Anyone have this problem with Premium Craftsman Ratchet

[veesmack323]

I bought a 1/4 "Premium" ratchet was really dissappointed because of the reversing lever on it. It seem to have 4 settings on it instead of 2. It has a locked position on both ends (tighten and loosen), and today I found myself having to stop in between work to take it off of the "fixed" position and back into the "ratcheting" position. It was really easy to bump it back into the locked position. Should I return this ratchet for another one or do all the 1/4 drive ratchets do this??

 

[porphyre]

OMFG. Just buy a Snap-on.

 

[jkeyser14]

Yes, I had that problem with my first one. It's a quality control issue. I returned it for a replacement and the replacement one is much better.

 

[rj-oz]

Yes, I had that problem with my first one. It's a quality control issue. I returned it for a replacement and the replacement one is much better.

I have exactly the same problem with mine too, back it goes--all the way from Australia--what a joke

 

[GTO]

I have no problems whatsoever with any Craftsman Ratchets,I sold all of them
Sorry,like stated above,just replace them with SO.

 

[Sparkfarmer]

OMFG. Just buy a Snap-on.

LOL!!!!!!!!

 

[kythri]

I have exactly the same problem with mine too, back it goes--all the way from Australia--what a joke

Y'know, from the way you carry on, Sears hates Australians. Why do you continue to order from them?

 

[rj-oz]

Y'know, from the way you carry on, Sears hates Australians. Why do you continue to order from them?

Haha, yep it looks like it all right-offload all the junk out of the country-but I have learned a lesson--a big one--don't buy USA thinking it is better, I'm done with Sears now--Taiwan runs all over this ****.

 

[billymade]

rj-oz, did you ever get any of your Sears issues resolved?

 

[SINISTER]

Buy real ratchets and you wont have these problems. I have had better use out of HF ratchets than craftsman. Not to say I dont own one, who doesn't, they are a dime a dozen.

 

[cide1]

I bought all three premium ratchets and have been very satisfied. My only SO ratchets are a 723 and 730. The craftsman premiums are on a totally different level. All 3 cost me less than a sigle dual 80. My reversing levers work as expected, with two positions. I have read that some people noticed a difference after cleaning and lube. Mine didnt need it.

 

[kythri]

but I have learned a lesson--a big one--don't buy USA thinking it is better

Sadly, this is a lesson everyone should have learned by now...

 

[powertrip]

What worked for me was a cleaning with brake cleaner and a few drops of oil and then it was fine. May or may not work for you.

 

[rj-oz]

What worked for me was a cleaning with brake cleaner and a few drops of oil and then it was fine. May or may not work for you.

I just disassembled mine, cleaned, and used only a few drops of thin oil, I paid attention to the small spring and pintle assembly making sure that small spring moved freely both in the hole in the lever and pintle-and it is now operating a lot better, the grinding and auto reverse has now stopped and I can spin a socket quite quickly both ways without this jamming the mechanism, but for a premium ratchet to rely on such a small weak part is not good

 

[Fedwrench]

The problem I have with mine is that the pintle moves to the outside of the pawl gear locking up the ratchet. The only way to fix it is to disassemble it.
Disappointing to say the least for any ratchet let alone a "premium" one.
I wonder if the 84 teeth Gearwrench ratchets will have the same problem when they come out this year?

 

[ZYA_LTR]

OMFG. Just buy a Snap-on.

LOL!!!!!!!!

Yeah, because that is helpful in his current situation, SO is not the holy grail of tools for everyone. He asked if anyone had his experience, not please tell me what you think i should do. Some folks have to live within there means, and if Craftsman @ 1/4 the cost of Snap-On is all he can afford now, then so be it, let's help the guy not pound on him...I have everything from HF Composite ratchets to SO in my toolbox, and have bought them all at times when i could afford/needed/wanted each, and i don't hate any of them, they all have served there purpose. And i have never had to warranty any of my Cman ratchets, so i see no fault in using them.

 

[porphyre]

Yeah, because that is helpful in his current situation, SO is not the holy grail of tools for everyone. He asked if anyone had his experience, not please tell me what you think i should do. Some folks have to live within there means, and if Craftsman @ 1/4 the cost of Snap-On is all he can afford now, then so be it, let's help the guy not pound on him...I have everything from HF Composite ratchets to SO in my toolbox, and have bought them all at times when i could afford/needed/wanted each, and i don't hate any of them, they all have served there purpose. And i have never had to warranty any of my Cman ratchets, so i see no fault in using them.

Nope, more like people with no posts come on here and keep bashing a great product. I don't know what people keep doing to their 84t ratchets, but it's stupid. I'm not a pro tech running the ratchet through a thousand cycles a day but I own all three and they've been my go-to since day 1 of ownership. Haven't seen a single problem. 1/4", 3/8" or 1/2".

I'll bet the yahoo who started this thread took it apart and re-lubed it with the wrong stuff. More often than not, those who come in here with "My "premium" ratchet is ****" finally fess up to putting RLL in it like you do with an SO ratchet. No ****, if you open up a tool and put in an un-approved lube it'll work poorly. Who the hell opens up a brand new ratchet and messes with it, anyway?

 

[american lockpicker]

OMFG. Just buy a Snap-on.

But it doesn't even have a USA on it.

 

[veesmack323]

Nope, more like people with no posts come on here and keep bashing a great product. I don't know what people keep doing to their 84t ratchets, but it's stupid. I'm not a pro tech running the ratchet through a thousand cycles a day but I own all three and they've been my go-to since day 1 of ownership. Haven't seen a single problem. 1/4", 3/8" or 1/2".

