Best lube for ratchets????

[muddyjoe15]

Hi all,
I just picked up an Armstrong 1/2 ratchet, and I find the action a little coarse. I've been told, by some GJ members that have Armstrong ratchets, to put some lube in it to smooth it out. So my question is what are your guys' favorite lube for ratchets, and where can it be found?

Thanks in advance,
TJMo

 

[Homoudont]

I use the Red Lube of Love (Permatex 81950) and I got it from Autozone or Advanced Auto parts. It kinda ***** because it will leak out of the ratchet for a while, but as a lube it works well. I'll keep using it because one bottle will do like a gazillion ratchets and I'm too cheap to just try something else.

 

[Big Bad Jon]

I can't remember if it is Advance Auto or Autozone, but Permatex ultra slick assembly lube is my favorite. If the heads are not sealed they will bleed a little but it is so worth it.

 

[littlekillertoad]

what those guys said. Permatex is the way to go.

In a pinch though, I've had good luck with a little wheel bearing grease for fine tooth ratchets or a little turbine oil for courser ratchets. Be careful not to use to much grease or it'll make the ratchet too smooth or even make it bind.

 

[MrMark]

Armstrong uses marvel mystery oil, so we have been told. Any light oil should work well. Whatever you do, do not use grease, or heavy oil as that design will not tolerate it and pawl sticking issues will result.

 

[nismomans13]

what those guys said. Permatex is the way to go.

In a pinch though, I've had good luck with a little wheel bearing grease for fine tooth ratchets or a little turbine oil for courser ratchets. Be careful not to use to much grease or it'll make the ratchet too smooth or even make it bind.

I use wheel bearing grease in all my ratchets, valvoline to be specific if someone is wondering. I tried the permatex since I have plenty on hand and really didn't like it.

 

[Kirbot]

I always use either Super Lube or gear oil, depending on the type of ratchet.

 

[sk farmer]

the gearwrench, matco, armstrong, craftsman and those in that family like marvel mystery. i like the rll in most ratchets. sk , big dawg proto, cornwell, wright and others with good results. just use it with reason. i have put the clear grease that comes in the snappies in several ratchets , the name escapes me. it was promtly removed. edit--superlube

 

[gatewaysysop]

I always use either Super Lube or gear oil, depending on the type of ratchet.

I second the Super Lube. You can buy it on the cheap, even at HF and I really like how it worked on my coarse ratchets. It's in all my 24 tooth Protos and the Big Dawgs and, from the factory, in my F936 and F80s. Love the stuff and never had an issue with it.

 

[fordbroncodave]

i personally like the grey anti seize. it makes the ratchet more uniform when turning and doesn't feel harsh. not all that nice in cold weather but in the hot summer it sure works great

 

[gatewaysysop]

the gearwrench, matco, armstrong, craftsman and those in that family like marvel mystery. i like the rll in most ratchets. sk , big dawg proto, cornwell, wright and others with good results. just use it with reason. i have put the clear grease that comes in the snappies in several ratchets , the name escapes me. it was promtly removed. edit--superlube

I'm actually curious what you didn't like about the Super Lube or what types of ratchets it didn't work with. Please elaborate, since I've had good results especially in coarse tooth and I know other people on here use it as well on certain ratchets. Not trying to argue, really want to know if there's certain types of ratchets that it doesn't work well in or if it's just personal preference or something.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Super lube here....

 

[MrMark]

Superlube doesn't work in that family of ratchets. The Armstrong guy who posts on here will tell you as much. Before I knew any better I tried it myself and the ratchet was miserable. The sticky grease causes that pawl design to stick, leading to lockup and other problems.

The Superlube works in the Snap-on ratchets, obviously, and it works in the rotohead gearwrench as well. The older Craftsmans, ditto.

 

[Daddy_Rabbit]

plain ol' cheap aerosol can white lithium grease ..

