Need Your Help: Ratchet Lubricants

[giants]

My auto instructor said to use Super Lube on all ratchets to keep the gears smooth. I can't find the source, but my notes say not to use it on higher tooth (90-120) ratchets due to seizing.

What lubricants do you use for what tooth count ratchets?

How often or under what criteria do you disassemble and relubricate them?

 

[CGarage]

Super Lube is sold on Amazon. Good product. I use synthetic ATF.
Most ratchets come bone dry. I would lubricate them and re-apply yearly or whenever the ratchet is contaminated internally due to misuse or environmental conditions.

 

[E.T.]

This topic has been beaten to death more than a dead horse.
Low tooth ratchets, below 60 can get a light grease or Permatex assembly lube, aka red lube of love
High tooth ratchet should get oil, triflow, mayyybe a light coating of Superlube. My ratchets do well with a dry lube like 3M Teflon or WD40 specialist dry lube.

Even my SO dual 80s don’t come with much grease (Superlube) on the mechanism, rather it’s lubed on the top and bottom plate where the gear and pawl ride.

BTW Superlube can be purchased at Ace Hardware or Harbor Freight

 

[CGarage]

This topic has been beaten to death more than a dead horse.

Totally agree. And hearing how some members are choosing used motor oil for this is just plain wrong.

 

[Flyordie]

I use Valvoline Full Synthetic "Red n' Tacky". Light coating. Over time it loosens up and stays inside the ratchet. Keeps dirt and stuff out too.

 

[warrens]

I use Permatex 81950 engine assembly lube.

 

[giants]

Super Lube is sold on Amazon. Good product. I use synthetic ATF.
Most ratchets come bone dry. I would lubricate them and re-apply yearly or whenever the ratchet is contaminated internally due to misuse or environmental conditions.

Thanks.

Do you use Type F or Dexron synthetic ATF?

Is regular, non-synthetic ATF okay, too, or does synthetic have an additional advantage?

Also, I noticed that one ratchet has a rubber o-ring, probably to prevent leaks and contamination. Does ATF damage any ratchet internal components?

 

[giants]

I use Valvoline Full Synthetic "Red n' Tacky". Light coating. Over time it loosens up and stays inside the ratchet. Keeps dirt and stuff out too.

Thanks. Which ratchets brands/models and what gear tooth count do you use it on?

 

[Flyordie]

I use it on my MATCO/Armstrong/Craftsman 88/84T ratchets and it works fine. In the winter it may get a little stiff (a slight increase in back-drag) but beyond that, works great.

 

[davethorik]

I use green Permatex synthetic brake parts lubricant #24110 in my Cornwell 30t ratchets. I have to imagine this would work well in any coarse tooth ratchet. Probably too thick for ratchets with finer teeth, though.

 

[tdkkart]

Hmmm, I've got ratchets that are nearing 40 years sold old that have never been intentionally lubed? Maybe an occasional unintentional dip in the oil drain pan, but that'd be it. They always work fine.

 

[Parrothead]

The rebuild kit for the Snap-on FR80 came with a small tube of Super Lube, if that helps.

 

[16again]

So does everyone disassemble their ratchets and lube them?


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[JoeMcGov]

So does everyone disassemble their ratchets and lube them?


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No. I don't. I'm still rocking my Craftsman ratchets (all 3 sizes) that I bought in 1984.

 

[Shehzada]

Hmmm, I've got ratchets that are nearing 40 years sold old that have never been intentionally lubed? Maybe an occasional unintentional dip in the oil drain pan, but that'd be it. They always work fine.

Yes....me too. Though I'm just a DIYer....but it may be important for someone using it daily as a tech.

Sent from my mobile device

 

[DFB]

Pack em full with axle grease...preferably the water proof kind

 

[Shehzada]

No. I don't. I'm still rocking my Craftsman ratchets (all 3 sizes) that I bought in 1984.

My 129 piece mechanic's set purchased in 2000 was still made in USA.

Sent from my mobile device

 

[bwringer]

Hmmm, I've got ratchets that are nearing 40 years sold old that have never been intentionally lubed? Maybe an occasional unintentional dip in the oil drain pan, but that'd be it. They always work fine.

Yeah, mine seem to get unintentionally lubricated pretty often...


Anyhoo, I've disassembled a few that are disassemble-able and applied a bit of SuperLube grease. Mainly a little bit of something on the other sliding parts of the innards, but only a wee bit on the pawls and teeth. Get too much on the teeth, and it can make a high tooth count ratchet skip for a while.

Dunno. Seems to make them work a little smoother sometimes, but also isn't a magic spell that makes a hell of a lot of difference in my life either. If you're bored and they're easy to take apart, give it a shot.

 

[johninct]

I think the used drain oil method is by accident but at the same time, gets the job done. My favorite replies to this question over the years are "KY -Lube" and " What you do with your ratchet behind closed doors is no one's business".

 

[sberry]

If it needs something I give it a shot of whatever penetrating spray I am using. I never service this stuff.

 

[lardy1]

To add another reply to an already beaten to death topic...….I personally believe that cleaning a ratchet mechanism far outweighs the benefit of any lubrication.

