Cleaned up (4) Craftsman Ratchets Today.
- Thread starter 930dreamer
- Start date
Alexander
Well-known member
Those look great! Good job.
What are your plans for them?
What lube do you prefer to use for these guys?
What are your plans for them?
What lube do you prefer to use for these guys?
OP
I just use whatever wheel bearing grease I have.
WarrenJ
Well-known member
Nice clean up job.
uncwstudent
Well-known member
For whatever reason I find buying these old ratchets and cleaning them to be ridiculously relaxing...at least until I lose the ball bearing. There is something wonderful about finding these old jobs and bringing them back to life.
I got out my Craftsman 44808 made in USA ratchet to clean up and lube with Super Lube today just to compare it to my S-K Wayne 45170. I'll reach and track down my 45170 before I grab the Craftsman. The Craftsman will turn a bolt though.
mykvr6
Well-known member
yeah. I worked out in the garage today in the stifling heat because well the wifes car needed the oil changed and being out there with my tools is just peaceful to me even if I'm sweating through my shirt.
I took apart, cleaned up and relubed a bunch of my older ratchets a few years ago when I found this site and found out about fixing up ratchets. I had a 1/2 raised panel craftsman, 3/8 raised panel, a 1/4 raised panel, a 1/4 fully polished, and a 3/8 fully polished craftsman ratchets that were all sticky and would skip and jam up etc. I had pretty much written them off as **** and just kept them around for backups. Over the years I bought some snap on stuff but still had all those craftsman ratchets. I took them all apart, cleaned all the dirt and crudded up grease out of them, lubed them with super lube (super light coating) and they all still work flawlessly even though I really dont use them. But man it was so satisfying to bring them all back and realize they were actully fine just needed some love. I also fixed my snap on ratcheting screwdriver as well as it had also gotten mucked up and was starting to reverse itself and skip. Took it apart, cleaned it up and relubed it and it has worked perfect ever since. It did have some wear on the teeth but it works great.
I took apart, cleaned up and relubed a bunch of my older ratchets a few years ago when I found this site and found out about fixing up ratchets. I had a 1/2 raised panel craftsman, 3/8 raised panel, a 1/4 raised panel, a 1/4 fully polished, and a 3/8 fully polished craftsman ratchets that were all sticky and would skip and jam up etc. I had pretty much written them off as **** and just kept them around for backups. Over the years I bought some snap on stuff but still had all those craftsman ratchets. I took them all apart, cleaned all the dirt and crudded up grease out of them, lubed them with super lube (super light coating) and they all still work flawlessly even though I really dont use them. But man it was so satisfying to bring them all back and realize they were actully fine just needed some love. I also fixed my snap on ratcheting screwdriver as well as it had also gotten mucked up and was starting to reverse itself and skip. Took it apart, cleaned it up and relubed it and it has worked perfect ever since. It did have some wear on the teeth but it works great.
WWheeler
Well-known member
Can't say I find it relaxing, as it can be rather tedious at times on some ratchets, but I have always cleaned and lubed every ratchet I get, whether it's old or new, and repeat every so often. I'd call it more 'reassuring', and 'rewarding' in the difference it can make. Surprising how many brand new ratchets, from craftsman to snap-on, have come completely dry and work so much better after some superlube. Last year I went though and cleaned and lubed all 50+ ratchets I have.
I like to use a med-large box (I never have a shortage of them) and cut a couple holes for my hands/arms on either side of one of the corners so I can look down into the open top when I'm disassembling/assembling ratchets inside it. I can't count how many times the box has saved me from losing a circlip or ballbearing. I'd also tried keeping a large speaker magnet on either side of me but it was a bit hit & miss whether they actually saved a projectile or not.
That, and Snap-on's $1 ratchet repair tool SPP744 (which unfortunately looks to have been discontinued) has also been indispensable for keeping those ballbearings where they belong.
Does anyone else sell anything like the SPP744? I would hope so, though I suppose someone could make something similar from some banding strap or similar.
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OP
^^^X2, only way to hold a detent ball and spring.
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
Old Craftsman ratchets from the days prior to the plastic flip lever.. Yep, the good old stuff. 
Old Craftsman ratchets from the days prior to the plastic flip lever.. Yep, the good old stuff.
The old metal selector 1/2 drive, even though it's only 32 teeth, feels a lot better and smoother than the newer 36 teeth USA one I have. Those ratchets and rhe RHFT ones were the best ones they made. I haven't tried any of their premium model ones though.
Certain satisfaction bringing discard ratchets back from the dead or back to top running condition. Use to work with fellow aircraft mechanics that could maintain a 100 million dollar aircraft but looked at me like some sort of sorcerer refurbishing or servicing a ratchet. Had a side hustle for lunch money fixing and servicing other coworkers ratchets.