets can be had out of Taiwan such as super ten head design by high-five or options from likes of tekton, olsa, capri, toptul, facom and so forth .
Yea Icon ratchets seem like a hit or miss. I really like the 1/4” flex head and the Flex Head 3/8” is alright. I swapped the internals from the fixed to the flex head and the it worked good in the flex but the fixed with the flex internals still locked up. So it must be some kind of machining in the fixed head. I did notice the the flex has a larger head but it seems to work better. I warrantied it again and packed the new one full of super lube and it works better, it still feels sloppy though and no where near a Dual 80 Snappy.
One bummer is the lack of a button release. A more elegant way to release the socket
Grease it, Mine had the same issues and it went away with grease.
@@EEF2077 What kinda grease you use? Most people seem to alluse different things.
@@JonahLyman1776 Would also like to know. My giant expensive icon breaker bar likes to lock up and not let me change the direction. Purchased summer 2023
@@JonahLyman1776Just use the superlube grease they sell in store. It's the same stuff SnapOn uses for their ratchets. A lot of people say that's the first thing you have to do since most batches of ICON ratchets come from the factory pretty dry.
@@JonahLyman1776lithium grease the tube, not the spray, works great
@@JonahLyman1776 I use a moly based grease for my ratchets. It's what I have on hand at work. I have seen lately tho there might be too much slop in the ratchets which is causing it.
Open it, clean it, use lucas hd oil. The blue stuff it makes them great
you should pretty much just always clean out and relube every ratchet you buy. there is no point in relying on some factory worker in a 3rd world country to grease your ratchet properly when all it takes is a torx screw driver and 1 minute of your time.
half the icon ratchets i bought literally didnt even have lube in them but once you lube em up they work great.
but if something goes wrong with them, it's so much easier just to warrantee them.
@@ex8280one minute with a torx bit. Vs driving to the store, and wasting easily an hour in total. Work on your math skills bro.
Im having the same observations, almost makes me want to go inside and regrease my icon ratchet
You should I grease my snapon and even my kobalt does wonders
I have dual80 techangle that came locking up the same way, but all my other dual80s came feeling great, same with my standard handle 3/8 120xp(very tight locked up) but my locking flexhead 120xp is butter smooth.
I think when you buy so many ratchets you are bound to get a bad one here or there.
@@ayooo7412 Problem is is that this is the 2nd one in a row that does this.