Kobalt 24 inch 1/2 inch flex head slippage.

[toolaholic]

Hi I bought my best friend a kobalt 1/2 drive flex head ratchet. It is the long 24 incher that's 69.97 w/ 36 teeth. I super lubed it for him as it is dry from factory. He is going to exchange it at Lowes for new one. It slips under heavy load. Does well except when you really lean into it. Did I super lube to much? I just put a fingertip amount on gear and reassembled. I ran ratchet in forward and reverse to distribute the grease. Or are the Kobalt big ratchets just not up to the task? Or maybe for high torque appications they are better off dry. Oh and I paid $38 on ebay for it from a pawn shop.I would never pay 69.97 for a kobalt. Internals showed no wear when I lubed.

 

[silviaboy89]

i think you might have lubed it to much

 

[cmandp]

If it's 36 tooth it's probably an older Danaher made ratchet. I have no experience with those Danaher made ratchets but that design (same as Craftsman and many others) is kind of infamous for slipping. Also in general grease won't cause any problems with coarse tooth mechs unless you use a lot.

 

[toolaholic]

If it's 36 tooth it's probably an older Danaher made ratchet. I have no experience with those Danaher made ratchets but that design (same as Craftsman and many others) is kind of infamous for slipping. Also in general grease won't cause any problems with coarse tooth mechs unless you use a lot.

Thanks that info helps. He works for the sewage treatment plant. He is a former mechanic that has alot of snap on. He likes the cheaper stuff for at work( works over sewage tanks w/ chemicals that will kill any tool if dropped in). He's fairly big at 230lbs and isn't shy about applying force which the snap ons can take.

 

[toolaholic]

If it's 36 tooth it's probably an older Danaher made ratchet. I have no experience with those Danaher made ratchets but that design (same as Craftsman and many others) is kind of infamous for slipping. Also in general grease won't cause any problems with coarse tooth mechs unless you use a lot.

It's currently avaible at lowes. It's made in Taiwan.

 

[Armstrong1720]

Thanks that info helps. He works for the sewage treatment plant. He is a former mechanic that has alot of snap on. He likes the cheaper stuff for at work( He's fairly big at 230lbs and isn't shy about applying force which the snap ons can take.

235 ? Then im huge !! Lol.

 

[toolaholic]

Here is the beastie! http://www.lowes.com/pd_337328-2232...l=1&currentURL=?Ntt=kobalt+ratchet&facetInfo=

 

[blackz26]

I thought the 3/8 was 24" and the 1/2 was 36"?

 

[Hiball]

If it's 36 tooth it's probably an older Danaher made ratchet. I have no experience with those Danaher made ratchets but that design (same as Craftsman and many others) is kind of infamous for slipping. Also in general grease won't cause any problems with coarse tooth mechs unless you use a lot.

I doubt its danaher produced, I'm sure its identical to the Titan head.

OP does it use a mechanism like this one..



That is the 72 tooth version from a ezred, or does it have the prototypical batwing design?

 

[toolaholic]

I doubt its danaher produced, I'm sure its identical to the Titan head.

OP does it use a mechanism like this one..



That is the 72 tooth version from a ezred, or does it have the prototypical batwing design?

looks like it. I lubed it in December and my friend has it or I'd crack it open again. I just wondered if instead of him returning it if cleaning some lube out would help or if slipping is par for the course w/ these ratchets.

 

[Hiball]

looks like it. I lubed it in December and my friend has it or I'd crack it open again. I just wondered if instead of him returning it if cleaning some lube out would help or if slipping is par for the course w/ these ratchets.

I would first clean the lube out.. Inspect the teeth and reassemble.

 

[billymade]

Typical ROTAR/TOPTUL oem design.. sold under many brand names.

http://www.toptul.com/en/2_2179/about.html

 

[Armstrong1720]

Yep clean the lube out really good. And see what it does. There should be a spring in it. Clean it good For some reason thick oil or grease can really make them act up. If that work then put some thin oil in it. Just my opinion.

 

[cmandp]

Well, 72 tooth is different from 36 lol. I've put superlube in all three of my 72 tooth Kobalt ratchets and haven't had a problem yet. Haven't really worked out my 3/8" long handle flex head yet however.

 

[Armstrong1720]

Yeah on my matco 88 only thin oil. I tried thick. And on certain mac i think 36? Anyways thin oil. Just what i have dealt with. Me i like grease !! And then more grease !

 

[BK13]

235 ? Then im huge !! Lol.

Y'all are a bunch of lightweights... I have you by almost a c-note!

 

[ganymede]

If its the same mechanism as the one in the pics then too much or too thick grease will not allow the pawl teeth to fully mesh with the gear teeth.
With a coarse tooth ratchet that has a strong spring that wouldn't be a problem.

 

[biscuit141]

I put Super Lube in all my ratchets, no issues yet. I can't imagine how much lube it would take to cause it to skip. I turn the gear in the opening of the squeeze bottle and coat all the teeth. Then I take my finger and wipe off any excess only leaving what is in between the teeth. I put a light coat on the front and back of the gear and I put a bit on the pawl teeth and both of the pawl that slides over the BB. That is it. I don't thing it takes a lot to keep these smooth and quiet. You just want to help eliminate friction and smooth thing out.

With a 36 tooth, I doubt the inside looks like the one pictured above. I don't think it would be a dual pawl design.

 

[Armstrong1720]

Y'all are a bunch of lightweights... I have you by almost a c-note!

285 how about you BK13 ? Lol.

 

[TwoInch]

i never understood why the manufacturer of those ratchets uses a 72 tooth mech for the standard length ratchets, but drops to 36 tooth for the same head but ridiculously extended handle... where the fine tooth mech would make much more of a difference. the end of that handle must move a number of inches to get the next click...

maybe a strength issue with that design? fine tooth with such little pawl engagement isnt to strong im sure.

as for the lube, the super lube should be fine in that design. but you could try a lighter lube like rll or 3 in 1 and see what happens. if it has slipped, there may be some tooth damage now already.

 

[alpinewhite]

i never understood why the manufacturer of those ratchets uses a 72 tooth mech for the standard length ratchets, but drops to 36 tooth for the same head but ridiculously extended handle... where the fine tooth mech would make much more of a difference. the end of that handle must move a number of inches to get the next click...

maybe a strength issue with that design? fine tooth with such little pawl engagement isnt to strong im sure.

as for the lube, the super lube should be fine in that design. but you could try a lighter lube like rll or 3 in 1 and see what happens. if it has slipped, there may be some tooth damage now already.

I would guess that finer teeth are smaller.

 

[BK13]

285 how about you BK13 ? Lol.

Well, you're getting closer... I'm down to about 320.

But what the heck, I am 6'6"...

 

[toolaholic]

I'm a lightweight at 190. I graduated high school at 167. I'm 5ft 10 1/2. Wish I was bigger. LOL

 

[Scotsman1886]

6'04" 285,,,,or as I prefer,,19 stone. Sounds better