Craftsman V Series Store availability?

[Jacobs976]

Yep, that was my thought exactly as well which is why I mentioned c-clip & ratcheting wrenches above. If that's the case which I'm pretty sure it is then they ain't coming apart easily. I have had ratcheting wrenches come apart from wear & over torquing and is how I became familiar with that type of construction. I just popped them back together.

I'd imagine the only way it'd come apart is with a cutting disc, ring can't be recompressed from inside so it'd be truly built non-serviceable. Might be able to oil it through submersion, noticed the 1/2 seems to have a slight gap, but the seal would still potentially cause issue.

Rings do cause excessive wear if they're moving against anything and not lubed enough although this design wouldn't do much if the ring isn't touching the ratchet body and it's floating with the gear. Basically only touching the body when the gear is pulled forward like when you remove a socket.

 

[Al Borland]

Pin Spanner type can be opened with an appropriate wrench. Common(er) in British bikes and machinery. There are whole sets of pin spanner wrenches in BS and in Whitworth, even adjustable pin spanner wrenches.
("Collect them ALL!!!" said the GJ collective)
As for the Craftsman, it likely has a "trapped" internal snap-ring.

 

[Jtels85]

Never seen Cornwell in person either, but hands down I would go with a Matco ratchet any day of the week.

SnapOn ratchet heads are too thick, bad for clearance issues.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

Have not seen the V series at Lowes, only on website. I would order them via website like everything else, IMHO no need to touch and feel them especially for home gamers. Easy to return them to Lowes. Ordering the 1/2 deep chrome sockets to build out my set.

 

[nbpt100]

I will second that for my local Lowes and Ace. No V series of any kind. I am not in the market for anything but I just can not help myself to quickly look at what they have for hand tools when I am in the store.