Vintage Thorsen Ratchet

[lauver]

Found a nice vintage Thorsen 77J 3/8" drive ratchet at a local pawn shop. I had to pay all of $3 for it. It's in great shape with minimal wear on it. I soaked it, gave it a good scrubbing, and applied some fresh lube.

Works nicely, smooth and crisp. It has a 30-tooth gear in it but it feels smoother than a Craftsman RHFT ratchet with 45 teeth. This ratchet feels so good, I'm going to keep it in my ratchet drawer with my other "working" ratchets and put it to work. It would be a shame to keep this ratchet for display only!


(photo from Alloy Artifacts)

EDIT: These ratchets (Model 77J, chrome plated) were produced from about 1950 thru 1969. The open design, however, is a throwback to the 1930's and 1940's.

 

[senlow]

Yeah, those are cool ratchets. I have both a 1/4 and a 3/8 drive Thorsen like that. They are good ratchets. The open mechanism with the spring steel cover is an interesting feature. I don't care for the knurled handle. I installed a Snap-on hard handle (first gen.) on my 1/4 drive. Of course the Snap-on logo has mysteriously dissapeared from the handle.

The open mechanism attracts dirt and debris if it is oiled, so I like to use dry Moly lube on mine. Just imagine how messy things could get with the RLL.

 

[lauver]

senlow--I like your idea of retrofitting an SO hard handle on this ratchet. But where do you get the early style hard handles?

 

[senlow]

I installed the handle years ago, when the first gen handle was the current product. That handle is my favorite hard handle for ratchets.

 

[tj90]

I have that ratchet too. I agree, it has very nice engagement and I prefer it over my other 3/8" drive wrenches fine tooth or not. The knurling doesnt bother me at all. Anyone find these for sub $5 has got a good deal!

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Lauver, I've just recently picked up a 3/8" open head like yours, and I have a 1/2" one coming in the mail. I like those very much, nice tight ratcheting action.

 

[TireTracks]

I have a set of them that was my grandpa's,It has the same ratchet. nice to know it's age, my dad said it was around his whole life, so it;s over 50 years old. I like it, really nice sockets, an extencion and the ratchet. The only bad part is the gear on the ratchet has a channel worn into it, still works great.

 

[Bull]

I've been a fan of that style for a while...I have one in each drive size and also a 1/2" version in the Action brand. I have an Indestro coming in the mail that has that same open face, but a different handle.

Is yours able to be disassembled? If so, it will have a circlip on the drive plug. One of mine has this feature, and the rest do not and so cannot be disassembled.

 

[Hiball]

I wonder how the Wright (open head version) stacks up to these old thorsen ratchets?

 

[Tool Pants]

I have the 1/2" Action version. The only thing that can be removed is the spring steel cover. I also used a dry lube.

I have had it for decades. Don't remember where it came from, but it is not something I would have bought.

 

[supertooljunkie]

I have a model 77 in 1/2". It shows alot of wear externally, but works like a champ.

 

[Bull]

I have a model 77 in 1/2". It shows alot of wear externally, but works like a champ.

I have one 1/2 Thorsen example that has been beaten on pretty hard...someone must have tried to take it apart and failed. It never skips a tooth, though. Very durable design.

 

[taiden]

I know it's a little bit of a thread resurrection... but I found a 1/2" Thorsen 77 ratchet in the basement... I love this ratchet, the mechanism is awesome and it feels so sturdy. I personally love the knurled handle. I used mechanix gloves and it grips really well and feels awesome.

Definitely my favorite ratchet that I've ever had a chance to use, but then again, I haven't had a chance to use many "good" ratchets.

 

[bindernut]

I have that in 1/4', 3/8" & 1/2" drive. The 3/8 was grandpa's. Dad said that they tried hard to break it on the farm, but it still works great.

 

[Tool Pants]

2 weeks ago I found a great condition 3/8" Thorsen at the flea market for $4. Then of course I had to keep my eyes open for the 1/4", which I found today for $3. Too bad Thorsen is now just a name.

 

[caper]

I think I'm still misssing a 3/8 version but I'm not sure.I suppose I should dig through the pile before I end up buying one and finding out I had all three to start with lol.

 

[lauver]

I've been a fan of that style for a while...I have one in each drive size and also a 1/2" version in the Action brand. I have an Indestro coming in the mail that has that same open face, but a different handle.

Is yours able to be disassembled? If so, it will have a circlip on the drive plug. One of mine has this feature, and the rest do not and so cannot be disassembled.

Bull,

Since I originally started this thread I have added a few more of these Thorsen ratchets to my tool cabinet. I love these ratchets and can't for the life of me figure out how Thorsen made these rathets so smooth and precise.

