new trick to bring back old air ratchet

[stingray1966]

I have a very old snap on FAR 70 air ratchet that I bought back in the early 70s that has not been working in years. I must admit I did abuse it back then and it was alway a good ratchet . Its been sitting in my tool box for years today I stated messing with it It ran BUT it was slipping and would not move a bolt plus I could not change direction as it was froze up but I first cleaned the head off good with brake clean
I second oiled it up good mmo but it just was not working I then took a product called tri-flow YOU get it at a bike shop it used to lube a bike chain
The tri flow worked like a charm this old far 70 is working like the day I bought it
I can now change directions and this ratchet has some balls to it and now with NO slippage The best part is That I was going to trow it out because I could not get a rebuild kit for it but now its like the day I bought it this stuff really works
I just lube up all of my air tools with tri flow and I can really see the deference

 

[RCStocker]

You never know what will work until you try.
Old things that don't work are fun to try fixing.
After all those years I am surprised but happy you got it going.
Thanks for the tip. I have never heard of the product. I will give it a go.

 

[PelicanPines]

The moral of the story:

Keep your tool lubed

Gonna get a can of that, thanks

 

[BK13]

Tri Flow works pretty well for keeping autoloading shotguns running when they are filthy.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I LOVE Tri Flow...it's been my go-to for the last couple months for almost everything around the shop.

 

[PFSard]

I then took a product called tri-flow YOU get it at a bike shop it used to lube a bike chain

I love your story. I have "inherited" a few impact wrenches that could use some help.

Tri-Flow has a few products. Which did you use?
http://www.triflowlubricants.com/Tri-Flow_Lubricant.html

 

[lilredex]

This is the one bike shops carry around here, and it works for a lot of things.

http://www.mec.ca/product/5006-684/tri-flow-lube-6oz/

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I love your story. I have "inherited" a few impact wrenches that could use some help.

Tri-Flow has a few products. Which did you use?
http://www.triflowlubricants.com/Tri-Flow_Lubricant.html

I picked up a 12 case of these at a yard sale for $20. Wish he had more...http://www.triflowlubricants.com/Tri-Flow_Superior_Aerosol_Lubricant.html

 

[bayoubengal85]

I actually used some tri flow and wd-40 today to free up an old USA made rodac air hammer that a fellow employee just threw on a shelf in a back warehouse when it stopped working. Luckily, I happened to see it sitting there before someone decided to throw it out. Disassembled it, cleaned some minor surface rust and gunk off of the internals, then an application of tri flow before reassembly has it running better than ever. The employee that put it on the shelf came by later and tried to claim it now that it was working. I told him eff off since he didn't want to maintain the tool, and then at least try to fix it when it "broke“ years ago. Tri Flow is one of my faves next to corrosionx.

 

[Farmall450]

I actually used some tri flow and wd-40 today to free up an old USA made rodac air hammer that a fellow employee just threw on a shelf in a back warehouse when it stopped working. Luckily, I happened to see it sitting there before someone decided to throw it out. Disassembled it, cleaned some minor surface rust and gunk off of the internals, then an application of tri flow before reassembly has it running better than ever. The employee that put it on the shelf came by later and tried to claim it now that it was working. I told him eff off since he didn't want to maintain the tool, and then at least try to fix it when it "broke“ years ago. Tri Flow is one of my faves next to corrosionx.

Nice, I hope you didn't burn too many bridges tho.

 

[cheechi]

Never heard of it till now but after this thread i'm going to get me some. I wonder how this compares to super lube.

I wonder if the teflon is the part that makes it work so good. I have some of that wd40 specialist teflon, i won't say it gives dramatic differences but it's been one of the best lubes for stuck vanes in air tools recently.

 

[jethro29]

I usually turn the tool upside down and remove the air fitting,fill it up with 2+ 2 carb cleaner,let it stand for a couple hours and them put the fitting back in and run it full blast in both directions,be careful and wear eye protection,then add air tool oil t it.it works like a charm.

 

[bayoubengal85]

Nice, I hope you didn't burn too many bridges tho.

Nah, no bridges burned. He understood my stance on the matter, and had bought a replacement after he put the other one on the shelf.

 

[PFSard]

I picked up a 12 case of these at a yard sale for $20. Wish he had more...http://www.triflowlubricants.com/Tri-Flow_Superior_Aerosol_Lubricant.html

Talk about a bargain!!!!

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Talk about a bargain!!!!

no kidding. Also, I've found that the cleaning properties of Tri Flow are much superior than WD40.

i.e. I was cleaning old yard sale tap wrenches last night. I take them apart and use a brass brush to loosen the crud in the threads, spray with Tri Flow and thread in and out a couple times...then spray clean with brakleen or carb cleaner if needed. Then a spray a tri flow again and into the cabinet it goes.