Replacing a detent ball in a Snap on 1942 extension

snapmom · Jan 25, 2018

1. parts needed. spring (from a retired dealer repair box) steel ball.
2. Tools, T7962 punch. with inset tip. (also from a retired SO dealer) and a big hammer.
3. placed spring and ball in hole, clamped the extension to anvil. drove the ball in with the punch.
4. looks and works like it was new.

3baygarage · Jan 25, 2018

Excellent. I didn’t think repairing extensions was something dealers did until seeing the tools in catalogs, and the original old repair kit.

I wonder what other brands if any, made that repair.

snapmom · Jan 25, 2018

Mac dealers had the tools also.

Logante · Jan 25, 2018

That’s awesome. I would have never guessed how those were penned into the extension.

Ole Slewfoot · Jan 25, 2018

I've wondered for awhile what that punch looked like.

Oldmantaylors' Plomb kit implies they did
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6976842&postcount=3168

Oldtuleguy · Jan 25, 2018

Cool repair tool. I have peened a couple on using a gasket punch.

Pontiac787 · Jan 26, 2018

But how did you get the old ball out?

Oldtuleguy · Jan 26, 2018

Missing. Here is a practice one I did. I started with a piece of barstock, a steel ball and a spring. Drill a hole size of ball, insert spring and ball, then peened in with a hole punch

snapmom · Jan 26, 2018

Pontiac787 said:
But how did you get the old ball out?

It came in with the ball missing.

Oldtuleguy · Jan 26, 2018

snapmom said:
It came in with the ball missing.

Typically that is why you would replace one!

Mick56 · Jan 26, 2018

Nice! I was wondering if it could be done without the special tool.

four.cycle · Jan 26, 2018

so where does a guy get those tools and parts, and how do you remove a stuck detent ball from a 1/4" drive spinner handle?

snapmom · Jan 26, 2018

I have gotten my parts mostly on Ebay. Also some have been given to me.
I have not seen any tools to repair 1/4 dr tools. I would try to soak it in AFT. Some have drilled small holes in the back to push the ball back up. (this seems hard) Some of the SO tools from like the 50s have a back cover that can be removed and replaced when the repair has been made.

ganymede · Jan 26, 2018

Awesome.
That neat little tool is actually shown in the patent drawings..

four.cycle · Jan 27, 2018

I managed to find an SPP744 - the little spring steel tool used to hold down the detent ball when repairing a ratchet, but haven't had any luck on the punch.
The 1/4" driver isn't a Snap-on, and it doesn't have that "back door" like your example above, unfortunately.
I soaked it for about a week in Marvel Mystery Oil but still can't get the detent ball to budge. It's an oldie and most likely one that I will not be able to find a replacement for.

Provincial · Jan 27, 2018

If you can find someone with an EDM machine that likes old tools, they may be able to eat away the old ball. With it gone, one could modify an old punch to swedge the hole out to get a new ball and spring in and then redo the swedge to retain them.

Paying shop rate on an EDM would be too expensive.

Snaparxon · Jan 28, 2018

four.cycle said:
I managed to find an SPP744 - the little spring steel tool used to hold down the detent ball when repairing a ratchet, but haven't had any luck on the punch.
The 1/4" driver isn't a Snap-on, and it doesn't have that "back door" like your example above, unfortunately.
I soaked it for about a week in Marvel Mystery Oil but still can't get the detent ball to budge. It's an oldie and most likely one that I will not be able to find a replacement for.

I have had luck tapping rapidly and repeatedly with a hammer. Hold the end on something solid like a vise or anvil. The vibration sometimes frees up the ball. Hit it hard as you can without damaging the end. I have had to use a propane torch to lightly heat as well. To much heat will destroy the spring so be careful. Don't heat it enough to change the color or the metal.

tym · Jan 28, 2018

Thanks for sharing, snapmom! Neat to see that special punch.

Replacing a detent ball in a Snap on 1942 extension

snapmom

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