Grease choice for ratchets

[ishiboo]

Astroglide. I buy it in bulk and use it in everything. I mean use it on everything.

 

[BioNerd]

Something sounds to thick to me for a ratchet mechanism. Im not an expert.
I choosed to use penetrant Tri-Flow with teflon. Its a bike lube.

It made a ratchet I was gonna toss be decent again to still be in my caddy.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Astroglide. I buy it in bulk and use it in everything. I mean use it on everything.

Astroglide is water based.......so I don't use it on my ratchets.

 

[ishiboo]

Astroglide is water based.......so I don't use it on my ratchets.

There are cons but it keeps the ratchets compatible with latex... Gloves.

A bit of spit gets the ratchets cranking on nuts again without issue.

 

[Rarified27]

After years of white lithium grease, I tried super lube via GJ recommendation and the folks here were right- it's way better. No leaks and it doesn't quiet the ratchet so much that I can't tell if it's working.

Got mine In a 3oz tube for a few bucks from Amazon.

 

[Qualitytools]

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?

Try Harbor Freight they carry Super Lube in tubes

 

[Scimmia]

I've found Super Lube at Ace.

 

[justme-]

Super Lube also available at Do It Best stores

 

[cheechi]

Astroglide. I buy it in bulk and use it in everything. I mean use it on everything.

Astroglide is water based.......so I don't use it on my ratchets.

Funny story. The Jo Solution silicon lube is exiled from the house. Still gets used here and there in the garage. I might do the next ratchet I open with it just to see how it goes. Usually I use 3 in 1 but I have used super lube also. Never noticed an issue with either.

and yeah Jo products way better than astroglide/etc. small price to pay.

 

[steed andersen]

Gotta say I LUV the Super Lube too. Some have said too thick for ratchets with small teeth but I use it in my Gear Wrench 120xp and reef it often without a skip.

 

[Scimmia]

60 tooth isn't that small unless you're talking 1/4 in drive. I would assume they're talking about the 80/88/+ tooth ratchets.

 

[BFHtime]

I use Lucas engine oil additive. THe non-synthetic kind, I get it by the gallon it is good for all kinds of stuff. I lube dual 80 ratchets with it, no problem. You can get it in smaller containers to try.

 

[lightning02]

60 tooth isn't that small unless you're talking 1/4 in drive. I would assume they're talking about the 80/88/+ tooth ratchets.

1/4 drive 72t and up is what iv had problems with using super lube. its not everyone but only one or two. i just rather use something oil based in those ratchets just to be sure it wont slip. 3/8s and up iv had no problems.

 

[Adam.C]

I use Superlube. Don't apply it to the gear teeth, or at least don't pack the grease in there. All you need is a thick film inside the head on the broad face opposite the drive. So when you are pushing down and turning, there is grease between the gear and the body. This is very important to reduce wear.

Then smear a thick film around the sides of the head and on the back of the cover plate.

If, when you are done, your ratchet feels silky smooth and transformed, you've gotten too much grease in the teeth, take it apart and redo it. Grease in the teeth, prevents the pawl from fully engaging. That results in a weaker ratchet with a greater propensity to slip or strip teeth. You want a nice crisp metallic clicking sound when you ratchet.

When I clean my ratchets, I use WD-40. I then liberally bathe all parts in a light mineral oil like 3 in 1. So no parts go into my ratchet heads dry. Superlube is PTFE held in a mineral oil suspension. You could easily substitute vasoline for Superlube.

 

[SASORacing]

10w 30 car oil. Doesn't really matter. Just clean oil. And an oil that's not thick.

 

[Wamsutta]

Astroglide is water based.......so I don't use it on my ratchets.

Depends on which Astroglide you're talking about. They have one that's silicone based.

 

[d.mcfarland]

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.

White lithium grease is the worst choice i've found. At this point low tooth count ratchets seem to do well on synthetic brake lube or RLL.

 

[warweapon762]

Ive been using spinning reel lubricant for many years without issue. In some cases it is a bit cheaper than super lube. I think its also designed to repell water to some degree.

 

[Gregg33]

Everyone has their opinions, but I've always had good luck with a wheel bearing grease (pretty much any type but Lucas Red and Tacky....that's too gooey for a ratchet) on the end surfaces that rub on/ contact the plates. Be conservative with the grease! On the teeth themselves I just use 10w30 or even 30 weight motor oil. Grease on the teeth themselves will cause gumming up and even possible slippage.

 

[Noland]

I use sta-lube engine assembly lube. have had the stuff forever. Has moly and graphite in it. its like a gray grease almost. makes a world of difference

 

[BioNerd]

I use sta-lube engine assembly lube. have had the stuff forever. Has moly and graphite in it. its like a gray grease almost. makes a world of difference

It has moly in it? That may be a very happy ratchet!

Im used to put ATF in everything that is like linkages or even the antena mast in my car. Its an old benz.

I was wandering if anyone used ATF, its cheap, thin and quite good at cleaning up gunk.

 

[LB-1911]

I was wandering if anyone used ATF, its cheap, thin and quite good at cleaning up gunk.

6 of 108 do according to a poll @

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=245448

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I use atf

 

[BioNerd]

6 of 108 do according to a poll @

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=245448

LoL! GJ has all the answers!

This forum is better than google!!

 

[ganymede]

White lithium grease is the worst choice i've found. At this point low tooth count ratchets seem to do well on synthetic brake lube or RLL.

I've only tried lubriplate, and only in my pear head 1/4 and 3/8 drives.
Maybe time will reveal that it *****.
I've found that spring tension is as important as tooth count for determining which lube to use.

 

[ChrisPace]

I have a expensive tube of Dupont Krytox here I use it sparingly on ceramic bicycle bearings. I use it mixed with Mystic synthetic grease usually. I always have it ready to go in my grease gun with the small tip dispenser.

The first thing I do when I get my hands on an old or new ratchet is take it apart and flush it out with wd 40 or Triflow, wipe it down and fill it full of lube. It just changes the way they feel. Makes an old nasty Craftsman into a jewel.

 

[skruft]

I have used oil but I think a synthetic that would not dry out would be fine.