Cleaning up Bonney ratchet?

[CecilTheTurtle]

Just picked up this Bonney T707 ratchet this weekend for a buck at a garage sale. It's a nice little ratchet but it only loosens, it doesn't tighten. Feels like there's a lot of gunk inside it.

I can't see any way to open it and no oil hole. Anyone have any idea how to refurb this guy? I'd like to put it to use.

 

[E.T.Privott]

it's 11:50 in the PM and i just had to go look at mine to see ???? never had any trouble with it after many, many years of work but have redone all my ratches over the years but never even looked at this one twice ??? how do you get into it to clean & reoil it ??? come on now all you bunch of wrench pulling, grumpy old guys (like myself), how do you get into this....???,

 

[SMKS]

That is a rare bird.

 

[Provincial]

It looks like the seam around the workings on the outside of the head is a retainer that holds the guts in. I suspect that the retainer was pressed into place at the factory and may not be removable without damaging the guts. That would explain why there are so few around - buyer resistance to a non-servicable tool and those who tried to get them apart ruined them.

P.S. You might try to soak it with brake cleaner and hose it out with the nozzle of the brake cleaner after a long soak. That could remove the gunk. Then soak it in light oil for lubrication.

 

[rusty65]

Squirt some atf in the head and starting ratcheting in the way it does work and the old gunk should start coming out. I have done this trick to a old sealed indestro and it worked like a charm.

 

[Bull]

Simple. Soak it in a jar of ATF, Remove it periodically, put a deep socket on it, then work it in both directions, Repeat as necessary.

 

[davesnothere]

I like atf also. I hear some like a mix of atf and acetone.

 

[CecilTheTurtle]

Sounds like ATF is the stuff. Found some old Redline ATF in the garage and the ratchet is soaking in it as we speak. I'll report back later if it works.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

good deal, neat looking old ratchet.

 

[Harley94]

I've got the same ratchet that I bought in the early 60's and have had the same question on dis-assembly although mine still works great. There for awhile I thought I was the only one who owned one.

 

[Mickey O]

Had that same exact ratchet, ended up with a pile of stitches (ratchet slipped, hand went into sharp piece of steel) and it's the reason I won't use a sealed ratchet. If I can't take it apart to inspect and maintain it I'm not using it. Great collectors ratchet for display purpose only in my opinion, I'd still try and get it freed up.

 

[CecilTheTurtle]

Well, the ATF is definitely pulling some dirt and gunk out of the ratchet but I think the action is actually getting worse. Now it's slipping in both directions! I guess I know why the guy had it mixed in with his old junk wrenches, eh?

If anyone has any other advice on how to resurrect this old guy I'm all ears. Otherwise it goes on the display shelf.

 

[rlitman]

If anyone has any other advice on how to resurrect this old guy I'm all ears. Otherwise it goes on the display shelf.

Oh no. I have that exact same ratchet, and it is my absolute favorite. I've never found a smoother ratchet.

If the ATF isn't thin enough to wash it out completely, I'd go for something thinner.

If it were me, I would use mineral spirits or kerosene, and put it in an ultrasonic cleaner. That'll get all the gunk out of the inside, and after sufficient time to try, I'd add back some nice and thin oil.

Or just mail it to me.

As for Mickey O's issue with it slipping. I haven't had that happen, but it is always a risk with fine tooth ratchets. Personally, I don't find it to be a worry, since if it feels at all tight, I'll switch up to 1/2" drive, or use the impact. This ratchet gets babied.