Ratchet GREASE for round heads.

[gdocktor3]

All to often we see people asking how to and which lube to use in their ratchets here on GJ. All to often we get a wide variety of procedures and types, styles, brands, etc, etc, and that's fine. To each their own. If it works for you great, but don't tell me I'm wrong for using grease in my round head ratchets. I won't say any names, but some members have been so certain that grease is the wrong method, they've even gone on to provide paragraphs of gibberish trying to justify their reasoning. So, yesterday I received a rebuild kit to convert my 1/4" round head SK to a 3/8" drive and what was in the package? You already know. Grease. So, why in the world would one of the oldest, most successful names in the business provide a tube of grease for one of the oldest, most successful styles of ratchets ever produced? That's a rhetorical question btw...

IMO its better to use grease/vaseline in my round head's and 3-1 oil in my sealed heads. The oil would otherwise leak/dry out of an unsealed head and require constant oiling to maintain that smooth action we all love.

Not trying to start an argument here, I just don't like when someone says I'm wrong about something because it's not their method of doing things, yet it is recommended by the manufacturer.

So, the moral of the story is that SK (and I) recommend the use of "special ratchet grease" for their round head ratchets. Hopefully this will help clarify any future questions.

Wrench On

 

[M6erfan]

BTW, Snap On sends grease in their dual 80 rebuild kits too...

I perplexed at your post though. This is GJ fer chris'sake, if you haven't grown thick skin by now I don't know what to tell you...

 

[Wes J]

Proto says to use grease. I like to use Sil Glyde. It's a silicone based grease. You can get it at Napa.

 

[rice rocket]

Not trying to start an argument here

I won't say any names, but some members have been so certain that grease is the wrong method, they've even gone on to provide paragraphs of gibberish trying to justify their reasoning.

And for the record, the right grease would be superior to the wrong oil in this application...although the wrong grease might be worse than an adequate oil...

 

[M6erfan]

And Facom illustrates oil in their ratchet rebuild kit instructions

 

[gdocktor3]

BTW, Snap On sends grease in their dual 80 rebuild kits too...

I perplexed at your post though. This is GJ fer chris'sake, if you haven't grown thick skin by now I don't know what to tell you...

I thought they did...

If I said the member's names, you would understand why. Some people just seem to know everything... But that's not the point. A lot of people think grease is too thick or tacky and only oil should be used, but that's not always the case.

 

[Fedwrench]

Using that grease is probably why you had to get a rebuild kit

What kind of grease is that KY or Astroglide?

 

[M6erfan]

using that grease is probably why you had to get a rebuild kit

What kind of grease is that ky or astroglide?

lmao

 

[gdocktor3]

Using that grease is probably why you had to get a rebuild kit

What kind of grease is that KY or Astroglide?

LOL no it was a conversion kit. Can't you read old timer? I converted my 1/4" to a 3/8". Things sweet!

 

[Fedwrench]

LOL no it was a conversion kit. Can't you read old timer? I converted my 1/4" to a 3/8". Things sweet!

This is garage journal, I only read every third word to reduce stress and avoid confusion

I just hope that you actually purchased said repair kit and didn't con those kind SK people out of a free repair kit to do your conversion.

Carry on, there's nothing to see here, and go play with your grease.

 

[four.cycle]

okay, gdocktor3 ... I'm still relatively new here, and I think I've read through at least a dozen different "What do I use to lube my tool?" threads already.... so tell us: exactly what sort of grease did S-K supply with the conversion kit?

heavy sticky stringy grease like old-school wheel-bearing grease?
slick and slippery grease like that "black moly" stuff we used to use for camshaft break-in?
thin light grease like a "white lithium" "Lubriplate" type grease?

inquiring minds want to know.

oh.. and would I be correct in assuming this conversion was being done on an S-K model 40970 RHFT ratchet? (which is.... what.... 40-tooth???)

