New craftsman 3/8 ratchet problems???

[Billy738]

Hello all

I recently bought a 52 piece mechanic tool set made by craftsman a couple days ago. I'm rather new to this and was introduced by my father who has craftsman for years and has a bunch that was his dad's. I noticed on my set when I connect a socket (usually a small one) that it wobbles moved around a bit. My fathers do this as well but not as much. I'm just wondering if this is normal or not. When using the tool it doesn't seem to effect it. I'm not sure if it's just me or not. I tend to get alittle OCD about things. Just making sure it's ok!

Thanks guys

 

[panknuckshovel]

Welcome aboard!!!!!!

 

[Billy738]

Do you have the same problem?

 

[Billy738]

Welcome aboard!!!!!!

Do you have the same problem?

 

[panknuckshovel]

Do you have the same problem?

You are going to read enough, just wanted to be friendly like.

 

[Billy738]

You are going to read enough, just wanted to be friendly like.

Umm ok haha thanks I guess. I was kind of just hoping if you could tell me if you have the same problem or not

 

[FOCUS.FREAK]

Your saying when you lock the Socket onto the ratchet it wobbles? If so that's pretty normal. Different company's are tighter or looser. Higher quality ratchets and socket won't have that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Billy738]

Your saying when you lock the Socket onto the ratchet it wobbles? If so that's pretty normal. Different company's are tighter or looser. Higher quality ratchets and socket won't have that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes that's exactly what I mean. When it's locked in it wobbles around a little and slides around a little

 

[andgott]

It's going to have some 'play' on there- It won't be super tight. As long as it's not too sloppy probably not a problem.

Unfortunately today's Craftsman tools aren't made nearly as well as they used to be- Which could be why your fathers seem 'tighter'. Craftsman has really gone downhill. They used to make some nice tools, but the quality has gone and the prices seem to remain the same.

I have a LOT of craftsman tools, I bought a big mechanics set about 15 yrs ago, all made in USA and GREAT quality. I went and looked at some of the new sets this weekend, and all made in Taiwan/China and not nearly the quality. Harbor Freight and Kobalt is putting out nicer tools these days, with the same warranty, for less money. It's a shame.

 

[Greg85mcss]

^^^this. I have 2 of the sets. One old & one new. Much better qc on the usa ones. They don't come with 3/8 6 point deep so I bought those at harbor freight & think they're much nicer. I've also heard people on here talk about the craftsman double detent which may be causing the looseness you asked about. I'm no expert but you can probably Google it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[four.cycle]

you can find older Craftsman 3/8" ratchets on Ebay for ten bucks all day long.
also CL.
better made than the newer stuff.

 

[drink]

Hello all

I recently bought a 52 piece mechanic tool set made by craftsman a couple days ago. I'm rather new to this and was introduced by my father who has craftsman for years and has a bunch that was his dad's. I noticed on my set when I connect a socket (usually a small one) that it wobbles moved around a bit. My fathers do this as well but not as much. I'm just wondering if this is normal or not. When using the tool it doesn't seem to effect it. I'm not sure if it's just me or not. I tend to get alittle OCD about things. Just making sure it's ok!

Thanks guys

Pictures of your ratchet and socket in question would help. I whipped out my Craftsman USA 16 piece SAE 3/8" drive socket set and checked for slack in my ratchet with a socket attached. It has some wobble but I didn't think it was a whole lot of slack. Some pictures of my set were taken with force being applied and force being removed.

What do you think? Does my ratchet and socket have the same amount of play in it as yours?

 

[Billy738]

Pictures of your ratchet and socket in question would help. I whipped out my Craftsman USA 16 piece SAE 3/8" drive socket set and checked for slack in my ratchet with a socket attached. It has some wobble but I didn't think it was a whole lot of slack. Some pictures of my set were taken with force being applied and force being removed.

What do you think? Does my ratchet and socket have the same amount of play in it as yours?

Thanks for the pics! Yours don't have as much as mine but yours are the USA models and mine are the newer ones

 

[panknuckshovel]

Calling them " Newer ones " has got to be the most polite term for current Craftsman chinese junk on this entire site. If you can swing it, an incredibly nice replacement for that ratchet is the Williams B-52EHA. Do your googling right and you can find it for around $20 shipped.

 

[mjoekingz28]

Hey Billy738. I took a 1/4" ratchet back about six years ago to exchange it because the drive of the ratchet was real wobbly as you describe. The replacement was about the same.

So. Guess it is normal formthem not to be stiff, like maybe the quick release affects it.

But, try and find out if it is the male drive end of the ratchet that is 'loose'. Or see if it only wobbles when they are joined (ratchet and socket together). Then you should know if it is the ratchet and/or the socket.

Then these guys can probably help alot more!

 

[AutoTeck84]

Sk's base ratchet can be had for under 20 bucks. Trust me, its a big upgrade. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but the model is 45170 I think. The 1\4 version is even better. If want something more functional but less durable the flex gearwrench 120xp are great. I hate shouting them out now but those ratchets are great.

 

[drink]

Thanks for the pics! Yours don't have as much as mine but yours are the USA models and mine are the newer ones

Glad to be of some help. I took a few more pictures to compare.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Glad to be of some help. I took a few more pictures to compare.

drink,,, sure do like the picture of the socket rack


Billy738: yep, a bit of wobble or slop is normal for the newer Craftsman ratchet/socket connections.. The Craftsman sockets of yesteryear were built different..

 

[DSLTRK]

drink,,, sure do like the picture of the socket rack


Billy738: yep, a bit of wobble or slop is normal for the newer Craftsman ratchet/socket connections.. The Craftsman sockets of yesteryear were built different..

I have a Craftsman ratchet without the quick release and socket wobble is a non issue.
Even with the newer "double detent" sockets.
Alot of the play is from the quick release; not enough ball detent spring pressure.


Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk