I've had my 3/8 flex head LP90 for quite some time. I was disappointed with it's performance for a long time. Selector switch and pawl locking up etc. After multiple rebuilds ( pain in the *** with fat fingers) I finally figured out a lube combination that has made it nearly flawless. I was using Super Lube synthetic oil. While it worked great for the anvil lube the pawl would still bind. So I tried the stated oil with a couple small dollops of Permatex Utra synthetic brake parts lube ( green stuff ); now it is a completely new ratchet. Smooth as glass. No more hiccups at all. Tested for a half hour using 1/4 " impact driver with a socket in doth directions at multiple speeds. No more selector and pawl lookup what so ever. My Matco 88 loves the oil ,but the SK needed the oil and the brake parts lube. No it is everything that I had expected.
LP90 issues.
- Thread starter glewisme
- Start date
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
My 3/8 bought early into the release and it sucked from day one. I gave it away to a lube tech, I didn't find any lubes that made it work well.
I was so disappointed for a couple of years with it. About a week ago for S&G's I took it apart again recleaned it and lubed with that concoction and so far so good. I grew up using the old SK ratchets and I love them, so I was so pissed at the LP90 until now.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
The round head Sk is a real gem. I still keep one in my cart even though there's lots of places it won't fit on modern cars. Just a very nice mechanism.
I have multiple SK round heads that I bought 10+ years ago and really like them. But in a cramped transverse engine bay sometimes they don't fit; they're about 50% thicker than a GW 90T or Matco 88. If I was buying today, and if they still made them (no idea), I wouldn't buy one, too many other options; but since I have them, I do use them when I can.
I bought one 3/8 LP 90 and it was a dud, no matter dry, with oil, whatever. It just locked up. Continuously. Any type of grease like superlube is NG as it causes the pawl to stick to the gear in 1/4 and 3/8 drive.
I bought one 3/8 LP 90 and it was a dud, no matter dry, with oil, whatever. It just locked up. Continuously. Any type of grease like superlube is NG as it causes the pawl to stick to the gear in 1/4 and 3/8 drive.
I used SuperLube oil, and about 2 drops of synthetic brake parts lube ( tip of 1/8 screwdiver )to cure my issues. Just oil alone didn't work. I found the brake parts lube to be thin enough to keep the pawl from binding.
American Locomotive
Well-known member
My early LP90 green selector started out really good, but got progressively worse as time went on. I got it working okay with some light zoom-spout oil. I tried light grease, but that was a disaster.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
There are peeps here that swear by the red lube of love, AKA Permatex engine assembly lube 
I too have problems with my flex head LP90 ratchets but, no one seems to mention any issues with the Olsa versions
I too have problems with my flex head LP90 ratchets but, no one seems to mention any issues with the Olsa versions
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Yes - Just open the ratchet up and flood it with RLL. All the excess will drain out over time if the ratchet isn't sealed.There are peeps here that swear by the red lube of love, AKA Permatex engine assembly lube
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
That's a mystery. I think everyone thought SK made the LP-90 series in house until the Olsa versions showed up after the sale of SK to Great Star. I think Western Forge was either closed or on its way to closing when the LP-90s showed up and producing ratchets were beyond their capability.
I remember the prolonged wait for their introduction and I read a lot of their promotional stuff in anticipation. They made it sound like in house innovation at the time but the sale of the company and the introduction of the other version cast a lot of doubt on my assumption. Knowing what we know now about SK makes about anything a possibility.
VolvoRyan
Well-known member
SK was using a crummy lube (if any) in their ratchets at the end. Dunno why.
When news of Great Star broke, I bought one last 3/8" round head that September. Sorta for old time's sake. It had the same lube that was in the LP90's. I quickly re-lubed it, and it's a wonderful ratchet.
I have a bunch of LP90's. Most are fine. One 1/4" (little flex head) is my favorite 1/4" tool hands down. One 1/4" is a bit hopeless in the mechanism. It locks up no matter what I do.
The Olsa ones seem to be terrific. My little 3/8" flex head has been perfect out of the box. Great tool and form factor. I think only Koken has something really comparable.
It amuses my that there's plenty of room for the ol' round head ratchets under the hood of modern Volvos. Yet, fancy, modern tools make wrenching on the 50 year-old Volvo designs a *lot* easier.
-Ryan
When news of Great Star broke, I bought one last 3/8" round head that September. Sorta for old time's sake. It had the same lube that was in the LP90's. I quickly re-lubed it, and it's a wonderful ratchet.
I have a bunch of LP90's. Most are fine. One 1/4" (little flex head) is my favorite 1/4" tool hands down. One 1/4" is a bit hopeless in the mechanism. It locks up no matter what I do.
The Olsa ones seem to be terrific. My little 3/8" flex head has been perfect out of the box. Great tool and form factor. I think only Koken has something really comparable.
It amuses my that there's plenty of room for the ol' round head ratchets under the hood of modern Volvos. Yet, fancy, modern tools make wrenching on the 50 year-old Volvo designs a *lot* easier.
-Ryan