 

[Fedwrench]

For 36 tooth ratchets or less, use assembly lube or brake caliper lube. For ratchets with 45 teeth or more, I prefer either air tool oil or Break Free CLP but, that's just me. Some people here get as emotional over the type of lube to use as they do about which name is on the ratchet.

 

[gatewaysysop]

Before I knew any better I tried it myself and the ratchet was miserable. The sticky grease causes that pawl design to stick, leading to lockup and other problems.

The Superlube works in the Snap-on ratchets, obviously, and it works in the rotohead gearwrench as well. The older Craftsmans, ditto.

I'm curious how much of the stuff you used? I've never put more than a light coating on the parts, even for the coarse ratchets. Maybe that's why I haven't had an issue? Just trying to better understand why it doesn't work in a particular ratchet. If Snap On can put the stuff in an F936 and an F80 and they both work then I'm wondering if it has less to do with tooth count and more with something else, like the pawl design you talked about. What pawl designs does it not work with, or at least in your case what was the design?

Anyone? Would be useful to get some better understanding on not just where it doesn't work but why.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Superlube doesn't work in that family of ratchets. The Armstrong guy who posts on here will tell you as much. Before I knew any better I tried it myself and the ratchet was miserable. The sticky grease causes that pawl design to stick, leading to lockup and other problems.

The Superlube works in the Snap-on ratchets, obviously, and it works in the rotohead gearwrench as well. The older Craftsmans, ditto.

Try seeing how well it works when you DON"T use 1/2 tube of grease. Just a light coating will work just fine. I run it in Craftsman, Snap-on, Williams, SK, Facom, Mac, Matco, Proto and Armstrong ratchets without any problems. They range from 1/4" drive to 3/4" drive.

I guess I must be doing something wrong to get mine to work.....

 

[Rockaholic555]

I'll throw my vote in for the red lube of love. It works great and I have barely made a dent in the bottle in just over a year.

 

[MrMark]

I'll have to remember that. That's why my tube is half empty. I bow to your great knowledge of Armstrong fine tooth ratchets. Next time something comes up I'll be sure to ask you rather than the Armstrong guy. Everything works just fine . . . works fine, works fine. Could you guys come up with some new adverbs please.

 

[Stephenw]

I like the Super Lube. Just a thin film works great.

 

[Kev442]

Whatever Craftsman is using sure leaves it clunky. I just used the red stuff and it oozed the black gunk out of my brand new 3/8" replacement. Action is smooth one way now but kinda crummy the other yet. Guess that's why I don't hardly touch a Craftsman ratchet anymore.

 

[LincolnCont.]

I tried some Parker Super O-Ring Lube in a 3/8 Proto Torque wrench recently. Its thick but it works oh so smooth and quiet now. (silicone base)

 

[hrichard]

lucas assembly lube or marvel mystery oil for mine

 

[muddyjoe15]

Some people here get as emotional over the type of lube to use as they do about which name is on the ratchet.

I'm starting to notice that. Maybe I just opened up a big can of worms! Anyway thanks to those that have answered, so far it sounds like I'm gonna have to give super lube a try.

 

[gatewaysysop]

I'll have to remember that. That's why my tube is half empty. I bow to your great knowledge of Armstrong fine tooth ratchets. Next time something comes up I'll be sure to ask you rather than the Armstrong guy. Everything works just fine . . . works fine, works fine. Could you guys come up with some new adverbs please.

Wow. I at least tried asking for more specific information because I thought other people would benefit. If nothing else, at least you mentioned here that we were talking about a fine tooth Armstrong, but I would have liked to have heard more about the pawl and why Super Lube and/or anything else would or wouldn't work because of how the pawl was designed.

Sorry if you feel offended by something other people said, but I for one would still like to get more information on which types of pawl mechanisms you're saying have the issue. Is it just round head fine tooth type or a fine toothed, pear head style where the pawl is separate from the gear?

