How do I disassemble this old ratchet?

[Owl2059]

Hey everyone. I have this set of three ratchets that need to be cleaned and lubricated. They're all the same mechanism, just different sizes, but I just can't for the life of me figure out how to get these buggers apart. They're a brand called "Micro-TOUGH" which I believe were made by Stanley. Does anyone know anything about these and how to get these apart? They're all between 12 and 15 years old.

 

[Lesserstore]

Just by looking at the pictures I can't tell if there is a way to get in there. It could be held in place by an internal snap ring, in which case you can't take it apart period, and your best bet is to just spray/drip oil on it and work it in.

 

[JR 42]

When I can't or won't open up a ratchet head I soak it in ATF for several days and let it drain for a few more (spin the drive every once in a while)- it helps.

 

[The Cobbler]

might be built with the " NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE" attitude and somehow clipped together @ initial assembly. without destruction of at least one of them to see whats holding it together, you'll probably never get into them .
if they were mine & I wanted to clean them up, Id soak them in mineral spirits, blow them out & then dip in ATF or something as already mentioned

 

[unslow1]

When I can't or won't open up a ratchet head I soak it in ATF for several days and let it drain for a few more (spin the drive every once in a while)- it helps.

Same here and it works pretty well.

 

[Owl2059]

might be built with the " NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE" attitude and somehow clipped together @ initial assembly. without destruction of at least one of them to see whats holding it together, you'll probably never get into them .
if they were mine & I wanted to clean them up, Id soak them in mineral spirits, blow them out & then dip in ATF or something as already mentioned

Okay. One thing I noticed about them is when they're in the neutral position, two pins come out of the bottom of the selector switch. They don't move much when they're wiggled around, but I figured that might be something. Thanks for the help.

 

[Fialaja]

Okay. One thing I noticed about them is when they're in the neutral position, two pins come out of the bottom of the selector switch. They don't move much when they're wiggled around, but I figured that might be something. Thanks for the help.

That makes me wonder if they aren’t like the Stanley sourced craftsman ratchets where the heads dropped out when you pushed the center button extra hard. I think they were quick cleans or something like that

 

[mikebaker1129]

There are several repair kits on eBay now if you find yourself needing one. Search Mac repair kit.
They do come apart,I tore one down a few years ago.They are not that great of a ratchet and were discontinued .
Try the ATF.

 

[neophyte]

Hey everyone. I have this set of three ratchets that need to be cleaned and lubricated. They're all the same mechanism, just different sizes, but I just can't for the life of me figure out how to get these buggers apart. They're a brand called "Micro-TOUGH" which I believe were made by Stanley. Does anyone know anything about these and how to get these apart? They're all between 12 and 15 years old.

Those might have been the “Stanley” ratchets that were sold under several of the Stanley Tools owned brands including Proto and Mac.
I think they might have been discontinued, because while small and compact and handy, there were warrantee issues, and the ratchets were not designed to be serviced.
I’m not sure whether anyone figured out how to take those apart.

 

[SeisMec]

Could be like a variety of swivel heads that are not serviceable - where the final step of assembly at the factory is swaging in the ball of the quick release - which keeps everything from coming apart.

 

[mikebaker1129]

They are serviceable MAC made and sold repair kits. As best I can remember ,there is a small snap ring under the selector. You remove that and the selector comes off and then you are in the ratchet.
They were made under Mac, Stanley and unbranded but made for Stanley in Taiwan.
I will see if I can dig out one of my Mac repair kits and see what the process is for disassembly of the head is.


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[Owl2059]

They are serviceable MAC made and sold repair kits. As best I can remember ,there is a small snap ring under the selector. You remove that and the selector comes off and then you are in the ratchet.
They were made under Mac, Stanley and unbranded but made for Stanley in Taiwan.
I will see if I can dig out one of my Mac repair kits and see what the process is for disassembly of the head is.


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That would be great. Thank you!

 

[Owl2059]

That makes me wonder if they aren’t like the Stanley sourced craftsman ratchets where the heads dropped out when you pushed the center button extra hard. I think they were quick cleans or something like that

I have a half inch ratchet that is very similar to that.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Here you go sorry for the late response.
Had to did this out from a hoard!
Directions :



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[Owl2059]

Don't worry about it. It's really appreciated. Although I'm not quite sure if that is the same ratchet, the disassembly is probably pretty similar. The one biggest difference is that I don't think mine has a c clip holding in the mechanism. If you still have that ratchet, could you send a picture of it just like the one below? Thanks.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Don't worry about it. It's really appreciated. Although I'm not quite sure if that is the same ratchet, the disassembly is probably pretty similar. The one biggest difference is that I don't think mine has a c clip holding in the mechanism. If you still have that ratchet, could you send a picture of it just like the one below? Thanks.

Sorry, I no longer have the ratchet,just the kit.

 

[Owl2059]

Thanks for the info anyways.