Had to choose between an impact and a ratchet on a tight job yesterday

I was working on a starter in a 2017 F-150 near Fort Collins, and the top bolt was buried behind the intake. I grabbed my 3/8 impact first, but it just wouldn't fit in the gap. Switched to a flex-head ratchet, took me maybe 20 minutes of wiggling and cussing, but I got it out. Anyone else find themselves defaulting to the wrong tool when space gets tight?

2 comments

2 Comments

emery_young1314d ago

Honestly, @emery_lopez is right - impacts are like that friend who always volunteers to help but shows up with a monster truck for a go-kart race. Tbh, learning to love a flex-head ratchet is basically admitting your impact has trust issues with tight spaces.

emery_lopez14d ago

Read an article the other day about how impacts are overused in tight spots and a lot of pro mechanics actually switch to manual ratchets way more than people think. Honestly I felt that. I always grab my impact first too because it feels faster but sometimes you just have to accept you need the leverage and the fine control of a good ratchet. That flex head is the real hero in those situations, lets you get angles you just can't get with a bulky impact. Ngl, I think the whole "impact solves everything" mindset is why we waste so much time fighting with tools that don't fit.