SK 3/8 Ratchet hard to put back together

[zktk01]

I have taken apart about 40 ratchets to clean in the last 3 weeks with no problem. I got a old Dresser SK NOS from ebay, seemed like it was binding, so I took it apart and oiled it. That damn snap ring was the strongest I have come across, I would have it almost in and the snap ring would shoot out across the room, it took me forever to get that ratchet back together.
The only other SK ratchet I have is a 1/2 dr it was easy to take apart and reassemble.

Has anyone else had any trouble with SK 3/8 ratchets?

I am almost glad I don't have any 1/4 DR SK Ratchets.

 

[bareass172]

I've never had a problem like you mention, but I did learn long ago to rebuild ratchets inside a sandwich bag so I can see what I'm doing, but if anything goes flying out the bag keeps it. I've lost too many of the detent ball bearings to count...

 

[zktk01]

Yeah I should do that, I have been lucky found all the ones I dropped on the floor.
Luckily I will probably never use that ratchet, it was a NOS item, It just seemed like it was binding when turning is the reason I took it apart.

I am thinking about getting a pair of Lock Ring pliers might make it easier than using needle nose next time. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009OR974/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[bareass172]

I've owned those Lisle's for years (mine just say Craftsman) and last year I finally broke down and replaced my hokey snap ring pliers with these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005MVB6TG/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Some of the best money I ever spent to be sure. I don't use them often, but when I need them I no longer have to fight with bad ones.

 

[zktk01]

That looks like a nice set might have to get that

 

[d.mcfarland]

I know the trick with SK ratchets is that the snap ring fits in a groove and if any grease, oil, dirt, etc is in the groove it will not allow the snap ring to fit back easily. Once it is cleaned out then you are back together in a snap.

 

[pescados666]

Yeah I should do that, I have been lucky found all the ones I dropped on the floor.
Luckily I will probably never use that ratchet, it was a NOS item, It just seemed like it was binding when turning is the reason I took it apart.

I am thinking about getting a pair of Lock Ring pliers might make it easier than using needle nose next time. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009OR974/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If you're like me and only need to remove a snap ring every once in a while, and hardly ever a larger one, you might like a pair that's internal/external with changeable tips like these

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_id=114&ipn=icep&toolid=20004&campid=5338054870&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2FNAPA-Tools-3150-Reversible-Internal-External-Snap-Ring-Pliers-New-Made-in-USA-%2F181589687416%3Fhash%3Ditem2a4796bc78%3Ag%3A08IAAOSwofxUa~zx

I have the KD version, who I believe made these for NAPA as well. Channellock offers some similar to this but with blue handles, and I believe has two sizes available.
Takes up a lot less room in your box if you only need them once in a blue moon!

 

[BIG BACCHUS]

I've lost too many of the detent ball bearings to count...

I cut a 0.0015 inch feeler gauge blade (it was rusted so bad that it wouldn't have been accurate) and bent it so I could hold down the detent ball bearing, slide the assembly on top and then pull out the feeler gauge blade. Works wonders

 

[beelsr]

I cut a 0.0015 inch feeler gauge blade (it was rusted so bad that it wouldn't have been accurate) and bent it so I could hold down the detent ball bearing, slide the assembly on top and then pull out the feeler gauge blade. Works wonders

and you can drill a tiny hole in the end to hold the ball bearing better.

or buy the tool from snapon, it's under a dollar. spp744

 

[gdocktor3]

I've never had a problem like you mention, but I did learn long ago to rebuild ratchets inside a sandwich bag so I can see what I'm doing, but if anything goes flying out the bag keeps it. I've lost too many of the detent ball bearings to count...

I usually do mine in my Craftsman oblong magnetic tray thingy. I took an old pair of tweezers, split them apart and bent a Z shape out of one half to use as my detent ball holder in place tool. I then put a U shape in the bottom half to hook on my thumb/finger to apply downward force without actually having to hold on to the little tool.

 

[bobcatdan]

They sometimes can be stubborn, but I have always won.

 

[bareass172]

Yeah, after losing several I broke down and bought the tool from SO. Cheap as hell, free shipping.

 

[BIG BACCHUS]

and you can drill a tiny hole in the end to hold the ball bearing better.

or buy the tool from snapon, it's under a dollar. spp744

And here I thought I was about to be a billionaire....

 

[twertsy]

I have taken apart about 40 ratchets to clean in the last 3 weeks with no problem. I got a old Dresser SK NOS from ebay, seemed like it was binding, so I took it apart and oiled it. That damn snap ring was the strongest I have come across, I would have it almost in and the snap ring would shoot out across the room, it took me forever to get that ratchet back together.
The only other SK ratchet I have is a 1/2 dr it was easy to take apart and reassemble.

Has anyone else had any trouble with SK 3/8 ratchets?

I am almost glad I don't have any 1/4 DR SK Ratchets.

The trick with those ratchets is that the gear needs to be in "neutral." It'll slide right in but if you have it in gear, good luck.

 

[bbrins]

Definitely make sure that the gear is in the center neutral position, also check that there is no hardened grease in the groove that the snap ring goes into, on an older one, that stuff can be as hard as a rock and won't allow the ring to compress all of the way.

I have had a couple of snap rings that seemed a little extra fat that had to be coaxed back in, just don't force it.

Also, make sure that the selector knob and the ratchet mechanism are mated together properly, if they aren't, it won't go in far enough to get the snap ring into the groove on the head. You can put a little dab of grease on the back side of the selector knob to sort of glue it to the mechanism, not a lot, just enough to get it to stay there for a bit, it'll make for one less thing to have to fiddle with as you are inserting everything into the head.

I like using a pair of bent end needle nosed pliers for reassembly.

 

[ptgarcia]

I bought these. Made taking my ratchets apart a breeze compared to alternate methods.

 

[B_Bimmer]

I lost once on a 1/4" SK ratchet that had been severely neglected. The snap ring was so rusty that the ends broke off when I tried to compress them...

 

[ryan20021982]

I previously had some of the snap ring pliers like posted above but decided to change, I found these labeled Mil-Bar but they are the same as other brands including Wilde and Proto

http://www.ebay.com/itm/381746021220

So cheap I got 3 pairs and put different tips on each so I wouldn't have to change them but i also don't have as much money in them as it would be to get a big set