Killed a ratchet today

[Squ1d]

Maybe not completely dead but out of commission for a while at least.

I know I was using it improperly, way too much force for a 1/4" ratchet but it was the only tool that could reach in on a Muranos Transfer Case fill plug.

I tried an offset box wrench, ratchet wrench, 3/8" low profile ratchet and nothing else could get on the plug and still have enough clearance to turn.

2 hours later I've got a busted ratchet and a stripped plug. Gonna have to pay the dummy tax on this one.

 

[oldldh]

"Damn, I shouldn't have done that!!!"...Is a great teacher...

I know...

In my multitude of years...

"OOPS!!!"...Has taught me a bunch of lessons...

Don't worry...

There will me many more...

 

[mrjaw14]

I'd say a 1/4 or 3/8 breaker bar was in order, but if the 3/8 wouldn't have fit, the 1/4" breaker bar would have failed too assuming that your ratchet didn't have a hairline crack in it to start with. That's interesting it failed right at the retention ball, but looking at it that area does seem to be a weak point. looking at the angle of the break I take it you may not have been straight on the fastener and coming at an angle? at least you went for the gold, I'd have used a beater ratchet and probably ended up in worse shape

 

[ARFLY]

When they let go that bad, its usually not just the ratchet that is busted. How bad are your knuckles busted from that one?

 

[papavolume]

When they let go that bad, its usually not just the ratchet that is busted. How bad are your knuckles busted from that one?

Haha, ain't that the truth!

Looks like it may be a Snap On by the looks of it?

 

[Lx460]

Looks like it may be a Snap On by the looks of it?

TF72 it looks like to me

 

[organ]

Maybe not completely dead but out of commission for a while at least.

I know I was using it improperly, way too much force for a 1/4" ratchet but it was the only tool that could reach in on a Muranos Transfer Case fill plug.

I tried an offset box wrench, ratchet wrench, 3/8" low profile ratchet and nothing else could get on the plug and still have enough clearance to turn.

2 hours later I've got a busted ratchet and a stripped plug. Gonna have to pay the dummy tax on this one.

Look at the difference in the grain of the metal...

 

[BDT/NWMN]

You were naughty today.. Your turn to sit in the corner..

I don't care for that excessive recess on the drive end of a socket, either.. I would rather have a smaller recess and more contact with the square ratchet drive. Some of my newer Craftsman sockets with the double detent also have horrible contact when used with a SnapOn or Proto ratchet. Worth checking out....

Might want to round up some heavier artillery for battling that nasty plug.. Leather gloves will help when duking it out.. Show that ****** who is the boss..

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

That Dual 80 (72) mechanism is pretty damn strong! I have a small BluePoint breaker bar for these situations.

 

[BK13]

Probably wouldn't have mattered, what with where it broke.


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[Bigblue&Goldie]

Probably wouldn't have mattered, what with where it broke.

No doubt, but it keeps my ratchet in service. It's also easier to keep the socket on the fastener square with a breaker bar than a flex head when you are applying a lot of force.

 

[BK13]

Wait, you don't have backup ratchets for your backup ratchets?


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[Bigblue&Goldie]

Wait, you don't have backup ratchets for your backup ratchets?

I've got backups for the backups! I have a T72, TL72, TF72, GT72, and a THNF72. I'm a ***** for all things that say Snap On and ratchet!

 

[BK13]

Figured as such.


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[bonneyman]

You were naughty today.. Your turn to sit in the corner..

 

[Lx460]

I guess this means cheap foreign made Stanley sockets are stronger than Snap-On ratchets?

Maybe that's why it broke...incompatible metallurgical properties.

 

[Cato]

I guess this means cheap foreign made Stanley sockets are stronger than Snap-On ratchets?

Hey, what's the big idea pointing out the obvious!

 

[PFSard]

Maybe not completely dead but out of commission for a while at least.

I know I was using it improperly, way too much force for a 1/4" ratchet but it was the only tool that could reach in on a Muranos Transfer Case fill plug.

