Milwaukee Tool has announced new M12 Fuel high speed extended reach ratchets, in 1/4″ and 3/8″ drive sizes.
The newest Milwaukee cordless ratchets feature “the fastest ratcheting speeds” and deliver up to 35 ft-lbs of max torque.
Milwaukee says that their new ratchets provide best-in-class access at 0.76″, and 20% more reach than competitive ratchets.
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They feature a recessed forward-reverse shift knob for a compact head profile.
1/4 Ratchet Features & Specs
- 1/4″ drive
- 35 ft-lbs max torque
- 450 RPM
- 14.4″ length with battery
- Weighs 2.34 lbs with battery
The 1/4″ ratchet will be available as a bare tool, 2568-20.
Price: $249 (tool-only)
ETA: November 2022
3/8 Ratchet Features & Specs
- 3/8″ drive
- 35 ft-lbs max torque
- 450 RPM
- 15.2″ length with battery
- Weighs 2.4 lbs with battery
The 3/8″ ratchet will be available as a bare tool (2569-20) or kit (2569-21). The kit comes with a CP 2Ah battery, M12 charger, and tool bag.
Price: $249 for tool-only, $349 for the kit
ETA: November 2022
A protective boot to fit either ratchet will also be available (49-16-2569) for $29.
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Discussion
Milwaukee launched M12 Fuel high speed ratchets in 2021. Prior to that, they launched M12 Fuel extended reach ratchets.
Now, they are launching M12 Fuel high speed extended reach ratchets. Makes sense.
The main selling points include: best-in-class access, fastest cordless ratchets, 20% more reach than competitive ratchets.
Milwaukee’s M12 Fuel 1/4″ extended reach ratchet deliver 40ft-lbs max torque and 250 RPM, and their 3/8″ ratchet delivers 55 ft-lbs max torque and 200 RPM. The new high-speed versions deliver 35 ft-lbs max torque and 450 RPM.
If you’re looking for an extended reach ratchet, would you benefit more from higher max torque, or faster speed?
MM
I have one of the existing M12 Fuel extended-reach ratchets in 3/8 drive. I am happy with its torque. More would be nice sometimes but I don’t feel that it’s weak, it is adequate. It’s not underpowered but it’s no beast either. More speed would be great but I am not willing to drop down to 35 ft-lb to get it.
Now for 1/4″ drive the 35 ft-lb is fine so there’s no reason not to go with the high speed model. I have the short one on my wish list.
Another tool which has a lot of overlap in use cases with that 1/4 drive ratchet is the 1/4″ hex 90-degree impact driver no. 2467. It does 50 ft-lb and 2150 rpm and is quite compact, that will zip off or install small automotive fasteners quicker than the ratchet will.
Back to the ratchets, it seems like these are essentially identical to the existing extended reach ratchets except for different gears which trade off torque for higher RPM. In my opinion that would be best implemented with a high-low gearbox just like what many drill/drivers have. Now THAT would be fantastic since you could just flip a switch to set the tool for torque or speed.
Jayden Immonen
You do understand a power ratchet isn’t mean to break fasteners and that manual torque can be applied to them yes?
Philip John
I believe Milwaukee has stated the short half inch can handle 250 ft pounds of manual force. But you are exactly right… its better not to and use something else to torque .
The style of battery on 12v… you will break the clip rendering both tool and battery usless . M12 is awesome… but this is a huge issue. New dewalt 12v is now amazing and much better at reliability in terms of battery.
JD
I have the non-fuel 3/8 version that Milwaukee gave away for free with just about everything a couple years ago. I love it! My only complaint is the flex in the body when manually breaking a bolt. Once broken, even the minimal torque is plenty. I know pros use these things all day, and they break bolts manually then run them out with power.
I’m not sure which is a bigger improvement for me, the longer reach or the higher speed. Ideally, I guess you’d have a long reach high speed and short reach for tight access.
Even for a hobbyist, these are a great investment. It makes accessing bolts in hard to reach areas a lot less painful and reduces fatigue removing long bolts where a normal ratchet would only give you a few degrees of rotation.
Gordon
Does Milwaukee still say that you can’t use it as a manual ratchet?
Jim Felt
Shocked if they didn’t! ;-)~
Stuart
The last time I asked – “We don’t recommend putting a lot of weight on them, but they can be used to break loose and snug tight fasteners.”
John
I use my 3/8” m12 ratchet as a manual version often. I’m not trying to crack lugs with it so don’t see an issue.
