The smallest problem can make the task at hand frustrating and time consuming. Every race mechanic can identify with fumbling to remove or replace a nut without dropping or cross threading a nut especially at high temperature. Valve covers, carburetors and gear covers are locations which will benefit from this product.

Blue anodized Madco Ratchet Fit Fastener for valve covers for the ultimate in control. Snaps directly to the ratchet. No socket required.

No socket required will simplify this task even further. These fasteners need not fall down the into the intake or the oil drain pan ever again, no more burned knuckles or searching to find your lost fastener.

Mechanics will immediately recognize the value of these fasteners after their first use.

• Valve Covers Fasteners
  
• Carburetor Fasteners
  
• Quick Change Gear Cover Fasteners
  

A task simplified in the pits makes for better performance on the track.

Madco Ratchet Fit Fasteners are now available. Shop online at www.MadcoFasteners.com 

The idea behind this fastener started with a common problem seen in pit stalls at race tracks across the country.

Madco Motorsports recognized areas where a standard nut was nearly impossible to start in a tight location or would slip out of the socket as soon as the tool is angled downward.

The Madco Ratchet Fit Fastener is a uniquely designed fastener that provides ultimate control and minimal loss while starting the thread.

This fastener features a standard square recess that snaps directly to your extension as would a socket while the other end is threaded to accept the male stud.

Our performance racing line is machined from light weight 7075 aircraft aluminum alloy in our state of the art CNC machine shop then anodized to increase durability and laser engraved for visual appeal.

The Madco Ratchet Fit Fastener is ideal for areas where hardware is frequently serviced and replaced in difficult to reach locations.

Grant Brown of Madco Machine Inc. uses his new ratchet to tighten a bolt on an engine head. Photo by RANDY FIEDLER/Advocate staff

Burnt knuckles and time spent on hands and knees searching for dropped fasteners proved inspirational for Grant Brown.

The owner of Madco Machine Inc. in Red Deer has developed a unique set of fasteners that eliminates the frustrating and sometimes painful exercise of trying to fit a ratchet socket onto an inaccessible nut. And he thinks they have commercial potential.

Brown’s threaded fasteners snap directly onto a standard ratchet or ratchet extension — eliminating the need for sockets. The fasteners are held in place by the spring ball on the ratchet or extension until they’ve been screwed tight or removed.

The idea behind Madco Fasteners arose as a result of Brown’s longtime involvement in stock car racing. Conventional sockets were an ongoing source of problems when performing tasks like loosening or tightening the nuts on valve covers.

Often, the fasteners would fall out of the sockets.

“Especially when the header is hot, there’s just no possible way of doing it. So you end up jury-rigging something with a socket.”

Brown is optimistic the racing industry will recognize the advantages.

“Potentially we could see some of the Nextel Cup teams using our valve cover fasteners, for instance.”

Socket-head nuts and bolts would also be useful in other settings, suggested Brown.

For instance, fasteners that must be removed frequently or are in sensitive places could be replaced with Madco Fasteners.

“There will be places like that, where the industry will say, ‘You know what, the benefit of knowing those fasteners are never going to fall outweighs the use of conventional fasteners, so we’ll pay a little bit extra.”

Brown has filed for patent protection in Canada, the United States and world-wide under the Patent Co-operation Treaty — a complex process he acknowledges was an eye-opener.

“And a wallet-opener too.”

But he’s now ready to go into production, ideally with the help of a manufacturer that would buy production rights for Madco Fasteners. He hopes to make some connections at the Nov. 12 to 14 National Industrial Fastener Show in Las Vegas, where he’ll have an exhibit.

“That’s where all the big corporate heavyweights will be.”

Brown was at last year’s show scouting for production partners.

“I basically went down with a couple fasteners in my pocket and a clean shirt on.”

Madco Fasteners also gained some exposure at last year’s Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Orlando, Fla. Blaise Gaucher, Brown’s racing crew chief, was there pitching the product.

Brown even auditioned for the CBC program Dragons’ Den, where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to a panel of successful business people in hopes of attracting venture capital. Although he failed to earn a spot on the airwaves, the experience was beneficial and gave him some good tips, said Brown.

The big challenge, he said, has been demonstrating the need for socketless fasteners to people who wouldn’t use such equipment.

“Too many of the people I try to pitch the idea to are desk people. That makes it tougher.

“I’ve got to get it into the hands of the user. Once that happens, they’ll bring it to the higher-ups.”

Brown hopes to set up displays in retail fastener shops, and has a Madco Fasteners sign on his racing car. He’s also gotten valuable marketing help from his website designer, Rod Ormon of CodeWest Ltd.

He hopes to soon capitalize on the contacts he’s been making.

But if he hasn’t secured a manufacturer by the end of this winter Brown is prepared to go into production himself — with his Red Deer machine shop the base of operations.

He’s convinced he has a winner, pointing out that billions of threaded fasteners are used every year around the world.

“Just that little sliver of the fastener industry would end up being a huge thing.”

More information about Madco Fasteners can be found online at www.MadcoFasteners.com.

Madco Ratchet Fit Fastener is driven by extension of required length to reach into tight areas - no socket required.

Fig 1 - Fastener is driven with a standard ratchet

Fig 2 - Ratchet pulls away from fastener - No socket required.

Fig 3 - Fastener in place. Unique square receptable design accepts ratchet directly

Extension snaps into and secures Madco Ratchet Fit Fastener eliminating risk of losing fasteners in critical areas.  

Fig 1 - Fastener attached in hard to reach area.

Fig 2 - Ratchet fits directly into the fastener

Fig 3 - Fasteners removed and replaced without risk of losing into critical areas

The Madco Ratchet Fit Fastener features a square receptacle which accepts and secures directly to the square drive of a ratchet or ratchet extension until purposely pulled apart 

• avoiding dropped or lost fasteners and
  
• eliminating the need for sockets on the ratchet.

The Madco Ratchet Fit Fastener is ideal for applications where hardware is frequently removed and replaced.

Madco Fasteners is looking for parties interested in licensing or purchasing patent rights. To discuss possibilities call or email.

Click here to download our brochure.

Please note that the document is in Adobe PDF format and the Adobe Acrobat Reader or equivalent will be required to view the document.

Every toolbox in North America has a ratchet but the toolbox may not contain the right size socket. 

The Madco Ratchet Fit Fastener fits every ratchet every time.