Did someone post pics of Craftsman Ratchet Rdbuild?

TxDoc · Apr 2, 2008

Maybe I dreamed this. :headscrat

I thought someone had posted pics of how they rebuilt or serviced their Craftsman ratchet(s). It may have just been disassembly, cleaning and lubricating them.

I did searches, but did not find what I was looking for. Maybe it was another brand, too.

If anyone has an idea, I would appreciate the help.

Thanks

64merc · Apr 2, 2008

Is their a certain C-man ratchet in particular that you would like to inquire about?

Stuey · Apr 2, 2008

Photo on Slickdeals.net of thin profile ratchet. (but you likely need to be a forum member to view it)

Some guy on another forum rebuilds a standard crapsman ratchet.

Don't follow that guide to the letter; the guy overgreased the bejeezus out of the poor ratchet.

64merc · Apr 2, 2008

Stuey said:
Photo on Slickdeals.net of thin profile ratchet. (but you likely need to be a forum member to view it)

Some guy on another forum rebuilds a standard crapsman ratchet.

Don't follow that guide to the letter; the guy overgreased the bejeezus out of the poor ratchet.

Boy, you weren't lying when you said he overgreased it!!!! Yikes!!!

fotoflojoe · Apr 2, 2008

64merc said:
Boy, you weren't lying when you said he overgreased it!!!! Yikes!!!

How much is too much? I did this with my Snap On F720 this past weekend. I didn't use nearly as much as that, but I was pretty liberal with the stuff. FWIW, I used white lithium grease applied with a small brush.

old salvage · Apr 2, 2008

64merc said:
Boy, you weren't lying when you said he overgreased it!!!! Yikes!!!

He recommends doing it "a couple times a year and you'll be set".

64merc · Apr 2, 2008

64merc said:
Boy, you weren't lying when you said he overgreased it!!!! Yikes!!!

Truthfully, for a ratchet with not so tight tolerances, such as a Craftsman, it will probably work no matter how much grease you use. I think if you use too much grease on a tight/intricate ratchet you may actually make it perform worse. For some, just using machine oil may do the trick.

To answer your question, IMO just spread a very thin layer on anything that makes metal to metal contact (very thin!). Then put a slightly thicker coat on the drive gear, and if you want to, on the pawl. It seems to work for all of my ratchets of varying brands.

eschoendorff · Apr 2, 2008

I don't use grease... I keep my ratchets' heads in a cup of ATF. I rotate them every once in a while. Don't do this with Snappy sealed head ratchets....

64merc · Apr 2, 2008

eschoendorff said:
I don't use grease... I keep my ratchets' heads in a cup of ATF. I rotate them every once in a while. Don't do this with Snappy sealed head ratchets....

I have heard of that, and I'm sure it works well too. My only question would be whether it keeps leaking and dripping while you're using it. It just sounds kind of messy to me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty, but I don't want that **** dripping all over the place.

eschoendorff · Apr 2, 2008

64merc said:
I have heard of that, and I'm sure it works well too. My only question would be whether it keeps leaking and dripping while you're using it. It just sounds kind of messy to me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty, but I don't want that **** dripping all over the place.

I lay them out on a rag before I use them... never remember the dripping being a problem.

Uncle Buck · Apr 2, 2008

I have packed several of my ratchets just as full of grease as the fellow in the link did some years back and I have never had an issue with any of them. I don't imagine I have packed a ratchet that way though in at least 15 yrs or so, but really I have just never had any issue as a result of packing one that way. IMHO it really makes no difference at all!

eschoendorff · Apr 2, 2008

hholmberg said:
I have packed several of my ratchets just as full of grease as the fellow in the link did some years back and I have never had an issue with any of them. I don't imagine I have packed a ratchet that way though in at least 15 yrs or so, but really I have just never had any issue as a result of packing one that way. IMHO it really makes no difference at all!

I have heard that packing them with grease like that can make the ratchet skip... so I tried it with a 1/4 craftsman, but it didn't have any ill effects....

Uncle Buck · Apr 2, 2008

eschoendorff said:
I have heard that packing them with grease like that can make the ratchet skip... so I tried it with a 1/4 craftsman, but it didn't have any ill effects....

Nope, perhaps it depends on the design of the ratchet, but I never experienced any ill effects! :thumbup:

64merc · Apr 2, 2008

hholmberg said:
I have packed several of my ratchets just as full of grease as the fellow in the link did some years back and I have never had an issue with any of them. I don't imagine I have packed a ratchet that way though in at least 15 yrs or so, but really I have just never had any issue as a result of packing one that way. IMHO it really makes no difference at all!

