Good lube for ratchets
- Thread starter jake wade
- Start date
Its permatex engine assembly lube #81950
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HBNVSK/?tag=atomicindus08-20
But I use ATF
-Jeff
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HBNVSK/?tag=atomicindus08-20
But I use ATF
-Jeff
DARKSCOPE001
Well-known member
just like stepen said. superlube. its good stuff. but just about any grease will work. GREASE NOT OIL! and make sure you dont overdo it because otherwise the ratchet wont operate properly
pl_silverado
Well-known member
Enos Slide Glide, if it's good enough for my 9mm, it'll do in the ratchets just fine.
spartyon8
Well-known member
I use a small dab of wheel bearing grease.
arkangel06
Banned
Any grease I can find..
wantedabiggergarage
Member Emeritus
When your in a hurry, or in a shop (time is money), I agree. Generally I try to maintain them so I don't have to grab, whatever.
The big trick is to make sure you have cleaned out any other grease.
quattrojon
Well-known member
I used to use Marvel Mystery oil, until Moose advised me to use Castrol lithium grease........ it was good advice, i haven't found anything better.
woody 73
Well-known member
At $4.99 from HF that is what I use,very good stuff...
Gary S
Well-known member
I never lube a ratchet. My old Craftsman ratchets have worked perfectly since 1971 with no lube, so I'm not going to mess with them now.
Bolster
Well-known member
I regret using the Permatex. What a mess, it leaks out all over. If you have to try it, send me an SASE and I'll give you mine.
Get a lithium grease and you're good to go.
Get a lithium grease and you're good to go.
Same here,waste of time if you ask me.
I had a pear head ratchet with a very stiff selector, and tried using a little 3-in-1 oil (20W), and worked it into the little ball. The 20W worked fine for both the selector and for lubing the gear, but I didn't like how much it bled out afterwards.
I was tempted to use a dab of grease on the next one, but the old grease was pretty caked in there, so I tried gear oil. Seems pretty good for ratchets with lower tooth counts or less tightly sealed. For a more tightly sealed or finer ratchet I may be tempted to try something thinner again (the gear oil was fine in my Sparta (New Britian) but it's a more tightly sealed design so it may be able to handle the lighter oil).
I was tempted to use a dab of grease on the next one, but the old grease was pretty caked in there, so I tried gear oil. Seems pretty good for ratchets with lower tooth counts or less tightly sealed. For a more tightly sealed or finer ratchet I may be tempted to try something thinner again (the gear oil was fine in my Sparta (New Britian) but it's a more tightly sealed design so it may be able to handle the lighter oil).
thesilverone
Well-known member
mrholeshot
MEMBER EMERITUS
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Astroglide!!!!!!
Scout Driver
Well-known member
Agreed.
Cleaning out all of the old lube, dirt & debris, then adding fresh lube will make a very noticable difference. My old "OIL" head Craftsmans get a little bit of 20W (or thereabouts) oil. Makes them smmoooth and quiet (they do seep a little on occasion though) I've used a little dab of wheel bearing grease in some other ratchets with good results.
Scott
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
I got stupid and went and did several of my ratchets at one time with Merk's "red lube of love" and the **** is leaking out all over my tool box drawers. Now I've got to go and tear them all down again, wash the **** out of them and use some light grease in them.
Don't waste your time with that red lube ****.
Charles
Don't waste your time with that red lube ****.
Charles
Bran Diezel
Well-known member
GeorgiaHybrid
Well-known member
Super Lube here. If it is good enough for Snap-on, It's good enough for my ratchets....
z28toz06
Well-known member
Any viscous lubricant will leak out. You want something like white lithium or even wheel bearing grease, which can take heat and not run. Another good lube for ratchets is PENN lube for fishing. sticks where you put it, doesn't run and doesn't attract dirt. And it doesn't varnish for years.
banditbigdog
Well-known member
Bel-Ray waterproof grease.
Blue / Green in color.
It doesn't tend to "break down" after a period of time.
Blue / Green in color.
It doesn't tend to "break down" after a period of time.
ZRX61
Well-known member
Ditto, it's the dogs dangliesGood old Lubriplate white lube is whats in all mine......works smooth......and the **** don't leak all over the place.....
ZRX61
Well-known member
Lubriplate is different...
jammer1001
Member
All the top tool companys Mac, Snap-on, Matco, cornwell recomend light weight oil..I use air tool oil ...
comosc
Active member
Same here...ratchets are so smooth after using super lube.
i will be the voice of dissent. rll has worked well in every ratchet i own except my gearwrench with an 88 tooth kit in it. that likes the recomended marvel mystery. if the rll leaks out forever you used to much. other things may work and it is all personal preferance but i like the rll in moderation. i sometimes work in subzero weather and grease does not work for ****.
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daveblank
Well-known member
Actually from the factory, Matco ratchets use a moly grease in the coarse tooth & Marvel Mystery oil on the fine tooth. I originally recommended the Permatex red lube. I use it in all of the repairs that I do. Use it lightly. Too much & you have a mess. 1-2 drops is plenty.
mrholeshot
MEMBER EMERITUS
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In mine I actually use just a very small dab of amsoil wheel bearing grease. packing them with a lot can hinder the ratchet. I give mine a really light coating and let it ride.
GeorgiaHybrid
Well-known member
Snap-on uses synthetic Super Lube in their ratchets. They even send a small tube with the rebuild kits the dealers use.
thanks for the vote of confidence. put in a couple drops and smear it on the moving parts. every lube will leak out if you put too much in. overfilling a ratchet with lube of any kind is like overfilling your engine with oil. it is going to find a way out and it won't be good when it does.
blue302stang
Well-known member
I use wheel bearing grease in all my proto big dawgs. I haven't taken any of my snap on ratchets apart since they are more than smooth enough as is. May pick up some of the super lube and try that.
rockchucker
Well-known member
I use Super-Lube for a lot of things. Including my ratchets.
KY Intense
Is that the one where if you blow on your ratchets, they get hot and tingly?