Proto ratchet - issue?

[timdgsr]

I'm posting this, fully expecting to feel like an idiot when someone explains what I'm missing.

A few months back I ordered a Proto ratchet (5249XL-TT) from Amazon.

When I received it, I noticed it was extremely difficult to get sockets on (not proto brand, as I had none).

I recently ordered a Proto socket set, and figured I would wait for them to come in and see if maybe it just worked better with the same brand.

Fast forward to now, the Proto socket set it in, the included ratchet has a standard ball detent, while the one from Amazon had more of a cylinder/pin detent. It's extremely difficult to get these sockets on that wrench as well.

Am I overlooking something? Attaching some pics of the two ratchets.

 

[Cooter Brown]

I think they are different model tools.

The one looks like a pin detent wrench with a hole in the handle for a tether.

Do the two wrenches have the same model numbers stamped in them?

 

[rmsg0040]

You ordered a tether ready ratchet for when working at heights

Hole in handle as well as a pin detent

 

[Cooter Brown]

rmsg0040 is right. Looking at the pics again they are stamped as different models. By the way, the tether ready/pin detent model is a good bit more expensive than the standard one

 

[Wamsutta]

The one ratchet with the pin-lock requires the use of sockets with a side-lock hole. You remove the socket by pressing in on the spring loaded pin with a pin punch.

 

[timdgsr]

Gotcha! It was a amazon warehouse deal for a really good price, so I bought first asked questions later.

I knew it was "tether ready", but didn't realize the detent was different as well. Assumed it was just the hole to be connected to a lanyard.

I wonder if I can buy the standard rebuild kit and convert it back to a normal. This probably won't be of much use to be as a pin version.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Wamsutta]

I wonder if I can buy the standard rebuild kit and convert it back to a normal.

Yes - eezy peezy. You'll need snap ring pliers.

 

[6PTsocket]

That's what is great abour this site. I didn't such a thing existed. Wouldn't qr stuff serve almost the same purpose?

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Wamsutta]

Wouldn't qr stuff serve almost the same purpose?

It's meant to be a construction ratchet and if I recall, there's some kind of rule that requires the ratchet to be used when working up at heights above other people.

 

[Cooter Brown]

Rebuild kit is a great idea--I've got the standard one and really like it.

 

[Fedwrench]

You can easily swap out the pin release square drive with one from a regular rebuild kit but, the rebuild kit may cost more than the bargain ratchet. Good luck in your quest.

 

[rmsg0040]

Swap the guts or just have a small extension always on the drive that way you wouldn't need a small pick or screwdriver to remove sockets

 

[kb1982]

I purchased the same ratchet from an eBay auction along with another ratchet and 3 extensions. I was in for a surprise when i found out it was a -TT. It just takes a little getting used to putting on sockets, but it doesn't require any extra effort if you don't have a socket with the detent hole in it. I found that I use it mainly with imact sockets in areas I absolutely don't want to loose a socket now.

Sent from my Z962BL using Tapatalk

 

[Steamed Hams]

I almost made the mistake when Buying my Dewalt 1/2 impact for home use. The one at my job has that detent pin and its harder to remove and take off sockets. From what I was told at work it's used to hold the socket better from falling off and hitting someone in the head if you are doing overhead work in a place like a construction.

 

[pilotmotor]

The pin drive is meant to engage a hole in the drive end of the socket to stop it from falling off.
If you take a dremel with a small stone you can round off and shorten the pin so it resembles a standard ball , ive done it on some impact extensions years ago and it worked well.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Or get some Blackhawk or Snap On QD sockets.

 

[timdgsr]

Thanks again everyone. I know this thread is a bit old now, but I wanted to follow up, in case anyone else runs into this odd issue with Proto's website (and other sites carrying the proto rebuild kits for that matter).

When attempting to order the rebuild kit, I kept running into an issue where the description and images of the rebuild kit for the J5249XL showed a female square drive wheel. I contacted Proto and asked them, they said you just add the "RK" to end of the model number. I explained that's what I was doing, but getting odd results on their website. They conveyed that the description was accurate and it would be a female drive wheel, which made no sense.

I found that almost all of their 3/8" ratchets had that same image for the rebuild kit(which I knew to be inaccurate because it has the wrong cover plate and other parts), but also the female square drive in the description.

I finally gave up and ordered the J5249XLRK anyways, and got the correct parts.

 

[paulsomlo]

Another member recently was trying to source the female square drive kit - the picture was correct, but the kit was not. It seems that picture is being used all over the internet, including ebay, to represent the 45t male sq.drive kits.