Proto

[bayoutoolguy]

thinking of picking up a Proto 3/8 J5249 and 1/2 J5449 ratchet soon. i know theyre probably not the smoothest, being 24 teeth, but overall are these good, quality ratchets? isn't it an old, tough design? have any of you really used them hard without any trouble?

 

[Lomotil]

Believe me. You're going to be surprised just how smooth and tough those really are.

When you get them, take 'em apart and be generous with some all-purpose grease, too. They WILL be your "go-to" ratchets.

Congrats on picking a fantastic ratchet.

 

[youtanut]

Proto made great tools back in the day. I have a few that my grandfather gave me in the late 70's still use them to this day.

 

[gatewaysysop]

Believe me. You're going to be surprised just how smooth and tough those really are.

When you get them, take 'em apart and be generous with some all-purpose grease, too. They WILL be your "go-to" ratchets.

Congrats on picking a fantastic ratchet.

I will second this, I have the 24 tooth design in 1/2" and 3/8" and I love them. They are tough as nails, gut kits are still available and they are stupid easy to work on.

Usually the Proto ratchets I've gotten were bone dry, so definitely follow Lomotil's advise and lube them up before you use them if they sound/feel dry.

Best I have ever found, especially for the coarse 24-tooth models is SuperLube, which can be had at HF, Amazon or even eBay. A light coating on the gears and pawl mechanism and these suckers are smooth as butter. You won't regret it, trust me.

 

[bayoutoolguy]

alright thanks guys! yeah i decided that ill buy some because one of my buddies is a marine diesel mechanic, his company buys him proto tools, he abuses the snot out of his sockets and ratchets and never broke anything yet, so i said what the heck i might as well give them a shot. i have a tube of superlube in my garage, should be good to go!

 

[Lomotil]

Best I have ever found, especially for the coarse 24-tooth models is SuperLube, which can be had at HF, Amazon or even eBay. A light coating on the gears and pawl mechanism and these suckers are smooth as butter. You won't regret it, trust me.

I've yet to pick up some SuperLube - have you tried all-purpose grease on these ratchets before? I'd be interested in how the two compare.

Personally, I go nuts with the grease and love the way they turn out. I've probably said this a dozen times, but they end up sounding like a muffled cat fart when you use 'em after said treatment...

 

[bayoutoolguy]

are the ons made today just as good as the old ones? theyre made by stanley? same original design?

 

[bayoutoolguy]

i lubed a duralast ratchet, gear was covered pretty good, didnt like the way it worked, so i think ill used the grease sparingly on the proto.

 

[Lomotil]

alright thanks guys! yeah i decided that ill buy some because one of my buddies is a marine diesel mechanic, his company buys him proto tools, he abuses the snot out of his sockets and ratchets and never broke anything yet, so i said what the heck i might as well give them a shot. i have a tube of superlube in my garage, should be good to go!

You won't be disappointed. My neighbor used to be involved in the commercial aviation industry, and swears by the brand (as did the company he worked for.) Another mechanic noted that the government uses the brand and that they were subject to more stringent standards than other tools. I cannot personally provide any verification on the second endorsement, but I can say that I've never been let down with the brand.

Let us know what you think of 'em when you get a chance to use 'em.

 

[Lomotil]

are the ons made today just as good as the old ones? theyre made by stanley? same original design?

I don't have an answer for this, 99% of my Proto tools were made before the acquisition. Only one I'm not sure of is my "Big Dawg" 3/8 fine-tooth - but it seems to be on-par with the others, quality-wise. NinetyTwoFifty may be better able to comment on this...

i lubed a duralast ratchet, gear was covered pretty good, didnt like the way it worked, so i think ill used the grease sparingly on the proto.

Did you clip the spring in it? Those ratchets are known to be rather stiff to begin with. Kirbot posted a great 'how-to' on spring clipping. I clipped one of mine and it made a great deal of difference.

 

[gatewaysysop]

are the ons made today just as good as the old ones? theyre made by stanley? same original design?

Virtually all of my Proto stuff was either NOS or just plain old and in good shape. Anything US-made will serve you well and I believe their ratchets are still domestic. I have not heard anything about a quality decline on the Proto stuff in recent vintage either, so you should be good to go.

 

[bayoutoolguy]

lomotil, i sure will let yall know how i like it once i use them. the duralast, i did do the spring mod to, but for some reason i just didnt like it. i have one that i didnt clip the spring and i rather the way it works now that ive used it a bit, its not as stiff.

 

[Lomotil]

I have not heard anything about a quality decline on the Proto stuff in recent vintage either, so you should be good to go.

