Dissection of the Pittsburg Pro Swivel Head Ratchet

gj67stang · Mar 11, 2011

I recently picked up a 3/8" Quick Release Swivel Head Ratchet from Harbor Freight. Per previous discussions, this ratchet is deemed a good bang-for-the-buck value. One question remained unanswered: whether it could be diassembled to lube the internals.

Follow along as I dissect this ratchet:

Removing the T20 screw allows the split handle to be opened and the "head" released.

After chucking it up in the lathe and machining off the quick-release buttons reveals that this ratchet can't be disassembled without distruction.

The button and shaft is one piece. I assume they insert it into the 3/8" drive body, insert the detent ball and then peen around the ball to retain it and the quick-release shaft. (Sorry, the ball went to visit lost-parts-land as soon as I pressed the quick-release shaft out.)

We can also see a "flared" collar holding the direction lever to the drive body.

The flare tabs are broken off, allowing access to the ratchet internals.

Surprisingly, everything is lubricated better than I expected.

By my count, there are 72 teeth in this ratchet.

During this ratchet's first use, the handle popped loose, so I removed it for a bit of investigation.
The shaft is 0.465" in diameter and has two very small tangs and some glue to retain the handle.

Mr.Nutcase · Mar 11, 2011

Install a Snap On hard handle..
To lube it,I would dump it in ATF

5-0stank · Mar 11, 2011

Nice thread/pics. ***** there is no way to lube it. I want to buy it, but I feel the "comfort grip" part of the handle is a tad small for my hands...wish it was an inch or two longer.

TireTracks · Mar 11, 2011

You should take it in and tell them it exploded in your hands!

tonydanzah · Mar 11, 2011

those guts look likr the sk palm control, not like the wright, snap on or gearwrench guts which i think are a more durable design

ToddyB · Mar 11, 2011

I bought the 1/4 and 3/8 due to the reviews here. My only initial complaint was the short handle which I now do not mind. When HF went Green I went and got a 1/2 to match the others. So far I really like them all. Worth every penny.

jjjrmx5 · Mar 11, 2011

gj67stang said:

gj67stang:
I am so VERY happy that you have all of your clothing on in this pic because it so reminds me of an e-bay UK tea kettle for sale pass-along pic that makes you realize that chromed metal is reflective. LOL

Thanks for the write-up and the handle fault is quite sad. :thumbup:

HF has it's place , but not for tools that may endanger me.

airdale · Mar 12, 2011

Hey, thanks for giving one up for the cause. Actually looks pretty well made internally, maybe not the most durable design, but for the price...

amolaver · Mar 12, 2011

looks like pretty good machining on the head and pawl. can you comment? i know you'll be able to tell us more about the machining from eye than the pics can convey. i wish it was able to be disassembled (w/o destroying it), but looks pretty well made.

ahm

cortez · Mar 12, 2011

The paw has 17 teeth, which is 11 more than the generic Chinese ones, so I'm assuming it is at least twice as strong.

Like stated above not bad for the price. The handle should be easy to re-glue with gorilla glue.

Good investigative reporting!!!

gj67stang · Mar 12, 2011

After I get around to picking up a new one of these, I plan to soak the drive end in some ATF for a couple days as well as install a different handle in place of the PittsburgPro handle (it just feels too small in my hand).

The machining (and chrome) is very nice overall. It's definitely better than raised-panel Craftsman's, not quite up to Snap-On's quality, but very good for the price. The direction lever does feel a bit cheap and the direction spring looks kinda skimpy for my liking, but for $12, I'll deal with it!

diesel research · Mar 12, 2011

tonydanzah said:
those guts look likr the sk palm control, not like the wright, snap on or gearwrench guts which i think are a more durable design

While it does use the facom/sk type design, I am baffled by the suggestion that it "isn't as durable".

Just like another member pointed out. You have 23% of the geared head's teeth locked in at any one time, compared with about 8% on average.

That says nothing about the metallurgy of HF, or the specific dimensions, but to suggest the design itself is lacking, is a little strange.

KEH · Mar 12, 2011

Thanks for the test. I have one of those which I like, but haven't really used enough to challenge it. However, I bought one and gave to a mechanic who was doing some work for me(new clutch in a tractor) to keep my image good with him and to see how well the ratchet held up. After a few months he broke it. He is a young, strong, large guy and broke it while trying to loosen a 15/16 bolt, which is asking a lot of a 3/8 ratchet. It was broken in the square shaft that the sockets go on. Had to fool with it in the vise a little to get the socket off. The pawl was not broken. I took it to HF and got a new ratchet, not questions asked. The mechanic likes the ratchet and has been a little more careful with the replacement.

I examined mine and decided it must be pressed together.

