Help with 1940's Snap-On 71-15

[suss427]

I just bought this off ebay!

My intention is to use this thing. With that in mind I took it as far apart that I could (as in the picture) and cleaned some nasty gunk out of it with kerosene.

I could not figure out how to take the selector and pawl out, but I think it is clean enough.

So I am wondering when was it made? The only thing that looked like a date code was like a 7 or ? not sure if that is it.

Also, has anyone switched tooth counts before? in post #12 here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=98218
it is suggested that you can use the 32tooth rebuild kit RKRA972.

Thanks for the help!

 

[jabberwoki]

Very pretty! There is a date code chart posted here somewhere?

 

[chris fresh]

Very pretty! There is a date code chart posted here somewhere?

yeah,i posted it. prolly within the first 10 pages. or it's

collectingsnapon.com

 

[suss427]

yeah,i posted it. prolly within the first 10 pages. or it's

collectingsnapon.com

Thanks, one inconsistency though is that this is 20 teeth, not 25 as listed on collectingsnapon.com. Also this 7 looks like the 1947 and not the 1937 code and this model was not made in 1947... I am stumped.

 

[NinetyTwoFifty]

As far as I know those WERE made in 1947, I used to have one from 1948.

 

[pfbz]

1947 looks right to me...

 

[wrenchr]

I have 1 from 1939.

 

[suss427]

OK, I am going with this being 1947... I called SO last night and they are sending me a RKRA972 rebuild kit (32teeth instead of 20).

 

[snapmom]

The 972 should work, its for a L715. You may have to change out the paw, to do that take a punch and remove the selector switch. To get the ball back in you could use a small flat tip screwdriver, or order this tool from snap on, its cheap.

 

[RKSpeed]

Yeh the end of the selector switch is peened over, which youll have to do again once the new kit is in.

Ive got the same ratchet, love the feel of it.

 

[byoungblood]

OK, I am going with this being 1947... I called SO last night and they are sending me a RKRA972 rebuild kit (32teeth instead of 20).

I put a 30 tooth rebuild kit in my old 20 tooth 9/32" drive ratchet (before anyone gets worked up, someone had ground down the square drive in the past to use 1/4" sockets with it) and it works like a charm. Mine was from about the same vintage as yours.

 

[suss427]

Thanks guys, I put some gear oil in it and now it is super sweet. I am going to wait to rebuild it though since the guts are chromed and I am bidding on a few more... What size punch do I use and how do I peen over the switch?

I might just have my SO guy do it, but I don't want him to have to rebuild all of these ratchets I didn't buy from him...

 

[RKSpeed]

Have the SO guy do it, mine was pleased as punch to rebuild mine for me.

 

[JSBriggs]

Thanks guys, I put some gear oil in it and now it is super sweet. I am going to wait to rebuild it though since the guts are chromed and I am bidding on a few more... What size punch do I use and how do I peen over the switch?

I might just have my SO guy do it, but I don't want him to have to rebuild all of these ratchets I didn't buy from him...

If you get a rebuild kit it will come with a new selector pawl and switch. If you aren't putting in a rebuild kit, I would leave it alone and get it as clean as you can while leaving it in place. The switch is alloy, so peening is one time deal. Once peened, you need to drill it or pry it off.

-Jeff

 

[osborn.ozzy]

can this date chart be used on screw drivers? mine reads: SSD 224 USA
PAT. NO 201171
its a clear handled flat head pocket screw driver

 

[JeremyManning]

nice ratchet, I love the old all chrome look myself as well, although I would put the newer dust cover in to give it a little color.

 

[suss427]

nice ratchet, I love the old all chrome look myself as well, although I would put the newer dust cover in to give it a little color.

No go, this is what they sent me. They wanted me to send it in and just replace it because they don't have the exact rebuild anymore, but I said no way

This rebuild kit was packaged 4 days ago! 9/26 (I think I ordered on the 27th... talk about a fresh rebuild )

 

[suss427]

I missed my Snap on guy today... I kind of want to do this myself. The only lingering question is how do I peen the reverse lever onto the pawl as per the instructions:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/objects/7800/ZRK-S2.PDF

It seems straight forward enough, but also seems really easy to **** up. What size / type of peen do I need and where can I get it? Do I clamp the lever/ratchet in a vice, or do I rest it against an anvil. Help me out here.

Also, any suggestions for cleaning off some of the surface rust and cleaning up the finish?

 

[snapmom]

Use a punch with a point on it. med will do, the length of the shaft on the switch may have to be cut down, so when you get it in an its to long, take it out and cut it down.
Place the rat on a hard surface, place your punch on the center of the shaft, and lightly hit it with a hammer to start, when you have your alignment about right, just hit it harder to you have a small amount of the shaft mushroomed out
As far as cleaning, some good pent. oil and fine steel wool will clean most of your problems. PS: you can use your old switch too, even if the shaft is bent, just stick it back in, an lightly hammer in back in.

 

[suss427]

Use a punch with a point on it. med will do, the length of the shaft on the switch may have to be cut down, so when you get it in an its to long, take it out and cut it down.
Place the rat on a hard surface, place your punch on the center of the shaft, and lightly hit it with a hammer to start, when you have your alignment about right, just hit it harder to you have a small amount of the shaft mushroomed out
As far as cleaning, some good pent. oil and fine steel wool will clean most of your problems. PS: you can use your old switch too, even if the shaft is bent, just stick it back in, an lightly hammer in back in.

Thanks for the detailed instructions, they really helped I rebuilt today and will try to post some pictures in the near future.

Just an FYI to all: there was no ball bearing in the kit, it was supplanted by a piece fixed in the new spring. It almost looked like a crimped bullet for reference and made it really easy.

 

[suss427]

Snapmom and others, what do I do with this piece? The ratchet is a bit tight, this is the bushing right? How do I replace that?

 

[snapmom]

I would not replace the bushing, the old one is chrome. Try backing off the screws a little. Does the new wheel have the same offset, on the length going into the head) as the old one. Take a look at the old and new, side by side, (side view) and make sure both are the same.