Craftsman ratchet upgrade?

[outdoorspace]

I had an older Craftsman ratchet that was great but it started to skip so I took it back and exchanged it for a new one and man this new ratchet *****! I've already had to get it replaced 3 times and now with problems I've just given up on it. I have another older long handled flex head Craftsman that my father gave me out of his tool box when I first moved out. But unfortunately despite pulling it apart cleaning and lubing it's getting worn out. I don't want to just exchange my father ratchet for some junk, nor do I want to rebuild it with cheap gears. I was just curious if anyone knew of an upgraded rebuild kit that would fit. Like a Snap-on rebuild kit or something similar that would fit in a Craftsman ratchet?

 

[AceofSpad3s]

I had an older Craftsman ratchet that was great but it started to skip so I took it back and exchanged it for a new one and man this new ratchet *****! I've already had to get it replaced 3 times and now with problems I've just given up on it. I have another older long handled flex head Craftsman that my father gave me out of his tool box when I first moved out. But unfortunately despite pulling it apart cleaning and lubing it's getting worn out. I don't want to just exchange my father ratchet for some junk, nor do I want to rebuild it with cheap gears. I was just curious if anyone knew of an upgraded rebuild kit that would fit. Like a Snap-on rebuild kit or something similar that would fit in a Craftsman ratchet?

That would not work, you cannot just throw a rebuild kit into a different ratchet to upgrade it unless they got the same guts. Closest thing to the rp is the older dahner kobalt ratchets, which have the same guts but it would be pointless. Go and buy some hf composites or the new pro low profile ratchets and trash the raised panel.

 

[ChevyEFI]

The handle ergonomics of the raised panel Craftsman ratchets *****. The action is coarse on most.

Just bail on the memories and get something worthwhile. I have ratchets from SK, Great Neck, Snap-On, Ko-balt and Harbor Freight. Zero from Craftsman and that's intentional.

 

[NC-Shaun]

I jumped ship pn the Craftsman RP ratchets altogether, I have only one 1/4 incher left in the fender bag of my dirt bike.

If that ratchet has sentimental value, someone here can help you restore it for sure.

For my daily use ratchets I went Pitt Pro composites, 3 long handled Pitt Pro Lo Pro, and the 1/2 extendable. Great ratchets!

Post a pic of your old Craftsman that sparked this thread!

 

[aaronrkelly]

Yeah keep the Craftsman for the memories....move on.

BAHCO if you like the soft grip handles are great for the money, Armstrong 88, Husky rotos from Home Depot......of course cant go wrong with Snap On, Mac, Matco etc.

 

[n8n]

I had an older Craftsman ratchet that was great but it started to skip so I took it back and exchanged it for a new one and man this new ratchet *****! I've already had to get it replaced 3 times and now with problems I've just given up on it. I have another older long handled flex head Craftsman that my father gave me out of his tool box when I first moved out. But unfortunately despite pulling it apart cleaning and lubing it's getting worn out. I don't want to just exchange my father ratchet for some junk, nor do I want to rebuild it with cheap gears. I was just curious if anyone knew of an upgraded rebuild kit that would fit. Like a Snap-on rebuild kit or something similar that would fit in a Craftsman ratchet?

Hate to say it but just move on, the craftsman era is over. SK , Williams, snap-on, proto all make better ratchets than any cman ever made, the only ones worth a **** were the rhft anyway. Yes you will pay more but it is worth it to get reliable tools. Alternately the new cman premiums are getting good reviews but I feel better about the others being around down the road for warranty claims anyway.

Sent from my 0PJA2 using Tapatalk

 

[mikebaker1129]

Post up a pic of your Dads ratchet.

 

[nine4gmc]

The flex head is worth fixing, even if it's with cheap internals, it will function still and you'll retain the memories. That said, the new HF ratchets are better and carry the same lifetime warranty. I have the complete set of HF roto head ratchets and they are my go to ratchets. The new HF flex head ratchets are considered by many to be the home shop equivalent version of the industrial Snap On brand flex heads but at a much more affordable(sane) price.

 

[A E Numan]

Go buy a HF ratchet and send that nasty old Craftsman to me- Thank You!