Yeah, it probably doesn't make too much of a difference with most ratchets such as the standard c-man teardrop. They do not fit that great to begin with so a little grease isn't going to hurt it. On the other hand, I rebuilt a Williams B-52A ratchet that used a floating pawl and a tiny spring to operate. The instructions specified using the supplied oil. I didn't try it, but I would guess that it wouldn't function properly if it was packed with grease.

wrenchr · Apr 2, 2008

Every Matco fine tooth ratchet I have ever had will skip if there is to much oil or grease.

jay50 · Apr 2, 2008

hholmberg said:
I have packed several of my ratchets just as full of grease as the fellow in the link did some years back and I have never had an issue with any of them. I don't imagine I have packed a ratchet that way though in at least 15 yrs or so, but really I have just never had any issue as a result of packing one that way. IMHO it really makes no difference at all!

Dayum; I bet you also pack wheel bearings and hubs full also, using a plunger... :lol_hitti

chad pickens · Apr 4, 2008

I just bought a craftsman tool kit and it came with three new ratchets just like the one in the post .I packed them with grease last night and it made a difference in mine .They are alot smoother and the pawl moves easier. I think it was time well spent . the 1/2 and 3/8 took about 15 minutes combined,but the 1/4 took about 20 by itself that ball bearing was small and hard to get to stay in place . :Twitch:

eschoendorff · Apr 4, 2008

chad pickens said:
I just bought a craftsman tool kit and it came with three new ratchets just like the one in the post .I packed them with grease last night and it made a difference in mine .They are alot smoother and the pawl moves easier. I think it was time well spent . the 1/2 and 3/8 took about 15 minutes combined,but the 1/4 took about 20 by itself that ball bearing was small and hard to get to stay in place .

Apparently the Snap On dealers have some little too that they use to keep those balls in place while rebuilding ratchets... I'll have to ask our dealer about it the next time I see him.

wrenchr · Apr 4, 2008

eschoendorff said:
Apparently the Snap On dealers have some little too that they use to keep those balls in place while rebuilding ratchets... I'll have to ask our dealer about it the next time I see him.

Matco rebuild kits come with the tool :thumbup:

Makes life easier!!! :beer:

Stuey · Apr 4, 2008

I just use 1/8" brass tubing that I picked up from the local art supply store. Flattened the tip, then bent it perpendicularly. The shim was thin enough to hold the ball down and slide out of there once the gears were all back in place.

trainer · Apr 4, 2008

eschoendorff said:
Apparently the Snap On dealers have some little too that they use to keep those balls in place while rebuilding ratchets... I'll have to ask our dealer about it the next time I see him.

At one time the craftsman rebuild kits had a little tool to hold the ball in place. I'm not certain if they still do.

billymade · Apr 4, 2008

The Craftsman kit has a little tool with a "L" shape that helps with keeping the spring and steel ball in place (compressed), while you install the pawl. Thats the hardest part of rebuilding the ratchets!

chad pickens · Apr 4, 2008

On the 1/2 and 3/8 I didnt need the tool but on the 1/4 I used a zip tie end bent over.

64merc · Apr 4, 2008

chad pickens said:
I just bought a craftsman tool kit and it came with three new ratchets just like the one in the post .I packed them with grease last night and it made a difference in mine .They are alot smoother and the pawl moves easier. I think it was time well spent . the 1/2 and 3/8 took about 15 minutes combined,but the 1/4 took about 20 by itself that ball bearing was small and hard to get to stay in place .

Yes, a little grease does make these ratchets, in particular, nicer to use. Unless you are replacing the pawl, or there is some gunk stuck under the ball bearing, I don't think it's necessary to remove the pawl/bearing/spring. If you want grease on the bearing just dab some in there. With that said, Adam on the C-man club board recommended using a bent packaging staple that they use to close up cardboard boxes. I haven't tried it, but it sounds like it would work.

billymade · Apr 4, 2008

Here are the "official" instructions for the rebuild kits for the current shipping "standard" ratchet; all the sizes are of the same design. They also say which lubricant they recommend! Interesting info! Hopefully this will help with tear down and reassembly of these ratchets!

fotoflojoe · Apr 5, 2008

billymade said:
The Craftsman kit has a little tool with a "L" shape that helps with keeping the spring and steel ball in place (compressed), while you install the pawl. Thats the hardest part of rebuilding the ratchets!

