Craftsman Ratchet Rebuild

[Twhedon]

Yes I know this has been talked about but I have 4 here. I’m wondering if anyone has had luck with getting rebuild kits for their craftsman ratchets from craftsman, or if the only option is ebay. I thought I read on here that the new Chinese internals would fit. I called in and got nothing but the run around from call centers in other countries. My other question is are any of these worth anything? 3/4 are broken. The four ratchets are

• VG-44809
• V-44985
• KV-44814
• KAD 2548 not broken, but I want an extra kit just in case.

 

[dnschmidt]

Personal opinion, and I might be in the minority here: WHY BOTHER?

 

[CoThG]

No, they are not worth anything. Might as well use them for hammers.

 

[d.mcfarland]

The KAD2548 is a good ratchet. The rest are junk compared to the new offerings you will get by warranting them.

 

[jsmeece]

Why does the majority of people on here believe everyone needs tool truck quality tools? Just answer his question, if you can't why bother commenting at all.

To the OP, unless you can get help from Sears or Apex, which I doubt, you can look on Ebay or other on-line sources. Some kits are still available in the wild just finding them at a decent price may be difficult. Something to think about, how important are these ratchets to you? Do they have any sentimental value? If they don't, I would not spend a lot of money trying to find rebuilt kits. Sell or trade them, then take that money and buy replacement ratchets, even the ones at local auto parts stores are better quality. That KAD2548, I agree is a pretty good ratchet considering it is a Craftsman ratchet. Good luck with your hunt.

 

[dnschmidt]

Why does the majority of people on here believe everyone needs tool truck quality tools? Just answer his question, if you can't why bother commenting at all.

To the OP, unless you can get help from Sears or Apex, which I doubt, you can look on Ebay or other on-line sources. Some kits are still available in the wild just finding them at a decent price may be difficult. Something to think about, how important are these ratchets to you? Do they have any sentimental value? If they don't, I would not spend a lot of money trying to find rebuilt kits. Sell or trade them, then take that money and buy replacement ratchets, even the ones at local auto parts stores are better quality. That KAD2548, I agree is a pretty good ratchet considering it is a Craftsman ratchet. Good luck with your hunt.

We don't. but any Pittsburgh Pro ratchet is far superior to that junk and you don't have to hunt anything down or call Apex or anybody else. Nobody told him to buy Snap-On or Matco ratchets we simply told him that what he has is basically scrap metal.

 

[Twhedon]

I mean. You guys are probably right on most of them. I really like the 84t and I thought that one was worth something. Looks like they are going for a decent amount online. I just was wondering if I could get a backup mechanism. I found a video from someone from this page. One of the others is sentimental and I just wanted to keep it. The last two might just get traded in or used as hammers haha.

 

[bonneyman]

When the premium 84T came out, I was tempted to buy a pair. But I felt the handle was too thick and heavy, and I wondered how the warranty would work in the future because Sears was already having problems. I passed. I'm glad I did. Though the tool felt smooth and had a nice tooth count looking back I think it was better just to invest my cash in older, more reliable designs. History proved my suspicions out.
In all fairness I did the same with S-K's 90 tooth new ratchet. Same feelings, same results.

 

[Callelle]

I emailed craftsman for warranty replacements and they sent me a slew of new V series ratchets. They didn't even ask for them back.

 

[vssjim]

I mean. You guys are probably right on most of them. I really like the 84t and I thought that one was worth something. Looks like they are going for a decent amount online. I just was wondering if I could get a backup mechanism. I found a video from someone from this page. One of the others is sentimental and I just wanted to keep it. The last two might just get traded in or used as hammers haha.

I have sent you a message as I have one of the old style I'll send you,

 

[joel_400]

There was a time when I bought a whole plastic grocery bag full if kits for those style ratchets. It was right about when all the Sears stores in the country were closing up. I've pretty much used all the useful kits somewhere I still have some oddball kits left. The wife couldn't believe I bought every one the guy had...but they were 25 cents each! The best part was the little tool that came in a few of them for holding the detent ball inside, handy little tool for many types of ratchets. I did repair many old broke Craftsman ratchets out of that bunch of kits though...sadly most were for other people! If I ever find another bunch of those kits for that price I'd do it all over again, even if it's just to help somebody else out!
Joel

 

[Komet]

I went to ebay for my rebuild kits. They aren't really worth anything, but if a ratchet is comfortable to use and has low backdrag, it's a good ratchet imo.

I lucked out and my rebuild kit for my 1/2" raised panel has super low backdrag and a metal selector switch. The low tooth count doesn't bother me on that ratchet because I'm typically using it on big stuff.

 

[Skyman]

Being the contrarian that I am, I'll vote for repairing those if the cost to do so isn't ridiculous. I've long been an advocate of keeping useful things out of landfills. I rehabilitate many things that others would consider junk. If I have no use for them after the rehab, I give them away so that they may go on to provide useful service for somebody else. If these ratchets are not of acceptable quality to the OP after they've been returned to good working order, consider passing them along to a young person, a person of limited financial resources, etc.

