Older Wright ratchets?

[woody6904]

Scored a Wright 1/2 shallow 12 point socket set with a 4400 tootsie roll ratchet off ebay. Arrived in very good condition. I tracked down the date stamp, R, which looks to be 1975. My question is on the ratchet, were the older Wrights single pawl? It is a nice smooth ratcheting action but does not feel like my newer double pawl Wright ratchets.

 

[davethorik]

Not sure when they made the change, but yes. Older Wright roundhead rats are 41 teeth, single pawl. Newer are twin pawl "82 tooth". The good news is they are backwards compatible, eg a new 82 tooth rebuild kit fits in an old ratchet, as the broaching is identical.

 

[woody 73]

Somewhere in the great void of space I have a vintage Wright ratchet do you need any pictures to look at ?

 

[SilverDeck]

Yes. A 1975 Wright tootsie roll ratchet is a single pawl. I've got the same ratchet but mine was built in 1974.

 

[woody6904]

Thanks for the replies guys. That makes sense cause it felt different. Not a big deal though, ratchet still works great and is smooth. Wasnt sure if I was gonna like the tootsie roll grip but it is growing on me after I used it yesterday.

 

[Know Wosad]

You can put the dual pawl cartridge in it, no problem. Be patient and find a good price. New ones(retail) are as expensive as the entire ratchet.I usually find them for $20-30

 

[Empty Pockets]

I have a 4400 ratchet that I bought new inb the early-middle 1970s. While it's only 41 tooth, it's action is still smooth and still works great. I love the "tootsie Roll" handle

 

[davethorik]

I have a 4400 ratchet that I bought new inb the early-middle 1970s. While it's only 41 tooth, it's action is still smooth and still works great. I love the "tootsie Roll" handle

Maybe a year or so ago, I picked up a NOS Wright 3428, 3/8 flex head with the Tootsie Roll. It was made in 72 and is single pawl, however it is one of my favorites, with a nice firm flex joint and low backdrag.

I have a 4400, 1/2 Tootsie Roll from 78 that was a rusted up mess. I soaked it and got it apart, but i don't think it's worth saving. I also have a 3400, 3/8 Tootsie Roll but I'm unsure of year. It is stamped Wright 3400 61 and on reverse, Pat. Pend. Guessing 61, aa says 61 should be A. The spring behind the ball bearing on the drive is broken, so it won't hold a socket.

I also have a 3426, 3/8 shorty knurled, made in 03 that is twin pawl, and it's guts work in the 3428 and 3400. I don't really swap them around, but it's nice to know. Would be cool if SK could do this for their roundhead ratchets in much the same way.

 

[jc4635]

Wright tool also made dual pawls several years ago in a 3500 and 4500 size. I can’t find a current picture of the inside or the patent for it but I saw it when I cleaned it up. It is dual pawl.

 

[bonneyman]

Not sure when they made the change, but yes. Older Wright roundhead rats are 41 teeth, single pawl. Newer are twin pawl "82 tooth". The good news is they are backwards compatible, eg a new 82 tooth rebuild kit fits in an old ratchet, as the broaching is identical.

Sounds like S-K and the new DT90 kits fitting the older round heads.

 

[jc4635]

Sounds like S-K and the new DT90 kits fitting the older round heads.

This is from a late 70s wright catalog number 500A. They had dual pawl back then in Deluxe model 1/2 drive 45 tooth with 90 tooth action and 3/8 drive 41 tooth with 82 tooth action. My 3500 is all original dual pawl except the handle. My pawl looks like the one in this picture.

 

[jc4635]

This is from a late 70s wright catalog number 500A. They had dual pawl back then in Deluxe model 1/2 drive 45 tooth with 90 tooth action and 3/8 drive 41 tooth with 82 tooth action. My 3500 is all original dual pawl except the handle. My pawl looks like the one in this picture.

 

[jc4635]

Wright 4500 green handle twin pawl effectively 90 teeth and an old Powr-Kraft with a new dual pawl ratchet head I robbed from a 3426 model effectively making it 82 teeth.