Non serviceable ratchets

[_brian_]

On some of the SB&D Craftsman ratchets, I have noticed they are not serviceable. There is a belief that this is an indicator that they are not "built to last". What do others think here?

I could see one say that is the case, and another say it is not serviceable as it is so good you won't need to service it. Now I know that is a major exaggeration, but I do see the rain cloud a non serviceable ratchet carries over it.

 

[seanb02]

Not sure what you are getting at here? But it makes sense to manufacture the cheaper brands as non serviceable. Because really, who stocks the rebuild kits anymore anyway? And who actually is going to take the time to service a cheap ratchet in the first place? They will break it, then a small fraction will take the time to go to the parts counter and actually ask for a rebuild or replacement.

It is basically the same as grease fittings on older cars. You won't find one anymore on most front end components. But years ago there were many. It boils down to the fact that most users won't do the service, and it costs more money to add that fitting during the manufacturing process.

 

[_brian_]

I am unsure which are and are not serviceable, but the new SB&D Craftsman ratchets can get into the $80+ range. I do not consider that cheap but maybe others do. I have also seen some MAC and Matco ratchets that are non serviceable, so I guess I never considered the "cheap" as a part of my question.

Your second comment is sort of what I think. Ball joints with a zerk have additional cost normally, but are built to last. The others, cheaper brands, no fitting and are considered disposable. It seems you apply the same logic to the ratchet, MAC, Craftsman, Matco, etc ... not serviceable means a cheap ratchet?

 

[mr.lemons]

Some ratchets are sealed to prevent 'Foreign object damage' (FOD) for use in aviation etc. Facom state that their sealed ratchets are '100% dustproof and IP54 certified, making them maintenance-free and ensuring extensive product longevity.'

 

[_brian_]

That makes sense. I see no statements like that from Craftsman / SB&D. I can see that being "the answer" for other companies, but I hesitate to think that for them. Being in the UK, what do you see from the brands there?

 

[jimmyin3D]

Yeah I didn’t like the idea my Facom/USAG ratchets were non serviceable but they’re specialty ratchets made by reputable companies so I didn’t fret.

 

[d.mcfarland]

IF the ratchet wears out, it still has the same warranty. They aren't marketing towards people who use them heavily every day. They are marked towards the guy who has 3 average homeowner projects a year.

 

[Samuel D]

If the sealing is any good, the lubricant in these ratchets will last a great deal longer than that of unsealed ratchets. Dirt and water ingress followed by corrosion are the problems here. The lubricant won’t suffer much from build-up of internally generated wear particles. If the seals are good, the lubricant will last indefinitely.

For practical purposes, I suspect these sealed ratchets are better than the old designs, especially for the average user who will never service the ratchet anyway unless it stops working. Besides, too many users do harm by lubricating ratchet mechanisms with the wrong stuff. I have seen many old ratchets with barely audible clicks because the owner thought it should be smooth and quiet. Sealing the mechanism prevents this sort of abuse.

 

[_brian_]

If the sealing is any good, the lubricant in these ratchets will last a great deal longer than that of unsealed ratchets. Dirt and water ingress followed by corrosion are the problems here. The lubricant won’t suffer much from build-up of internally generated wear particles. If the seals are good, the lubricant will last indefinitely.

For practical purposes, I suspect these sealed ratchets are better than the old designs, especially for the average user who will never service the ratchet anyway unless it stops working. Besides, too many users do harm by lubricating ratchet mechanisms with the wrong stuff. I have seen many old ratchets with barely audible clicks because the owner thought it should be smooth and quiet. Sealing the mechanism prevents this sort of abuse.

Would you mind elaborating on this? I understand what others have said regarding the sealed ratchet... the idea that it is better than non sealed, so as it relates to a standard home user, it is really sort of a lifetime ratchet and will not need service.

I fail to understand though the audible clicks concept you have presented, and how there is ratchet abuse and possible damage ("harm"). I can understand that using a grease on a fine tooth ratchet is not as effective as grease on a course tooth, as the silencing of the ratchet could actually cause skips from the grease itself.

This is interesting. I own many ratchets to where they have their own drawer in the box. None of them are non serviceable, so I simply have no experience with them, so I appreciate all the feedback.

 

[Fedwrench]

I think some of you are confusing sealed and non serviceable. Sealed means that there are o rings between the gear cover and the internal components to keep lube in and other fluid, grease & grime out. You can still disassemble the ratchet to clean & lube it.
Non serviceable means that once the ratchet is put together at the factory, no one is going to disassemble it again for any reason. Kind of like most ratcheting wrench boxed ends. To me it's just a way for a manufacturer to keep costs down. I'm not a fan of non serviceable ratchets but, that's just me. It's not just SBD chinese made ratchets that are not serviceable. Wera, Facom, and others have jumped on the band wagon too and I wouldn't call their offerings cheap.
However, the average user probably never services their ratchets anyway and can survive a lifetime of use without any issues. I tend to shy away from the not serviceable models and stick with something that i can disassemble if needed or wanted to. I do own a couple of Wera and Facoms though that aren't serviceable though

 

[Samuel D]

Would you mind elaborating on this?