 

[gdocktor3]

The best comparison would be dielectric or silicon grease. Thin, not real tacky, almost leaving an oily residue behind on your fingers. Much like vaseline. That's why I just use vaseline.

Much like this http://na.henkel-adhesives.com/product-search-1554.htm?nodeid=8797907320833

 

[ChevyEFI]

Unlike a Dual 80, an SK round-head lasts so long without needing rebuilt, that they haven't found out yet the grease isn't the perfect lube.

 

[gdocktor3]

oh.. and would I be correct in assuming this conversion was being done on an S-K model 40970 RHFT ratchet? (which is.... what.... 40-tooth???)

It was the 40970 and it is 60 tooth. I know where you're going with this, but I have to be up at 4:30 tomorrow. Have a nice night!

 

[four.cycle]

The best comparison would be dielectric or silicon grease. Thin, not real tacky, almost leaving an oily residue behind on your fingers. Much like vaseline.

hmmm... interesting.

I have to wonder if they'd be willing to divulge exactly what sort of product it is or if a similar product is available on the open market.

... and no... I'm not going anywhere with it... just curious.

 

[M6erfan]

My guess would be good old Superlube...

 

[Wamsutta]

That translucent white grease in your picture looks like SuperLube.

 

[PJNJ]

I have used a thin coat of Super Lube in SK/Proto 1/4/Thorsen 1/4/Blackhawk 3/8/Husky roto round heads on the teeth in the head and a few drops of MMO or 3in1 in the cartridge. And they work fine.

But, as others have said, this is GJ and you can probably get a hundred (or more) different opinions on the correct lube for ratchets. Some will even argue against any lubrication at all.

As for what's best for round heads or pear heads, my Wright round heads say "oil only" right on their handles. But I have done the same as I do for the SK's and they work fine.

And I have used a dab of Super Lube on the gear and pawls along with a few drops of MMO on my GearWrench 120xp, Armstrong 88 and 36 tooth, and Cman full polish/raised panel 36 tooth and they work just fine.

But my Cman paintbrush handle 60 tooth USA 3/8 ratchet only likes MMO or 3in1 or it locks up.

So just use what works for you and your ratchets. Who cares what others think - it's just not that important of an issue. If a particular lube/oil/grease doesn't work on a particular ratchet, you can just clean it and start over again.

 

[jumbojak]

I recently got one of those rebuild kits for my SK. I thought that packet was mayonaise from someone's lunch and had it on my sandwich. Thought it tasted funny....

 

[vintage nut]

I have normally used either lucas green bearing grease or my favorite shop product insted-a-led in ratchets. For anyone wondering, insted-a-led is some sort of white lead substitute you can order through KBC tools that is the slickest stuff you can imagine. The ultimate vise screw lubricant. Supposedly non toxic, but probably just until the next carcinogen is discovered.

I'm sure the superlube I use for my trap shotgun would work well too

Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk

 

[KnurledNut]

And Facom illustrates oil in their ratchet rebuild kit instructions

The "Tuff1" style actually spec'd grease.
Thats what S-K sent in the repair kits.

 

[M6erfan]

Yep, you're correct. I remembered the droplets on the card and assumed oil...

Interesting how they don't point out lubricating the teeth

 

[KnurledNut]

...

 

[xjfish]

 

[Wamsutta]

That's interesting. I didn't know MAC recommended 30W oil. I've been using a heavy green assembly lube by Sealed-Power and it works great on my MAC ratchets.

That Loctite Viperlube looks interesting. Never knew Loctite made lubes.

 

[gdocktor3]

This is garage journal, I only read every third word to reduce stress and avoid confusion

I just hope that you actually purchased said repair kit and didn't con those kind SK people out of a free repair kit to do your conversion.

Carry on, there's nothing to see here, and go play with your grease.

I'm not one of those guys....

eBay Item Number 152195317553

 

[Wamsutta]

I'm not one of those guys....

I'm not either. My hand isn't big enough.

 

[BK13]

BTW, Snap On sends grease in their dual 80 rebuild kits too...

