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Grease choice for ratchets

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Buster21

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Another vote for Superlube. I put it in all of mine and it made a world of difference.
 
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sparky5982

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Give it a try, why not? (Except it costs $35 for 50g)

We use some incredibly expensive (like $300 a tube) Kluber brand grease for a particular machine screw at work. Any other type of grease and the movement will go out of tolerance. I want to say it is a beryllium soap grease. Anyway, what I'm getting at is that I know that Kluber makes some top shelf stuff. Whether this particular grease will do it for you, I couldn't say. Can't hurt to try.

For the record, I like Mobil Vactra 2 oil for my fine tooth ratchets. Superlube grease locked my ratchets up so I wouldn't personally recommend it, but it seems a lot of people like it.
 
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whitedogone

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I guess I was wondering if what I had would work. It's a fairly thin syn grease. Simular enough to super lube I guess. Looks like just a light amount on teeth and pivots.
 
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bonneyman

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You want a tack-free grease. Put a dab of the grease you're thinking of using between your thumb and forefinger. Squeeze, and then pull your fingers apart. If it's stickey, prolly not a good choice. (Obviously long-fiber wheel bearing grease is a no-no). You want something that will lubricate without making the pawls stick.

Though Superlube does seem to work well for me.:lol_hitti
 
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Givl Reggin

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3-in-one oil or sewing machine oil has always worked well for me. In my experience grease is too thick and causes skipping. YMMV ;)
 
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bobcatdan

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I have two different choices. First is fluid film. I use it clean the ratchet guts real good, then a squrit when assembling. Second is popping it apart and soaking the head in starter M1 to clean. Then I pack the head with go old chassis grease. I did this to two 60 tooth matcos yesterday that just felt like ****. Afterwards, silk has nothing on these ratchets.
 
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Sine Swept

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I used some Lucas synthetic oil on a few of my older random ratchets I had laying around. I found if I heated them a little bit with a small butane torch that I could get some good dirty oil out of them. Not sure if this is the way to go, but seems to be working out very well. I do the same with the joints of pliers (new or old), heat, oil and working the joint back and forth until rust / dirty oil comes out of the tool. I had a pair of Channellock crimpers that I loosened up, before I couldn't stand to use them.
 
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lightning02

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Givl Reggin said:
3-in-one oil or sewing machine oil has always worked well for me. In my experience grease is too thick and causes skipping. YMMV ;)
Click to expand...

Iv had that happen to one of my 1/4in with grease. Now I only use grease in my 3/8 and 1/2 ratchets.
 
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Tronyadorable

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Graphite lock lube or Molybdenum .
Where is Jeff Moss ??
You aren't lubricating an engine or bearing.........unless you spank your monkey with a ratchet >>>>
Use a dry lube.
 
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JUNK-MAN

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When I oil/grease my ratchets I use Lucas toolbox buddy oil. Works great I think I got it at Napa.
 
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Vvmvbb

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whitedogone said:
Looking to take apart some older ratchets to clean them. I suppose I should grease them as well. Would this be a good choice?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007SVY5GO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

How much needs to be used?
Click to expand...

Probably overkill for ratchets- that stuff looks like some ********* modern lubricant.
But I'm with sparky-- you should try it and come back and educate us all.
You need so little it almost doesn't matter how much it costs.
 
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ganymede

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I always avoided white lithium grease because I figured it'd get hard and keep the pawl and teeth from meshing properly. Then I found an old unused Craftsman box head ratchet from the 50's and the original grease was only partially dried out. So I tried some Lubriplate.
Since I clean and relube my ratchets every year I don't think it'll be a problem .
So far it works fine.
I wouldn't use it on round head types though. They always get oil.
 
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stage20

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i put some blue amsoil marine grease in a couple ratchets (out of superlube) and its a little too thick. it quietened down the teeth some, but doesnt feel much smoother. i need to order some superlube. cant find the grease local anymore, though some stores still carry the spray?
 
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lightning02

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stage20 said:
i put some blue amsoil marine grease in a couple ratchets (out of superlube) and its a little too thick. it quietened down the teeth some, but doesnt feel much smoother. i need to order some superlube. cant find the grease local anymore, though some stores still carry the spray?
Click to expand...

HF sells superlube. That's where I get mine at.
 
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mikebaker1129

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Super lube for me. I had the SO guy put a new head in one of my ratchets and he gave me a couple small 1 oz tubes to use in the future. I used them up so I had to buy some,kinda expensive at $8.99 for a small squeeze tube.
 
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Moose364

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OK my stupid question, which super lube, there is a couple of different one's. I have always used just what ever was handy. I trying to change my evil ways
 
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nicksnothereman

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whitedogone said:
Looking to take apart some older ratchets to clean them. I suppose I should grease them as well. Would this be a good choice?
[/url]

How much needs to be used?
Click to expand...

Whatever is on hand pretty much. Usually mystik or cheaper. I use real grease usually; whisper quiet. If you want it to clickety-clack don't use grease, use oil.

#notforeveryone
 
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