 

[MoparTrucks]

The flex head is worth fixing, even if it's with cheap internals, it will function still and you'll retain the memories. That said, the new HF ratchets are better and carry the same lifetime warranty. I have the complete set of HF roto head ratchets and they are my go to ratchets. The new HF flex head ratchets are considered by many to be the home shop equivalent version of the industrial Snap On brand flex heads but at a much more affordable(sane) price.

I have a lot of older Craftsman Ratchets I have had since HS 38 years ago (given to me as a gift from my Grandfather in anticipation of the auto related career I never achieved) and I have always loved those things but I have found that my HF composite ratchets are my go to now. I dont like how dirty they get but they are way smoother than my Craftsman and so far they have been bullet proof (I only have the 1/2 " and 3/8").

Now if you ask me if I would ever part with my Craftsman the answer is hell no and I completely agree with you, the OP needs to fix up the ratchet even if its not perfect and use it.

 

[aaronrkelly]

I have a few of the low profile Crafstman ratchets - use the 1/2 one fairly often and like them.....they are miles better than the RP ratchets.

Still.....only reason I bought it was price - they were mismarked for $20. Would have NEVER paid what they were asking for it.

 

[1990 Grand Wag]

I have a few of the low profile Crafstman ratchets - use the 1/2 one fairly often and like them.....they are miles better than the RP ratchets.

Still.....only reason I bought it was price - they were mismarked for $20. Would have NEVER paid what they were asking for it.

Is that low profile 84T now? I know the Premiums are (I have one).

 

[aaronrkelly]

Not sure...never counted. Much smoother then the RPs I had though.

 

[c-hawk19]

The older ones are 60 tooth. i have a few of them and they are decent ratchets.

 

[LUKE221]

Yup 100% toss the old RP C-man into your spare tool pile and get yourself a Harbor Freight pro or a Proto, MAC, MATCO, or Snap-on

 

[johninct]

Go on Ebay and buy a good Craftsman Ratchet like the one you have and use it for parts to fix up yours.

 

[McLatchy]

Snap on, never skips.

 

[n8n]

I have a lot of older Craftsman Ratchets I have had since HS 38 years ago (given to me as a gift from my Grandfather in anticipation of the auto related career I never achieved) and I have always loved those things but I have found that my HF composite ratchets are my go to now. I dont like how dirty they get but they are way smoother than my Craftsman and so far they have been bullet proof (I only have the 1/2 " and 3/8").

Now if you ask me if I would ever part with my Craftsman the answer is hell no and I completely agree with you, the OP needs to fix up the ratchet even if its not perfect and use it.

Eh, I'd keep it, but just for sentimental value. Even an old school coarse tooth SK or Proto is a HUGE step up from a RP cman, and a rebuild kit for an SK is just a phone call away same as it's been for decades. Time to get a real user ratchet I think.

Sent from my 0PJA2 using Tapatalk

 

[kythri]

nor do I want to rebuild it with cheap gears.

I don't know that I'd call a rebuild kit "cheap gears" and if the ratchet isn't functional now, it's not like it's going to be less functional after a rebuild, "cheap gears" or otherwise.

Despite the hyperbole, the ratchets somehow still manage to take a bolt off. Grabbed one of my teardrop raised-panel ratchets last weekend and it still works.

What's the model of your ratchet, anyhow?

 

[back2class]

Lord know I must have 30 craftsman RP ratchets. Keep buying them for $1-4 at the flea market to just sell them off one day and throw them in a bin...not sure why. They are not all the same..some are decent, others are ****. Post a pic of yours, I am pretty sure I will have a nice one here that if you mail me your guts. I can mail you back good parts in whatever vintage you have. PS. I think the HF rotohead ratchets are not so great. When you use them like a nutdriver the plastic handles spin loose if you have a man's grip. Gears and chrome are top shelf though at any price point. As others have said, outside the fact they can function decent and take nuts off, RP ratchets are pretty crude by today's standards.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I'd rebuild it and set it aside for sentimental reasons.

I grew up with RP ratchets but they are best left in the past, IMHO.

 

[alpaca]

get yourself some locking flex armstrongs