 

[PSYKO_Inc]

So far the only ratchets I've opened up have been a couple Craftsman raised-panels and a HF Pittsburgh Pro. I cleaned out whatever they came with from the factory with some brake cleaner, added a bit of lithium grease to all of them, and the action smoothed out considerably. Gotta make sure not to put too much in, made that mistake with the HF ratchet and it oozes grease out of the gaps when I use it.

 

[sk farmer]

I'm actually curious what you didn't like about the Super Lube or what types of ratchets it didn't work with. Please elaborate, since I've had good results especially in coarse tooth and I know other people on here use it as well on certain ratchets. Not trying to argue, really want to know if there's certain types of ratchets that it doesn't work well in or if it's just personal preference or something.

the super lube is to thick at cold temperatures . it also seems to have to much back drag. grease is to thick for for most ratchets imop. it may work in course ratchets. rll works in more stuff than not for me. as i side ver fine stuff, say over 72 teeth is better with marvel mystery oil.

 

[5toes]

So sk frankenstein 36 tooth would be bad with marvel mystery?

Oops 32 tooth

 

[DrkMtnDew]

i have had good luck using lucas air tool oil in fine tooth ratchets. i figure if it is good enough for my expensive impacts it will work for the ratchets. on the course tooth ratchets i just evenly coat the gear with JT6.

 

[quattrojon]

I used to use Marvel Mystery oil in my Armstrong's, which does work pretty well.... but the benefit is soon lost as it will start to leak out. I had a conversation with Moose, and discovered that he had been using Castrol LM grease in all of his ratchets. He kindly sent me some to try, and i much prefer it to the Marvel Mystery oil. As Georgiahybrid said the trick is to use a tiny amount, and i haven't had any binding issues to date.

 

[sk farmer]

So sk frankenstein 36 tooth would be bad with marvel mystery?

Oops 32 tooth

try lots of stuff. on that i would pick rll. nothing you can't try that you can't fix with a few squirts of brake or carb clean and the air hose. experiment and find what you like. that is half the fun. once your ratchet is cleaned of dirt and residue it is very simple to try something differant. just be careful of the solvents you use on ratchets with o-rings that seal them. you may damage them so remove them first and wipe them off with a rag.

 

[5toes]

no o rings on mine.

But i dont have the special pliers to take it apart, so that is a *****

 

[gatewaysysop]

But i dont have the special pliers to take it apart, so that is a *****

Yes it is, but you do realize that you also have an excuse to buy new tools now.

 

[jeffk14]

I just use garden variety NLGI #2 White Lithium Grease. Whatever brand you find. Has worked wonders for my ratchets.

 

[5toes]

Yes it is, but you do realize that you also have an excuse to buy new tools now.

Ill pass on a tool like that. Coastal All purpose grease went in today.

Its red and fairly thick. I used a alittle on my finger and just rubbed over the teeth. Not much at all. Way quiet now and pretty smooth. It wont leek out at all either.

Hmm my Dad's late 80's craftsman ratchets are twice as loud.

 

[fordbroncodave]

i'm tellin ya, a $5 jug of anti seize will fill ALOT of ratchets and complete many jobs too

 

[5toes]

Well this all purpose stuff I think will work out fine

 

[Unearthed]

I'm starting to notice that. Maybe I just opened up a big can of worms! Anyway thanks to those that have answered, so far it sounds like I'm gonna have to give super lube a try.

I use super lube in all my ratchets now. Tried the Permatex RLL and it was ok. I use an acid brush and just lightly brush in on the gear/pawl, and where the pawl contacts the ratchet head/cover seems to be the critical area for a high tooth count ratchet. Super lube in everything: proto big dawgs and XL's, tuff ones, Gearwrench, and even my new premium craftsmans. Of course in my F/S 80's also.

 

[chewy7]

I have tried amsoil #2 multipurpose synthetic in my 1/2" s-k ratchet and it works fine. It also works good in my craftsman 1/2" tear drop too.

 

[eurokid]

Super Lube works great. I tried a lot of different lubricants before I started using it exclusively.

Another product that I recently discovered that seems to work pretty good is Royal Purple Synfilm.