easco 3/8 drive

[lmandell1960]

my easco spoon handle started to develop a skip when appling any kind of real torque. spoke with apex today and they will only replace with gearwrench seeing that easco is no more. really dont want to loose this ratchet, has served me well for years. any options ?

 

[zkling]

Rebuild kit? I think some of the easco and old craftsman stuff share the same DNA.

 

[lmandell1960]

its an easco 721107, spin type reverse, not lever.

 

[Hootbro]

Do not take this the wrong way, but if you have an emotional attachment to that ratchet, you should just put it in a glass case and admire it as an ornament.

The reality is that every tool will wear to failure. Your particular ratchet was not all that popular and rebuild kits are practically non-existent. Either scour a replacement on ebay, or take up APEX on the offer of the Gearwrench and move on.

 

[lmandell1960]

ya hootbro, kind of had a feeling that was how it was gonna end, had to try though.

 

[PowderKeg]

Your only option is to hope to find another on fleabay or the local flea sales. That's not an overly common ratchet, and I've only seen the guts used in one other handle design, one with a hard plastic handle instead of the paintbrush/spoon style. EASCO and Master Mechanic are the only two brands I've seen/have so far.

And here's a crappy cellphone pic:

 

[lmandell1960]

thanks for the help, guess my ratchet gets to retire before i do.

 

[SMKS]

Search ebay. That style pops up on there. I just saw one a day or two ago. You likely won't find a rebuild kit, but you can probably find an identical ratchet.

For example, here's a 1/2" version:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Easco-No-73...166?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ecc45d8ce

Here's a 3/8" in a kit:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-EAS...H_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5401ca9005&vxp=mtr

 

[Fedwrench]

I must be getting cynical in my old age. there have been sooo many changes in ratchets since that easco was made that, I would say, you've been a good ratchet but, your service is no longer needed so, rest in this toolbox drawer. I'd then get an Armstrong, Gearwrench 84 tooth, F80, proto premium pearhead or any other newer 3/8 drive ratchet.

 

[lmandell1960]

please dont misunderstand,i have many other ratchets of much better quality, just not to many ive had longer. not grabbing for it just wont seem right. lol

 

[stratman977]

I got one of those that was nos when I got it. I wanted the sockets that came with it and got it part of a lot. I used it only few times so it's practically new. I got more ratchets than I know what to do with.

Offer me a trade for another interesting ratchet or something else oddball and it's yours.

 

[bonneyman]

I snagged a 3/8 and 1/4 of that style. Never really went for "ergo" handles, but, these are so smooth and cool.

If the teeth in the head are OK - the slipping being due to wear on the gear cluster pawl - it might be possible to do a swap out of a similar ratchet of a different brand. Trial and error. Time consuming, but possible. If the teeth in the head are worn you're out of luck.

 

[bonneyman]

Just saw this little lot on ebay with one of your ratchets in it. Starting at $10.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EASCO-TOOLS..._Automotive_Tools&hash=item258691e892&vxp=mtr

 

[3baygarage]

Just curious, do the old Matco round heads fit those?

 

[PowderKeg]

Just curious, do the old Matco round heads fit those?

No, the old Matco with the smooth comfort-shaped handle was sourced from Wright. The even older round head Matco with the knurled handle (AFAIK the first Matco) was sourced from New Britain.

 

[3baygarage]

Thanks PowderKeg. The Matco I was thinking of is the one that must be a Wright, with the groove in the reverse lever.

 

[north]

my easco spoon handle started to develop a skip when appling any kind of real torque. spoke with apex today and they will only replace with gearwrench seeing that easco is no more. really dont want to loose this ratchet, has served me well for years. any options ?

You have opened it and checked that it is wear and not dirt that causes skipping?

 

[lmandell1960]

opened it up and didnt really look that bad but dunked it in a/t fluid and letting it sit for a while.found one on ebay for cheap, dont know why im going through all this trouble for a mediocre rat anyway. winter boredum i guess. lol

 

[bonneyman]

It's not a mediorce tool if it fits your hand well, is comfortable to use, and has served you for many years. When I find tools like that, I always grab two of them!
Hope things work out for ya.

 

[Outlawmws]

You have opened it and checked that it is wear and not dirt that causes skipping?

opened it up and didnt really look that bad but dunked it in a/t fluid and letting it sit for a while.found one on ebay for cheap, dont know why im going through all this trouble for a mediocre rat anyway. winter boredum i guess. lol

This is the right pace to start. Often the grease hardens, or loads up with crud and causes skipping. Clean it well, lube it properly, and see where you are.

And no, there is nothing wrong with having a favorite tool that is not necessarily one everyone else crows about...

 

[PowderKeg]

A healthy number of the ratchets I've added to the obsess... er, collection have had "issues" of one sort or another and have responded very favorably to a good cleaning and re-lube. There have been a few however that have gone the other way - seems the ancient encrusted gunk was keeping the tolerances tight enough to continue to work. Of course, if the ratchet isn't reliable as-is, you've got nothing to lose by giving a cleaning a whirl.