Question on the Stainless Craftsman Ratchets

[dimwittedmoose51]

I have acquired two sets of the 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" drive Craftsman ratchets that were supposedly only manufactured in 1986 and 1987. O
ne set has the number "7" stamped in the plastic handles and the other set has a "B" stamped on them. PArt numbers are the same on the respective drives.

I'm not so concerned about who made the ratchets as I am if the 7 stands for a 1987 model (which I assumed after I acquired them a couple of years ago, but now that the new kids in town have arrived, the letter mark has my curiosity stirred. Anyone have feedback concerning this conundrum? I realize these are not world class worker rats, but to find 2 sets of healthies, they might be a bit on the rare side. TIA

DM&FS

 

[Tripn88]

This video features the USA made Craftsman “Stainless Steel” & “Lifetime” Ratchets, which were offered from 1987 through the end of 1991. It is believed that the "Stainless Steel" ratchets were a Sears Catalog exclusive, where the "Lifetime" were a Sears store exclusive.

 

[metlmunchr]

I've got one of the 1/4" Craftsman stainless steel ratchets, and I definitely bought it in the store as I've never ordered anything from a Sears catalog in my life. I happened to see it and bought it because I thought it being made from SS was kinda cool, but in reality I never found it to be a particularly good ratchet.

 

[dimwittedmoose51]

Meltmuncher, what alpha/numeric code did your rat have on the left side of the plastic handle?

Thanks DM&FS

 

[Wiz02]

Bringing this Craftsman stainless steel ratchet thread back to life. I bought the 3 drive size ratchets from a Sears store during the late 80s-early 90s and used them regularly for years. Recently the 1/4 inch drive ratchet broke and a quick search showed that rebuild kits are no longer available. Any suggestions on how to fix it or a source for rebuild kit? Thanks.

 

[Ton ton]

Bringing this Craftsman stainless steel ratchet thread back to life. I bought the 3 drive size ratchets from a Sears store during the late 80s-early 90s and used them regularly for years. Recently the 1/4 inch drive ratchet broke and a quick search showed that rebuild kits are no longer available. Any suggestions on how to fix it or a source for rebuild kit? Thanks.

Maybe eBay or someplace like that.

 

[Fedwrench]

The problem you're going to run into on ebay, is that the craftsman crazies have priced those ratchets into the stratosphere.
Given that the stainless/lifetime ratchets had such a short production run compared to other craftsman ratchets, and that run was many years ago, everything would have to align perfectly to find even an affordable parts ratchet that might not be broken the way yours is. It might be time to put the stainless ratchet aside, and move onto a different ratchet.

 

[Wiz02]

@Ton ton, quick Ebay search turned up nothing. A while ago I found a site that had a list of Cman rebuild kits and applicable ratchet p/n's and of course I didn't bookmark it. Without the rebuild kit p/n, the odds of finding the correct rebuild kit aren't good.

You are probably right @Fedwrench, and as a card carrying garage journal member it's not like it's my only 1/4" ratchet. It just bothers me that I broke a tool, especially one that is potentially repairable. In decades of admittedly non professional but extensive and varied work, I haven't broken much more than a drill bit or a box cutter blade. Although thinking back on a brake bias spring replacement in my Corvette, my trusty JC Whitney pick snapped trying to remove the spring and thank God I was wearing glasses, as the lens end up with a deep gouge. But these are consumables, except for the pick.

 

[Wiz02]

If only I had watched the video in this thread! P/n in the video's description