Good to know!

lomotil, i sure will let yall know how i like it once i use them. the duralast, i did do the spring mod to, but for some reason i just didnt like it. i have one that i didnt clip the spring and i rather the way it works now that ive used it a bit, its not as stiff.

Interesting (on the spring mod.) Can't wait to hear what you think of the Proto ratchets...

 

[gatewaysysop]

i lubed a duralast ratchet, gear was covered pretty good, didnt like the way it worked, so i think ill used the grease sparingly on the proto.

If you end up using the Superlube stuff, only use a thin coat, that's all you need, don't need to cover it in grease or anything like that. Try it first with only a thin coat, I bet you won't bother adding more and you'll be surprised how smooth 24 teeth can be.

 

[Lomotil]

If you end up using the Superlube stuff, only use a thin coat, that's all you need, don't need to cover it in grease or anything like that. Try it first with only a thin coat, I bet you won't bother adding more and you'll be surprised how smooth 24 teeth can be.

I'm definitely going to try that on my next one. Can't complain with what I've been doing, but always looking to improve my technique.

 

[NinetyTwoFifty]

are the ones made today just as good as the old ones? theyre made by stanley? same original design?

Absolutely. Overall I'd say that the quality has improved. Their chrome is thicker and doesn't flake like -some- of the older Proto does. The newer 1/2 drive ratchets have thicker, and therefore stronger, handles. The new extensions are knurled, which is very nice.

I don't have an answer for this, 99% of my Proto tools were made before the acquisition. Only one I'm not sure of is my "Big Dawg" 3/8 fine-tooth - but it seems to be on-par with the others, quality-wise. NinetyTwoFifty may be better able to comment on this...

The ratchets you got from me are brand new, post Stanley.

 

[Danglerb]

All my Proto are old, and to be honest I don't end up using them that much, but they have a very solid feel to them. They would be the first choice if I needed to stand on a ratchet.

 

[mofo62]

.



I recomendet Proto 3/8 ,for my its quality 100% ,no more words.

V!

 

[HandyManny]

thinking of picking up a Proto 3/8 J5249 and 1/2 J5449 ratchet soon. i know theyre probably not the smoothest, being 24 teeth, but overall are these good, quality ratchets? isn't it an old, tough design? have any of you really used them hard without any trouble?

You are right, it is an old tough design. I bought mine decades ago, used them every day for years, and they still get used regularly. Never needed the rebuild kits I bough for either of them. Easy to maintain and very smooth for being only 24 teeth. Only two drawback they have compared to other ratchtes is the head is a bit wide and the handle could be at least 1" longer. They are a tad bit shorter than most standard 3/8 and 1/2 drive ratchets. For doing what a ratchet was meant to do, they will perform extreamly well. I have heard that there has been no change to this ratchet even after Stanley acquired Proto. They are still the same quality from what I've observed.

 

[Jim Johnstone]

I picked up a 1/2" Proto ratchet from a local used tool dealer, it was $10 with a broken pawl. I picked up a full rebuild kit that replaced EVERYTHING except the body of the ratchet itself for $15, and I agree, it has absolutely become my go to ratchet. Buttery smooth, and it feels like I could stand on it.

 

[Lomotil]

Absolutely. Overall I'd say that the quality has improved. Their chrome is thicker and doesn't flake like -some- of the older Proto does. The newer 1/2 drive ratchets have thicker, and therefore stronger, handles. The new extensions are knurled, which is very nice.

The ratchets you got from me are brand new, post Stanley.

Oh yeah, forgot about the two 5249's... Yes, the chrome is great on those...

 

[byoungblood]

I've got the original Proto pear head ratchets from 1/4 to 1/2" and they're some of my favorite ratchets to use, coarse tooth and all. Probably the only reason why the 3/8" doesn't get used quite as much now is because I picked up a SO Dual 80.

 

[shanker]

I'm preferential to my Proto Big Dawg's...I have one in each size and the regular & hard handled ones!

and hopefully in a few hours I'll win another ebay auction and be the owner of my 7th or 8th big dawg!

 

[Gort the giant robot]

The Plomb / Proto pear head ratchet design dates from the late 1930s. Repair kits are available, cheap and easy to get. I put away a few kits for each model just in case they become no longer avaiable. I have been buying up all the good used Plomb / Proto ratchets I can find. This design of ratchet has been copied by companys here and overseas because it is so good.


Gort

 

[slip knot]

I really like the Proto 1/4 in. pearhead ratchets. Haven't had a lot of experience with the 3/8 or 1/2in drives tho.