Lance
Does the 3/8″ model use the compact head from the 1/4″ model, or the fatter one from the 1/2″?
The biggest drawback of the standard Fuel 3/8″ ratchet is the use of the large head size, making it very bulky. Other than the slightly smaller 3/8″ sockets, it has no advantage over the 1/2″ as far as where you can put it, so the 1/2″ Fuel makes more sense.
I have the standard M12 1/4″ and 3/8″ ratchets, and the 1/2″ Fuel standard ratchet. Personally, for automotive use I don’t think a higher speed ratchet is going to save any measurable amount of time unless you are unbolting multi-fastener flanges (like oil pans or diff covers) non-stop all day long, and they would have to be inaccessible to an impact driver/wrench which would be much faster.
I think 99% or more people would benefit from the slower tool with more torque.
The use-case for these seems pretty thin, but hey, it helps Milwaukee increase the number of tools in their M12 lineup for increased bragging rights, and without releasing an actual new tool, just revised gearing in existing tools. SMRT.
Nathan
just what I was about to ask. previously they said don’t tighten with then or don’t do it often. Dewalt supposedly is saying you can go to limits with theirs – and I figured it’s to ANSI limit for that drive anvil. And if that’s the case I say give me speed over torque. Why once’s snugged to ____ torque by motor I can turn a few clicks of the ratchet to get to the more snug amount I want.
I think it’s a fair tradeoff . I need to hold theirs and the dewalt in my hand at the same time though. I think dewalt has the better torque and speed metic or so some reviews seem to indicate. but if the barrel is smaller then maybe less torque is really OK. I do like the extended reach – but there will be places where you can’t use it too.
John
Speed just is never an issue with my standard 3/8” m12 ratchet. Usually trying to feather the speed anyway. As gladly a shadetree mechanic slash weekend warrior, I do all my own repairs and maintenance on our 2000 4runner and ’06 Tacoma and use the m12 ratchet and stubby for most any job somehow. They do anything I need from them. Maybe the higher speed is wanted from the repair shops. Finesse matters when do auto wrenching unless you want to replace all the added broken shit and stripped threads.
Min
Any time there are multiple fasteners, like with a transmission drain pan or a valve cover, more speed makes a big difference and is more money in your pocket if you are doing it for a living. That’s the ideal application for these tools and the shops will buy them up for it.
James+C
I have the regular fuel version. I’ve actually gotten a fair bit of use out of it with a 1/4″ bit holder as a makeshift right-angle screw driver. It was a huge help installing plumbing brackets in a stud bay (remodel work). The faster version would have been great for this.
Julian Tracy
FYI – for those on a budget, I’ve been very happy with the Husky version of a cordless ratchet. Sells new for about $69-89. Has a built in battery and comes with a charger cord. I use it fairly frequently, though not every day and I only charge maybe every month or so.
It’s got similar torque rating as the non-fuel M12 versions.
I’m an M12 user and have purchased a few of their ratchets regular, fuel and extended, and always end up selling them off as this little husky does a fair amount of work and never seems to not have enough power.
I’ve also recently picked up the M12 1/2” right angle impact driver. It’s big and bulky, but unlike any of these ratchets, it will break a bolt or nut free. Makes a good companion to my Husky ratchet, my large Dewalt 1/2” impact and my smaller 12v Dewalt 3/8” impact wrench.
SamR
The true selling point of those new high-speed versions is the small head = more access.
Jeff
Agreed….as well as the upgraded speed.
Emilio+Gonzalez
Milwaukee is asking too much for a cordless ratchet made in China. I don’t need one that badly to save a few minutes of turning time.
There are other tools and from other companies, I’d rather spend my money on.
Jeff C
I get what your are saying but if you are locked into the Milwaukee M12 line such as I am this ratchet might make be a reasonable purchase.
Harry
To me speed is most important. Followed by a small ratchet head. The ratchet heads are just too huge on the current Milwaukee extended reach ratchets. I’m looking forward to the new version’s release in November.
Joe
I convinced work to buy one (1/4″ extended reach Fuel) for a special project. It came in handy for that job, cut it down from approx 32 hours to less than 8. Kept the machine together better than using bolt cutters to extract the unwanted parts. Saved on the band-aid bill over the bolt cutters as well.
Now it gets used for easy roller replacements to speed things along. Can get a 25 pack done much faster than wrench or manual ratchet would allow.
bill
If Milwaukee keeps on with these high prices, pretty soon they will be the new Snap-ON,