Finally got around the repairing the detent ball spring in my old WIZARD 1/2" ratchet
You read posts from time to time about replacing missing detent balls in ratchet studs. My problem had to do with the spring--the ball was fine and secure, just nothing going on behind it. It's one of those Western Auto Wizard RHFT ratchets made by Duro/Indestro, essentially the same head and shank of a Duro 675 or Indestro 3275 but with the flat grip of a 3270. Great working, high quality ratchet with a nice balance and feel. Been sitting in the project bin for over a year. I read where folks recommend digging the ball out and then re-peening it back in after replacing the spring. I just wasn't going to do that, especially since there was nothing wrong with the ball.
Sure, I could troll eBay for a parts ratchet from which the salvage the stud. Those lunatics want $15-$20 or more + shipping for a flippin' broken ratchet! Dream on.
I decided to drill it out from the other side of the stud. After carefully measuring, I used a carbide tipped bit slightly smaller diameter than the ball channel. Went about 1/4 of the way into the stud before I hit the channel. The spring was actually broken in 3 pieces--don't ask me how this might happen. Had to make a custom hook out of an old screwdriver to dig the coils out. Found a replacement spring I could cut down (been saving every spring I encountered or salvaged from discarded items for decades). Started with a 'test' rod slightly smaller diameter than the drilled hole to figure out how long the spring and plug would have to be. Then took about an inch of brass welding rod of slightly larger diameter, chucked it in the drill press to use as a lathe, and used a file to reduce it so it would press-fit tightly into the hole. Used a rectangle file in the drill press vise and lowered the pin on it to level and smooth the end. Then used a knife file to cut a deep groove above my mark to make it easy to cut off straight while leaving a smaller secondary 'peg' on which the spring would center. Tapered the inside end of main peg slightly so I could snug fit it into the hole so it would temporarily stay in place for me. Then using a 1/4" drive socket to press against the ball side of the stud so as not to compress it, placed the whole array in the drill press vise and tightened to press the pin in. Worked like a charm! Perfect spring tension. Ain't never coming out either.
What? You say I ruined the collector value? Yeah, and what was it worth with the broken spring? It's value as a great user is to me worth more than a broken collectible. It's going into the truck tool box to replace the vintage Proto pear head that IS a valued collectible (what was I thinking?).
If anyone has a similar problem with an old ratchet they want to restore to usefulness, this will get it done for you.
You read posts from time to time about replacing missing detent balls in ratchet studs. My problem had to do with the spring--the ball was fine and secure, just nothing going on behind it. It's one of those Western Auto Wizard RHFT ratchets made by Duro/Indestro, essentially the same head and shank of a Duro 675 or Indestro 3275 but with the flat grip of a 3270. Great working, high quality ratchet with a nice balance and feel. Been sitting in the project bin for over a year. I read where folks recommend digging the ball out and then re-peening it back in after replacing the spring. I just wasn't going to do that, especially since there was nothing wrong with the ball.
Sure, I could troll eBay for a parts ratchet from which the salvage the stud. Those lunatics want $15-$20 or more + shipping for a flippin' broken ratchet! Dream on.
I decided to drill it out from the other side of the stud. After carefully measuring, I used a carbide tipped bit slightly smaller diameter than the ball channel. Went about 1/4 of the way into the stud before I hit the channel. The spring was actually broken in 3 pieces--don't ask me how this might happen. Had to make a custom hook out of an old screwdriver to dig the coils out. Found a replacement spring I could cut down (been saving every spring I encountered or salvaged from discarded items for decades). Started with a 'test' rod slightly smaller diameter than the drilled hole to figure out how long the spring and plug would have to be. Then took about an inch of brass welding rod of slightly larger diameter, chucked it in the drill press to use as a lathe, and used a file to reduce it so it would press-fit tightly into the hole. Used a rectangle file in the drill press vise and lowered the pin on it to level and smooth the end. Then used a knife file to cut a deep groove above my mark to make it easy to cut off straight while leaving a smaller secondary 'peg' on which the spring would center. Tapered the inside end of main peg slightly so I could snug fit it into the hole so it would temporarily stay in place for me. Then using a 1/4" drive socket to press against the ball side of the stud so as not to compress it, placed the whole array in the drill press vise and tightened to press the pin in. Worked like a charm! Perfect spring tension. Ain't never coming out either.
What? You say I ruined the collector value? Yeah, and what was it worth with the broken spring? It's value as a great user is to me worth more than a broken collectible. It's going into the truck tool box to replace the vintage Proto pear head that IS a valued collectible (what was I thinking?).
If anyone has a similar problem with an old ratchet they want to restore to usefulness, this will get it done for you.
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