My new Powerbuilt Pro Tech Ratchet is DOA

[M6erfan]

I posted over in the New Tools thread that my Powerbuilt Pro Tech ratchets, 1/4" & 3/8", came in today. Good price and fast shipping (ordered on the 29th Oct) direct from their website.

Sadly the 3/8" is locked up right out of the package. D.O.A. Guess I'll be trying their warranty/customer service.

 

[Ton ton]

Can you take it apart?

 

[pizza]

bummer

 

[Fedwrench]

I am sorry to hear that. I would try Powerbuilt's warranty since you ordered directly from their website.

You can take the ratchet apart. Remove the plastic shield (for lack of a better word) at the base of the ratchet head. once removed, you'll see the two ears or legs of a snap ring, compress those together to remove the square drive gear. the pawl gear will pop out, exposing the spring loaded pintle that's contained in the direction switch.
It's possible than the pawl gear was installed incorrectly. There's a cut out on the bottom of the pawl gear. the open side of the cutout goes towards the pintle. If the closed side is placed over the pintle, the ratchet won't work.

Good luck, and let us know how Powerbuilt treats you.

 

[M6erfan]

Before I take it apart I'll contact customer service tomorrow and see what the deal is on how their warranty exchange works.

Thanks for the advice Fed, I'm familiar with those internals already as it's the same mechanism as my Carlyle locking flex (which has been trouble free for 5 years).

 

[Fedwrench]

Before I take it apart I'll contact customer service tomorrow and see what the deal is on how their warranty exchange works.

Thanks for the advice Fed, I'm familiar with those internals already as it's the same mechanism as my Carlyle locking flex (which has been trouble free for 5 years).

I'm really disappointed that Powerbuilt would let a dead ratchet ship.

 

[M6erfan]

I'm really disappointed that Powerbuilt would let a dead ratchet ship.

Well, full disclosure... I made about 3 rotations of the anvil before it locked, then I switched the direction lever and it was locked in that direction too. So, it lasted three turns before it locked up solid

 

[old_smokey]

Bummer. I was about to ask you what you thought of them!


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[M6erfan]

Bummer. I was about to ask you what you thought of them!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Aside from the 3/8", the 1/4" is fine. I took that one apart and it was bone dry. And I mean BONE dry. There was a tiny dab of grease on the tip of the pintle and that's it. No oil or grease on the pawl or gear. I lubed it with some moly grease and it's very smooth now.

The handle shape is unique and I'm not sure what I think about it yet. My initial thought is that I prefer traditional round chrome handles, a la Snap-on, Tekton, etc. Time will tell if I take to it ...

My Carlyle 1/4" ratchet uses the same head/internals as the Pro Tech and the Carlyle has been issue free for the 5 years I've owned it, and it's got a good amount of use on it. I really like the Carlyle.

 

[woody6904]

With these Powerbuilt/Carlyles, I usually just treat like my ratchet wrenches and let head soak in some ATF overnight. Works fine and saves taking them apart.

 

[lardy1]

I have a Blackhawk 1/4" drive 72 tooth ratchet of that same design. What baffles me is why my Carlyle has very low backdrag but the Blackhawk has excessive backdrag from the same style of ratchet.

I've been pondering the Powerbuilt in !/2" but I've been waiting to hear more from actual users. Apparently all the ratchets in that configuration weren't born equal.

 

[M6erfan]

I emailed Powerbuilt last night explaining the situation with the 3/8" ratchet and gave them the original order number. They replied this afternoon that they would be sending a replacement out. No pics or any further detail requested by Powerbuilt. Can't complain about that

 

[M6erfan]

With these Powerbuilt/Carlyles, I usually just treat like my ratchet wrenches and let head soak in some ATF overnight. Works fine and saves taking them apart.

I did this before figuring out how to open them. It works, mine was nice and oily inside with ATF when I finally did open it.

 

[KnurledNut]

Well, full disclosure... I made about 3 rotations of the anvil before it locked, then I switched the direction lever and it was locked in that direction too. So, it lasted three turns before it locked up solid

Must be one of the new CVT models...