 

[mfewtrail]

To add another reply to an already beaten to death topic...….I personally believe that cleaning a ratchet mechanism far outweighs the benefit of any lubrication.

I'm in agreement here. I have ratchets that I've never intentionally lubed, but I do take them apart and clean them once in a while. Every now and then a stray drop of oil or atf gets inside and that's good enough.

 

[kythri]

Experiment, and see what you like best.

I've got SuperLube, Engine Assembly Lube, about 20 different lubricants. Some ratchets like one better than another.

Put SuperLube in, and use it for a few days. If you don't like it, clean it out, and use something else.

A lot of this is going to come down to personal preference.

 

[giants]

I use it on my MATCO/Armstrong/Craftsman 88/84T ratchets and it works fine. In the winter it may get a little stiff (a slight increase in back-drag) but beyond that, works great.

Lucas Oil sells a Red 'N Tacky, but I can't find Valvoline's brand. Please clarify.

 

[Flyordie]

Lucas Oil sells a Red 'N Tacky, but I can't find Valvoline's brand. Please clarify.

https://www.valvoline.com/our-products/heavy-duty/crimson-grease

 

[Jason280]

I use SuperLube on all of them, I'm pretty sure you can buy it from Harbor Freight.

 

[CR888]

Whatever oil is in the oil can works. Last time I cleaned out some ratchets I put a few drops of Shell 2T oil in them. The ratchets didn't complain.

 

[Ton ton]

This topic has been beaten to death more than a dead horse.
Low tooth ratchets, below 60 can get a light grease or Permatex assembly lube, aka red lube if love
High youth ratchet should get oil, triflow, mayyybe a light coating of Superlube. My ratchets do well with a dry lube like 3M Teflon or WD40 specialist dry lube.

Even my SO dual 80s don’t come with much grease (Superlube) on the mechanism, rather it’s lubed on the top and bottom plate where the gear and pawl ride.

BTW Superlube can be purchased at Ace Hardware or Harbor Freight

Thanks for the heads up on where to buy Superlube.

 

[fatfillup]

I clean and lube a lot of ratchets as I sell used tools and they need to feel good to the customer or they won't buy them. Most I use assembly lube and on the fine tooth, a lighter oil. The benefit of me cleaning them is I can inspect them, I don't like selling tools that are worn out or broken, I prefer my customers to be happy and come back

If, lets say a Cman RP is a little clunky, I will sometimes spray some brake clean on it and then some penetrating oil instead of taking them apart. Often will make them work fine.


As to my personal ratchets, I have cleaned them once in a while, but don't use them enough to really warrant yearly maintenance,.

 

[giants]

I clean and lube a lot of ratchets as I sell used tools and they need to feel good to the customer or they won't buy them. Most I use assembly lube and on the fine tooth, a lighter oil. The benefit of me cleaning them is I can inspect them, I don't like selling tools that are worn out or broken, I prefer my customers to be happy and come back

If, lets say a Cman RP is a little clunky, I will sometimes spray some brake clean on it and then some penetrating oil instead of taking them apart. Often will make them work fine.


As to my personal ratchets, I have cleaned them once in a while, but don't use them enough to really warrant yearly maintenance,.

Thanks.

What brand of assembly lube do you use?

What type/brand/model of lighter oil do you use on the finer tooth?

What is your cutoff as to tooth count when you switch from assembly lub to lighter oil?

 

[gears]

I keep a cut-off axle lube bottle 1/4 full of atf (+4synthetic) in my fluids cabinet, ratcheting wrenches and ratchets get an overnight soak when they start feeling a little sticky (more the wrenches than the ratchets).

 

[DFB]

Lucas Oil sells a Red 'N Tacky, but I can't find Valvoline's brand. Please clarify.

I'm not a real big fan of the red and tacky type grease overall. Though lots of people use it because it does stay put and wont thin out and run. I've used it construction equipment pins and unless your greasing things often may find it to dry out and harden up. I use a moly grease anyhow for that stuff.

IMO if your going to use a "grease" for generally lubing things I always like a blue/green Marine grease. But any of them will work.

 

[thool]

I have the GW 1/4" and 3/8" ratchets and just today disassembled and cleaned them all. Cleaned with carb cleaner, and then used Super Lube on all. They got very quiet! Also smooth and responsive.

 

[nmr1981]

I used a few drops of 80-90w gear oil in my ratchets because its a little thicker than motor oil but thinner than grease. It smells like gear oil which is the only downside but it made my ratchets smooth and slick and doesn’t leak like a sieve.

 

[M6erfan]

I run a Scottoiler + sump + Earls UltraPro cooler with electronic fan on all my ratchets.

 

[tonyciambrone]

silglyde for me

 

[E.T.]

If the handle is smooth enough you might not even need any lube...

 

[Ton ton]

I love ratchet lube threads. Keep it up

 

[16again]

I run a Scottoiler + sump + Earls UltraPro cooler with electronic fan on all my ratchets.

 

[Tonymanx]

I used to work on filthy over-the-road trucks. My ratchets would feel gritty, and warrant a cleaning and greasing once a month. All my other hand tools went in the hot water parts washer at the end of my shift. Yes, they were that dirty.