Indestro ratchet....

[eschoendorff]

So I bought this Indestro ratchet from Rickster and finally got around to opening it up. I could not get over two things:

First, the cover plate is HEAVY. I didn't realize that these ratchets had an armor plate option

Second, I would love to know just how old this ratchet is and how much use it has seen. When I opened it up, it was a little dirty but all of the parts looked to have little or no wear on them. The gear and dog teeth are still nice and pointy. Either this ratchet wasn't used much, or the quality is higher than I thought.

 

[Rickster]

Well you know you just voided your warranty!

 

[chad s]

Looks identical to a snap on ratchet inside...

 

[krusty the clown]

i have noticed there are a lot of ratchets that are identical to snap on inside. i have two armstrong 3/8 and a 1/2........the parts interchage! makes you wonder don't it.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Looks a lot like my F-70N..

 

[eschoendorff]

I'm just impressed with the sheer robustness of the parts. Even the little ball bearing in there looks to be almost the size of a BB. Not those little wimpy ones they use nowadays.

 

[Elroy]

the quality is higher than I thought.

Yep. A POS from China it is not. Elroy would guess that your ratchet is from 1960, plus or minus 5 years. A guy at work has one and it won't die.

 

[64merc]

Ah yes, very nice ratchet indeed. This is why I like old ratchets. You can get great quality for a cheaper price.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I have not run across many Indesto ratchets through the years, but that design looks bullet proof!

 

[64merc]

I have run into several old ratchets with this design and they were all good as new with a little cleaning and lube. Funny story though, I bought an old Westcraft the other day for a few bucks that looks almost identical to the internals on the ratchet in question. Well, 90% of the "broken" old ratchets that I find just need to be de-gunked and lubed.

But this one was the first one that was actually broken. When I opened it up, 3 of the teeth were lodged into the pawl, which is still near perfect. Anyway, when I looked at it closer I noticed a slight bend in the handle. I don't know how I didn't notice it earlier. My guess is that someone had to put a pretty long cheater bar on this thing to break it.

BTW, I love that bullet-proof cover plate too!!

 

[3/8"indestro]

i have noticed there are a lot of ratchets that are identical to snap on inside. i have two armstrong 3/8 and a 1/2........the parts interchage! makes you wonder don't it.

they look identical,but it won't fit.the overall diameter gears of the Snap on
are smaller than those Indestro's.I tried it,I have one that broke a gear.The closest one I think that would work,that might have a kit available are this from Craftsman.

 

[krusty the clown]

they look identical,but it won't fit.the overall diameter gears of the Snap on
are smaller than those Indestro's.I tried it,I have one that broke a gear.The closest one I think that would work,that might have a kit available are this from craftsman

was the tooth count different?

 

[3/8"indestro]

I did not try counting,but it's not the tooth count.Its the part of the gear that sits in the hole,I do not know if there is a tern for it.Snap on is smaller.I tried one of my 830,710,720 and it was smaller.I have a 936 and have not tried it,might be same as the 830.

 

[MAD]

I have 1/2" and 3/8" drive Indestro pear head ratchets like that one. I have to agree, these are top notch. I also have a 1/2" round head Indestro ratchet. I can tell by the many hammer marks on the handle that the previous owner did not have a breaker bar. I don't know if it has ever been rebuilt but I suspect these were very well made.

 

[krusty the clown]

I did not try counting,but it's not the tooth count.Its the part of the gear that sits in the hole,I do not know if there is a tern for it.Snap on is smaller.I tried one of my 830,710,720 and it was smaller.I have a 936 and have not tried it,might be same as the 830.

gotcha....i do know that the armstrongs interchange so i'm suspecting the parts to them are scourced from the same vendor. i'm also going to guess that the craftsman was scourced from indestro and the repair kits are no longer available.

 

[3/8"indestro]

the only other option is the current 3/8 quick release from Craftsman,but you need to machine or sand the part of the gear that sits in the hole.Its off by a hair,but it might work.

 

[kidney]

I have 1/4 3/8 and 1/2 Indestro ratchets just like that. I use mine all the time. Good stuff...