I need a friend with a lathe

[Tenex]

I bought a Gearwrench bit ratchet that came with a 1/4" hex to 1/4" square drive adapter. I don't plan to use the ratchet for bits, but the adapter is retained by a weak ring and it pulls out every time I want to switch sockets.

The ratchet in question is the Gearwrench 81030. I want to find someone who can widen the notch so the adapter can be retained with an e-clip on the backside. I found an M5 at Ace Hardware that fit perfectly.

I'm located in DFW so there are plenty of machine shops around, but I'd honestly be embarrassed to ask someone to take on this project when they have more lucrative work to prioritize.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

Can you clamp the bit in a vice and use a Dremmel to widen the notch on the bit? It does not have be perfect, just enough to accommodate the eclip.

 

[darkzero]

"I need a friend with a lathe".

Might not be so simple as that. That bit is hardened tool steel so HSS won't touch it. I've never tried to machine screwdriver bits with my carbide tools. If it was an interrupted cut, like if on the hex shank, I definitely wouldn't try. For what you want I would grind it, in a lathe or not.

Chuck it in a drill press, with it spinning, cut the slot with a Dremel & cut-off disc. In a lathe I'd probably do the same only the setup would be more rigid, rotary tool mounted to the tool post.

 

[slowtwitch73]

chuck it in a drill and clamp a file in a vise and have at it.. ad hoc 'lathe'.

 

[Nick Rivers]

I chucked up a ratchet mechanism in my lathe to modify it to fit a different ratchet. These are heat treated hardened steel. The carbide cutter just shined up the area a bit but would not cut it. A file will just slide off.... you will need an abrasive disc like darkzero posted above.

 

[PelicanPines]

The insert needed to cut that... costs more than the ratchet and may get damaged.

Buy a new ratchet.

 

[slowtwitch73]

I chucked up a ratchet mechanism in my lathe to modify it to fit a different ratchet. These are heat treated hardened steel. The carbide cutter just shined up the area a bit but would not cut it. A file will just slide off.... you will need an abrasive disc like darkzero posted above.

True... clamp a zip disc in the vise and then have at it with the drill.

 

[darkzero]

I chucked up a ratchet mechanism in my lathe to modify it to fit a different ratchet. These are heat treated hardened steel. The carbide cutter just shined up the area a bit but would not cut it. A file will just slide off.... you will need an abrasive disc like darkzero posted above.

That reminds me, a couple of months ago I modified a ratchet anvil. It was one of those dual sided 3/8" & 1/4" ratchets they gave me at work. I rarely use the thing, only when I need more leverage cause the handle is extendable, but I hated the dual anvil. I machined the 1/4" square drive off.

The anvil was hardened but it wasn't that hard, cheap HF ratchet. Seemed to only be case hardened or just "China hardened", lol. Once I got through the hard layer it machined fine. Not the first time I have done this exact same thing.

The little adapter the OP is trying to modify is probably hard all the way through due to it's size. And it's probably much harder than the ratchet anvil I modified below.

 

[yhprum]

I did a similar thing using a hand drill to spin the bit and a dremel cut off disc to cut the slot into the bit.

 

[tak1313]

I don't know what the tolerances are, but would it be possible to use a hard punch and put like 3 or 4 "nice" dimples around/near the edge so the overall circumference expands just a bit - enough that the adapter gets "locked" into place (ie. big enough that it can't pull out). Of course this would be done AFTER the adapter is inserted in the ratchet.

 

[Toold_up]

That reminds me, a couple of months ago I modified a ratchet anvil. It was one of those dual sided 3/8" & 1/4" ratchets they gave me at work. I rarely use the thing, only when I need more leverage cause the handle is extendable, but I hated the dual anvil. I machined the 1/4" square drive off.

The anvil was hardened but it wasn't that hard, cheap HF ratchet. Seemed to only be case hardened or just "China hardened", lol. Once I got through the hard layer it machined fine. Not the first time I have done this exact same thing.

The little adapter the OP is trying to modify is probably hard all the way through due to it's size. And it's probably much harder than the ratchet anvil I modified below.

Nice Bison!


Did you blue the part after cutoff?

 

[The Cobbler]

chucked up in a drill, a wheel on a rotary tool and in 5 minutes you've got what you're looking for

 

[Nick Rivers]

I don't know what the tolerances are, but would it be possible to use a hard punch and put like 3 or 4 "nice" dimples around/near the edge so the overall circumference expands just a bit - enough that the adapter gets "locked" into place (ie. big enough that it can't pull out). Of course this would be done AFTER the adapter is inserted in the ratchet.

It is hardened steel. I doubt a punch would do anything but bounce off.....

 

[dscheidt]

It is hardened steel. I doubt a punch would do anything but bounce off.....

I have the same ratchet. an automatic center punch on the hardest setting made a dimple just big enough to locate a center punch, no where near enough to do any retaining with.

I never use the ratchet because of this problem, which is too bad, because otherwise, it's nice. Very long, smooth, lots of teeth, not much back drag. The anvil coming out regularly makes it unusable. I wonder if one of loctite's bearing retaining compound would hold it in place?

 

[darkzero]

Nice Bison!


Did you blue the part after cutoff?

Thanks, I've got the 6-jaw also. 6 jaws are ****...... chuck ****.

Yes I cold blue'd it after.

 

[Toold_up]

Thanks, I've got the 6-jaw also. 6 jaws are ****...... chuck ****.

Yes I cold blue'd it after.

Good goly Ms. Molly!

Those 6ers are great for thin wall stuff.

That off white color paint on the lathe... Is it a Jet by chance?


I sold my machine shop a couple of years ago and miss it sometimes.