Pproto Ratchet Parts

Grainger has discontinued the replacement kits as has apparently Proto for the older Plomb era Proto design and I needed parts for a 5449 (1/2) and a 3/8.

Long story short Urrea Professional Tools (Mexico) still makes that style ratchet (with the same Plomb/Proto part numbers) and offers replacement kits. I tried to order online but the website was acting odd. I called the toll free number and was well taken care of by a real human being and the phone was answered by a person, not a machine. Overall the service was great. The kits were sent from Texas to California in two working days! She gave me 50% off the parts and the Urrea parts kits are less than what Grainger had been selling them for. For the Quick Relase fans they also offer a QR parts kit in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2. The only downside is the parts are all black oxide finish so if you're looking for original finish you may have to keep looking. Also the new bottom plate is the figure 8 style so if you need a racetrack style this will physically fit the ratchet but won't look correct.

http://www.urreaprofessionaltools.com/public/pag1.aspx

The parts for the 5449 fit and worked great. I kept the old brass selector lever for correct appearance and the gear was still good so I kept that as well. I replaced the springs, pawls and selector cam.

5249RK (3/8) and 5449RK (1/2) kits



Contents of 5449RK kit.



The WF series ratchets can not use most of the parts, at least without modification, as they are different.

within the last few weeks, i have had kits for a 5449 1/2 and a 5250pbl sent to me from proto USA free.... 1-800-800-tool is the number...

As posted above Proto still sells these ratchets and has kits.

How much were the kits from URREA?

Drago Supply in Texas still has them. I have noticed that Proto does not show the 5249RK for 3/8 drive on their site anymore, only 5449RK for 1/2 drive seems to be available. Those Proto repair kits are becoming very rare, so snag them up when you see them. You'll likely never need them, but you knever know. Better to be safe than sorry. Mine are a couple decades old and have never needed them yet.

In any case, the Urreas are basically the same thing and from what I hear, the same quality, just made in Mexico. Likely those will be available long after the Proto kits are no longer in production. Urrea is an industrial tool that I believe was once ProtoMex.

I just got 2 4749 kits for free from proto, 2 weeks ago. I also had some postings showing some urrea kits I got cheap, but kinda prefer the chrome looking selector on the protos better than the black urrea.

When I contacted Proto I was told they no longer make the parts because it's an obsolete model which is why I looked to Urrea. If that was not correct, I guess I'm not too surprised and I didn't do any followup I just took her at her word.

Here is a cut and paste from the Urrea site. Parts with the Q are quick release.

4749QRK RATCHET REPAIR KIT FOR 4749 $20.00 $20.00
4749RK RATCHET REPAIR KIT FOR 4749 $11.38 $11.38
5249NRK RATCHET REPAIR KIT FOR 5249N $13.28 $13.28
5249QRK RATCHET REPAIR KIT FOR 5249Q $14.88 $14.88
5249RK RATCHET REPAIR KIT FOR 5249 $11.66 $11.66
5252ARK RATCHET REPAIR KIT FOR 5452A $9.96 $9.96
544952NRK RATCHET REPAIR KIT FOR 544952N $26.75 $26.75
5449QRK RATCHET REPAIR KIT FOR 5449Q $31.63 $31.63
5449RK RATCHET REPAIR KIT FOR 5449 $17.31 $17.31
5452ARK RATCHET REPAIR KIT FOR 5452A $19.01 $19.01
5649QRK RATCHET REPAIR KIT FOR 5649Q $46.56 $46.56
5649RK RATCHET REPAIR KIT FOR 5649 $40.47 $40.47
5849RK RATCHET REPAIR KT FOR 5849 $52.44 $52.44

on my way to work this morning, I decided to call the proto service number... (yes, it is in my cell phone)... and see about ratchet kits... conversation goes as follows...

lady answers politly, asks how she can help me,

I say good morning, I have a few ratchets that are not working correctly..

she suggests that i send the ratchets in to them unless I thought a rebuild kit would work...

I say ... the kits should work just fine as they are just slipping....

she then askes me for the ratchet part numbers

I say the first one... 5250pbl....
she says that ratchet has been discontinued... but double checks inventory for rebuild kit and say they still have some of them....

I respond great, but to bad about it being discontinued... one of my favorite ratchets...

she askes then for the other ratchet number...

i tell her it is a 5449...

she verifies that it is not the big dawg series, just the traditional 1/2 ratchet

I say yes...

she then askes for my shipping info and i give it to her...

she then offers to give me an additional kit for the 5250pbl since i like it so much....

after this, i told her than you and complimenterd her on her/ protos customer service....


now, why are we discusing purchasing these kits when they will help us so willingly using protos customer service.... i would deal with proto day in and day out over craftsman... they are quicker than snap on(unless you happen to break it just before they pull into your lot).... I made a phone cal, had a pleasant conversation and will have rebuild kits within a few days.... what more can we ask for than that.... other than for them to continue producing the big dawg series ratchets