None of my Thorsen 77J's can be disassembled. On the other hand, why would I take them apart as long as they work perfectly? I just rinse them in solvent overnight, blow them out with compressed air, and lube them with a couple of drops of Hoppe's gun oil. Then, let the good time roll!

 

[KEH]

Great ratchets. I was given a 1/2 drive set in 1961 as a graduation present. It stood years of farm use. Since it had sentimental value I passed it on to my oldest daughter this year, along with a 1/4 and a 3/8 ratchet I had picked up down through the years. Never have ran across a broken one, unlike other brands. I did break the pull handle and got it warrentied.

KEH

 

[bonneyman]

I've been a fan of that style for a while...I have one in each drive size and also a 1/2" version in the Action brand....

I believe Thorsen made those for Action. I had a 1/4" drive Action USA ratchet that I sold with a set of Indestro sockets. They all went as a set because I made a square-to hex-drive adapter so the ratchet would interface with the sockets.

Right after that I found out Thorsen made them, and I've been kicking myself since.

 

[mkirkpatrick]

I ran across a whole set of 1/2 sae Thorsen at a garage sale saturday. don't need any more sae so I passed on them.

 

[Bull]

I ran across a whole set of 1/2 sae Thorsen at a garage sale saturday. don't need any more sae so I passed on them.

Part of the greatness of GJ is that you can scoop local flea market, tag sale, and estate sale deals and then offer them up for sale to fellow GJ members here in the classifieds. There is little chance that you are going to lose any money if you are buying at tag sale and flea market prices!

 

[mkirkpatrick]

Part of the greatness of GJ is that you can scoop local flea market, tag sale, and estate sale deals and then offer them up for sale to fellow GJ members here in the classifieds. There is little chance that you are going to lose any money if you are buying at tag sale and flea market prices!

I am see that. I will remember that in the future. I did pick up a wright n18 for 3 bucks at that garage sale.

 

[Ritter4.0]

I thought I'd bump this thread instead of making a new one.

I just got a 1/2" Thorsen 77 ratchet, just like the ones in this thread, but without the "J". There are no COO markings on it. Is it safe to assume its a USA model? Or is it a newer off shore version?

Thanks.

 

[Hiball]

I thought I'd bump this thread instead of making a new one.

I just got a 1/2" Thorsen 77 ratchet, just like the ones in this thread, but without the "J". There are no COO markings on it. Is it safe to assume its a USA model? Or is it a newer off shore version?

Thanks.

Im gonna go out on a Limb and say that style of Ratchet (Open Geared, covered or not) is gonna have a Coo of USA.

 

[Ritter4.0]

Ok. I was just looking at this:

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/thorsen-manufacturing.html

and noticed the ratchet is stamped on underside (drive side) while mine is stamped on the side. Does that mean anything special like manufacture date? The font of the lettering is also not stylized like in the one pictured here:

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-arti...12dr_77_ratchet_open_mfd_f_cropped_inset2.jpg

 

[crankshaftdan II]

I've been a fan of that style for a while...I have one in each drive size and also a 1/2" version in the Action brand. I have an Indestro coming in the mail that has that same open face, but a different handle.

Is yours able to be disassembled? If so, it will have a circlip on the drive plug. One of mine has this feature, and the rest do not and so cannot be disassembled.

I am going to throw my hat in the ring on this thread as I have a few of these myself! I have to agree somewhat on the dis=assy as what I believe is that-what goes together-has to come apart unless they were silver soldered together! I took pictures here to show what the snap-ring looks like that was removed from the Indestro Select (Flat Handle) that secures the Dog (Flipper) in the handle. The ring is actually a spring clip that rides in a grove on the pin-has to be driven out with a punch-don't do this unless you have a source for replacement of that ring!! I think the same arrangement is used for the drive gear & shaft-must be driven out! Once this is done you can clean & inspect all of the parts for wear & tear and re-assemble with at least some of the exixting parts. I haven't been able to find any of the spring clips, so if someone has any ideas-please post accordingly! These are great ratchets. Picture shows Action-Thorsen 77-2ea Indestro select.
Cranky

 

[Tool Pants]

I have a P&C that can be taken apart because it has a snap ring. The one on the right in the first pic is an Action/Thorsen that does not have a snap ring.

 

[lauver]

Tool Pants,

If you ever run across an open gear 3/8 drive P&C ratchet in decent or better condition, I'm in the market. I have assembled an almost complete P&C 3/8 drive set that is only missing the right ratchet. Please keep me in mind.

Your location in California puts you in the P&C sweet spot. I, on the other hand, am in the armpit spot for P&C tools. They are rare as hens teeth down here in TX.

 

[eborcim]

nice find for 3 bux