Made my own tool by bending up one side of a cheap pair of HF tweezers, that worked fine. Though, I think I heard my Snap On ratchet go "Ewwww".

hiavia · Apr 5, 2008

Shucks, I just greased all 5 of my craftsman rachets. I wonder why they recommend 30w oil. I'm contemplating going back and cleaning all the grease out of my ratchets and putting oil in for fear that the grease might damage them. Any thoughts?

rodm1 · Apr 5, 2008

Are they still giving out the rebuild kits? My store only exchanges them and some vender's are selling them.

http://www.craftsmantooltalk.com/BBS/Craftsman_Tool_Collection/973/973/flat-page1.html

http://www.marssupply.com/mars/servlet/CyberVendor/category/G2017296/catalog/group.jsp/

Ratchet Refurbishing Kits

1/4"

44807 Teardrop-Quick Release 43424
44812 Teardrop-Quick Release Fine Tooth 43424
43187 Round Head-Fine Tooth 43426
43174 Round Head 43425
43186 Teardrop-Quick Release- Obsolete 43427

3/8"

44813 Teardrop-Quick Release-Full Polish 43434
44833 Teardrop-Quick Release-Full Polish-Long 43434
44808 Teardrop-Quick Release-Long 43434
44811 Teardrop-Quick Release 43434
44815 Teardrop-Quick Release-Flex 43434
44834 Teardrop-Quick Release-Flex-Stubby 43434
44835 Teardrop-Quick Release-Flex-Offset 43434
44836 Teardrop-Quick Release-Ergo 43434
44837 Teardrop-Quick Release-Black Oxide 43434
43781 Round Head-Fine Tooth 43436
32794 Round Head-Fine Tooth-Flex 43436
43175 Round Head 43435
43784 Teardrop-Quick Release – Obsolete 43437
44995 Thin Profile teardrop QR ratchet 43438

1/2"

44814 Teardrop-Quick Release-Full Polish 43444
44809 Teardrop-Quick Release 43444
44816 Teardrop-Quick Release-Flex 43444
44838 Teardrop-Quick Release-Black Oxide 43444
44977 Round Head-Fine Tooth 43446
44983 Round Head-Fine Tooth-Flex 43446
43176 Round Head 43445
44985 Teardrop-Quick Release – Obsolete 43447

Obsolete refers to the oil hole in the head model ratchets

64merc · Apr 5, 2008

hiavia said:
Shucks, I just greased all 5 of my craftsman rachets. I wonder why they recommend 30w oil. I'm contemplating going back and cleaning all the grease out of my ratchets and putting oil in for fear that the grease might damage them. Any thoughts?

Are you crazy, there is no material in them that would be affected by the grease. If you dont' believe me, Adam (on a different board), who rebuilds ratchets for Sears, says he using grease.

Don't always trust what Sears says, believe me. Yes, oil would work fine too, but don't wast all that time cleaning them. My $.02

TxDoc · May 4, 2008

My apologies for the lack of a "thank you" for all of the helpful and informative replies. That is exactly what I was looking for.
Thanks again!

wilbilt · May 4, 2008

In one of those HAZET videos, it shows the ball-holding tool they use when assembling their ratchets.

wrenchr · May 4, 2008

64merc said:
I have heard of that, and I'm sure it works well too. My only question would be whether it keeps leaking and dripping while you're using it. It just sounds kind of messy to me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty, but I don't want that **** dripping all over the place.

I do this when I buy a old ratchet, I let it soak in the ATF. The old stuff I buy I do not use I just collect. But the ATF gets in all the nooks. :thumbup:

Chadwilliam1 · Sep 21, 2012

does anybody know how I look up what rebuild kit will worm with the premium ratchets?

Westly · Jan 25, 2014

For the ratchet in the instruction sheet above - to get the pawl gear back in without a special tool - stick the ball to the spring with grease. Put the paul gear in upside down; that lets it clear the ball. Then rotate the pawl and it will begin to push the ball down. For the last 1/64" push the ball down with a knife point - you will see what I mean. Very easy.

Next put the lever in - use the lever to carefully push the pawl back out about 1/8", at which point the lever will clear everything and slip on in. I have that ratchet, and one just like it except it's a long flex head. The flex is too flexible but it's still usable. It needs to have about twice as many detents.

Did someone post pics of Craftsman Ratchet Rdbuild?

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