T-handle vs. ratchet

rolandk
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rolandk
Edited Date/Time 8/11/2013 9:19am
Kind of a silly question but something I've always wondered about... it seems like most dirt bike mechanics use T-handle wrenches and I want to know what advantage they have over a regular old ratchet and sockets.
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slipdog
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slipdog 8/10/2013 9:24am
8/10/2013 9:24am Edited Date/Time 8/10/2013 9:25am
They are easier to handle and work with IMO, makes the work go faster. I use one of these...

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leighracer
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leighracer 8/10/2013 9:31am
8/10/2013 9:31am
Snap-on sells the parts to make a T-Handle ratchet, best of both worlds. You can spin bolts up fast and then slide the top of the T over for a little more torque. I don't know if they sell it as an assembly but it's basically a 3/8" extension, ratchet action and sliding handle put together. I use it a lot for bolt sizes bigger than 19mm and Allen sockets.
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bullpen658
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bullpen658 8/10/2013 10:14am
8/10/2013 10:14am
I still use a ratchet because it takes up less room in my toolbox and it isn't THAT much of a time saver.....especially because I never work on my bikes unless you count putting in gas as "work".
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Ryno23
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Ryno23 8/10/2013 11:24am
8/10/2013 11:24am
Being a diesel mech for a living I have both. T-handles are just handy for several things on a bike like removing plastics out at the track. Now what I do have that is awesome for bike work is a SnapOn 3/8 cordless driver/impact gun. Small, quick, strong enough for lots of the small bike bolts but not too strong to strip a 6mm bolt very easily. It is dabomb.com on bike stuff for sure.
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reded
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reded 8/10/2013 11:28am
8/10/2013 11:28am
Nothing hand driven can beat this IMO...

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BlackForestCO 8/10/2013 11:38am
8/10/2013 11:38am Edited Date/Time 8/10/2013 11:43am
I put what Snap On call's a "ratchet adapter" on a T-bar, add an extension and you have a ratcheting T-handle:

Can't get an image to work.
ford832
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ford832 8/10/2013 6:27pm
8/10/2013 6:27pm
If you have air or electric gear,t handles and spinners are a waste of time.I've got them at work but never use them.I use them very little home on the bike.They are slightly faster than holding a socket and extension and spinning the ratchet-but only marginally.Seems to be mostly a bike thing for some reason.
CamP
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CamP 8/10/2013 7:49pm
8/10/2013 7:49pm
I hate T handles.
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Outsider
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Outsider 8/10/2013 7:55pm
8/10/2013 7:55pm
For plastics, seat bolts, adjusting bars and levers, etc. T handles just feel right.
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Tim507
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Tim507 8/10/2013 8:14pm
8/10/2013 8:14pm Edited Date/Time 8/10/2013 8:15pm
Ryno23 wrote:
Being a diesel mech for a living I have both. T-handles are just handy for several things on a bike like removing plastics out at the...
Being a diesel mech for a living I have both. T-handles are just handy for several things on a bike like removing plastics out at the track. Now what I do have that is awesome for bike work is a SnapOn 3/8 cordless driver/impact gun. Small, quick, strong enough for lots of the small bike bolts but not too strong to strip a 6mm bolt very easily. It is dabomb.com on bike stuff for sure.
I have one of those Cordless Snap (ct 561) tools light and very handy.......I use it a lot more than my T Handles
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Myke
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Myke 8/10/2013 8:19pm
8/10/2013 8:19pm
Outsider wrote:
For plastics, seat bolts, adjusting bars and levers, etc. T handles just feel right.
+1
rallendude
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rallendude 8/10/2013 8:22pm
8/10/2013 8:22pm
Gotta have both but for efficiency and quick work on the outer parts a t-handle is much faster. Once you get in the inside some parts still require a ratchet. I have both a 1/4" drive and a 3/8" drive motion-pro t-handle and use deep well sockets on them.

In the shop I use a Ryobi 1/4" drive battery impact.
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 8/10/2013 8:32pm
8/10/2013 8:32pm
reded wrote:
Nothing hand driven can beat this IMO... [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/08/10/28856/s1200_image.jpg[/img]
Nothing hand driven can beat this IMO...

I'm thinking someone is an a/c mech?
Racer92
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Racer92 8/10/2013 8:40pm
8/10/2013 8:40pm
CamP wrote:
I hate T handles.
x2

Waste of time.
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Daniel816
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Daniel816 8/10/2013 8:52pm
8/10/2013 8:52pm Edited Date/Time 8/10/2013 8:54pm
Working on my bike, yes I use my T-handles all the time. I have a motion pro set an the same T-handle that slipdog posted. I tried taking them to work but surprisingly enough on a two story haul truck there isn't much room for T-handles, pretty much I mainly use gear wrenches at work!
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Hut
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Hut 8/10/2013 10:07pm
8/10/2013 10:07pm
CamP wrote:
I hate T handles.
Racer92 wrote:
x2

Waste of time.
Agree.
These are handy for plastics and stuff though
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dirthead1
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dirthead1 8/10/2013 11:13pm
8/10/2013 11:13pm
reded wrote:
Nothing hand driven can beat this IMO... [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/08/10/28856/s1200_image.jpg[/img]
Nothing hand driven can beat this IMO...

