First Broken Ratchet!

Mr. T · Jul 25, 2015

So it finally happened. In all fairness to this 22 year old ratchet I was literally standing on it (all 6-5, 250lbs).

Already have a repair kit on order for a whopping $10.

Just posting because you're the only people I could think of that might care.

930dreamer · Jul 25, 2015

You should have used a breaker bar, repair and reuse.

Indexmill · Jul 25, 2015

That's pretty damn good carnage!

That square drive blew the F up.

Thanks for sharing.

magicrat · Jul 25, 2015

I care....awsome pic....not really broken bcuz u can still rebuild it like new....its just injured right now

619DioFan · Jul 25, 2015

A little jbweld and it will be good as new.

Codyyy · Jul 25, 2015

Did you at least break loose whatever this ratchet was supposed to loosen?

Mr. T · Jul 25, 2015

930dreamer said:
You should have used a breaker bar,

Yeah, I know. You use what you have on hand sometimes. Either way, I'm sure it will live another 22 years. It's been used in an industrial environment this long so I bet it was just the straw that broke the Snap-On's back...

Codyyy said:
Did you at least break loose whatever this ratchet was supposed to loosen?

Sadly, no. It was an m20 bolt originally torqued to 395 Nm (14 years ago). I got it loose with a wrench and cheater.

Olafur · Jul 25, 2015

1/2" or 3/8" drive? :headscrat

hautpot · Jul 25, 2015

really neat

organ · Jul 25, 2015

Surprised to see such huge grain structure...

Mr. T · Jul 25, 2015

Olafur said:
1/2" or 3/8" drive?

1/2"

davethorik · Jul 26, 2015

Olafur said:
1/2" or 3/8" drive?

If I had to guess it's a 15" long 1/2 drive rat. Black oxide. Industrial environment says it all to me. Appears some of the gear teeth are stripped as well. Impressive.

Fedwrench · Jul 26, 2015

Rebuild and reuse :lol:

Breaker bar, we don't need no stinking breaker bar!!! that's why we have 15 and 24 inch long ratchets.

No crime, no foul, tools break regardless of whose name in on them. :beer:

Better to break it using it hard than wear the finish off buffing it. :lol:

LXCam · Jul 26, 2015

Well I'm proud of ya even if no one else will say it.

fasteddie313 · Jul 26, 2015

Nice!

Richard Cranium · Jul 26, 2015

Wouldn't snap on send you out a free rebuild kit? Why 10.00? They have always sent me repair parts for free even when I have bought stuff used and told them that I purchased them used, they would not let me pay for the parts

Leoruiz · Jul 26, 2015

Adam.C · Jul 26, 2015

930dreamer said:
You should have used a breaker bar, repair and reuse.

Nope. Breaker bars are done now. That failed in the square drive. A breaker would have failed in the exact same place.

The point at which ratchets became stronger than the square drive is the point at which breakers (and to some extent the 12 pt sockets we had to use with them) became obsolete.

In the old days, you'd strip the teeth in a ratchet before the drive broke.

KamiCrit · Jul 26, 2015

Snap On tools break??

Jokes, but I really like the finish on the ratchet. Is that factory or character?

B17E1943 · Jul 26, 2015

Richard Cranium said:
Wouldn't snap on send you out a free rebuild kit? Why 10.00? They have always sent me repair parts for free even when I have bought stuff used and told them that I purchased them used, they would not let me pay for the parts

Really??

That's not the story I've been hearing the last few years. S/O wants proof that you purchased the tools new from the truck. Last time I called for parts they asked if I bought them new. Since I am an honest person, I only asked for parts for the tools I did buy new.

They want to weed out the weasels who buy crapped out, rusted to **** tools at the flea or yard sales for cheap and fix them up and sell them for a ridiculously high mark-up.

How long has it been since you tried this, anyway, Mr. Cranium?

Wamsutta · Jul 26, 2015

The gear and pawl is stronger than the square drive. That's the sign of a very high quality ratchet.

motofool33 · Jul 26, 2015

B17E1943 said:
Really??

That's not the story I've been hearing the last few years. S/O wants proof that you purchased the tools new from the truck. Last time I called for parts they asked if I bought them new. Since I am an honest person, I only asked for parts for the tools I did buy new.

They want to weed out the weasels who buy crapped out, rusted to **** tools at the flea or yard sales for cheap and fix them up and sell them for a ridiculously high mark-up.

How long has it been since you tried this, anyway, Mr. Cranium?

i recently bought a set of torX used brought em to my snap on guy he replaced all the worn tips and and sold me the replacement one i was missing. granted i was/just had ordered a couple hundred worth of stuff: new lock for the used tool boX, liners and spare keys.

