old 3/4" ratchet disassembly

[kaliona]

Found this 3/4" ratchet in a freebie box at a garage sale. Looks to me like it should ratchet in either direction depending on which side of the handle you push drive head. I can feel it ratchet once or twice, then it gets stuck. I'd like to get this to work because its made in good ol' USA, feels beefy (weighs 5.5 lbs), not some crappy Chinesium metal. It's about 18" long, 1" diameter handle. Can anyone tell me from the pics how to open the head to get to the ratcheting mechanism?

 

[Wrench97]

I'd probably try soaking the head in a can of oil for a bit first.

 

[Samuel D]

What does the other side of the head look like?

 

[DadsTools]

Those indentations may be for a special tool to unscrew the cover.

You might also try posting this in the Vintage Tool section, where some members are more focused on these old tools and may have additional insights.

 

[plinker]

You flip the square drive around to use reverse, common on some older stuff. Non reversible ratcheting wrenches are the same principle. It looks to me like the four marks may be staking marks, hard to say 100%. Soaking in ATF or similar would likely be the most help.

 

[lardy1]

My guess is that it's threaded into the main body of the ratchet. I have an old Williams that is threaded.

The guys over in the vintage tool forums can probably walk you right through it. Some very informative folks over there.

 

[kaliona]

This is the other side of the head. I soaked it for a while in Kano Aeorkroil and it now moves, but in both directions, one way a little easier than the other. Feels like the pawl is not completely engaging the internal gear.
How do I move this this to the vintage forum?

 

[steaks&anvils]

before you do anything to that ratchet, post over in this thread. The guys who collect "Truth" tools will know how to open that.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=385242&highlight=truth

Not sure your thread can be moved or is even worth moving if you end up posting in the "Truth" tool thread.

 

[kaliona]

Thanks guys. I'm not a collector and if I can get this thing working I will definitely use it. I am going to post in the vintage tool discussion.

 

[davethorik]

The indentations are where it was pressed/peened together at the factory. You could open it up but you will have a hard time not destroying anything. I would leave it in a bucket of ATF for a while. Truth ratchets are unusual vintage tools, I would definitely avoid damaging it.

Where are you located?

 

[jabberwoki]

That's a usuck find. Imagine the stories it could tell.

 

[3baygarage]

That’s a nice old ratchet. I don’t believe they’re meant to be disassembled. As Dave said, it would probably not be good.

 

[Shiftless]

I second the suggestion to soak some more in ATF or Marvel Mystery Oil. Both of those fluids have worked for me to free up stuck mechanisms. Fully immerse the head in an old jar or whatever you have handy.

Soak, take out and exercise back and forth, soak again, repeat as necessary. So what if it takes a week?

 

[kaliona]

I'm in the beautifully burnt state of California. I'm letting it soak in ATF for a few days. I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[Shiftless]

I'm in the beautifully burnt state of California. I'm letting it soak in ATF for a few days. I'll let you know how it turns out.

I’ve been smelling the smoke for weeks here in the East Bay.