Gear upgrade for old ratchet?
- Thread starter t100
- Start date
PreferredMotorsLLC
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- Joined
- Apr 23, 2010
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- 72
Can an F831 be upgraded? I just got one NOS for $70, but I didn't realize it wasn't the fine tooth until it showed up. 
Lesson learned for not doing my homework...
Lesson learned for not doing my homework...cruiser808
Well-known member
+1 on 48548's response. I looked into it a couple of years ago and that's what I found out too.
caper
Well-known member
I dunno I have a couple 80 series ratchets but still prefer my old 30 tooth Snappy's.just contrary I guess.
Bart Simpson
Well-known member
30 tooth is the best you can do and you already have that.
If you had 20 tooth ratchets and wanted 30 tooth you must change both the gear and pawl as they are both different.
Here is a little background on the 700 series pear head ratchets.
The 700 series was made in both 20 T and 30 T for 1/4" and 3/8" drive and 1/2" drive was available in both 24 T and 32 T .
Many people may not be aware of it but back then they offered identical ratchets with the only difference being the # of teeth they had and the corresponding part # stamped on the handle.
You had the option of 20 or 30 teeth 1/4" and 3/8" drive standard handle ratchets and 24 or 32 teeth in 1/2" drive for the standard and long handle ratchets.
The thing to remember is the rebuild kits are interchangeable so any of these can be converted back and forth, if the kits are still available.
Technically the 1/2" drive was also available in 20 T and 30 T in the 1/2" in a 3/8" body ratchets.
You can convert them either way, all you need is the correct rebuild kit.
The 700 series all have holes in the heads , which are covered with dust caps on some later models.
With these you can also convert the regular ratchets to quick release by using the rebuild kit for the 700 series quick release ratchets.
The quick release ratchets were 20 T in 3/8" drive ( F723A ) and 32 T in 1/2" drive ( S713A ) , there wasn't a 1/4" drive Q.R. model.
Bart Simpson
Well-known member
Can an F831 be upgraded? I just got one NOS for $70, but I didn't realize it wasn't the fine tooth until it showed up.
In a word ...... NO....you stuck with what you have.
Here is a little info for you on the 800 series pear head ratchets.
The 800 series were the first sealed head ratchets and this is easily noted by the lack of a hole in the head or a dust cap.
On the drive side the cover plate is now a tapered oval shape where it was shaped like an 8 on the previous 700 series.
They were 30 teeth for the 1/4" and 3/8" drive , but they are 32 teeth for the 1/2" drive .
The basic standard length chrome handled ratchets would be TM830 ,F830, and S832.
You will note that the last 2 numbers does correspond to the number of teeth in the basic ratchets.
Once you get to any other style of ratchet ,( long , short , flex, etc.) they change the last number(s) and/or sometimes add a letter to designate that specific ratchet.
If your used to the way they do it on the currently produced Dual 80 ratchets ,and the previous 900 series, where the #'s stay the same but just the letters change to designate different ratchets, It can be a bit confusing.
Prior to the 900 series they changed the last number(s) and/or added letters to designate different ratchets instead of changing just the letters in the part # like they do now.
One of the things that confuses people is that some of the ratchets with screwdriver handles in the 800 series end in 36 so people think they are 36 tooth when there they all are 30 T or 32 T
Bottom line ,all 800 series are sealed head ratchets with 30 teeth in 1/4" and 3/8" drive and 32 teeth in 1/2" drive , no matter what the part # ends in ,and you can't upgrade them.