JH Williams Super ratchet

[Ilcharlieli]

Hi all. First I apologize if this is in wrong place. Picked up a KH Williams Super ratchet today. Not sure of the vintage or year manufactured. My problem is with the detent ball. It seems to have no spring failing to keep socket on. Any rebuild tips or kits out there to get it back to work? Thanks!

 

[bonneyman]

Drill a small hole in the opposite side of the anvil, and gently drive out the detent ball with a steel pin. Clean, replace the spring (and ball if it's deformed), then gently ease them back into the detent hole with a vice. Typically the swelled neck of the slot will retain enough "meat" to hold the ball in place.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

If not just restake it

 

[d42jeep]

It depends on how much work you want to put in on your damaged ratchet. A quick check of eBay showed me a listing for one on a buy-it-now for $7.00 plus shipping. Personally, that’s probably the route that I would take if I needed one, which I don’t.
-Don

 

[Oldtuleguy]

They are excellent ratchets
I would fix it

 

[d42jeep]

They are excellent ratchets but I have to consider my imaginary hourly rate.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

They are excellent ratchets but I have to consider my imaginary hourly rate.
-Don

OP, I have one with a broken selector shaft which I'm trying to bring back. After a month of soaking in acetone/ATF and sitting on the shelf for a year, I'm finally back at it. Finally got the lockring off and the core out - now just have to get the broken selector shaft out of it and fab a knob.

 

[Oldtuleguy]

They are excellent ratchets but I have to consider my imaginary hourly rate.
-Don

The harsh light of financial realities are banned from my tools

 

[RTM]

They are excellent ratchets but I have to consider my imaginary hourly rate.

I can reset my hourly rate to $5, and I'm still typically losing out on most tool rehab jobs vs buying new.

 

[lardy1]

Drill a small hole in the opposite side of the anvil, and gently drive out the detent ball with a steel pin. Clean, replace the spring (and ball if it's deformed), then gently ease them back into the detent hole with a vice. Typically the swelled neck of the slot will retain enough "meat" to hold the ball in place.

Thank you for that. I have a very old SK I would like to save. I replaced it already but keep the old one in a drawer in case I ever hear of a fix.

 

[bonneyman]

Thank you for that. I have a very old SK I would like to save. I replaced it already but keep the old one in a drawer in case I ever hear of a fix.

U R Welcome. It's one of the reasons I come to the GJ - to learn and to help.