lubricating ratchets
- Thread starter street131
- Start date
i think this might be more fitting.
GeorgiaHybrid
Well-known member
Nice addition sk... I like it.
I hit an old Stanley round head with some of Mercury Marine's 2-4-C, and it worked really well. I didn't use much because it contains Teflon and is sliiiiiick, just enough. It is an extremely resilient grease that is used mainly in outboards and their drives. Its good stuff. 
I was going to hit my BR8T with it tonight, but, that didn't go so well for a few parts of the ratchet.
I was going to hit my BR8T with it tonight, but, that didn't go so well for a few parts of the ratchet.
Sturtevant Richmont recommends using molybdenum disulfide high pressure grease on the ratcheting mechanism of their torque wrenches.
http://www.srtorque.com/faq7.html
But, I notice that in general ratchet and pawl mfrs. (winches, bike hubs, etc.) say explicitly not to grease pawls, but to oil the pawls instead.
Lloyd
http://www.srtorque.com/faq7.html
But, I notice that in general ratchet and pawl mfrs. (winches, bike hubs, etc.) say explicitly not to grease pawls, but to oil the pawls instead.
Lloyd
06wt
Well-known member
yeah i like moly in my ratchets, but i add ultra slick to thin it out a little
chromemoly
Well-known member
Does it also give you a warm tingly sensation when introduced to friction and taste like strawberries? You sure its label says Permatex
Since engine assembly lube has a little theme going here, why dont someone try the Royal Purple "MAX-TUFF" assembly lube that costs $16.99 for 8 oz and give it a cool name, like the Purple Jesus of everlasting Ratchet LIFE
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Merkava_4
Banned
wreckercologist
Well-known member
Zrexxer
Well-known member
You packed the inside of a utility knife full of engine assembly grease???
Merkava_4
Banned
MMMMMMMMMM!!I feel like making a sandwich!
You're looking at Sta-Lube white lithium grease. I use it on box cutters, but not my ratchets because when it oozes out, it lightens the black cover plate ... can't be have'n that.
Merkava_4
Banned
You packed the inside of a utility knife full of engine assembly grease???
Not my idea. When Starrett was making those knives for Craftsman, that's the way they came, with white grease.
wreckercologist
Well-known member
You're looking at Sta-Lube white lithium grease. I use it on box cutters, but not my ratchets because when it oozes out, it lightens the black cover plate ... can't be have'n that.
None of my cover plates are black anymore! All of the black oxide is worn off!Merkava_4
Banned
I forgot to respond to this post earlier, so I'm pulling this thread back up.
bgott
The conditions you describe above would be very much true with THICK grease, but from my experience using a thin grease like SuperLube, (which is about the thickness of *********** filling) is it tends to squeeze out during use. If I pack it in there and then spin the ratchet around on a socket, the excess immediately starts to squeeze out around the square drive end. I then take the cover plate back off and wipe the accumulated grease off the underside of the cover plate. Reassemble and tighten the screws to full tightness.
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nissan_crawler
Well-known member
If you use grease, you have to use common sense about it. I have never broken a ratchet, and I grease all of mine.
Use synthetic, not some of that wheel bearing grease that you can stand on top of without squishing. Put it on the gear and pawls, then use an acid brush to brush off the excess, just leaving a very light coating across everything. It won't keep the teeth from going together, and it won't ooze out.
If you're breaking ratchets with grease, you have way too much packed in there.
Use synthetic, not some of that wheel bearing grease that you can stand on top of without squishing. Put it on the gear and pawls, then use an acid brush to brush off the excess, just leaving a very light coating across everything. It won't keep the teeth from going together, and it won't ooze out.
If you're breaking ratchets with grease, you have way too much packed in there.
bgott
Well-known member
The grease I was using was GE silicon, or silicone, I can't remember which, grease. It was a little thicker than white lithium grease.
Does it also give you a warm tingly sensation win introduced to friction and taste like strawberries? You sure its label says Permatex
Since engine assembly lube has a little theme going here, why dont someone try the Royal Purple "MAX-TUFF" assembly lube that costs $16.99 for 8 oz and give it a cool name, like the Purple Jesus of everlasting Ratchet LIFE
Permatex works better than Max Tuff IME (in ratchets)
Anyone ever mess with Redline's assembly lube in their ratchets??
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Red-Line-Assembly-Lube-4-Oz,5622.html
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Red-Line-Assembly-Lube-4-Oz,5622.html
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
I use amsoil synthetic wheel bearing grease, 0 problems, 0 leakage, smooth as can be.
chromemoly
Well-known member
I got a Matco ratchet once that was leaking red, not sure what it was, it didnt have any smell.
Merkava_4
Banned
Which product specifically and what NLGI grade?
While those are both excellent products, I have had better luck with the RLL in my ratchets.
bigsteve1969
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2008
- Messages
- 222
anybody used royal purple assembly lube?
AussieDan
Well-known member
I have a tub of this stuff and was thinking about trying it in the GearWrench 60-tooth set I got for Xmas...
tjmonsen5
Well-known member
I recieved a 1/2 inch Craftsman racthet from my grandpa yesterday. I was going to take it back to sears because it wasnt ratcheting very well, and was hard to reverse. The ratchet is about 20 years old. I was bored so i took it completely apart and found dry old grease! It was all crusty. I used my picks and brake cleaner to clean it up, and then let everything soak in ATF for a few hours. I put it back together, now it feels good as new!
ATF is pure magic. Even if you hadn't opened it up, but just bathed it in ATF, it would have loosened right up.
Thanks God you didn't bring Grampa's ratchet to Sears...do you know what they would have given you in exchange?!
Thanks God you didn't bring Grampa's ratchet to Sears...do you know what they would have given you in exchange?!
A small boat anchor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
AussieDan
Well-known member
I just tried the Redline Assembly lube in the 3/8 & 1/2" ratchets...initial impression is that it seems to be too thick to work really well. It definitely quieted them down but it didn't feel as though the pawl was engaging as cleanly as it did with the factory lube (more of a clear oil).
The other thing I was thinking about trying is BreakFree CLP (Clean, Lubricate, Protect).
tjmonsen5
Well-known member
I couldnt believe that the reversing switch on my craftsman 3/8 ratchet is made out of plastic!
The 20 year old 1/2 is all metal, and much easier to put back together! The little ball and spring in the 3/8 is very tricky to install!!
The 20 year old 1/2 is all metal, and much easier to put back together! The little ball and spring in the 3/8 is very tricky to install!!