Flex Head Repair

[niss]

Still letting everything soak in ATF, but just curious, in the event that the springs are just too tired (Everything moves, but no pressure from spring) can the spring in the ratchet and the flex lock be replaced?

The gears move freely, but no springy.

This is to floppy

 

[Bull]

The flop in the flex head might not be curable. It depends on what the problem is. If it's just a matter of the ball and spring being frozen, then when they get unstuck the condition will improve. But, and I can't quite tell from the pic, are the teeth on the flex head worn? I have a ratchet like that that is floppy because the ball wore into the teeth over the years, so the ratchet flops as a consequence.

On the "guts" of the ratchet, are you tapping the drive end with something to help loosen the crud? Also, take a small punch or some other blunt object that is a bit small than the diameter of the ball and press it into its hole. This will help to work fluid behind the ball and into the cavity where the spring rests.

You can find rebuild kits for ratchets, depending on the model. Even kits that are no longer produced you can sometimes find on eBay. The teeth on yours ratcheting mechanism seem good, but it looks very very dirty.

 

[niss]

Thats a pic from before a day of Evapo-rust and a bunch of ATF like you suggested.

It could be that they are worn, I am not too sure though.

Another pic

The ball moves fine, I mean the rocker arm with the gears on it, they can move freely and smoothly but they have no force return from the spring. Can these be popped out? They got in somehow.

 

[Bull]

The part I circled in red looks worn, like one of the flex heads that I have. The spring does not have the force to push the ball into these grooves, and still keep the flex head tight. The spring has enough force to provide a tight flex head only if the ball needs to be pressed against the original surface-depth of the flex teeth.

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

Is that a Indestro ratchet, 2775a?

 

[niss]

Is that a Indestro ratchet, 2775a?

Champion Plug-Master CT-900





Something tells me I cant just put in a longer spring

 

[caper]

Take the spring out and stretch it a bit.The grooves may be worn a bit but I think if you stretch the spring it'll take alot of the flop out of the head.It may never be perfect but we're talking about a thirty year old ratchet.As to the spring in the ratchet guts,I've never taken one out but I supose there must be a way.As you said it went in there so there must be a way to get it out.Any pins evident?Closer pics may help.

 

[Bull]

I like that idea, Caper. Now, how do you get the ball and spring out? His ratchet, like mine, has a pin that looks like it would have the be drilled out to remove the head. Then, what do you replace it with?

 

[caper]

The pin holding the head to the handle will press out and press back in.The appropriate size sockets and a bench vise usually will work.Find a 1/4dr socket that's almost the same outside diameter as the pin and a 3/8dr socket that's slightly larger,use one as a pusher and the other as a receiver and squeeze it together in the vise.

 

[niss]

Actually the pin slides out on mine, so that is something I will have to fix too. Should the ball and spring just fall out of the handle? Its in there pretty solid.

 

[Bull]

The ball and spring are probably frozen in the bore with grime. This is the same problem as what you have with the ratcheting mechanism. Penetrant and vibration are your friends to free them up.

 

[niss]

Bull,

Thank you very much for your help. The good news is I got the ratchet working, everything is clean and working pretty well.

The bad news is on reassembly I lost the spring & ball bearing (they just shot out across the shop). The ball I got from cutting open a cheap taiwan extension, but the spring is MIA.

Any idea where one can be purchased? This would be the spring for the flex neck rather than the socket.

Thanks!

 

[Hiball]

Bull,

Thank you very much for your help. The good news is I got the ratchet working, everything is clean and working pretty well.

The bad news is on reassembly I lost the spring & ball bearing (they just shot out across the shop). The ball I got from cutting open a cheap taiwan extension, but the spring is MIA.

Any idea where one can be purchased? This would be the spring for the flex neck rather than the socket.

Thanks!

Lol... I tend to have that problem quite often. In my case i just reach up and grab another out of the bin, and then during cleanup day i run the Magnet broom across the floor and re-stock my bins. When i am working on non replaceble items i tend to work in a small box i built out of paneling, Its a pain but so it tracking down parts that where made 50 years ago.

 

[Bull]

Hoooray on getting the ratchet freed up and working. I love success stories!

***** about the spring. I had the same thing happen to me over the winter when I was reassembling a Fleet ratchet. I ended up buying another of the same ratchet cheap to cannibalize for parts.

I actually have a flex head ratchet (not the same brand, but same style) that I bought from someone on here to use as a parts donor. It's a Husky. I'd imagine the ball and spring inside would be the same as yours. Not sure about the ratcheting mechanism itself, though. I paid $8 shipped for it, which I'd be happy to offer it for to you.

Of course, if all you need is a little spring that you can find elsewhere for pennies, maybe that isn't such an appealing deal to you.

Now, what about that Snap On ratcheting wrench that you were also working on freeing up. How's that going?

 

[niss]

Snap on ratchet has the locks loose but the springs are still stuck. That was what was wrong with the flex head but I had to pull it out, and clean out the scunge. I think that may be the case with the snap on?

I went to Princess Auto to grab some springs and will try to swap em out tomorrow so maybe I will have a good ratchet by then!

Thanks!