Can I repair a floppy-head Craftsman flex ratchet, or is it rebuild time?

[Ed in Virginia]

I bought this Craftsman ratchet new way back in the day. The flex-head is now a floppy head, which makes it annoying to use. Is a repair as simple as replacing the drift pin that connects the head to the shank, or would you folks recommend a full rebuild? I've seen NOS kits on eBay, but they are about $35.
I can go to Harbor Freight and get a new ICON version of this tool for about $50 with a coupon, so I'm wondering it it's time to just replace the tool. Open to suggestions on that, too.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions or tips.

 

[JABgj]

Is the ratchet still made? Check Lowes or Ace Hardware (unless something has changed) for a warranty exchange.

 

[Ed in Virginia]

Is the ratchet still made? Check Lowes or Ace Hardware (unless something has changed) for a warranty exchange.

No, I bought this from Sears about 50 years ago. Plus, I previously tried to do a Craftsman exchange with my local Ace Hardware, and they would not honor the Sears Craftsman warranty.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I had a 3/8" drive Blackhawk swivel-head that was loose as a goose - sold it "as is" on ebay and the guy fixed it. Not sure what he'd done to it. There were hammer marks all over the yoke showing evidence of a previous owner's attempts at repair. So apparently they are "fixable" if you know the secret trick.

 

[Buckeye93]

You can put an o ring on it to take up some of the slop. It will work to stiffen it enough to use it. Also google online craftsman replacement. There is a form and craftsman may warranty it. I put in a form about a week ago for an older cracked socket. They said they will send me a replacement. I am waiting for it to arrive. They said once I get it then to just “recycle” the old broke one

 

[Jacobs976]

Is the pin a pressed "star end" broaching pin? If so apparently a 1 ton press isn't enough to do the job but theoretically you can press it out the way it went in. I've managed 1/2" pressed broaching pins but craftsman is apparently using 20 ton presses or something.

 

[Ed in Virginia]

You can put an o ring on it to take up some of the slop. It will work to stiffen it enough to use it. Also google online craftsman replacement. There is a form and craftsman may warranty it. I put in a form about a week ago for an older cracked socket. They said they will send me a replacement. I am waiting for it to arrive. They said once I get it then to just “recycle” the old broke o

Gave the online form a shot. They insist on you providing a build year and week, but the drop-down list for year only goes back to 2000, about 25 years off from mine. I had previously talked to someone at Craftsman "customer support" after Ace Hardware refused to honor the warranty and was told, "That was a Sears warranty, not Craftsman. We only honor warranties on tools bought after Sears went out of business." No clue if they were blowing smoke, but I had no move after that.

 

[Ed in Virginia]

Is the pin a pressed "star end" broaching pin? If so apparently a 1 ton press isn't enough to do the job but theoretically you can press it out the way it went in. I've managed 1/2" pressed broaching pins but craftsman is apparently using 20 ton presses or something.

No, it's a plain Jane drift pin. I can literally remove it with a tack hammer and punch. The reason I'm thinking of a rebuild is that there is a spring-loaded pin in the handle that presses against the serrated edges of the bottom of the flex head. I stretched the spring a little, but it's not helping much.

 

[Jacobs976]

No, it's a plain Jane drift pin. I can literally remove it with a tack hammer and punch. The reason I'm thinking of a rebuild is that there is a spring-loaded pin in the handle that presses against the serrated edges of the bottom of the flex head. I stretched the spring a little, but it's not helping much.

Might be able to use a longer spring or add a ball bearing underneath spring and possibly a washer on drift pin if it has slack between forks too.

I have a 3/8 stubby flex and it has a ball bearing detent instead but the connection pin is broached so it's been practically impossible to fix it's spring issue. Same fix otherwise, just have to probably drill out my pin to do it.

 

[Ed in Virginia]

Might be able to use a longer spring or add a ball bearing underneath spring and possibly a washer on drift pin if it has slack between forks too.

I have a 3/8 stubby flex and it has a ball bearing detent instead but the connection pin is broached so it's been practically impossible to fix it's spring issue. Same fix otherwise, just have to probably drill out my pin to do it.

Putting a ball bearing under the spring will be easy enough to do. I looked for a replacement spring but no cigar, but I may not have looked at the right vendor(s). Thank you!

 

[OccupantRJ]

You may can place a belleville washer or two on the pin between the sections to create resistance to swivel.

 

[bonneyman]

This spring store looks like it's got alot of choices. No personal experience with them but selection looks good.

https://www.thespringstore.com/compression-spring-stock-catalog.html