I tried an offset box wrench, ratchet wrench, 3/8" low profile ratchet and nothing else could get on the plug and still have enough clearance to turn.

2 hours later I've got a busted ratchet and a stripped plug. Gonna have to pay the dummy tax on this one.

I'm dying to hear the solution to negotiate the plug without destroying (temporarily) that beautiful ratchet.

 

[Squ1d]

Yes it was a snap on. Knuckles are intact. 3/8 breaker bar could not fit with short 3/8 drive socket.

Like I said. A short 1/4" drive socket with 1/4 ratchet was the only thing short enough to get on the plug.

Something that ratchets was needed. I only had a few degrees of movement allowed.

A ratcheting wrench was too thick. There was another bolt right next to the plug.

I have a low profile 3/8" ratchet that fit but the handle was too fat to get a cheater bar on. (It had a cushioned grip)

 

[Evilelroy]

How did you end up getting the plug out?

 

[Squ1d]

I didn't. It's still in there. The one smart moment I had that day was to try to take the fill plug off before taking the drain plug off and emptying the transfer case.

I rounded it off a bit too with the low profile 3/8" socket. I'm gonna have to take it to a garage. They may have to remove some sections of the exhaust to get at it.

 

[mrjaw14]

Look at the difference in the grain of the metal...

What is that gear out of that looks like powdered metal?

 

[organ]

What is that gear out of that looks like powdered metal?

An old 1/2 Snap on... http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=298374

And it looks like a ****** heat treat... OP's is how it should look... smooth and silky.

 

[Codyyy]

It looks like it would have damaged the swivel section but I'm assuming it is designed so the ratchet breaks at that point instead of the swivel area. I have an old S-K 3/8 swivel ratchet that I put a cheater bar on and ended up bending the handle itself. I ended up beating it back straight with a hammer but I guess I learned that no matter where a breaker bar is, it is worth taking the time to find it instead of using a ratchet.

 

[Indexmill]

I never really thought about how much of the meat is whittled away for the ball and spring. Has to be enough to reduce its strength vs. no ball and spring. Obviously, it's not normally an issue; just interesting to observe and think about.

 

[Squ1d]

This made me realize the point of a 1/4" breaker bar.

 

[Gear Wolf]

R.I.P. ratchet gear...

 

[BK13]

I'm dying to hear the solution to negotiate the plug without destroying (temporarily) that beautiful ratchet.

I wonder if the long, double ended 1/4"3/8" HF rat would have fit....

(And yes, I hate to be that guy)

 

[twertsy]

Sounds like the perfect spot for the little Wright 1/4" rat with the 3/8" drive plug?

 

[Squ1d]

I wonder if the long, double ended 1/4"3/8" HF rat would have fit....



(And yes, I hate to be that guy)

Sad thing is I have one of these but completely forgot about it. It's in a different drawer then all my other ratchets. And yes. It probably would have fit.

 

[mrjaw14]

You're talking about this right? i was at harbor freight yesterday and was looking at that ratchet and every one I've tried the mechanism feels horrible. you guys doing anything to make it usable?

 

[ARFLY]

I look at those every time I'm in HF. Looks like it would good for reaching really tight spots.

 

[BK13]

I look at them too. I just can't bring myself to drop $30 on a ratchet from HF. I did get a couple of the shorter ones, one for me, one for my six year old son's box.

 

[Squ1d]

You're talking about this right? i was at harbor freight yesterday and was looking at that ratchet and every one I've tried the mechanism feels horrible. you guys doing anything to make it usable?

That's the one.

Try multiple ratchets on the rack. Some might be better than others.

It, like many others are something you might not use often but are very thankful to have it when you do need it.

Had I remembered that I owned it the other day I probably would have not broken my snap on ratchet. Or, I might have broken this one, cursed it for being a harbor freight piece of sh*t, and then broke my snap on ratchet.

 

[stage20]

ive got a couple short and the long flex version of that harbor freight ratchet. they work really well, but i do have older versions of them. ive beat on them pretty good and they may break tomorrow, but they are nice for certain jobs

 

[AmishFury]

looks like your snap on... snapped off