ARFLY · Jul 26, 2015

If the OP was standing on it, I bet that made for an interesting time when it broke loose like that.

ganymede · Jul 26, 2015

Adam.C said:
Nope. Breaker bars are done now. That failed in the square drive. A breaker would have failed in the exact same place.

The point at which ratchets became stronger than the square drive is the point at which breakers (and to some extent the 12 pt sockets we had to use with them) became obsolete.

In the old days, you'd strip the teeth in a ratchet before the drive broke.

A valid point in the case of the op's ratchet but I've seen plenty of ratchets fail at other points . Gear, pawl, even the head itself can give. Obviously breakers can give out too but they still have a use.

Dave455 · Jul 26, 2015

Hmm! Well I reckon I'd have been using a breaker bar too, IF I'd had one, and if I'd had it with me! But only because that's the way I was taught. If I was out on the road trying to change a wheel with what I had, or in an industrial environment faced with a 5 minute walk to my tools, I'd have used what I had! If I had used the breaker it would have failed in the same place though!

Aren't we missing the point though, which is that that here's a tool that's put up with 22 years of probably HARD use, and it's only now needing a $10 part! Good result I'd say!

Also, while most of us here like shiny chrome, it's worth remembering that the Snap On industrial finish is pretty good too. If you're on a budget it could make better sense to pick up industrial finish tools from a top end maker rather than second tier chrome!

Edit - just checked the website, and while the industrial finish wrenches are cheaper than the chrome, the ratchets and breaker bars are not any more. Also, they've dropped the long handle ratchets in industrial finish. Shame.

John in OH · Jul 26, 2015

Mr. T said:
.........

Just posting because you're the only people I could think of that might care.

That's funny!!!! But, probably true!! Thanks for posting!

WhiffySpark · Jul 26, 2015

I've broke every breaker bar I've used

I've yet to break my big 1/2 ratchet

d.mcfarland · Jul 26, 2015

Stripped teeth, no handle bend, and failure point exactly where it should be. Finely made tool.

Farmall450 · Jul 26, 2015

KamiCrit said:
Snap On tools break??

Jokes, but I really like the finish on the ratchet. Is that factory or character?

I agree. I think it's just worn industrial finish but looks good. Too bad that would rust here

helterskelter · Jul 26, 2015

Using a ratchet as a breaker bar like that is typically against the safety policy in an industrial environment. Same thing goes with cheaters (go back and re-read all the safety paperwork you signed). If you were to injure yourself while violating the safety policy it would likely mean you being fired. Just something to consider. Gotta watch out for yourself.

Richard Cranium · Jul 26, 2015

Correct me if I am wrong, but their older tools had a lifetime warranty, Their newer tools now has the extra about being the person who purchased them and a receipt.

panknuckshovel · Jul 26, 2015

Well, for being the first ratchet you have broken you certainly decided to come out of the gate strong. Mazel tov.

ez-duzit · Jul 26, 2015

930dreamer said:
You should have used a breaker bar...

This only.

beatcad · Jul 26, 2015

not bad.
yes i wouldve used a breaker bar, but if that was the only tool on hand i'dve used it also.

1/2 ratchet bought new from snap-on 22 years ago was probably 80 to 120 bucks. right now(2015) its probably 150 to 200 bucks....i dunno :dunno:

i kinda guessing.
warrenty? maybe.
if anyone got 22 years of hard work out of any tool or brand of tool i think they got their moneys worth.
yes i understand "lifetime warrenty"
i think if people dont abuse that policy it's great.

you are a gentleman for understanding that and paying 10 bucks for a rebuild kit.
i mean you did use it improperly thus technically voiding the warrenty.

BTW, i've never broken a ratchet.
i've broke breaker bars and cracked sockets jumping/standing on them or using a cheater bar.
and i've spread a few open end wrenches.

defektes · Jul 26, 2015

Lol, in industrial a breaker bar is double wrenching and a pipe over your favorite ratchet.

Seriously in 1/2 the bar really doesn't matter much, that ratchet will live another 20 years thanks for the pics.

Mr. T · Jul 26, 2015

Richard Cranium said:
Wouldn't snap on send you out a free rebuild kit? Why 10.00?

Honestly, I didn't even try. We haven't purchased tools from Snap-On in decades as far as I can tell. When I looked up the kit and it was only $10 I figured it'd be cheaper than spending my time on getting it for free.

To put it in perspective I broke it getting some parts from a failed hydraulic pump I was replacing. The new pump set was $20k. No one was going to bat an eye about spending $10 more.

First Broken Ratchet!

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