I just mean that which you stated: that grease or anything heavier than a light machine oil can prevent immediate and full engagement of the pawl teeth. The pawls must have a large contact area to withstand high torque, but simultaneously the back-drag must be low or the whole purpose of the ratchet is defeated. This unfortunate pair of requirements means that the spring must be feeble, and yet it is tasked with displacing a large amount of lubricant at the large tooth-contact area. That in turn dictates the use of light lubricant. Consequently the ratchet should click sharply, not quietly or smoothly (unless by smooth is meant even force per click).

On the plus side, the ratchet mechanism only ever moves under practically no load (just that of the feeble spring), so the lubricant doesn’t have an onerous job in terms of friction reduction. It does have to inhibit corrosion over many years.

I think some of you are confusing sealed and non serviceable.

Perhaps, but the two go hand in hand in non-serviceable models.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I was working on a nail making machine and my 3/8 S-K ratchet jammed up. I complained to the foremen and next delivery, I got a Proto. A wash. I took the S-K home and opened it, there were wire chips from the nail points in the mechanism. Sealed Is Good.

 

[mr.lemons]

I think some of you are confusing sealed and non serviceable.

You are right there is a distinction between the two but Facom pear heads are both sealed and non serviceable. I would hope that all non serviceable ratchets are sealed or they would get crud in them that you could not get out. Are the Craftsman ratchets not sealed and non serviceable?

BTW I also prefer serviceable ratchets.

 

[Wamsutta]

Non serviceable to me means cheap junk, unless it's a FOD ratchet, which I wouldn't want either.

 

[Dakkyz]

Wera Ratchet's are non serviceable to my knowledge at least, and I wouldn't consider them junk I like their low profile approche.

 

[bonneyman]

The older Duro sealed ratchets (with the little oil hole on the faceplate) weren't disassemblable, yet lasted just fine. I find them still at yard sales and such and they still ratchet, albeit coarse tooth and somewhat sticky. A day soak in ATF/acetone usually does the trick. So a non-serviceable ratchet isn't a deal killer to me. Though obviously new Craftsman ratchets are not made like those older tools.

But I still have a hankerin to remove one of those pressed metal plates with a mill, see what I can do to maybe swap out some other guts to make it finer tooth, and make a new faceplate that I can press in there. I know, I know - looking for a problem to fit my solution. But I think it would be an interesting endeavour.

 

[ChrisLS8]

I am unsure which are and are not serviceable, but the new SB&D Craftsman ratchets can get into the $80+ range. I do not consider that cheap but maybe others do. I have also seen some MAC and Matco ratchets that are non serviceable, so I guess I never considered the "cheap" as a part of my question.

Your second comment is sort of what I think. Ball joints with a zerk have additional cost normally, but are built to last. The others, cheaper brands, no fitting and are considered disposable. It seems you apply the same logic to the ratchet, MAC, Craftsman, Matco, etc ... not serviceable means a cheap ratchet?

For certain things I thought the same until recently I redid my balljoints, I got Proforged made in Taiwan sealed joints and Moog US with zerks. The Proforged units reek far more quality including the rubber boots which are nearly twice as thick and the polish on the ball is far finer.

I wouldnt necessarily say non serviceable things are lower quality all the time

 

[bonneyman]

That is a crazy amount of work for a Duro-Indestro...

If you do this, you better make a thread about it.

Yeah....but who else is doing it?

 

[BarryWells]

The older Duro sealed ratchets (with the little oil hole on the faceplate) weren't disassemblable, yet lasted just fine. I find them still at yard sales and such and they still ratchet, albeit coarse tooth and somewhat sticky. A day soak in ATF/acetone usually does the trick. So a non-serviceable ratchet isn't a deal killer to me. Though obviously new Craftsman ratchets are not made like those older tools.

But I still have a hankerin to remove one of those pressed metal plates with a mill, see what I can do to maybe swap out some other guts to make it finer tooth, and make a new faceplate that I can press in there. I know, I know - looking for a problem to fit my solution. But I think it would be an interesting endeavour.

My kinda thinking ! Go after it ! It wont be that big of a deal

 

[PR1Gneon]

I own the Stanley black chrome version and dont know if last because was garbage from day one, the ratcheting action wasnt smooth and self reversing. Never used again.

Its advertised as a 120T but really is a 60T and 120 positions.

IMO its a POS copy of the Apex 120xp and 100xp.



Sent from my SM-J337A using Tapatalk

 

[visionguru]

On some of the SB&D Craftsman ratchets, I have noticed they are not serviceable. There is a belief that this is an indicator that they are not "built to last". What do others think here?
...

aren't ratcheting wrench the same? including brands like Snap On.

Non-serviceable may not = "not built to last".

 

[bonneyman]

Exactly. Do step by step pictures.

Alright then, I'll keep my eyes open for a suitable candidate and give it a whirl.