slx80a et all hard handle conversion qs

[Nickmm]

I picked up the parts to do the swap on my slx80a, the large lockingg flex head, and just seeing if anyone has some tips on techniques to achieve this and keep it sturdy. The main thing I'm worried of is having the handle slide around under use. I've alread stripped one head out of this ratchet, so it gets used heavily. I'm going to chuck the handle in the lathe and turn it down to just over what I drill the handle to, but was wondering if anyone has left a small raised pportion or knurled it slightly for better grip. Is this needed on the shaft of my ratchet?

The main issue if nobody knew is there is no locking flex head with a grip handle so you need to make the shaft fit on your own.

I bought 6 green handles, I'm also doing my 3/8ths ratchet which is the same as this, dual 80 lfh, and my f852 is going green, as is my 36tooth flex head with orange handle, same siize as the slx80a.

Thanks all

 

[mvptrukin]

I don't remember the members name but he does these conversions as a sideline you might do some searches. I converted a comfort grip ratchet to hard handle so it was not that involved.

 

[jjjrmx5]

I don't remember the members name but he does these conversions as a sideline you might do some searches. I converted a comfort grip ratchet to hard handle so it was not that involved.

Member gj67stang.


He lives right up the road from me in Dayton,OH and does the conversions very very well.

 

[Nickmm]

Good deal guys, thanks. Yea I am changing two handles on ratchets that had them and two or three which are originally hard chrome handles, so those Babies need to be machined. However, the locking flex with a hard grip handle is exactly the tool I want. Hope I don't ruin a 200 dollar ratchet tho

 

[Nickmm]

Still trying to just get an answer on the technique for the solid steel handle to comfort handle work. I am thinking I will go for a slight press fit with a bump or two on the steel portion, much like how snap on does their oem units like this.

just worried about cracking an expensive handle or ruining an even more spendy ratchet.

 

[cascivic]

The only thing I could tell you from my experience is how little a size difference you need for the press fit. I figured if it started going on I would be good and now I have a hf 1/2 roto with a Williams hard handle stuck 3/4 of the way down the shaft

 

[Nickmm]

I'll be sure to watch out for that. I think we have a chart that shows press fit tolerances and such. I know its not much typically. I will probably bring something to boil water in as well and put the handle in boiling water for a few minutes before we do the final install.

I'm really looking forward to getting a few of these done. Been using my f852 a bit more and I really love the handle.

One other thing I plan on doing is making a notch in the locking flex head ratchets so that you can lock them up and over out of the way making it a free swinging ratchet, so that it is harder for it to fall out of place.

 

[Nickmm]

Got my new Handles in today. 6 green snapon handles! hooray. Two of my ratchets that were getting handles literally got stolen yesterday, so that blows, but now I get to make a new project for those handles I guess.

Going through my ratchet, I want to do two more things. I am looking at taking the current locking mecahnism, which has a groove like an "L" and making it more like a funny u, or like this |_i basically, take the L shape, and add a small notch for the lock to sit on the right so it can be left open without flipping back to locking again.

The other thing I was looking at doing is taking an Offset flex handle and /milling it out to accept the locking components. Has anyone ever attempted this? It really seems interesting to me. Thanks for looking.

 

[PT Doc]

Nickmm, you want to do these things including milling out material to add a locking mechanism. But you are worried about ruining handles and ratchets. Are you a skilled machinist? If not, something is likely to go badly, but please post photos of how things work out.

 

[tjmonsen5]

The locking mechanism already has an "unlocked mode", pull the button down and push to the right. It will stay there.

 

[Nickmm]

Nickmm, you want to do these things including milling out material to add a locking mechanism. But you are worried about ruining handles and ratchets. Are you a skilled machinist? If not, something is likely to go badly, but please post photos of how things work out.

While I went to school I was in the machine shop quite a bit, but its not my job anymore. I spent a lot of my free time over 4 years there, I'm just not 100% on what kinda of clearance I would want on plastic, I mostly only ever dealt with metal. Metal is a lot easier for me. I am going with .005" press fit as per mr stang's suggestion.

To TJmonsen, Yes, I'm aware, however, it pops out or doesn't stay there as there is no detent to hold it, its quite easy to knock back into a locked position on accident, drives me naners. I'm doing 2 of mine and one of my co-workers who has the same issue.

Here are a few photos illustrating:

here is the head/locking mechanism out of the ratchet. really simple.

you can see the stepped hole alright here

Victims:

Got my handles in as you can see, taking out the Mic later and starting to get measurements. Pretty excited to get a few of these knocked out.

My main goal is just to get a few with handles. Ultimately, I want a dual 80 Locking flex with the offset handle and a hard handle, which is not made. Basically going to take a few parts, such as the offset flex handle being milled to the right size.

 

[Nickmm]

Finished 4 ratchets. Project details here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2507978#post2507978

Major thanks to GJ67Stang. Huge help from his know-how. It all worked out incredibly well. Only snafu was missing my target on one of the handles and having to take it smaller on the lathe than I intended. Not an issue at all in the end.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Major thanks to GJ67Stang.

He'd never steer you wrong.

But I knew that. LOLOLOL.