New Britain Flex Head Ratchet

[uncwstudent]

Hey guys, just picked up this New Britain NB 54 3/8" flex head ratchet for a couple bucks. Does anyone have an idea of the date? I looked around online but couldn't find anything.

Also, I've been trying to remove the head (it is a floppy flex head) to tighten the pieces that hold the head in. Does anyone know how to remove the head on this? Pics are below:

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[DadsTools]

I believe these are press-riveted. You may have to drill it out. It may also be a cap over a pin, but trying to pry the cap off may mar the head.

Looks by the teeth at the base of the head that this is a detent ball & spring inside the beam. It is probably rusted or seized. I've run into this before. If you're thinking about selling it, the time and labor may exceed its value. If you're going to keep it for your own use, drill away! But you may still find removing the seized detent ball more trouble than what it's worth. You may try soaking the problem area in a penetrating fluid like WD-40 or PB or Kano Kroil, then apply heat to the fork end of the beam and start smacking it against the bench to see if it pops free.

Dating I think is 1960s-1980s.

 

[MShaw]

The patent for that style (Kilness) ratchet was issued in 1961. When I worked there in 1973 / 1974 they were making that style still. No idea how much after that they continued to make that style. Someone else may chime in with an end date.

 

[DadsTools]

I believe NB went the way of all USA tool flesh in the 1980s, hence my range of dates.

 

[uncwstudent]

I'm definitely not selling it! I have a strange draw to flex head ratchets. I'll try what I can to get the detent ball free. I figured the spring had just worn out. Never thought about the fact that it could seize. Either way, it was $2.

 

[DadsTools]

Could be that just the spring under the detent ball is shot. If that's the case, you should still be able to see the ball drop onto the pawl when you hold it end-down. From my experience, when this floppiness occurs in these types, the ball is seized. I've even had the opposite where the detent was seized open, locking the head in place! Try the soaking and heating first, though it might be a long shot.

If you're going to keep it for your own use, you may try shimming it. A wrap of a fine steel wire down into the joint may be enough to stiffen it so it doesn't flop around. But applying a lot of torque to the wrench may just crush the shim. You're then looking at getting the drill and disassembly.

One more note....before you get elbow deep in that project, be sure to check the function of the detent ball in the stud! Could turn out to be a complete waste of time if both are bad, since the conditions that affected one might likely affect the other. Don't ask me how I know this.

Of course, the younger you are, the more life-hours in your personal account you have remaining to devote to such projects.