 

[WWheeler]

The kits for Craftsman's Chinese-made ratchets WILL NOT work in their USA made ratchets, even though they share the same ratchet part numbers. The listing for rebuild kits should clearly mention that fact as well. Unfortunately, a good condition used Craftsman USA ratchet in working order probably cost less than what the scalpers are wanting these days for a rebuild kit.

 

[Vwpower]

I’d fix them. The value is in entertaining yourself for a couple hours by making something that doesn’t work work.

 

[Pratera]

They're easy enough to clean and fix without replacing any parts, I've done several and they work great now. Usually just dried up grease that needs to be cleaned off then add Super Lube and reassemble.

 

[bugnut]

Was this in the very recent past?

I emailed craftsman for warranty replacements and they sent me a slew of new V series ratchets. They didn't even ask for them back.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Some of the parts from the Chinese ratchet repair kits will fit.
The spring, ball and the anvil will fit the USA-made ratchets, it is only the pawl and selector switch that do not interchange.

 

[vssjim]

I have a NOS new kit that was made in the US probably 15 years ago and offered to send it free and have not heard a word so not sure what is going on with this thread

 

[LSU]

I emailed craftsman for warranty replacements and they sent me a slew of new V series ratchets. They didn't even ask for them back.

Would you please share the email address you used?

thank you.

 

[vjquan]

Would you please share the email address you used?

thank you.

Yeah, because we all want free V series ratchets sent to us.

 

[Twhedon]

Being the contrarian that I am, I'll vote for repairing those if the cost to do so isn't ridiculous. I've long been an advocate of keeping useful things out of landfills. I rehabilitate many things that others would consider junk. If I have no use for them after the rehab, I give them away so that they may go on to provide useful service for somebody else. If these ratchets are not of acceptable quality to the OP after they've been returned to good working order, consider passing them along to a young person, a person of limited financial resources, etc.

I love passing some of my less used tools onto someone who is getting started or just needs some help. It’s nice to see it with someone I know as well, so I know it’s being used. I’m going to able to fix all of them but one. That one I can trade in I believe.

 

[Twhedon]

The kits for Craftsman's Chinese-made ratchets WILL NOT work in their USA made ratchets, even though they share the same ratchet part numbers. The listing for rebuild kits should clearly mention that fact as well. Unfortunately, a good condition used Craftsman USA ratchet in working order probably cost less than what the scalpers are wanting these days for a rebuild kit.

All of this is completely true.

 

[Twhedon]

They're easy enough to clean and fix without replacing any parts, I've done several and they work great now. Usually just dried up grease that needs to be cleaned off then add Super Lube and reassemble.

The only issue I had was that the directional selector was the part that broke.

 

[Twhedon]

I have a NOS new kit that was made in the US probably 15 years ago and offered to send it free and have not heard a word so not sure what is going on with this thread

Sorry, just got busy over here finishing up school.

 

[RedCastle12B]

Yes I know this has been talked about but I have 4 here. I’m wondering if anyone has had luck with getting rebuild kits for their craftsman ratchets from craftsman, or if the only option is ebay. I thought I read on here that the new Chinese internals would fit. I called in and got nothing but the run around from call centers in other countries. My other question is are any of these worth anything? 3/4 are broken. The four ratchets are

• VG-44809
• V-44985
• KV-44814
• KAD 2548 not broken, but I want an extra kit just in case.

I don't know anywhere else to source the kits, but if you're going use them everyday the kits make them like new.
I salvaged a multi piece tool set from the trash of an abandoned apartment and rebuilt all 3 ratchets. I also had to remove a ton of rust. It's missing several pieces but I have a good set of tools that I use for everything.
I'm a shadetree mechanic by hobby, and no complaints about what I have and use.

 

[RedCastle12B]

Being the contrarian that I am, I'll vote for repairing those if the cost to do so isn't ridiculous. I've long been an advocate of keeping useful things out of landfills. I rehabilitate many things that others would consider junk. If I have no use for them after the rehab, I give them away so that they may go on to provide useful service for somebody else. If these ratchets are not of acceptable quality to the OP after they've been returned to good working order, consider passing them along to a young person, a person of limited financial resources, etc.

I love a good rehabilitation project.

 

[wifetrained]

I'm old school and love the older ratchets. They don't have the teeth count but they are more durable IMO. The newer ones are hit and miss when it comes to quality. The Craftsman CMMT81748-49 series ratchets, for example, don't have great reviews overall. The current V series ratchets are nice.

 

[wifetrained]

FYI, the 44809 and the 44814 are the same internally. I believe the 44814 was considered their upper end professional model.

 

[jeff12340]

Yes I know this has been talked about but I have 4 here. I’m wondering if anyone has had luck with getting rebuild kits for their craftsman ratchets from craftsman, or if the only option is ebay. I thought I read on here that the new Chinese internals would fit. I called in and got nothing but the run around from call centers in other countries. My other question is are any of these worth anything? 3/4 are broken. The four ratchets are

• VG-44809
• V-44985
• KV-44814
• KAD 2548 not broken, but I want an extra kit just in case.

The kits are made in China now so unless you can find new old stock that where made in the USA your just better getting a new one by warranty yeah there from china but there pretty good quality compared to the China repair kits I only got a couple years out of one of the 1/2 repair kits where the original lasted 25 years