Commeted about this to the SO man and looked at their similar ratchets. They can be taken apart by using a pick to unwind a snap ring, but the SO man said they just replaced the whole head and didn't carry kits for them.

KEH

Damian · Mar 12, 2011

I have that ratchet in the red handle and I like it a lot. I think I picked it up on sale for $10 @ HF a year or so ago and it's been a great tool. Nice smooth ratchet action and the swivel stays tight even with daily 8+ hr use.

TireTracks · Mar 12, 2011

I have a "powerbuilt" stubby version of that ratchet, with the head that can be opend.

I lik it alot, I just wish i wasnt so "stiff" when you ratchet it. Works great for confined spaces though.

dovco · Mar 29, 2015

I have and like the 3/8" and 1/4" versions of that ratchet. I don't like the plastic handles so I ditched them in favor of some knurled Aluminum.

dovco · Mar 29, 2015

I wonder if you could drill and tap that pin for a little button head screw. Then it could be disassembled and cleaned and lubed. Hmm.................

gungatim · Mar 30, 2015

I was thinking similarly, maybe there is a sweet spot on the top to drill a very small hole to add lube w/o disassembling it at all.

mtnkid85 · Mar 30, 2015

dovco, I like your knurled AL handle! Did you make it or salvage it from another tool?

dovco · Mar 30, 2015

Made them from Aluminum rod (3/8 ratchet) or tube (1/4 ratchet).
Here's the 3/8s:

dovco · Mar 30, 2015

IIRC the rod was 5/8 6061 and the bore was 31/64 drill bit.
Seems like I used 1/2 Aluminum tube for the 1/4 ratchets because the ID was already good for a press fit. It's been a while since I made the 1/4 ratchet handles, though.
I made a 3/8s handle for my buddy last night. He bought the 1/2 swivel head ratchet from Matco and is looked a lot like the HF so I went to HF and bought him the 3/8 ratchet for $13.07 (25% off coupon on my phone) and made the handle in about 30 minutes.

dovco · Mar 30, 2015

gungatim said:
I was thinking similarly, maybe there is a sweet spot on the top to drill a very small hole to add lube w/o disassembling it at all.

I told my buddy to just dunk it in brake cleaner when it gets dirty and shake it out a few times. Then, dunk it in ATF to lube it and shake it out. In his work environment a little oil seeping from a ratchet is no problem.

maico · Mar 30, 2015

The magazine load tests I've seen suggests it's almost always the square that shears first not the pawl teeth.
The strongest, from a design point of view, is the circular Facom type palm control. Lots of teeth engaging on a large radius.

winlinmac · May 11, 2016

So...I'm guessing this can't be lubed. Great, thanks!

dnschmidt · May 11, 2016

That tool is manufactured by William Tool company in Taiwan and is used by many companies including TOPTUL. This is the only version that cannot be rebuilt. The two TOPTUL models that use the exact same mechanism have an allen screw in the middle instead of the quick release button. They are quite strong as there are many teeth that contact the outer rims perimeter.

For what you're paying for this ratchet it's an exceptional value. With respect to the handles coming off all you need to do is epoxy them back on and they stay there forever. I use golf club shafting epoxy but any two part epoxy works fine. System Three 5-minute works equally well.

The TOPTUL ratchets can be taken apart very easily and I lube them with Superlube but the suggestion to dunk the head into ATF works equally well. Not a big deal actually.

winlinmac · May 12, 2016

Awesome, thanks for the feedback dnschmidt! :beer:

Mr_B · Dec 1, 2016

we get the same taiwan ratchet as pittsburg with the release button (no screw) but it has a rebuild kit listed. it under laser tool brand and identical besides handle inlay color .

ratchet p/n 3520
repair kit p/n 0469

Mr_B · May 7, 2017

I just picked up a 3/8 & 1/2 of these in clearance for 15usd, got heads half covered in atf bath in hope of good fluid entry after couple day soaking and making them feel super smooth. strippable taiwan ratchets come out buttery smooth with light coat of lithium grease and few drops of quality atf .
Think will lathe up a couple alloy knurled grips and do them 2-3" longer as handle design and length not best as is .

Al Borland · May 7, 2017

Great. I looked thru all this and now I want to break something too.

mudflap · May 7, 2017

gungatim said:
I was thinking similarly, maybe there is a sweet spot on the top to drill a very small hole to add lube w/o disassembling it at all.

Thats what i did..didnt help the horrible back drag..but its the only swivel head i have thats quick release...so i like it better than some others.

dnschmidt · May 7, 2017

That's a William Tool design. TOPTUL, and a bunch of others, get ratchets from this primary manufacturer. I think this is William Tool's #1 seller.

Dissection of the Pittsburg Pro Swivel Head Ratchet

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