Mastercraft ratchets

[shawndp]

I have not used these ratchets (standard length round head) in years but yesterday was closing up a job for a colleague and the tools were all there, so I figured I'd be lazy and use them. Bolting on a radiator fan on an Accord, so 10mm and not a lot of force and the stupid ratchet kept reversing! Ratchet # 2 seemed unsure if it wanted to engage and when it did, it was a strange feeling - like a lot of dead space and then a click... I have a fair bit of Mastercraft Maximum- long wrenches, stuby wrenches and my whole 1/2 impact socket set in Metric and SAE and am generally happy with them but the ratchets are a whole different game. The tragedy here is that we have over a dozen of them at work, so if there was something that can be done to make them function better that would be amazing... Sort of like opening up and lubricating Craftsman ratchets makes them usable... Thanks

 

[Michael_in_DE]

There's this funny little trick that will fix any ratchet situation. You're gonna need a credit card, and web access. Go to Snapon.com..... I think you see where I'm going with this.

Seriously. Even if you just get a used one for yourself and hold onto it, you will live a happier life. Less frustration, and more confidence in your ability to reliably get things done.

 

[shawndp]

Michael - I tried the Sanp-On trick as well as the variation involving the Matco dude and have a FLH 80 and the 15" locking head Matco Eighty8... You are absolutely right in that they are life changing. The Mastercraft stuff isn't mine - they are floater tools or whatever you call the stuff that everyone who didn't bring their tools to work uses.

 

[Michael_in_DE]

Aw, I see. So you're trying to help your fellow man. The company is lucky to have you. then the best way to help might be to explain to the person with the company CC that the guys on the floor are losing time, and therefore the company is losing money because they are stuck using inferior tools. Stat by saying Snap-on has lifetime warranty, superior handling etc, and then drop the bomb on price, when they fall out of their chair, tell them a good alternative like gearwrench. Hopefully they'll jump on it.

 

[TomB19]

I like my Mastercraft ratchets. I'm pretty confident they are made by Stanley Tool.

Nice finish. Feel good in the hand. Lever switch and push button release. Pretty course but workable for a hobby mechanic.

I also have a 40 year old Mastercraft flex head ratchet that has a direction disk on the back of the head. That thing reverses when I don't want it to as often as not. Really annoying. I have later versions of the same ratchet that improved the design. They are better but, for some reason, I usually reach for the oldest one that ***** the most.

 

[shawndp]

@Michael -there is 0 chance of getting a company supplied Gearwrench let alone a Snap On - one tech is new so he hasn't built a tool set yet and the PT guy refuses to... neither are particularly inclined towards spending on quality and go on about "lifetime warranty " which is quite useless when the tool can not complete the job at hand.

@Tom - do you have any of the circle head ones? The sort with a rotary dial that selects forward and reverse? These are that sort and keep flipping to the opposite direction... should I maybe soak them or something? Not sure how they open up...

 

[Rt jam]

The little reversing trigger is pretty annoying. I find myself using the 1/4 drive with one hand and it reverses often. So I've replaced it with a Wera and we unintentionally reverse no more.

 

[Codejack]

"lifetime warranty " ... is quite useless when the tool can not complete the job at hand.

This is my motto.

If they won't shell out for gearwrench, maybe harbor freight?

 

[shawndp]

@RT - I have long been curious about Wera - the look appeals to me but I havent found enough info to pull the trigger on one.

@Codejack - HF is a good idea, maybe I can be a good guy and buy a few of those! I have a couple and like them...