Crew Line Ratchet Autopsy

[Plombob]

I got this ratchet with the Mac V5R I autopsied a few weeks back. I don't know this brand, but it appears to be a decent quality tool that you might find at an auto parts store, Kmart or other. On the top it Says "Crew Line" on the back it says "Boxer" and made in Taiwan.

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The rat is a bit unique in the position of the selector. It's the black switch in the middle of the handle. The switch is positioned well, so that the thumb rests on it and can quickly change direction. The head has the quick release feature we've all seen.

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The body is plastic, with two steel inserts for the top and bottom. It is held together with three Torx screws.

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These are all of the internal parts. The body, selector switch and the selector pawl are plastic, the rest is metal.

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The metal strip resting on the pawl slips into a slit in the pawl and a slit in another pawl on the selector. That's the plastic part on the right. When you slide the selector up/back, the metal flexes and changes the pawl direction. The plastic part on the right slips over the tang on the selector (part in the center).

There was a little fumbling involved getting the rat back together. Now that I've assembled it, I wouldn't have as much trouble a second time.

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The action and the selector are pretty smooth. Overall, a decent import rat for light work.

 

[v7guy]

What a strange little ratchet

 

[mikew13]

I seen one like this under the ACE Hardware label

 

[dieselmike]

looks good enough for the garbage can

 

[Plombob]

looks good enough for the garbage can

Hey - no fair! You can use it to pound insects to a pulp!

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

CrewLine was Checker/Shuck's/Kragen's house brand back in the 90's. Some of it was REALLY good stuff, and some of it was complete ****.

 

[Xenocide]

I believe halfords in the UK rebrand one of these for their little 1/4" sets

 

[Yojinbo]

I once said I would never own a plastic gun. I have 2 of these in my safe now.

Maybe I should keep an open mind about ratchets. But I'm not ready.

In any case, thank you for the pics and the effort. It's neat to see different approaches to the same problem.

 

[sick467]

I bought a set of 1/4", 3/8", & 1/2" drivers from Sears that looked like the one that Plombob depicted back around 1990. It did not have the crewline name on it, but it did have the Boxer name. I have to say that I really liked the set. It was not a ratchet that you would want to put a cheater pipe on, but it was very good for regular use. It's one donwfall was that the screws would work loose, but locktight solved the problem. Their best quality was that the sides were plastic and very forgiving with respect to chipping paint or scrathing aluminum.

I did not realize how much I loved these wrenches until most of my tools were stolen a few months ago and now I can not find any to replace them.

As mentioned, Ace Hardware has an identical 1/4" driver with a set of sockets and such, but they do not carry the 3/8" or 1/2" (my favorites).

Halfords in the UK has the above mentioned rebrands in the right sizes which should be indentical, but they can not sell or ship to the U.S.

I really want a new set - can anybody lead me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance,

Noel

 

[Widget]

I really want a new set - can anybody lead me in the right direction?

@sick467

Not sure if you're still looking.. as it's been a while since your last post.

While not identical, the Teng tools FRP ratchets are similar. Teng is a Swedish company but their tools are made in Taiwan. And I THINK the Boxer ratchet is also Taiwan.

Anyway.. here's the closest I could find..

The brand:

Our brand

www.tengtools.com

1/2 inch ratchet:

1/2" Ratchet FRP 45 Teeth

FRP 1/2" Drive Ratchet

www.tengtools.com

3/8 ratchet:

3/8" Ratchet FRP 45 Teeth

FRP 3/8" Drive Ratchet

www.tengtools.com

1/4 ratchet:

1/4" Ratchet FRP 45 Teeth

FRP 1/4" Drive Ratchet

www.tengtools.com

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

@Widget guessing your the sales rep?

 

[Widget]

@1Bad55Chevy
Nope. I wanted to see inside the ratchet and came across this thread.. and signing up was mandatory to see the photos.
We've got a 1/4 inch version of the Boxer one (Halfords branded) and is the one I'm always picking up. Thinking it could do with a bit of grease inside one of these days and I don't fancy springs or balls flying across the room when popping the lid. Especially as we can't get them any more.

Now that I re-read my FIRST POST I realise why you're asking. Ooops. Sorry.

 

[bonneyman]

I might use something like that for computer work on the bench or in an A/C control compartment to undue a hidden attachment screw. (It's small size would lend itself for that.) And it's nice handle shape and lightweight would be a plus as well. Although I have a Titan 1/4" mini ratchet already, so, no testing from me.