Lubricating SK ratchets

[Shelbylex]

... I know, there are tons of threads

I just bought 6 ratchets and am trying to clean them up prior to posting in Garage Sale thread.
I took apart Diamond Logo 42470 (1/2”) and grease was quite thick and sticky.
I cleaned it up and will need to lube it after getting rid of rust on the handle.
I have 3 in 1 oil and unspecified grease from elliptical at hand. Will any one of those work well?

If not, I guess I will have to wait till I get superlube which a lot of people seem to like...

I also got 3 45170 (3/8”): one diamond and couple of later in quite used and rusty condition - will probably need to check inside condition too...

Thank you

 

[Rabid Badger]

3-in-1 is a poor choice for ratchet lubrication. It gets gummy and binds things up.

Is the grease lighter than axle grease? If so, a very light coating on the ring teeth should be okay until you get ahold of some Super Lube.

 

[plinker]

S-K repair kits came with a thin light clear-ish grease, Superlube works good as a replacment. Oil doesnt really stay put well enough IMO.

 

[Wamsutta]

SuperLube# 21030 to be exact.

 

[lardy1]

If you regularly clean your ratchet, I don't think it matters much what you use. I suggest clean often and lube lightly with SOMETHING.


For the record, I personally now use assembly lube.

 

[ken w.]

I use Superlube in all my ratchets. I'm pretty sure it's what SK uses.

 

[bonneyman]

The Red Lube of Love!

 

[Fedwrench]

The Red Lube of Love!

I can't believe Merk is advocating Superlube 21030 over his red permatex assembly lube of love.

That **** oozes out everywhere.

 

[bbrins]

I prefer to use SuperLube grease, but I also thin it a little bit with a few of drops of SuperLube oil. I just get a coating of grease on everything and then after assembling the ratcheting mechanism, but before installing it inside of the handle, I apply a few drops of oil. Just the SL grease is perfectly fine, I'm just kind of picky about how my ratchets feel.

Assembly lube works okay too, but I have around 75 SK ratchets in one drawer, that would leave a pretty big puddle since it tends to ooze.

3in1 will gum up. I've never heard of elliptical grease, is that a brand, or is it for lubricating a piece of exercise equipment?

 

[bonneyman]

I can't believe Merk is advocating Superlube 21030 over his red permatex assembly lube of love. unno:

That **** oozes out everywhere.

Yeah, but that oozy red goes so well with the vomit smell from the acetate drivers!

 

[Shelbylex]

Thank you, gentlemen! I will try to stop by in Home Depot on Monday and buy it.

“Grease from elliptical” - sorry for not making myself clear - this is from elliptical exercise machine. Sears wanted $250 for professional assembly years ago when I bought it as a gift, decided to do it myself and still have some grease left

2 cleaned, 4 to go (all these will need the lube as they are in much worse shape)...

 

[jimmyin3D]

Thank you, gentlemen! I will try to stop by in Home Depot on Monday and buy it.

“Grease from elliptical” - sorry for not making myself clear - this is from elliptical exercise machine. Sears wanted $250 for professional assembly years ago when I bought it as a gift, decided to do it myself and still have some grease left

2 cleaned, 4 to go (all these will need the lube as they are in much worse shape)...

Don’t fret SK ratchets are bulletproof, all they need is some cleaning/superlube and will be back in perfect working order.

Oh and last time I was looking for SuperLube I think harbor freight was the only place that had it in store.






——————————————————————-
Check out my for sale listing in the classifieds:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=438994

 

[woody6904]

Spray em with Brake Cleaner and spin it to get the **** out, then blow out with air to dry. Then leave sit in a cup with ATF overnight. Let dry on a towel in the morning, and your good to go. Started doing this awhile ago to unsealed ratchets and ratchet wrenches. Have a mason jar with ATF sitting on top of bench just for this purpose.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I have used engine lube assembly and currently super lube. I can't tell a difference on either lubricant but the super lube doesn't leak out.

 

[Wamsutta]

I still use the red Permatex on my MAC 30 tooth ratchets. Yes most of it leaks out but nothing works better for those vintage MACs.

 

[Shelbylex]

Jimmyin3D - your were right - stopped by today in Home Depot, no luck (did not notice that on the site it was advertised as order only)
Will look up online tomorrow on amazon and e-bay. If nothing for a good price, will try Harbor Freight on the weekend

 

[DwightS]

Jimmyin3D - your were right - stopped by today in Home Depot, no luck (did not notice that on the site it was advertised as order only)
Will look up online tomorrow on amazon and e-bay. If nothing for a good price, will try Harbor Freight on the weekend

Harbor Freight with the 20% off coupon should get you out the door for around $5




Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[VinceG]

Funny I have a ratchet I got in 1986 its never been apart or or oiled. I used it Daily at work for over 20 years. In fact I have never lubed any of my ratchets. Maybe I should now since I don't use them daily anymore. I think I will do that this weekend.

 

[02Xterra]

Picked up a tube of super lube from HF today, there's a 30% coupon that's good till Sunday.. brings the price to $4.41

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[highland512]

From experience I can tell you the SK TUFF1 ratchets do not like the red lube of love or suber lube, especially when the temp drop below freezing. My "lube" of choice for the TUFF1 is WD40.

 

[Corndoggeh]

I use a dab of.... Marine grease. Im ready for my crucifixion!

 

[gatlibs]

Funny I have a ratchet I got in 1986 its never been apart or or oiled. I used it Daily at work for over 20 years. In fact I have never lubed any of my ratchets. Maybe I should now since I don't use them daily anymore. I think I will do that this weekend.

