JH Williams B-51 SUPERRACHET help

[speed bump]

Well I was out looking at the pawn shops today and happened to stumble upon a B-51 in the cheap rachet bucket. After cleaning it up I found it works fine in the on position but not so great in the off position. So I figure "hey I can pull this apart and check out the guts to see if I can fix it. The only problem is I can't figure out how to open it up. Any suggestions.

For reference you can find a picture of a B-51 here (I would take a picture but my camera is 300 miles away ATM.)
http://alloy-artifacts.com/williams-supercompany-p4.html

 

[wrenchr]

Soak it in light oil like wd-40 for awhile and see what you get.

 

[64merc]

Yes, I've noticed that a lot of the old really used ratchets work a lot better in one direction than the other. That is definitely a tricky looking ratchet. My guess is that those two little holes on the underside have something to do with the assembly. Are they really holes, or do they just look like it in the picture?

 

[wrenchr]

They are common and they still make them, try emailing them and seeing what they will do.

 

[wrenchr]

Oh I was wrong, I had one of those and that plate unscrews. The 2 holes are for a tool to go in, I used needle nose pliers and unscrewed it. There is also a set screw underneath the selector and if you take that out you can service the spring and ball bearing.

 

[wrenchr]

That is not the round head ratchet so it should work the same in each direction. If it was broke it would foul up in each direction. I'm betting it is gummed up inside.

 

[64merc]

Oh I was wrong, I had one of those and that plate unscrews. The 2 holes are for a tool to go in, I used needle nose pliers and unscrewed it. There is also a set screw underneath the selector and if you take that out you can service the spring and ball bearing.

Hah, I was right!!!

 

[wrenchr]

Hah, I was right!!!

 

[Uncle Buck]

That 3/8" Williams I bought from you was the one you took apart and oiled. I thought the ratchet felt a little coarse so I opened it back up and packed the gear and head with white grease till it was litterally squeezing out of the head when I screwed the cover back on it and that smoothed it out a bit.

 

[wrenchr]

That 3/8" Williams I bought from you was the one you took apart and oiled. I thought the ratchet felt a little coarse so I opened it back up and packed the gear and head with white grease till it was litterally squeezing out of the head when I screwed the cover back on it and that smoothed it out a bit.

I had it packed as well but it leaked out.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I had it packed as well but it leaked out.

You might give white grease a shot sometime. I don't think it is so apt to harden over time and it seems to stay right there, or it least that has been my experience.

 

[speed bump]

Well I couldn't get it to open using a pin punch after letting it soak all night in WD-40 so I am trying some penetrating oil now.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

You need a spanner wrench that has two pins to fit into the holes, so you can unscrew the piece and remove the innards.

Charles

 

[64merc]

You need a spanner wrench that has two pins to fit into the holes, so you can unscrew the piece and remove the innards.

Charles

You're right, but what are the odds he has one that will fit holes that small. It's probably not worth buying one just for this application. Maybe you can sacrifice a set of snap ring pliers that you can easily warranty if you damage them. Hmm, or maybe put the ratchet in a vise, stick a small screwdriver or something in one of the holes, and hit the screwdriver at the base near the ratchet hole. Worth a try I think.

 

[Uncle Buck]

You're right, but what are the odds he has one that will fit holes that small. It's probably not worth buying one just for this application. Maybe you can sacrifice a set of snap ring pliers that you can easily warranty if you damage them. Hmm, or maybe put the ratchet in a vise, stick a small screwdriver or something in one of the holes, and hit the screwdriver at the base near the ratchet hole. Worth a try I think.

When I unscrewed the one I bought from Wrenchr of the same design I clamped it firmly in my vise (which is old and worn out so it has smooth jaws where serrations used to be) and took a pin punch and a hammer as described above and I popped it open easily.

 

[Andylad]

I have just got one of those myself, B51A which i think may be a refridgeration ratchet with square drive holes in the handle. Was thinking of using a 2 pin grinder key or make a spanner from flatbar with two bolts in to open it up.

 

[tweedlestan]