Gearwrench has come out with new 120XP ratcheting wrenches. Like Gearwrench’s 120XP ratchets, the new ratcheting wrenches are engineered with 120 gear positions to create a short 3° minimum swing arc. This allows the ratcheting wrenches to be used in the tightest of spaces.
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The new ratcheting wrenches will be available in three styles:
- XL combination wrenches
- XL flex-head combination wrenches
- XL flex-head double box-end wrenches
All three styles will feature universal spline box ends that can fit a multitude of fastener styles, including standard 6pt hex, 12pt, e-Torx, square, rounded 6pt, and spline fasteners.
120XP ratcheting wrenches will be available in inch and metric sizes, and will launch with sets packaged in easy-grab racks that fit inside standard 2-inch toolbox drawers.
First Thoughts
Despite the generally gimmicky nature of universal spline box ends, I know that these wrenches will be widely welcomed by professional users and DIYers alike. Like the 120XP ratchets, these ratcheting wrenches have double-stacked pawls which give them the 120-position gearing and 3° swing arc.
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SteveR
The 12-point universal wrench design should (theoretically) permit twice the gripping points of a standard 6 point wrench. This will point-load the force in two places on each side of a standard hex bolt, enabling you to grip rounded or otherwise damaged bolts. It may chew up a bolt if it’s stubborn and won’t release (because of corrosion, misthreading, etc.), but in those cases your concern is to remove it and probably replace with a new bolt. That capability and the 3-degree engagement for turning in restricted areas should make these wrenches a must-have set for auto techs. The flex combination set appeals to me, as it seems to offer the most bang for the buck.
Stuart
I don’t think I have ever seen a 6pt ratcheting wrench. In theory, 6pt wrenches are stronger than 12pt wrenches. The main selling point of universal spline box ends is the compatibility with a greater variety of fastener types compared to standard 12pt. I have read a couple of times that spline box ends can better grip rounded 6pt fasteners than standard 12pt box ends, but have not yet experienced this myself.
MrChow
I wanna know how long those double box-ends are! I love my EZ-Red flex box-ends ratcheting wrench but I also love my 120xp ratchets! They need make roto head ratchet I’d buy that in a heartbeat!
Noah
Lang makes 6pt ratcheting wrenchs
M C
Love The 120XP
harry
Modern fine tooth ratcheting wrenches with a ratcheting 6 point end can be found under the NAPA Carlyle and MAC Edge lines.
I’ve been saying this for years to no avail but, Gearwrench needs to make the Gearbox XL flex head shown above in a standard to long length version. They would sell well. Sometimes the Gearbox is just too long to use.
What else is Gearwrench coming out with?
jesse
China or Taiwan?
Ben
Taiwan, at least on the double box. Aside from the head, these look really, really similar to the Matco/Kabo ones. They’re the exact same length.
SteveW
Doesn’t really count for anything, but I hate universal spline sockets or wrenches, I just don’t get it, there’s no situation I have ever run across working on my own cars where I thought “I wish I had one of those universal thingys”. Also, anything marketed as ‘universal’ usually does several things poorly and not one very well. I also have never seen a pro technician at our shops use them either.
grayhatlinux
Im a pro technician and i use spline wrenches exclusively. Mine are the black-ish craftsman splines and they are BEASTS. I like them because they can rip fasteners out that even my 6pt sockets cant get. They back an air impact nicely and theyre extremely handy when you have a 6pt hex bolt on a cover to a brake adjustment and a square headed adjustment bolt of the same size. I only need one tool for the job whereas my coworkers need two. The heads are also beefier than regulqr craftsman wrenches and can take a 4lb sledge hit without so much as a nick in the finish. Ive used and abused them daily for 4 years now and havent had a single complaint, aside from a single model i work on which requires thin headed wrenches to loosen jam nuts. I have two ground down HF junkers exclusively for the jam nuts but otherwise its splines all day every day.
That being said, i dont know how well other companies spline wrenches work. I feel like a chrome finish would make the teeth slippery and youd lose grip. Mine are machined and they actually dig into your skin if you put your finger in the box end. Just my .02.
Toolfreak
Too bad about the splines, this would have been an excellent professional product if they had just stuck with standard 12pt ends, or even better, finally come out with 6pt ratcheting ends, even if just in a special double box end 120XP set.
On the plus side, this means not having to buy new Gearwrenches, so the ‘regular” Gearwrenches with the 12pt ends are still the professional tools, while the 120XP line has been reduced to a gimmick. I passed on the 120XP ratchets as well since so many people had problems with those.
Mike Adkins
Sir or Madam: I am looking for two sets of double flex head ratcheting combination wrenches. am looking for the USA made ones that run from 1/4″- 11/4″ and the metric equivalent set. If possible could you tell the part numbers for these wrench sets? I am going crazy trying to find this two sets of wrenches.
Respectfully
Mike Adkins.
Stuart
These aren’t made in the USA.
Nick C.
I’m having trouble deciding between these and the SK X Wrenches. I’m sure the price will make up my mind for me though. A lot of tight spaces in electrical work. These are perfect for many of those situations.
Stuart
What about buying one of each in the size you use most often?