Gear wrench ratchet greasing?

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

So I got a 4 set of flex head gear wrench ratchets. Greased a 1/4", two 3/8 and the 1/2 with moly grease. They all worked well except the 1/2. It would bind. I figured out the grease was creating a suction between the teeth. What else can I use besides oil? It's got a thin, non visible layer of grease all the other ones work great.

 

[John316]

So I got a 4 set of flex head gear wrench ratchets. Greased a 1/4", two 3/8 and the 1/2 with moly grease. They all worked well except the 1/2. It would bind. I figured out the grease was creating a suction between the teeth. What else can I use besides oil? It's got a thin, non visible layer of grease all the other ones work great.

I have been successful with a THIN coating of superlube, but mostly use air tool oil in mine.

 

[devoncoolman]

I never grease my ratchets. I know im bad but oh well.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I figured grease would last longer. Plus I like how quiet they are.

 

[MikeF2316]

So I got a 4 set of flex head gear wrench ratchets. Greased a 1/4", two 3/8 and the 1/2 with moly grease. They all worked well except the 1/2. It would bind. I figured out the grease was creating a suction between the teeth. What else can I use besides oil? It's got a thin, non visible layer of grease all the other ones work great.

I've always used wheel bearing grease in my ratchets.

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

maybe wipe some out, lightly grease it more often? never had an issue with the castrol syn grease i've been using, but almost out and grabbed a tube of lucas red stuff.

 

[Fedwrench]

Your Gearwrench ratchets are at least 60 tooth, possibly 84 or 120xp. They don't like grease. Grease is for low tooth count ratchets like 30-36 teeth.

Use a thin oil such as marvel mystery oil, 3 in one oil, air tool oil, maybe engine assembly lube but, not grease.

 

[hofferwood]

Use a thin oil such as marvel mystery oil, 3 in one oil, air tool oil, maybe engine assembly lube but, not grease.

+1

 

[Murphy4570]

Just start doing oil changes and engine jobs more often. Having a drain pan under the car full of oil means your rachets, sockets, screwdrivers, etc will all find their way into taking an oil bath!!!!!

Happened yesterday with me with a socket falling into a pan of nasty grungy coolant...

 

[TwoInch]

grease will work, if it is the proper grease, and you do not use too much.

i have 84t gearwrench ratchets in all sizes, and they all have superlube in them. you must use a light coating, or you will get the binding/reversing stuff happening.

you can use a regular oil and avoid the problem all together if you like. i prefer superlube in all my ratchets though because it doesnt run/seep out, ever. YMMV

regular wheel bearing grease is not likely to work in my opinion. its too tacky(most formulations). a NLGI-0 or NLGI-1 would be better choice if you can find some.

 

[bmxr4life87]

I just use air tool oil. The fine teeth dont do well with grease

 

[KinzeMech]

how do they disassemble? how do you get the grease into them?

 

[jakemac]

I just use PB Blaster. It works itself into the ratchet.

 

[TwoInch]

I just use air tool oil. The fine teeth dont do well with grease

air tool oil might work. i personally wouldnt go there, as most air tool oils are about 5wt oils, and 30 or 40wt oils drain out of these ratchets really quick as it is.

the lube does no good if its not in the ratchet.

 

[TwoInch]

how do they disassemble? how do you get the grease into them?

just like most any danaher(think craftsman RP) or apex design, with a snap ring.

 

[mds5951]

I use some el cheapo ATF

 

[KinzeMech]

just like most any danaher(think craftsman RP) or apex design, with a snap ring.

I misunderstood. I thought you meant flex head gear wrenches. I see now that you mean flex head ratchets (by gearwrench).

I have always wondered how the gear wrenches (i.e. ratcheting wrenches) are assembled, and how they could possibly be disassembled. They have no fasteners of any kind on the ratchet end.

 

[ev2mopar]

I place a few drops of gun oil in the crevices of my ratchets, as well as my ratcheting wrenches. I really don't take them apart, mainly since they are always in use!
The light gun oil seems to seep into the tools finer parts, and I can hear an audible tone change so I know it's getting in there.

 

[KinzeMech]

For my ratchet wrenches, that I have no idea how to disassemble, I saturate them with as much of a penetrating oil as I can get in there. Then I spin them, wipe away what comes back out, and repeat several times. I always get fine black grit coming back out. I don't think it's a matter of mine needing lubrication so much as dirt infiltration needing washed back out. I work on ag machinery, sometimes very filthy dirty working conditions. I have even had ratchets as coarse as a common craftsman RP accumulate enough dirt inside the mechanism to need disassembly and cleaning (they will hold a lot of dirt!).

 

[TwoInch]

I misunderstood. I thought you meant flex head gear wrenches. I see now that you mean flex head ratchets (by gearwrench).

I have always wondered how the gear wrenches (i.e. ratcheting wrenches) are assembled, and how they could possibly be disassembled. They have no fasteners of any kind on the ratchet end.

i have pondered these same things from time to time....

 

[cheechi]

I place a few drops of gun oil in the crevices of my ratchets, as well as my ratcheting wrenches. I really don't take them apart, mainly since they are always in use!
The light gun oil seems to seep into the tools finer parts, and I can hear an audible tone change so I know it's getting in there.

CLP, remoil or similar?

 

[OutLore]

I just use a few drops of ATF.