I perplexed at your post though. This is GJ fer chris'sake, if you haven't grown thick skin by now I don't know what to tell you...

I was going to ask for a recommendation for pliers to help the OP un-wad his *******... Kidding, kidding....

 

[Know Wosad]

I was going to ask for a recommendation for pliers to help the OP un-wad his *******... Kidding, kidding....

It may be too late

 

[3baygarage]

Nice comparison Knurled Nut. I'll admit I laughed when I saw Loctite.

 

[SilverDeck]

My guess would be good old Superlube...

Yes, the stuff SK sends out with the their rebuild kits is Superlube. You can pick up a lifetime supply tube of that stuff at Harbor Freight.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

I’m resurrecting this thread for one reason — I need to do some maintenance on my Proto round head ratchets. The instructions call for Molykote LTW2 which is like a black high pressure grease from what I can gather. I can only find it in large cans. Does anyone know if SuperLube could be substituted? Or another grease? I love these ratchets and don’t want to screw them up.

 

[Clutchsmoke]

I’m resurrecting this thread for one reason — I need to do some maintenance on my Proto round head ratchets. The instructions call for Molykote LTW2 which is like a black high pressure grease from what I can gather. I can only find it in large cans. Does anyone know if SuperLube could be substituted? Or another grease? I love these ratchets and don’t want to screw them up.

Yeah man you can use superlube. If it were me, I'd try to remove as much as the old crease as I could, and then apply superlube.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

Yeah man you can use superlube. If it were me, I'd try to remove as much as the old crease as I could, and then apply superlube.

Thank you so much! I’ll try maybe to degrease them and then add the SuperLube.

 

[Clutchsmoke]

Thank you so much! I’ll try maybe to degrease them and then add the SuperLube.

I've got the USAG made Proto round heads and I love them.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

I've got the USAG made Proto round heads and I love them.

Yeah, they are my favorite ratchets. I absolutely love them and that’s why I want to be careful cause my backup ratchets aren’t the best.

 

[tamaraw]

I’m resurrecting this thread for one reason — I need to do some maintenance on my Proto round head ratchets. The instructions call for Molykote LTW2 which is like a black high pressure grease from what I can gather. I can only find it in large cans. Does anyone know if SuperLube could be substituted? Or another grease? I love these ratchets and don’t want to screw them up.

Facom uses "grease with graphite", should be same mechanism as the Proto models:

Graphite was used as a lubricant in old school locksmithing and I use a product called lok shot which is the modern PTFE based equivalent. It's a bit thinner than the grease shown in the video but my Beta round head seems to like it. I did try silicone grease in the same ratchet which made it quieter but a little gummy and inconsistent.

Honestly though, I think it would be difficult to "screw up" a round head ratchet using the wrong lubricant as long as you have something in there and clean it periodically.

 

[MarcSeattle]

I hope one of those YouTube video guys does some testing on the various types of lubes to test backdrag. It also would be interesting to test the idea that thick lube is more likely to make a ratchet slip under high load. Those two aspects might be a tradeoff, but there is only one way to find out.

I've also wondered about the tungsten disulfide nanoparticle lubes that they use in Formula 1. More likely to slip or same strength with much less backdrag? Those lubes are freaky amazing. Or maybe I'm just overthinking it. But isn't overthinking it why we're all here?

 

[CGarage]

SuperLube is the best I have used and I have dozens of greases on my lubricant shelf.

I was really surprised by how smooth ratchets operate when treated with SuperLube.

 

[darkzero]

I hope one of those YouTube video guys does some testing on the various types of lubes to test backdrag. It also would be interesting to test the idea that thick lube is more likely to make a ratchet slip under high load.

I've encountered that issue of thick lubes causing a ratchet pawl to slip. I never believed it was the grease that cause it. I don't use really thick grease though, I use Super Lube grease in my ratchets. But since that I problem I won't use Super Lube in fine tooth ratchets. If it's like 72 or 80 tooth or more I will only use oil, not grease.