Need help disassembling older Craftsman ratchet

[Warshark73]

Good evening, everyone. I need a bit of help. I was attempting to disassemble an older Craftsman ratchet to do a cleaning and re-lubrication. I got it taken apart up to the selector switch & pawl mechanism, which I'm unsure of how to get it off. It appears that the center of the switch lever should be punched out, but before I attempt that (and possibly ruin/destroy the ratchet), I would like to find out for sure how to remove that mechanism.

I do not know the model number or the manufacture date. All I know is that my uncle has had it for quite some time and it appears to be a Snap-on copy. If anyone can shed some light on how to continue the disassembly, that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Jason280]

It almost looks riveted, not sure. I know I have seen quite a few other ratchet styles with permanently attached selectors, and you can still clean it out fairly well by soaking in carb cleaner. I'm not sure I would push my luck trying to hammer it out, as that is not a common Craftsman (and replacement parts may be difficult to source).

 

[ganymede]

Your ratchet is from the late 40's to late 50's.
The pawl has a little tab on it that extends through the selector and its peened over.
To get it apart you'd have to file or grind away the part that's peened over. After that there's no metal left to re peen it when you want to reassemble .
I'd just flush it with penetrating oil till all the old oil n grit is gone.

 

[PJNJ]

No need to remove selector switch. Spray it out with brake cleaner concentrating on the pawl and selector mechanism then soak in ATF or MMO (Marvel Mystery Oil) for an hour or so. Put a dab of Superlube or wheel bearing grease on a couple of the gear teeth, some on both faces of the gear where it meets the ratchet and backplate. Re-assemble and use.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

^ This

 

[Warshark73]

Thank you all for replying and confirming my suspicion that trying to forcibly separate the mechanism is not a good idea.