 

[CentenIJ]

I emailed Powerbuilt last night explaining the situation with the 3/8" ratchet and gave them the original order number. They replied this afternoon that they would be sending a replacement out. No pics or any further detail requested by Powerbuilt. Can't complain about that

Did the replacement arrive?

 

[M6erfan]

Funny you should ask. A big box showed up on our doorstep Saturday morning...



From Powerbuilt, obviously not my ratchet. I called their CS this morning and the ball joint set is already on its way back to PB (they emailed me a shipping label). CS said my ratchet should be here today, but nothing yet.

 

[Paco Pena]

I would have been tempted to call it a fair trade.

Paco

 

[Ign]

I would have been tempted to call it a fair trade.

Paco

Yeah the BJ kit looks to retail for $107 online...

 

[M6erfan]

Yeah, but I did the right thing. So I suppose there's there's that

 

[CentenIJ]

I’m curious to ask if you have any pictures of what the internals on the Powerbuilt ratchets look like? Are they similar to the Tone internals?

 

[M6erfan]

I’m curious to ask if you have any pictures of what the internals on the Powerbuilt ratchets look like? Are they similar to the Tone internals?

Yes, the exact same internals as Tone, Blackhawk, Carlyle. I'll post some pics of mine after I get it apart

 

[jptbay]

I bought these in long 1/4" and 3/8". Big fan so far. Very nice to use.

 

[M6erfan]

Heres a good exploded view of the internals...

 

[M6erfan]

Update: Received the new ratchet this evening via FedEx. Just got in from working all day in the garage, I'm wiped. Details tomorrow

 

[M6erfan]

So like I said, I got the warranty replacement ratchet yesterday. It seems fine, but IMO it is "rough" feeling, especially compared to my 1/4" version.

I took it apart and again this one was dry as a bone, aside from a bit of grease on the tip of the pintle. I lubed it up and it's a bit smoother but still not as nice as my 1/4" versions. The 1/4" feel like Swiss watches compared to the 3/8" ratchets. At least its not locking up.

Anyway, as requested here's a pic of the PB Pro Tech internals...

 

[lardy1]

I see the 1/2" drive for under twenty dollars. Tempting but I don't need it.

 

[CentenIJ]

So like I said, I got the warranty replacement ratchet yesterday. It seems fine, but IMO it is "rough" feeling, especially compared to my 1/4" version.

I took it apart and again this one was dry as a bone, aside from a bit of grease on the tip of the pintle. I lubed it up and it's a bit smoother but still not as nice as my 1/4" versions. The 1/4" feel like Swiss watches compared to the 3/8" ratchets. At least its not locking up.

Anyway, as requested here's a pic of the PB Pro Tech internals...

Thank you for the pictures!

Hopefully it frees up with use. I’m thinking of getting this set also to replace my craftsman ones.

 

[M6erfan]

Thank you for the pictures!

Hopefully it frees up with use. I’m thinking of getting this set also to replace my craftsman ones.

At the price point they're hard to beat. Matter of fact, might want to pick up extras because these ratchets are cheaper than just the rebuild kit, as far as I can tell. Lifetime warranty though, and PowerBuilt cust serv seems good.

 

[Fedwrench]

I can't tell from the picture but, does your replacement 3/8 ratchet have a scooped out area on the handle just below the direction switch for thumb placement?

I'm sorry you had issues with your ratchet. Although I am usually not a fan of products from Alltrade tools, I do like these ratchets. I hoping that Powerbuilt hasn't switched suppliers or cheapened them out in some way. They really are a great little sleeper ratchet.

 

[M6erfan]

Fed, yes it does...

 

[CentenIJ]

Fed, yes it does...

Wow, I hadn’t noticed but looking at some pictures I can see it now. Seems like a lot of thought went into the handle design.

 

[M6erfan]

Wow, I hadn’t noticed but looking at some pictures I can see it now. Seems like a lot of thought went into the handle design.

For me, it's not very ergonomic though. My thumb doesn't naturally rest on top of the handle just below the ratchet head. It feels awkward.