Help Identifying Craftsman ratchet

[DavidJohnson105]

Good day everyone,

I am not tool expert but I think I have a nice ratchet here and I can tell it was us made by the stamp so I don't want to go swap it out for a Chinese version. I want to identify it so I can get a proper rebuild kit for it and get years of use out of it. I appreciate any assistance.

 

[Shiftless]

Welcome to GJ
I don’t have a lead on a rebuild kit but let me congratulate you on your find. That ratchet is certainly worth rebuilding and is way better than the new ones. It’s a RHFT in case you aren’t familiar with the lingo. That stands for round head fine tooth. I have several in my toolbox.

Lets stand by for an expert to chime in, but in the meantime, I’m gonna guess that it dates from the 70’s or 80’s.

 

[seber]

Looks like a pear head to me. Different photos?

 

[Pinemarten]

I bought 3/8" and 1/4" new at Sears in the late 70's. I recently dug out my 1/4" and removed the snap ring and cleaned and greased it. Works almost as good as new! You may not even need a rebuild kit.

 

[DavidJohnson105]

Looks like a pear head to me. Different photos?

All the same ratchet.

 

[DavidJohnson105]

I bought 3/8" and 1/4" new at Sears in the late 70's. I recently dug out my 1/4" and removed the snap ring and cleaned and greased it. Works almost as good as new! You may not even need a rebuild kit.

It's got broken teeth in there.

 

[jsmeece]

This is what they call a RHFT ratchet.

 

[DavidJohnson105]

My best guess based on research is that is is a Long lever available from roughly 57-60 individually and about as late as 63 in some kits. I would love for someone to be able to tell me I am right or even wrong lol

 

[dchawk81]

My best guess based on research is that is is a Long lever available from roughly 57-60 individually and about as late as 63 in some kits. I would love for someone to be able to tell me I am right or even wrong lol

You are right or even wrong.


You're welcome.

 

[4xdog]

It's got broken teeth in there.

Show us some pix and prove that statement. I’m in the clean-it-and-it’ll-be-fine camp.

 

[WWheeler]

My best guess based on research is that is is a Long lever available from roughly 57-60 individually and about as late as 63 in some kits. I would love for someone to be able to tell me I am right or even wrong lol

Yep. Sears never assigned those a proper name nor a part number for that ratchet, but they are known colloquially as a long lever (as was the quick release version that came after, which makes it all the more confusing).

This GJ member did a deep dive video about them and other generation Craftsman ratchets.

 

[Pinemarten]

It might be called a "long lever" but I called it by a different name when the long lever was bumped and it would reverse on me. It did cause me to go to SK round head and round flex-head ratchets. That caused me to check the rotational direction of my ratchet (since the head doesn't indicate it by a lever direction).

A co-worker had the above pictured RHFT and I wondered, "why didn't I just buy one of these at Sears in the first place?"

 

[bonneyman]

Nice ole example, DavidJohnson! I like it!

You should be able to secure a rebuild kit for it. The older LLTD's had "D" slot pawls and knobs, later versions had a "hyphen" pawl and knob and were upgraded to a higher tooth count on the gear if I'm not mistaken. (Don't know the year that occurred). Either should fit your ratchet body, though the whole kit has to be swapped - no mix and match of parts.

Hope this helps!

 

[alinc100]

This is a great write up by Jim C. ,you may have to register (its free) to see the pics: https://papawswrench.com/vboard/index.php?topic=23826.0

 

[DavidJohnson105]

So great news, I still don't have a solid answer on what model it is as per my above response. I did however take it apart to see what was going on inside of it. to my surprise nothing was broken. That being said it was dry and a bit crusty in there so I cleaned everything well and reassembled it making sure to lube it up with super lube during reassembly and it works like new and is as smooth as butter!