Had one of these Victorinox Swiss kits with ratchet set when I was buying & selling motorbikes in Hong Kong - and (particularly with my Harley Sportster), once you've added a few more 1/4' hex bits to the empty rack spaces, you can do almost anything on an H-D - apart from plug changes, where a larger socket is needed than can be carried in this pouch. An excellent tool, though one error in this video (around 1:55), is where the narrator talks about bit retention - which is actually achieved when the spring-steel circle inside each 1/4" hex opening engages in the small grooves etched into each driver bit, halfway along the 1/4" hexagonal section. So, to answer one of the questions below, if you own a bike, you should carry a Victorinox Swiss Tool Spirit with Ratchet in your jacket.
Thank you, great review! Purchased the Topeak set right after watching this video! I was just wondering why the Victorinox extension does not have the Victorinox Shield and Cross emblem/ logo engraved on it, I can only see it on the ratchet head. But anyhow, if you are a Victorinox collector or maybe just want to put together a complete Victorinox SwissTool set, it's understandable that you will purchase them but otherwise, I really don't see the point of paying all that money for a single Victorinox mini ratchet or a single extension (with no logo) if for almost the same price you can get both tools, and probably a better ratchet, in the Topeak package, plus the Topeak ratchet has a spinner disk and also a reversible On/Off switch lever so you don't need to use both hands to remove the bit in order to flip the ratchet around to change direction. Well, this is an old post, so you guys probably figured out by now, just thought I'd give you my two cents.
Rien que la vérité - the only advantage of the Victorinox is that it is a much slimmer head profile (obviously does *not* have the lever tho.. but putting one in would make it the size of Topeak) and that wrench will fit in places where the Topeak just wont go (tho it has overall great “clearance” definitely). For this reason the Victorinox is more useful for MY personal purposes ;) Also comes with a lifetime warranty which is absolutely nice.. But for most ppl that don’t necessarily *need* that extra clearance, the Topeak is prob the better set to get Cheers
HI.. to all EDC GROUP.. I like all the EDC Tool.. and alwiz use it for my work... all the brand i like... but in my opinion the price victorinox and leatherman multitool in malaysia are very expensive and crazy... better buy from china multitool coz i can easy buy it a 3 or 4 times if the multitool broken... the price its ok and reasonable...
O'Rielly's Auto Parts has the Topeak now labeled as GM Power Torque Bit Ratchet for less than $20. Comes with 9 bits and a hard plastic case with a keychain-- Just picked it up and you're right, the teeth are super fine but damn strong.
Worth noting that the Topeak RR Lite sets all seem to come with a magnetic ¼" extension, now. Also, Topeak tools only have a 2-year warranty, because they're more likely to spend long periods exposed to the elements, out in bad weather and getting covered by dirt, grit, mud, salt, road crap, and all sorts of other gunk. Properly looked after, they should be fine!
When you say EDC, do you mean you physically carry this on your body daily? I can imagine if I lived in a major city and commuted on the train to work everyday I would keep certain gear in my briefcase, backpack or laptop bag. I happen to be a real estate agent in Chattanooga, Tennessee and I keep a small tool bag in my car with lots of usable tools. On my body I only carry a flashlight, pocket knife, wallet, phone and a pistol. I'm just curious, do you carry this around in your vehicle which is relatively convenient or do you actually carry this in your pocket? I'm only asking because I'm looking for a compact wrench that is smaller than what I currently have because it will make it much easier to work on some of my compact vehicles. In not looking for the most pocket friendly. I need something that is robust and can do the work.
Bro, of all the Vic sets with ratchest that I see none seems to carry the extension bar, am I wrong? have you put togheter the kit? if yes, mind to share since I am gonna copy you on this one? thanks see you on the USN Ciao
Very accurate review that answered 2 questions i had about victorinox ratchet. But i still have 2 more questions: 1) Topeak is standard 1/4'' bit or slightly different size? 2) Do you know if exist cheaper mini ratchers, very similar to vicrorinox model, or at least similar to Topeak? On ebay, amazon, alibaba i found a lots but quite different from the real minimalistic small light but versatile victorinox ratchet that allow also extension bar. Thanks in advance.
You were able to remove the extension so easily from the ratchet. How did u do it? I have the Topeak toolkit and struggling to remove the extension from the ratchet
Greater torque is achieved by lengthening the lever arm, not by extending the standoff distance/height from the fulcrum. In simple terms. Adding the bit extender/extension bar provides ZERO additional torque, so using the hand as the bit driver and the extension as the handle (7:30) is only providing greater length for accessing the screw/bolt. It is doing nothing to increase torque.
I am interested as a EDC for when i don't have a tool kit handy. I carry a Gerber multi tool and use it all the time. The limitation of the Gerber is in the screw/bit drivers. I often need a different size or type of bit than the Gerber has. Also i have broken a screw driver tip on it but cannot replace it. Looks like these ratchets could also be used with 1/4 drive sockets for appliances and electronics. We own apartments so I am always working on something.
Mine came in especially handy in taking out some really long allen bolts that were pocket-holed into a 90º butt-joint. Allen keys would have taken *for-EVAH* to get each of those out, due to the tight walls around it, but the Topeak just whipped them out!!
Alonso Franco are you saying that victorinox uses standard 1/4'' bits while Topeak uses non standard bits size? That would be so bad. On Topeak website i didn' find any mention to 1/4'' size.
Ratchet. Not a hammer. You have to be able to remove the bits. And it's directional according to side use. So yeah let's be grateful the detent isn't permanent. Ratchets apply Force to the side. What are you using a ratchet with that you need down force?
You will still need some force pushing the bit into the bolt/screw, else you will wrench the bit out and risk stripping the head, especially with the screwdriver bits on stubborn/rusted screws... at which point you're fucked, unless you EDC a pneumatic impact driver and a compressor!
