Gearwrench 90-Tooth Ratchet Review

Gearwrench came out with this new 90-tooth ratchet. It comes in 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drives, as well as flex and fixed head options. Full polish and rubber comfort grips handles are also available.

I do a complete breakdown to see what's better about these and compare them to the 84-tooth and 120XP versions.

#Gearwrench #GearwrenchRatchet #90Tooth #CoyleTools

[richb]

In testing, the 84 tooth and 90 tooth ratchets had about the same fail torque number but the 120XP was significantly lower with its twin pawl design. (269, 268, and 235 ft pounds) The 120XP is somewhat thicker and heavier, also the twin pawl design is more complicated and is more prone to wear and other failures.

The 90 tooth is more of a sales issue than a performance issue. The difference between the two is 4.3 vs 4 degree arc swing, which almost no one would notice IRL.

However, all three are excellent for the money and are far stronger than ASME standards.

[kingsporttoolreview]

If you notice, the pricing on the new 90T is a little higher priced than GearWrench's previous models and the banding has changed to color Orange with a new logo to reflect their new "Pro-Sumer" market strategy. I was told that GearWrench is moving more and more towards the tool truck business model rather than standard retail. (GearWrench recently separated with Advanced Auto as a retailer) A lot of these new GearWrench products are aimed at the "Pro-sumer" market (see their new Bolt-Biters, new creeper and new pro-grade torque wrenches). It's no accident that the new comfort grip handles are shaped exactly like Snap-On's comfort grip handles. The Mac Tools "Mac-Axis" 90T has been extremely popular and a huge seller the last couple of years, I was told that GearWrench came out with the 90T to really compete with the tool trucks at the pro-sumer level.

[richb]

I have all three. The XP120’s have a thicker body to make room for the 2 pawls. The 90 tooth has the thinnest body but not by much. The arc swing difference between the 84 tooth and the 90 tooth is less than a half of a degree, most mechanics won’t be able to tell the difference. They are all great Ratchets but I wouldn’t recommend running out and getting a 90 tooth to replace a 84 tooth because it’s not a significant upgrade even though it has.some improved features. I do recommend all of these Ratchets, they are the best you can get for the money.

[MarkK]

Also I do not own the comfort grip ratchets. I wanted to get the 1/2" 120xp flex head with comfort grip but from what I can see, Gearwrench does not make the 1/2" 120xp flex head with comfort grip. I am not sure why that is but when I bought my 1/2" 120xp I searched high and low for the comfort grip version. All my Gearwrench ratchets are flex heads so I may need to buy a regular 120xp with comfort grip just to see if I like it. My only issue is the comfort grips cost so damn much in Canada.

[debolt]

i have the 90 tooth flex head set the 1/2 keeps locking up will try to change direction on its own. See if yours has the same problem.

[kcuhc]

I hope the 84 tooth versions start to be discounted before they stop making them.

[brandongouge]

I like this guy and I don’t even know why exactly.

[Dustysa]

I was confused about the release of these ratchets as well. I much prefer the 120xp line. It seems like GW is promoting a minor product line improvement as though it's some revolutionary thing. They added 6 teeth, big whoop.

[raycpronto]

In testing the 90t actually has less back drag than the 120xp so that 3degree arc swing is not accurate I guess. As many know more teeth doesn’t mean better back drag. I have a 90t 3/8 fixed head and It’s very impressive the back drag is great and just feels rather smooth not fine like a snap on but just smooth.

[bajamedic]

I love my Lang set. I’m all about buying the oem of the tool truck brands.

[Volvosemitruckmechanic]

Can you compare the 120 to the new gearwrench 120 that have screws

[willclemons]

I was told that the 90 tooth is stronger as 1 paw than having two paws on the 120xp's. I love my 120 xp flex. I may get comfort grip 90 tooth set as well.

[logiqalone]

Good stuff. Can you do a comparison between GW and Tekton?

[MarkK]

From what I read about the 90 tooth is they are marketing it for the home user. It does not make sense to me. I have both the 84 tooth and the 120xp. I love the 120xp line myself. Also I just watched another video where the guy was at Sema and they told him they are replacing the 84 tooth with the 90 tooth.

[davereed]

Apparently they’re saying the 90t are stronger. The 120xp are is just a 60 gear stricken with dual pawls while the 90 is a 90 tooth gear with a single pawl. I’m not really sure if those claim of being strong have much merit…I owned every version of the 120xp and I’ve never had a failure. But the comfort grips would be nice. I actually bought some snap on to get comfort grips…I wish gearwrench have these 90t locking flex head with the co fort grip sooner. Would have saved me a couple hundred bucks.

[jimhaines]

The 90 tooth is suppose to be slightly stronger than the 84 tooth and it seems to be the way a number of Taiwan ratchet makers are headed IE GearWrench, Carlyle and TEKTON all have 90 teeth now. . The reason I have 84 and 90 plus 120xp is the 84 and 90's are thinner heads so in modern stuff where thin matters need both.

[mechtechtools]

Do the Gearwrench 120xp 1/2" flex head ratchet hold up over the long term? Just curious because of the fine tooth and using high torque with a 1/2" ratchet. Thanks

[Papil]

I feel like, if there gonna give u something that has more arc swing than the 120xp...they have to obviously be going for strength with this one. What else is there? They get u 1degree closer to 120xp but with the same, if not more strength than the 84 tooth?

[michaelkolbe]

Only 60 gear teeth on a 120xp . 120 position