Hard handle gaps on ratchets?

[GX460DIYguy]

I’ve been searching for a couple models of hard handle ratchets from years past and noticed most have a gap between the top of the handle and the flanged area they’re supposed to be up against. What’s the deal with this? I’ve seen it mentioned a couple times here but there weren’t any answers that I saw. Just slipped down over time? Shrinkage from aging materials?

 

[four.cycle]

photos?

 

[GX460DIYguy]

Some are worse than others, but this is a good example.

 

[Jasmith801]

I’ve been searching for a couple models of hard handle ratchets from years past and noticed most have a gap between the top of the handle and the flanged area they’re supposed to be up against. What’s the deal with this? I’ve seen it mentioned a couple times here but there weren’t any answers that I saw. Just slipped down over time? Shrinkage from aging materials?

Does it really matter? Just tools

 

[d.mcfarland]

Some are worse than others, but this is a good example.

Very high chance this is due to the handle itself changing chemically over time due to things like aging, chemical exposure, UV exposure, oxidation, etc. AKA it probably shrunk dimensionally.

 

[seber]

Mine is like that. When I replaced the handle, that was as far as it would go. I'm pretty sure, the hole just wasn't drilled deep enough.

 

[KnurledNut]

If it was shrinkage it would happen on screwdrivers too, but I have rarely seen that, even with the Snap-on contour handles the OP pictured that also had problems with breaking down and cracking over time.
A lot of ratchet handles use the same crimped tang retention which works great with screwdrivers where you are twisting and pushing down.
But with ratchets you are always pulling laterally and often times away from the tool body, all with a measure of twisting.
It seems logical that over time they creep down from these additional forces.
Ratchets get immersed in fluids too which can wick into the handle connection and lubricate a joint that relies on friction retention.
I recently tightened up an older gapped MAC ratchet hard handle with a few hammer blows.

 

[johninct]

Just pop the handle off and drill the hole deeper. If necessary, drill a small countersink hole for the big part.

 

[mike93lx]

Does it really matter? Just tools

Why bother posting that?

Does it really matter that he's curious? Just a forum post

 

[Fedwrench]

Are the gaps all on the really old snap on rectangular handle model or other newer models as well?

I've had the old rectangular handles just crumble sitting in a drawer.

 

[woody 73]

Funny but I also have several snap on tools with the same gap, I never gave it much thought, I suppose taking the handle off and drilling it a tad deeper would fix the problem. At first, I thought it was an odd ball leaving the factory, but several of my snap on tools the handles either break easy or turn white; so, like someone above pointed out maybe shrinkage from age?

 

[Kurt4440]

I only have one Snap-on hard handle ratchet. It does not have a gap in the handle. In general, I prefer tools that don't have handles that: burn, crack, change colors, crumble, shrink, or have funky odors.