I'll bet the yahoo who started this thread took it apart and re-lubed it with the wrong stuff. More often than not, those who come in here with "My "premium" ratchet is ****" finally fess up to putting RLL in it like you do with an SO ratchet. No ****, if you open up a tool and put in an un-approved lube it'll work poorly. Who the hell opens up a brand new ratchet and messes with it, anyway?

Uuuhhhhhhh.......WTF???!!!

Dude I was honestly asking a simple question so chill out. I may not have 1200 posts but honestly who f*cken cares? I bought a new ratchet that I had no previous experience with and ran into a problem. I know I am new to the forum but last I checked I posted my question in the "General Tool Discussion" forum, which is what my question pertains to. I havent opened up the ratchet or put any "special" lube in it. I bought a ratchet, noticed a problem, and asked a question. If you don't like my question, don't respond. It's that simple.

Thanks to everyone else that responded.....I will try returning the ratchet and if the exchanged one does the same thing I will just use it for home use!

 

[billymade]

veesmack323, unfortunately... this is a KNOWN issue that has been discussed here at length and showed up on day one when they came out. Some people have not had any problems but others have. I believe the Danaher rep on here; even acknowledged the q/c issue at one point. You could clean the head, try a different lube, take it to Sears to have it rebuilt or return it for a replacement or a refund (try a different ratchet altogether). Good luck!

 

[Butters]

Uuuhhhhhhh.......WTF???!!!

Dude I was honestly asking a simple question so chill out. I may not have 1200 posts but honestly who f*cken cares? I bought a new ratchet that I had no previous experience with and ran into a problem. I know I am new to the forum but last I checked I posted my question in the "General Tool Discussion" forum, which is what my question pertains to. I havent opened up the ratchet or put any "special" lube in it. I bought a ratchet, noticed a problem, and asked a question. If you don't like my question, don't respond. It's that simple.

Thanks to everyone else that responded.....I will try returning the ratchet and if the exchanged one does the same thing I will just use it for home use!

 

[killerb87]

i got mine today and have similar problems with the 3/8 and the 1/4. the 1/4 is worse. the 1/2 is fine. maybe these are old stock, but they are going back tomorrow for exchange. i dont think they will be a problem if i get the good ones.

 

[porphyre]

/blah blah/

If you don't like my question, don't respond. It's that simple.

Search. It's that simple. Billy said it - this has come up exactly 1024919392 times before.

 

[mrpizza]

Maybe not everyone knows exactly what to search for. Besides, this is a discussion board. If everyone searches as opposed to discussing, may as well put member intro into free parking and shut everything else down.

I used to frequent a car forum that now ***** because all the guys there tell every new guy with a question to just search instead of helping.

 

[WR250F]

I picked one up last year and it had the same issue yours is.

Instead of open it up, I returned it to the local store for a swap. I had to go through several on the rack before I found one that functioned as it should.

I used it 2-3 times and the lever started popping into neutral, so I went back to the store (with my receipt) and sniveled and got a full refund. Bought a scraper set and a few Pro screwdrivers with the refund.

I ended up using an ancient Proto ratchet to finish up the project I was on at the time.

I was kind of disappointed with the whole CMan Premium ratchet thing, then I picked up one in a trade and it works perfectly.

This being said, the HF composites are still my general go to ratchets

ETA: Don't let anyone give you any **** for asking a question. Search if you can, but don't be afraid to post a question, as many of us here will try to help if we can. Regardless of how many posts you have or don't have, some of us come here to actually discuss tools instead of beat our chest and act superior for one reason or another. Don't let the riff raff scare you off and piss on them if they don't like anyone posting a question.

 

[wreckerman5357]

Maybe not everyone knows exactly what to search for. Besides, this is a discussion board. If everyone searches as opposed to discussing, may as well put member intro into free parking and shut everything else down.

I used to frequent a car forum that now ***** because all the guys there tell every new guy with a question to just search instead of helping.

I can think of a couple forums where that **** has made me take a step back as well.

 

[PeterT]

I am not only happy with my MADE IN USA ratchets, but the fact they were made by Americans with American parts matters a lot to me... The job I save by buying MADE IN USA may be my own some day.

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

I have all 3 and they work great (most of the time) you have to use just the right ammount of lube (and they wont work with grease or anything heavyer than air tool oil) But IIRC the auto reversing is caused by low spring tension. try streaching out the spring a little and see what that does for you. And clean it out and relubricate the ratchet with Marvel mystery air tool oil. I have had a lot of luck lubing mine up with that.

The ratchets still auto reverse from time to time but much less so since i swapped out the factory lube.

But as others have said snap-on is a superior ratchet, snap on dual 80's can use a thicker lube (Permatex ultra slick engine assembly lube/ RLL is my favorite) it has a detent ball that helps hold the ratchet into the desired position. And snap-on will probably have parts support for this ratchet LOONG after the craftsman Premium is just a memory. Its a shame that craftsman is running into so much trouble these days / selling junk product.

Good luck
Sean Scott

 

[Skin]

I wouldnt say the dual 80 is entirely superior. Its a noticably fatter ratchet compared to the Cman Premium/Matco/Armstrong floating pawl design. The Cman ratchets are also far more comfortable for me. I cannot stand Snap-On metal handles, anything i buy of theirs is a comfort grip.

 

[killerb87]

i decided to return my set. it was like kissing a hot girl with bad breath. even though she brushed her teeth, it will always be in the back of your mind.

 

[billymade]

Start looking here in the classifieds for pro ratchets....

 

[Andy Griffith]

Do the cman thin profile ratchets use the same floating pawl design?

 

[Skin]

Do the cman thin profile ratchets use the same floating pawl design?

yep.