The Best Ratchet Lube Has Been Discovered

[Hohn]

Asking (anyone): I don't think there's anything about the geometry of our ratchets that forces the pawl in toward the center of the main gear besides the pawl spring is there?

If you don't have a pawl spring or if grit, grime, or something soft like grease is stopping the pawl from going fully home, no amount of load on the gear will change that relationship, correct?

Before the pawl is engaged, no-- it's only the spring.
But once it's initially engaged, the pawl's seating force is self-reinforcing.

 

[FTG-05]

I had many of these that were not good.


I believe these are the raised panels, and they aren't good. This was 1990s and beginning of the end, IMO.

One of my 1/4" looks like the top pic and my 3/8's look exactly like the bottom pic. I'll take some pics tomorrow.

 

[FTG-05]

Pics of my ratchets:



I cleaned one of the 3/8s yesterday; I need better snap pliers.





I cleaned and lubed it up with Super Lube; works very smoothly now!

 

[peteco]

I believe these are the raised panels, and they aren't good. This was 1990s and beginning of the end, IMO.

Bought my first Craftsman raised panel ratchets in 1975. I probably own 15-20. I clean and lube them (3-in-1 oil) when they look like they need it, which is not very often. Never had one fail or bust my knuckles. They work fine for me.

I also have Snap-on, Stanley, Klutch, Mac, VIM, Husky, and Thorsen ratchets. All loved, lubed and work fine.

Plus several other no-name ratchets. Most of these work fine, though some of these have high back-drag.

Must say, I did buy a 1/4 Craftsman ratchet set when Sears switched to China made, early 2000s I think. All of it was poor quality and I immediately returned it to Sears. So all my Craftsman's are older than that.

(Obviously I'm just a DIYer. I'm sure I would feel different if I was a pro mechanic)

 

[ronkz650]

Don't know if anyone cares, but my experience with all Super Lube products is they are dismal to say the least. Yes they work, but mostly they are cheap and overrated. Spend a few extra dollars and get Molykote products. The EM30L works fantastic.

Amazon.com: Dow Corning Molykote EM-30L High Performance Synthetic Grease Lubricant 2oz 57g : Industrial & Scientific

Buy Dow Corning Molykote EM-30L High Performance Synthetic Grease Lubricant 2oz 57g on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders

www.amazon.com

 

[gatewaysysop]

Don't know if anyone cares, but my experience with all Super Lube products is they are dismal to say the least. Yes they work, but mostly they are cheap and overrated. Spend a few extra dollars and get Molykote products. The EM30L works fantastic.

I care, so I'll bite. What kind of experiences have you had with Super Lube? What products of theirs did you use, what have you used them on and what about the products made them 'dismal' for the purpose? Please share some details.

 

[Dig Doug]

I’ve had some of these since mid 90’s

I’ve never even opened en up !

 

[M.Jay]

Don't know if anyone cares, but my experience with all Super Lube products is they are dismal to say the least. Yes they work, but mostly they are cheap and overrated.

I'm pretty sure this was already discussed somwhere, but the original Super Lube grease was intended as a food safe non toxic lubrication for the food industry. It just happens that this stuff also works as a very good all-purpose lubricant.

Are there better lubricants out there? Sure, but does a ratchet really need some high-end premium grease?

 

[AEAdam]

I'm pretty sure this was already discussed somwhere, but the original Super Lube grease was intended as a food safe non toxic lubrication for the food industry. It just happens that this stuff also works as a very good all-purpose lubricant.

Are there better lubricants out there? Sure, but does a ratchet really need some high-end premium grease?

Yes, that has been mentioned and I’m sure you are right. I think the number 1 downside is that the commonly available NLGI 2 is too thick and the NLGI 00 is not super available.

Every so often a GJ member buys 100 of the 1ml? packets and sells them. Last time someone did this, I bought 20 of them, which should last me. Recommend we do this regularly. I don't think the 100 pack is crazy money. If you offer them for sale you can recoup maybe all you spent and really help your friends here. It’s just a nice thing to do.

Just found them on eBay for around $1 each.

 

[Ohio Andy]

Yes, that has been mentioned and I’m sure you are right. I think the number 1 downside is that the commonly available NLGI 2 is too thick and the NLGI 00 is not super available.

Every so often a GJ member buys 100 of the 1ml? packets and sells them. Last time someone did this, I bought 20 of them, which should last me. Recommend we do this regularly. I don't think the 100 pack is crazy money. If you offer them for sale you can recoup maybe all you spent and really help your friends here. It’s just a nice thing to do.

Just found them on eBay for around $1 each.

I have a stash if anyone needs some... Problem is I can't just throw them in an envelope. You actually have to pack them so you lose a lot in shipping

 

[Abraham_TX]

Hazet recommends using NLGI‑1 or lighter grease for their HiPer 90‑tooth ratchets. Since I’m a bike guy, I use Shimano Y3B980000 — a grease formulated for bicycle hubs — which appears to be an NLGI‑0 grade and works perfectly for my hi tooth count ratchets.

 

[lund]

This thread somewhat surprises me with what some are writing on strong lube opinions. Ratchets are not super high tech things and should not be THAT finicky on the type of lube used. Most anything that has the right range of viscosity, will not run out, and will not rapidly dry out (unless you want to open them up and relube often) should be fine. I very much doubt the viscosity needs fine tuning for most mechanisms.

To me the biggest problem can be dealing with the small ball bearing and spring in some of them when opening to clean up and lub. Not losing them when taking apart and getting them the seat right on reassembly can be awkward (Snap on I think has a small shim with a depression that they sell for it and it would be easy to make something similar). Some ratchets are hard to figure out how to release and remove the clip holding the ratchet in the body. For some of those that I did not want to mess with or risk damaging, I just soaked the head in Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF). That worked ok, but I am not thrilled about the approach since some ATFs stink and that is more messy since some also leak out while using after the initial drain.

 

[shwarmapolice]

The Tools and Twisties Youtube channel gave me an idea for the 00 grease - buy a tub of it (comes in caulk-sized containers for ~$26 IIRC), put that in an airtight container and get some cheap syringes for dispensing it. Overkill but $40 or so for a lifetime of grease beats trying to hoard the little packs.

 

[Abraham_TX]

I wrote it based on Hazet’s suggestion. It’s not a strong personal opinion—just an advisory note to show people that this could be a viable alternative if they already have the Shimano grease