Amen! I first started using speed wrenches drag racing when tearing mega-expensive engines apart quickly between runs. Having turned wrenches for a living, the only things T-handles are good for are causing arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. I hate those things.
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ky_savage
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ky_savage 8/11/2013 5:37am
8/11/2013 5:37am
Tim507 wrote:
I have one of those Cordless Snap (ct 561) tools light and very handy.......I use it a lot more than my T Handles[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/08/10/28878/s1200_CTS561CL.jpg[/img]
I have one of those Cordless Snap (ct 561) tools light and very handy.......I use it a lot more than my T Handles
Same here! I use this thing at work on many bikes & ATV's all the time. Love it! One of my best & favorite purchases.
Bytor
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Bytor 8/11/2013 9:19am
8/11/2013 9:19am
slipdog wrote:
They are easier to handle and work with IMO, makes the work go faster. I use one of these... [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/08/10/28851/s1200_image.jpg[/img]
They are easier to handle and work with IMO, makes the work go faster. I use one of these...

I have the Mac version. I also have a Makita impact similar to that snappy unit. It rules.
sandman768
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sandman768 12/8/2023 8:24am
12/8/2023 8:24am
reded wrote:
Nothing hand driven can beat this IMO... [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/08/10/28856/s1200_image.jpg[/img]
Nothing hand driven can beat this IMO...

This… I use this more than just about any ratchet.. only T handle I own came with KTM tool kit.  

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bonseff
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bonseff 12/8/2023 8:38am
12/8/2023 8:38am

Hating T-handles is an awesome hill to die on

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FilthyGrungy 12/8/2023 8:47am
12/8/2023 8:47am

If its 8 or 10mm, theres a 98% chance Im using a T Handle. Those bolts are not torqued anything crazy, it cant be any faster to grab the impact. The is no comparison when it comes to threading and tightening T handle vs impact for feel

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bvm111
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bvm111 12/8/2023 8:48am
12/8/2023 8:48am

holy 11 year old thread batman! 

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Boomslang 12/8/2023 9:10am
12/8/2023 9:10am
rolandk wrote:
Kind of a silly question but something I've always wondered about... it seems like most dirt bike mechanics use T-handle wrenches and I want to know...
Kind of a silly question but something I've always wondered about... it seems like most dirt bike mechanics use T-handle wrenches and I want to know what advantage they have over a regular old ratchet and sockets.

I've been a mechanic at various levels for many years...and I have different sizes of ratchets but not in my moto cycle tool box. 

T- handles are awesome and you get a great feel for them over time. I know the feel of T handles so well that I can almost nail the specific torque for the various bolts.

A Pro mechanics tools box is pretty simple. Sockets and ratchets are baggage andcweight that one don't need. Nothing on a motor cycle requires cranking on a ratchet.

Cheers mate...

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Richy
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Richy 12/8/2023 12:30pm
12/8/2023 12:30pm

I'm all about the Snap On or Bluepoint screwdriver handle with a short socket, for plastics, clutch/ignition covers, levers/throttle tube, etc.

I had a Motion Pro T Handle spinner jobber, but unfortunately the pressed in bearing / socket retainer fell out very, very soon after purchasing (only used a couple of times, with Snap On sockets, not any MIC crap).

To be fair to Motion Pro they asked for pics and probably would have stood by it, I just got sidetracked with work and time ticked by...

spacecat
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spacecat 12/8/2023 12:42pm
12/8/2023 12:42pm

I'm a ratchet/ socket guy. Main reason is I torque every single bolt when reassembling. Yes, every one. I know it's over kill but it's built into me with my avaition maintenance background.  I enjoy working on my bikes as much as riding them. 

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TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 12/8/2023 1:15pm
12/8/2023 1:15pm
reded wrote:
Nothing hand driven can beat this IMO... [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/08/10/28856/s1200_image.jpg[/img]
Nothing hand driven can beat this IMO...

I was figuring SMF would be the one to post that.

Laughing

TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 12/8/2023 1:16pm
12/8/2023 1:16pm
slipdog wrote:
They are easier to handle and work with IMO, makes the work go faster. I use one of these... [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/08/10/28851/s1200_image.jpg[/img]
They are easier to handle and work with IMO, makes the work go faster. I use one of these...

These work nicely on aircraft/aviation systems. 

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