Air ratchet care

[GDA]

Just this summer I finally got a compressor and have been using air ratchets and a 1/2 impact (bought used from a Porsche tech) for about three months. Yesterday, after conquering a rear door lock assembly replacement on my LR Discovery (that job was a PIA), I decided to see what the guts of my ratchets looked like.

I got out my snap ring pliers and went at it. My BluePoint 3/8 ratchet contained an unbelieveable amount of dark grease and grit. I couldn't believe the amount of **** in there. The 1/4 drive one was not soo bad. I guess the former owner might not have cleaned them too often. Anyway, spent 30 minutes cleaning and putting back together with air tool oil and they work soo much smoother.

So this leaves me with a question - how often should this be done if they're used only on weekends? I would think once a year...

Thx

 

[ImportTuner]

Just this summer I finally got a compressor and have been using air ratchets and a 1/2 impact (bought used from a Porsche tech) for about three months. Yesterday, after conquering a rear door lock assembly replacement on my LR Discovery (that job was a PIA), I decided to see what the guts of my ratchets looked like.

I got out my snap ring pliers and went at it. My BluePoint 3/8 ratchet contained an unbelieveable amount of dark grease and grit. I couldn't believe the amount of **** in there. The 1/4 drive one was not soo bad. I guess the former owner might not have cleaned them too often. Anyway, spent 30 minutes cleaning and putting back together with air tool oil and they work soo much smoother.

So this leaves me with a question - how often should this be done if they're used only on weekends? I would think once a year...

Thx

Based on the amount of time you used these tools, cleaning once a year is more than adequate .. just remember to oil before each use ...

 

[mrastudent]

There's supposed to be grease up in the hammer section. You added some after removing the old grease, right?

 

[kartracer55]

It seems like alot of mechanics just kind of use an air tool until it dies. What makes a good air tool is how long it takes the abuse before it dies. The only thing I do to my stuff at home is oil my tools, and even without doing that, tools seem to run for a good long time. If they get REALLY dirty, take them apart and clean them. But at the same time, most big name tools were meant to be used professionally in crappy environments so I wouldn't worry TOO much.

 

[icnsltmfg]

Yesterday, after conquering a rear door lock assembly replacement on my LR Discovery (that job was a PIA), I decided to see what the guts of my ratchets looked like.

What year Disco? You have not really had a treat until you have to replace the window regulators. Years ago on My Disco series 1 the regulators were steel and Alum and tack welded together. The welds would give way and your window fell to the bottom of the door. They were quite pricey, so I resorted back to my old Ford Assy Plant day's and ran a few self tapping screws in to hold them together...done, and back to LR after lease...
Adam

 

[kartracer55]

What year Disco? You have not really had a treat until you have to replace the window regulators. Years ago on My Disco series 1 the regulators were steel and Alum and tack welded together. The welds would give way and your window fell to the bottom of the door. They were quite pricey, so I resorted back to my old Ford Assy Plant day's and ran a few self tapping screws in to hold them together...done, and back to LR after lease...
Adam

So Im not the only one to notice land rovers tend to have window problems? It seems like windows and cooling system problems plague these things, correct?

 

[icnsltmfg]

On the Disco's...esp the Series 1's yep...part of the "charm". I have been very fortunate with my current Rangie.

BTW where in NJ are you?

 

[GDA]

So Im not the only one to notice land rovers tend to have window problems? It seems like windows and cooling system problems plague these things, correct?

I got a 2003 Disco II with 45k on it. The window regulators have plastic rollers on the scissor arms that break in half and then usually take out/bend the arms rendering them useless. Crappy design to cheap out on such a small but high wear part.

Just 2 months ago I did the front drivers window regulator. Not a tough job but time consuming. The drivers rear door lock actuator, on the other hand was much more time consuming. I followed the RAVE manual but it omitted the fact that you cant pull out the assembly without removing the rear window and its track.

This weekend I have to tackle a drivers front hub that is starting to howl. Yeah, another great project!

BTW - I did use grease on the hammer section. Thnx for confirming.