Has it ever fallen into the used more oil?

 

[lardy1]

I can't say that I've ever heard of a ratchet failing due to lack of lubrication.

 

[Starman2112]

3-in-1 is a poor choice for ratchet lubrication. It gets gummy and binds things up.

Is the grease lighter than axle grease? If so, a very light coating on the ring teeth should be okay until you get ahold of some Super Lube.

Been using 3-in-one for years in my higher tooth count ratchets and I’ve never seen it “get gummy and bind things up.”

 

[Shelbylex]

Picked up a tube of super lube from HF today, there's a 30% coupon that's good till Sunday.. brings the price to $4.41

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Thank you, O2Xterra!
Got a superlube today!


Now the question is (since I never used it):
How much should I put in:
Put some on the edge of the finger and create a thin layer on parts
Or
Pack significant amount?

 

[jimmyin3D]

Use your finger and go thin, it doesn’t need much. Make sure you get some where the teeth move in and out.

 

[Shelbylex]

Thank you, Jimmyin3D

 

[Ton ton]

Just a little bit of lube does the trick. Too much is not a good idea- speaking from experience.

 

[Rabid Badger]

Been using 3-in-one for years in my higher tooth count ratchets and I’ve never seen it “get gummy and bind things up.”

I used it on a Tekton "butterknife" low profile 72-tooth ratchet and wound up taking it apart to clean the gunk out of the springs less than a year later. Switched to Superlube and haven't had a problem since.

How problematic it is might vary depending on things like ratchet design and climate. I'll stick to recommending the product that has a 100% success rate.

I use 3-in-1 for things that get cleaned often, like hair clippers.

 

[sarabellum]

If you regularly clean your ratchet, I don't think it matters much what you use. I suggest clean often and lube lightly with SOMETHING. For the record, I personally now use assembly lube.

↑ Over time greases become hardened crud. After disassembling several older ratchets glued from that crud, assembly lube is a refreshing suggestion to me.

 

[Starman2112]

I used it on a Tekton "butterknife" low profile 72-tooth ratchet and wound up taking it apart to clean the gunk out of the springs less than a year later. Switched to Superlube and haven't had a problem since.

How problematic it is might vary depending on things like ratchet design and climate. I'll stick to recommending the product that has a 100% success rate.

I use 3-in-1 for things that get cleaned often, like hair clippers.

I like Super Lube and use it in lower tooth count ratchets. However, nothing has a 100% success rate. I’m sure there are people who don’t like Super Lube for some reason.

 

[valentine]

I use Sil Glyde brake grease in my ratchets.
What could be better than a Lube designed to work in the hostile environment that brake calipers create?
Extreme heat, dirt, dust, salt are all things brake calipers deal with all day long.
Sil Glyde shrugs it all off so being good for the inside of your ratchet is a no brainer.

 

[Rabid Badger]

I like Super Lube and use it in lower tooth count ratchets. However, nothing has a 100% success rate. I’m sure there are people who don’t like Super Lube for some reason.

Do me a favor: Tally up the recommendations for Superlube in this thread, then tally up all those for 3-in-1. Let us know if you find a disparity.

 

[Shelbylex]

I would like to thank everybody for help and knowledge.

I finally put SK 42470 diamond logo together after cleaning and lubricating it. Not a museum peace, but works great now!

(put the next one in line next to it for comparison (SK45170)
3 done, 3 to go...

 

[Rabid Badger]

I would like to thank everybody for help and knowledge.

I finally put SK 42470 diamond logo together after cleaning and lubricating it. Not a museum peace, but works great now!

(put the next one in line next to it for comparison (SK45170)
3 done, 3 to go...

Nice! I like the milled selector switch more than the modern cast ones.

 

[AngryBeaver]

super lube is what comes with a snap on rebuild kit, course or fine tooth.... that should be enough to say what needs to be said

 

[Starman2112]

Do me a favor: Tally up the recommendations for Superlube in this thread, then tally up all those for 3-in-1. Let us know if you find a disparity.

Do me a favor: Contact Tekton customer service and see what they recommend. Here’s a hint: it ain’t Super Lube.

Again, I like Super Lube. My point being nothing has 100% success rate as you stated Super Lube does. Everyone just has to figure out what works best for them.

 

[AngryBeaver]

Do me a favor: Contact Tekton customer service and see what they recommend. Here’s a hint: it ain’t Super Lube.

Again, I like Super Lube. My point being nothing has 100% success rate as you stated Super Lube does. Everyone just has to figure out what works best for them.

why would I contact a foreign company, when they don't even make their own ratchets? lol. i'm sure they will recommend whatever garbage they can dig out of the foreign cesspool

yet at least a dozen usa companies use usa made super lube...

 

[Starman2112]

why would I contact a foreign company, when they don't even make their own ratchets? lol. i'm sure they will recommend whatever garbage they can dig out of the foreign cesspool

yet at least a dozen usa companies use usa made super lube...

At least try to get your facts straight. When did Michigan secede from the Union? Last I checked that’s where Tekton is headquartered. Many of their tools are USA made. Even your precious Snap-on outsources to foreign countries.

 

[AngryBeaver]

At least try to get your facts straight. When did Michigan secede from the Union? Last I checked that’s where Tekton is headquartered. Many of their tools are USA made. Even your precious Snap-on outsources to foreign countries.

If you are going to rebuttal, at least use real facts.

show me where there is one usa made Tekton ratchet. I'll wait.

Also, show me one foreign made snap on ratchet. Again, i'll also wait

thanks for playing the butthurt game.