How to fix this? SK Ratchet

[5toes]

I have this SK 3/8" drive ratchet I got from my grandpa and it needs some help. The ratchetting mechanism is very stiff, its very hard to turn without a socket on. Everything else about is good though, it switches directions with ease.

Do you think it just needs new grease or? I figure I can take the back off (dont know how though) and soak it in some mineral spirits then grease it up.

 

[Rigmaster]

Grease it up.

Permatex (Red Lube of Love) if you can open it up and get some inside.

 

[Fedwrench]

You should be able to remove the gear assembly by removing the snap ring. You could then spray the lube of your choice on the gear to see if that improves things.

 

[oak_park]

Nice ratchet. Its often called the s-k Frankenstein because of its head/neck pegs and it has no part number on it. Like others have said, remove the snap ring, give it a little lube. I think its a 36 tooth ratchet, so its not fine fine tooth. Its kind of rare, not as common as sk's regular 45170.

 

[5toes]

Oooh good find for me. I found it in a case that holds like 7 sockets, but couldnt find where he kept his sockets!!!

haha so how do I remove this ring?

 

[Red Green]

You need a set of snap ring pliers. The tips go in the little holes and you squeze the ring. They look like these.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...5&group_ID=771&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

You can get some at just about any tool store.

 

[Scout Driver]

haha so how do I remove this ring?

In your second and third pictures, the ring is visible. As you can see, there are a couple tiny holes in the end of the ring. If you don't have a snap-ring pliers, use a needle-nose pliers to draw the ends of the ring (where the holes are) together. This decreases the diameter of the ring, and lets you lift it from the ratchet. It might take a little wiggling to get it free.

Scott

 

[gatewaysysop]

Please, get some more pics of the inside of this thing once you have it open. I'm sure many people would enjoy some detailed shots of the inside of one of these, because I don't think anyone has shown it before.

 

[5toes]

So why is this ratchet so special?

 

[5toes]

Yeah needle nose pliers aint fitting in those holes

 

[5toes]

I GOT IT OFF! Haha I just used two craftsman slotted screwdrivers and pushed with it in a vise. Pics in a couple minutes

 

[gatewaysysop]

I GOT IT OFF! Haha I just used two craftsman slotted screwdrivers and pushed with it in a vise. Pics in a couple minutes

Can't wait to see!

As for why they're so special, I think it's it's more about the fact that they are not easy to come by and very unusual looking. I hope I can snag one someday.

 

[5toes]

Haha okay getting my camera. The design, compared to say another ratchet (though I have not seen one taken apart) appears bulletproof

 

[5toes]

Here they are. I uploaded them via Min.Us... I highly recommend this picture
host.

Anyways all pics in this thread were shot on a $80 Nikon Point n Shoot my Mum picked up a few weeks ago.

 

[sk farmer]

dry as a bone. clean it, lube it and put it back to work. no wait, send it to me and if i get it going i will send it back. (i'm looking for one also!)

 

[bonneyman]

Please, get some more pics of the inside of this thing once you have it open. I'm sure many people would enjoy some detailed shots of the inside of one of these, because I don't think anyone has shown it before.

Here's some pics of a no-name (Wright?) 1/4" steiny I had:

 

[mrholeshot]

Sweet Ratchet!!!!!!!!!!

 

[5toes]

Its so dry because I cleaned it with some degreaser. It had some dirty grease though when I first took it apart.

So would motor oil be ok to lube it back up?

 

[gatewaysysop]

Since it's coarse, I would suggest the Super Lube stuff that you can get at HF or Amazon or even eBay. That's what SO uses (even says so on the little packets they send with rebuild kits) and I've put it in several of my coarse tooth ratchets (old Proto, for example) and it worked wonders. Only takes a light coating on the gears and pawl and it works really well.

 

[sk farmer]

red lube of love or rrl. permatex engine assembly lube is the stuff. use sparingly, not merk style.

 

[5toes]

RLL? THat cant be it's real name

 

[Scout Driver]

RLL? THat cant be it's real name

Permatex Engine Assembly Lube

Scott

 

[5toes]

Oh Okay. Haha I also read on here about wheel bearing grease or something like that?

 

[Even 11]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84398

5toes; check out this link, I think we have the same kits!

-Dane

 

[5toes]

Yup. Same. Haha your box is longer, I was like wtf... then I found out it 3/4" drive

So can anybody date this ratchet?

And what about that wheel bearing grease?

 

[tonydanzah]

its personal preference, i use red sythetic grease for everything

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

red lube of love or rrl. permatex engine assembly lube is the stuff. use sparingly, not merk style.

Like he said do not OD on stuff..

 

[Scout Driver]

Oh Okay. Haha I also read on here about wheel bearing grease or something like that?

In my experience, coarser toothed ratchets work well with just a little bit of wheel bearing grease. The grease won't leak out either.

Scott

 

[5toes]

I might have wheel bearing grease... but I doubt it. My mum said I have some white lithium stuff. I do know for sure we have some coastal all purpose stuff. Would that work?

 

[Scout Driver]

I might have wheel bearing grease... but I doubt it. My mum said I have some white lithium stuff. I do know for sure we have some coastal all purpose stuff. Would that work?

All purpose grease would be worth trying. If you don't like the "feel" of the ratchet with a certain grease, its easy to take the ratchet apart, clean the parts and try something new.

Scott

 

[Joe Mamma]

I might have wheel bearing grease... but I doubt it. My mum said I have some white lithium stuff. I do know for sure we have some coastal all purpose stuff. Would that work?

Personally, I wouldn't use white lithium grease. I think that stuff breaks down or separates when it gets really old.

Joe Mamma

 

[5toes]

Coastal All purpose grease is in. Its smooth, not loud at all. My Dad has a late 80's Craftsman Ratchet set, 1/4 3/8 and 1/2 drive. This is smoother than any of them.

Not loud at all. The grease is red, similar to RLL it looks like

 

[Scout Driver]

Coastal All purpose grease is in. Its smooth, not loud at all. My Dad has a late 80's Craftsman Ratchet set, 1/4 3/8 and 1/2 drive. This is smoother than any of them.

Not loud at all. The grease is red, similar to RLL it looks like

Good job, 5toes.

Scott

 

[dimwittedmoose51]

I'm only getting in on this thread a few years late, but I just picked up a 1/2" Frankie at an estate sale last Friday and the really thin handle had snapped off about 5" fro mthe ratchet end. I couldn't find the other half anywhere i n the house or basement, so I just ground off the jagged end and made a stubby out of it.

I had not trouble getting the snap ring out using a Chinese(God-forbid) pr. of micro needle nose pliers that had really deep teeth to them. What I found was either a testament to SK's metallurgy or how stupid someone can be with a hammer or cheater pipe. 2 or 3 rat teeth on the drive piece were broken and the teeth on the Frankie part were "altered". With the metal chips out of the way, I cleaned the whole mess(green can of Brake Kleen) and then coated the moving parts with Anti Seize compound. As others have said, the rat is rough but the fact that the handle snapped and there was little damage to the gear teeth I find fascinating. I'll keep it in the tool box and see if a repair kit exists, but won't hold my breath.....

DM&FS