 

[BMB]

I recently picked up a 5449 from a pawn shop in good working condition.

I gotta say, it seems like pretty good ratchet and the tooth count doesn't bother me a bit.

The $8.00 I paid for it doesn't bother me at all either.

 

[Knuckle Buster]

I recently picked up a 5449 from a pawn shop in good working condition.

I gotta say, it seems like pretty good ratchet and the tooth count doesn't bother me a bit.

The $8.00 I paid for it doesn't bother me at all either.

I've been using my 5249 for 27 years, and it was given to me from a retired mechanic who used it for years before handing it to me. I had to put a kit in my 40 tooth S-K ( for that reason hardly see's use ) but the 24 tooth 5249 hasn't needed to be repaired yet. I bought some more Proto's from Mr. 90-250 that I doubt my kids will ever wear out.

 

[Lomotil]

I've been using my 5249 for 27 years, and it was given to me from a retired mechanic who used it for years before handing it to me. I had to put a kit in my 40 tooth S-K ( for that reason hardly see's use ) but the 24 tooth 5249 hasn't needed to be repaired yet. I bought some more Proto's from Mr. 90-250 that I doubt my kids will ever wear out.

...or their kids, either!

 

[bayoutoolguy]

well, i bought a 5249 3/8 today. i love it! its smooth despite being 24 teeth. i just wish it had a longer handle, was using it to take off the skid plate on a tundra to change the oil, it worked well. i had to put a lot of force on it and said damn it might break lol, but all I've heard is they're pretty strong. the only thing i don't like about it is the drive is loose, and was like that with all the others i looked at. i guess its like that with all of them.

 

[shanker]

get a 5429P or a 5449P and you'll never use a regular one again

 

[Bicyclegarage]

My employer stoped buying us Snap-on and switched to Proto.Im not sure what model ratchet they get us but we put them through the ringers. and they hold up just fine . Its amazing how you will treat tools when you dont pay for them .So If you take care of it it should last just fine. The long handle one is great for a pry tool.LOL

 

[Lomotil]

well, i bought a 5249 3/8 today. i love it! its smooth despite being 24 teeth. i just wish it had a longer handle, was using it to take off the skid plate on a tundra to change the oil, it worked well. i had to put a lot of force on it and said damn it might break lol, but all I've heard is they're pretty strong. the only thing i don't like about it is the drive is loose, and was like that with all the others i looked at. i guess its like that with all of them.

Glad you like it! I'm just curious with what you mean by 'the drive is loose.' Could you elaborate?

 

[csmitty]

My best guess about the drive being loose is that it it wobbles a bit laterally. I've noticed that on mine as well, more so with the 1/4dr. I typically use my D80's first but the Proto's are my 2nd choice for sure. very smooth for the tooth count. I'd recommend getting the longs as the std do seem a bit short, especially for the 1/4dr. I think I'm going to get some of the other pear head design proto's as well.

 

[bayoutoolguy]

yep, the drive wobbles, and i can move it with my hand, but i don't think its a big deal, seems like a well made, tough ratchet. gonna get the long handle 3/8 soon

 

[wxm]

I found myself picked the 5249 most of time. I have also got the Plomb version of it. I like them both. They are thin and low profile, once break loose the fasteners, its big head can serve like a palm ratchet - one of the reason I like the standard length 5249.

 

[bayoutoolguy]

yep when i was using it yesterday i grabbed the head of it to undo the bolts more than i used the handle, good feature of that ratchet.

 

[ToddyB]

Smoothest ratchets around, they make you not care about tooth count.

 

[KEH]

I have a couple of 3/8 drives and a 1/2 inch. The only objection I have to the 1/2 is that sockets are hard to remove, at least standard depth. I can get a better rip on deep wells. Maybe I just don't have strong enough grip, but nuts to the idea of keeping a screwdriver handy to remove sockets. I've always liked quick release ratchets.

The Proto looks bulky and wide, but it's thin in depth. I guess it would depend on what kind of close place you had to work in whether or not you needed a thin profile round head.

KEH

 

[shampoop]

Smoothest ratchets around, they make you not care about tooth count.

+1

When I was in tech school, one day we had a "tool fair" for the last hour or so of the day where there were 10 or so vendors. One had a pearhead proto ratchet. It completely blew my mind how amazingly smooth it was and how little force it took to click over to the next tooth.

 

[57JoeFoMoPar]

Proto tools are awesome. I would say a good 70% of my hand tools are Proto from the '70's, and they are my go-to for toughness and ease of use. You won't be disappointed.