Bought My First SK Ratchet! Help Identifying Date?

[giants]

Thanks to another post,

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=275409&highlight=ratchet

I just bought my first SK Tool today, a 3/8" #45170 with patent number 2232477. There's no diamond or SK Wayne markings.

I've attached photos from the Ebay auction. I'm all excited, though I know it needs some TLC.

I'm going to disassemble it partially, clean, then lubricate. Shoud I use Super Lube on the gears? Any other cleaning and lubrication tips?

I'm wondering if you could help me figure out the production date and probable tooth count.

 

[thehorse13]

Unfortunately, the patent number won't be of much use in dating your ratchet. SK applied for that patent in 1939 and it was granted in 1941. It's a timeless design still in use today.

Your going to have to look at the fonts used on the ratchet. I'd guess somewhere in the 1980s range on the manufacture date. Someone else may have a better guess.

You can contact SK and they will send you a ratchet rebuild kit for free. The rebuild kits are black so you will end up with a drive end being black instead of chrome.

 

[lardy1]

Congratulations on winning a mighty fine ratchet that may well last you the rest of your life.

For a few bucks extra you can fit existing SK round heads with their fine tooth replacement kit. Pops right in and doubles the tooth count.

Even as is, you have what I consider one of the best ratchets ever made. SK round heads seem to be a love 'em or hate 'em proposition. I love them and I have a bunch of them.

 

[d42jeep]

I agree totally. S-K ratchets are my favorites and they’ve been using basically the same design since WW2. I think your ratchet is probably from the ‘80s as well.
-Don

 

[Shane6377]

Nice purchase. SK round head ratchets are my favorite. I too would guess 80's on the date but this site might help you more.

http://alloy-artifacts.org/sherman-klove.html

Good luck and enjoy!


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[r_olson_06]

Yep. That would be post Dresser Industries would would put it no eariler than 1980 ish.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[bonneyman]

I agree, the best round head ratchet ever made.
Here's a shot of the markings on my 1981 45170 that I've had for almost 40 years.

 

[giants]

Congratulations on winning a mighty fine ratchet that may well last you the rest of your life.

For a few bucks extra you can fit existing SK round heads with their fine tooth replacement kit. Pops right in and doubles the tooth count.

Even as is, you have what I consider one of the best ratchets ever made. SK round heads seem to be a love 'em or hate 'em proposition. I love them and I have a bunch of them.

Thanks.

I can't find the upgrade kit for fine teeth. Can you give me a link? Are there choices as to tooth count? If so, what would you recommend?

 

[giants]

I agree totally. S-K ratchets are my favorites and they’ve been using basically the same design since WW2. I think your ratchet is probably from the ‘80s as well.
-Don

Thanks

There are LOTS on Ebay and, of course, new on Amazon.

I have big hands (size 7.5 gloves), so I would want the thicker knurled base. Any recommendations?

What models/years/logos do you like and why?

 

[lardy1]

SK part # 800720-2. It's on the SK website or you can get it a bit easier on the budget through other sources.

 

[bonneyman]

Thanks

There are LOTS on Ebay and, of course, new on Amazon.

I have big hands (size 7.5 gloves), so I would want the thicker knurled base. Any recommendations?

What models/years/logos do you like and why?

You can always push on a piece of gas hose. The knurl will hold it, it adds some girth, is cheap and easy to do, and if it splits or tears you slap on another piece.

 

[giants]

^^Thanks.

I just received it in the mail today!

It has 40 teeth.

I cleaned it up with chrome polish. The ratcheting was noisy, but otherwise fine, so I also disassembled it; there was no lubricant left. I cleaned the inners, then put Super Lube. OMG, it's quieter than all my other ratchets!

I just read in my notes (citation unknown) that I'm supposed to put a light coat of Super Lube. I saturated the inners so that it came out when I put it back together. It ratchets quiet as a mouse.

I lubricated the very stiff detent ball with Superlube, but it's still hard to remove sockets (I tried several brands). Any tips?

 

[davethorik]

I'm not accustomed to the knurled grip. It's 3/4" in diameter. Is there something I can put over it to make it a comfort grip?

Did you not read the post above yours?

 

[giants]

^^ I didn't see it - blond moment. Thanks for pointing it out, davethorik.

 

[davethorik]

^^ I didn't see it - blond moment. Thanks for pointing it out, davethorik.

No problem, I know sometimes reading every word of every post can make a jumble of alphabet soup in the brain.

 

[406Rich]

Total agreement with said ratchet (45170 ), bought my first one used 20 some odd years ago, still prefer it today over all the others..

 

[giants]

I'm eating humble pie (once again).

My auto instructor told me a while back to lubricate ratchets with Super Lube. I thought that high temperature wheel bearing grease, Valvoline Synthetic NLGI-2 would be better. My US Craftsman did respond to it to the first lubricant change in 20 years, but still ratcheted noisily.

It was only after I tried it in this SK ratchet, then severalof my other internal snap ring pliers ratchets, all being as quiet as a church mouse, that I learned my lesson. But I don't understand why.

So, what is the difference between Super Lube and wheel bearing grease?

 

[giants]

I lubricated the very stiff detent ball with Superlube, but it's still hard to remove sockets (I tried several brands). Any tips?

Update. Maybe someone else will have a similar problem with the detent ball, so I wanted to share what worked and what didn't.

I tried PB Blaster Penetrating Oil several times on that darn detent ball to loosen it, all to no avail. Granted, I'm biased and avoid non-QR ratchets like the plague, but something truly is wrong with this ratchet.

I don't recall the source, probably Project Farm on YouTube, but I recall that Liquid Wrench Penetrating Oil came out on top in a test of loosening rusted bolts or something similar. It wasn't my idea and I believe that Project Farm deserves 100% credit.

I sprayed the ball with Liquid Wrench, then inserted and removed a socket, alternating with more Liquid Wrench. After about 5 minutes, the detent ball loosened up and now it's easy to install and remove sockets. Perhaps the prior owner got some contaminant in the detent ball area and sold the ratchet as a result, I don't know, but that's my best guess.

Anyway, I solved that problem. Thanks for your help!

 

[ae1990]

Hey fellas, I am new here. I inherited many vintage tools when my great grandfather passed years ago and I held them at my father’s shop until recently when I brought them home to restore. In the bunch is a 1/2” drive SK ratchet with the round head and a “Pat. Pending” mark. This leads me to believe the ratchet was manufactured between 1939-1941 based on this thread. Any idea how I can pinpoint this date?

Thanks,
Anthony

 

[d42jeep]

The closest you will be able to come is between the time that the application was filed and when it was granted. I’ve seen some very early ones with a slightly different control but unfortunately I don’t have one.
-Don

 

[ae1990]

This one has a mechanism similar to that one. The selector rotates a lever inside and it stops against a lip on the anvil. I will take it apart and share some photos. It’s pretty warn out inside and it looks like my great grandfather staked the barrel for some reason.

 

[bonneyman]

As long as the teeth in the head are OK I'd buy and install a DT80 rebuild kit. Makes the old workhorse a finer tooth ratchet, pops right in with no modifications, and will restore proper function. For $25 or so it's worth it.

Epstein has them for $22.

#800720-2 3/8" Drive DT SK Ratchet Mechanism for DT80

#800720-2 3/8" Drive DT SK Ratchet Mechanism for DT80

www.harryepstein.com

 

[d42jeep]

Here are some of my Pat. Pend. 1/2” drive ratchets.
-Don

 

[ae1990]

Thanks fellas.