Snap On ratchet break-in... again.

[eschoendorff]

I just bought a new F936 3/8" ratchet (always wanted one... sort of a gift from my lovely wife) and I hadn't really had a chance to use it until yesterday. As I was using it, I noticed that some fort of clear-ish lightweight grease seemed to be oozing from the area between the cover and the square drive. At first I just assumed that these ratchets must come packed with lube from the factory and I was just breaking it in. Then I thought I'd better ask and make sure....

Andybody have any experience with this?

[eschoendorff]

Anyone? ... tap... tap... is this thing on????.... <crickets chirping>

[iiibdsiil]

I've never heard of this, but who knows. I wouldn't be concerned though. It's probably some grease that gets put in from the factory. I mean, if it's new, there's hardly a chance there is something in there that is not supposed to be there.

[kartracer55]

Does it smell like cosmoline? That very well may be what it is... does it have a yellowish tinge to it? If so, its just ot keep it from rusting. Id be surprised if it actually had a grease as they warn not to use grease in big bold letters

Jim

[sberry]

I cant resist this, buy a Snap On ratchet and have to start worrying about it the first day you got it,,, hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahaaaaaaaa

[Thumper]

K-Y jelly ????? Nah.........LMAO



"walk softly and carry a Thundergun" :thumbup:

[evildky]

I have some sk palm control ratchets that came packed with lithium grease, I've packed my craftsmans with reg gear lube and no problems from any of them, my snapon has been with a bud awaiting the notorious backordered rebuild from the dealer that stops at his work, I have no idea about wether it came greased or not, all I knwo is it didn't hold up as well as the others

[eschoendorff]

Does it smell like cosmoline? That very well may be what it is... does it have a yellowish tinge to it? If so, its just ot keep it from rusting. Id be surprised if it actually had a grease as they warn not to use grease in big bold letters

Jim
Nope. Looks just like fishing reel grease. The ratchet is a very tight mechanism... no slop at all. I don't think this was a huge issue... I was more curious than anything. Just wondered if anyone else had noticed this.

Ed

[Luckydevil]

I'd open it up and take a look. Probably nothing to be worried about, but taking stuff apart is fun.

[Wolverine]

36 tooth ratchet? How does it compare to other ratchets you have????????


........... just curious, I've never tried a snapy ratchet.

[Uncle Buck]

I would not worry about it. I am sure it is some kind of assembly lube. I am sure it will quit leaking after a short time.

[dink]

The ratchet is bleeding...send it to my and I will apply first aid to it and bandage it up and try to send it back to you

[eschoendorff]

36 tooth ratchet? How does it compare to other ratchets you have????????


........... just curious, I've never tried a snapy ratchet.

Well, I got one just cause I always wanted one and my wife gave me the green light. As a ratchet, it's really nice... very tight and postitive feeling. I really like it, but I like most of my ratchets... esp my Kobalt (36 tooth - although the Kobalt [danaher] is a little more "loose" feeling). The only other ratchet that I have that comes close to the smoothness of the Snappy is my SK palm control (72 teeth IIRC). But in all fairness, that is a smoother ratchet. As for the Snap On, I don't know that I would pay full price for another one, but I really like the one I have.

BTW... I called Snap On, and they basically said to make sure that the screws for the cover plate are tightened down and that a little seepage was not a huge concern. When (if) it breaks, I'll just send it in for warranty... or give it back to the dealer that sold it to me in the first place.

My original post was more out of curiosity to see if anyone else had noticed the same thing with their newer Snap Ons.

[Merkava_4]

The first thing I did when I got my F936 is pull the cover plate and get their clear silicone lube out of there. I just pulled the gear out and wiped as much as I could out of the ratchet with a paper towel.

Sta-Lube SL3311. Look no further for a ratchet lube that will make your ratchet run smooth and quiet. But you don't pack it in! You just lightly brush it on the gear with the gear out using an acid brush. Go ahead and brush a film on the bottom of the gear too. Then you install the gear and work a little in around the pawl and swish some around on top of the gear by the square drive. Then you very lightly brush some on the cover plate.

If you get too much grease in, wipe the brush on a paper towel and resume spreading it on and working it in.

Install the cover plate and you're done.

After you get it back together and if it sounds too quiet, you've got too much grease in there. You'll have to remove the cover plate and pull some grease out. Wipe your brush on a paper towel. After you do this a few times, you'll know how much grease to use the next time.



http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n284/MACDRIVE/Sta-Lube_SL3311.jpg


By the way, this is what an acid brush looks like. You'll usually find them next to the soldering paste at the hardware store.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n284/MACDRIVE/ACIDBRUSH2.jpg

[wrenchr]

I allways take my new ratchets apart and make sure they have oil, Mac's ratchets come dry!!

[Danglerb]

Whats the problem with too much grease?

[Uncle Buck]

Whats the problem with too much grease?

After many years it will dry and harden meaning you simply pull it apart clean the old grease out and repack it again. I have been packing mine plum full for over twenty years and have never had to repack one yet due to hardened grease; perhaps in another twenty years I might have to clean one out and repack it due to hardened grease. (I use the white grease too.) Additionally I have never had one packed in this way hang up, break, or slip or malfunction in any way! :wtf:

[toolfreak]

It is nothing to worry about, I have 8 snap on sealed head ratchets and they all leaked like that. It's just the grease coming out from inside the dead of the ratchet. IMO, they are not a completely sealed head but they are much better that other ratchets at keeping dirt out. After 3 years of alot of use my 3/8"s had to be taken apart and greased because it wouldn't ratchet or the lever wouldn't move very easily. I just used a light grease and it took care of the problem but my snap on man said just give it to him and he will replace the guts.

[Merkava_4]

Whats the problem with too much grease?

Too much grease and the pawl won't engage with the gear properly. The pawl and gear will try to force the grease out of their way, but there's no where to go since it's a closed in environment.

The SL3311 won't harden up; the most it will do is gel up at very low temperatures.

[eschoendorff]

Yup... MAC ratchets come dry. Maybe I should try some of taht Sta-Lube. Up till now, I just let teh ratchet sit in a can of ATF.

[Merkava_4]

Castrol straight HD40 is a good alternative for ratchets, but it will seep a little out onto your drawer liner.

[wrenchr]

Castrol straight HD40 is a good alternative for ratchets, but it will seep a little out onto your drawer liner.

No problem less chance of rust!!:thumbup: