Rachet Care

[49stude2r6]

Just looking for a little info. I have read lots of people dissasemble clean and lube a rachet. I have an indestro 1/4" rachet of my grandfathers and would like to take care of it. What does one clean and lubricate the mechanism with?

 

[jerk_chicken]

Lots of people use different stuff. I've had luck with gear oil and sometimes a base of a small layer of grease on the teeth. One has to experiment. Some greases can be too sticky, although in a light layer just to lay down some moly for protection, there isn't much of a problem.

 

[snapmom]

I use paint thinner to clean mine, and a few drops of machine oil to lub. But these are rats I do not use. I just want to keep them is good shape.

 

[Paladin]

I spray they internals down with WD, then brush/wipe clean, followed by assembly lube and reassembly. Works for me...

 

[49stude2r6]

Thanks guys, now I have the information I needed.

 

[riley.m]

Superlube..........

 

[J.A.F.E.]

Thanks guys, now I have the information I needed.

Not quite yet! No one's brought up the RLL (red lube of love) aka Permatex assembly lube.
It's very messy but works wonders on coarse gears. Not so good on fine tooth ratchets.

Why hasn't Merkava added to the thread. RLL is his baby.

 

[riley.m]

I grew up in bremerton,where do live there.

 

[Paladin]

Not quite yet! No one's brought up the RLL (red lube of love) aka Permatex assembly lube.
It's very messy but works wonders on coarse gears. Not so good on fine tooth ratchets.

Why hasn't Merkava added to the thread. RLL is his baby.

I like the Sta-Lube assembly lube I've been using. It is more of a grease consistency and doesn't seep out like the RLL. I am also surprised Merk hasn't posted his RLL advice...

 

[Bull]

I have been using Permatex anti-seize compound...the liquid silvery stuff in a big bottle that you apply with a brush to bolts and whatnot. It works very nicely!

 

[riley.m]

I have been using Permatex anti-seize compound...the liquid silvery stuff in a big bottle that you apply with a brush to bolts and whatnot. It works very nicely!

Careful Bull,if you get a little bit of that stuff on yourself,by the end of the day it will have gotten everywhere.

 

[Bull]

Careful Bull,if you get a little bit of that stuff on yourself,by the end of the day it will have gotten everywhere.

lol, I know! That's what gave me the idea to try it in a ratchet. I inevitably get some on my hands when applying it to bolts. It is slicker than whale ****, as my dad would say, and sticks to everything. That's when the light bulb went off, since I didn't have any RLOL (red lube of love) around.

 

[forceyoda]

lol, I know! That's what gave me the idea to try it in a ratchet. I inevitably get some on my hands when applying it to bolts. It is slicker than whale ****, as my dad would say, and sticks to everything. That's when the light bulb went off, since I didn't have any RLOL (red lube of love) around.

I just bought a used rathcet off ebay that the guy put the anti-seize in. It was all dried and crusty and nearly impossible to clean off.

 

[Bull]

I just bought a used rathcet off ebay that the guy put the anti-seize in. It was all dried and crusty and nearly impossible to clean off.

Good to know. I wonder how long it was in there for?

I find disassembling, cleaning, and lubing ratchets relaxing, so I have no problem redoing mine once a year or every two years, depending on how long the lube stays good for.

 

[stevejh82]

I have toolbox drawers lubed with it and after about 10 or 15 years they are quite difficult to open, and like forceyoda said, it is about impossible to remove.

 

[Bull]

Hmm, well then the next time around, perhaps I will use something else...too bad, because the ratchets sure feel nice now!

I can't believe it's that hard to remove, though....

 

[DynoDale]

I have been using Permatex anti-seize compound...the liquid silvery stuff in a big bottle that you apply with a brush to bolts and whatnot. It works very nicely!

I would recommend against it. Anti-seize compounds should contain metal particles, and aren't suitable for moving parts. You may experience accelerated wear.

 

[Monte]

A couple of manufacturers I asked a while back about which grease they use in their finetooth ratchets. The answers:

Hazet: mix of SAE30 + Ballbearing grease

Elora: Multipurpose grease for the industry (white)

Facom: Molykote Longterm w2

Stahlwille answer 1: adhesive lubricant or weapon oil

Stahlwille answer 2: normal machine oil , no grease

Gedore: please send it in for free repair

 

[35mastr]

I just take them apart.Clean all the parts with brake cleaner and use the lube of your choice.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I just take them apart.Clean all the parts with brake cleaner and use the lube of your choice.

I am sorry......................what was that you were saying? With that avatar I just kind of quit paying attention to your posting!

 

[35mastr]

I am sorry......................what was that you were saying? With that avatar I just kind of quit paying attention to your posting!

Everytime I go through my pics to post one I kept tripping over that one.

So afer I seen it this morning I decided to use it for my avatar for a while.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Everytime I go through my pics to post one I kept tripping over that one.

So afer I seen it this morning I decided to use it for my avatar for a while.

Well I ain't complaining! The great part is, I can look and mrs UB cannot blame that on me!

 

[35mastr]

Like Merkava,I have many but most are not board freindly.

The Mrs does not have any problems with them.

 

[-B-]

I would recommend against it. Anti-seize compounds should contain metal particles, and aren't suitable for moving parts. You may experience accelerated wear.

Do you know what it was originally developed for ...... chain drive lubrication for heavy equipment dozers , shovels, tractors ect. it is designed for heavy pressure loads and low wash out perfect lubrication for slow moving parts under heavy stress. No it is mostly used for it anti galling ability a side effect of the original intention of the lube.



A good synthetic oil is all you need for a good ratchet my favorite is what is available to me is Pedros syn lube. Once a year I give the ratchets a lubing that is all I have ever done to them.

 

[Bull]

Do you know what it was originally developed for ...... chain drive lubrication for heavy equipment dozers , shovels, tractors ect. it is designed for heavy pressure loads and low wash out perfect lubrication for slow moving parts under heavy stress. No it is mostly used for it anti galling ability a side effect of the original intention of the lube.

So B, are you saying here that the anti-seize will NOT cause accelerated wear in the ratchets I have applied it to?

 

[-B-]

So B, are you saying here that the anti-seize will NOT cause accelerated wear in the ratchets I have applied it to?

It should not but any grit that adhere will. ( I can not see lead, cadmium, aluminum or nickle scratching steel) I only use it for wheel studs and steel and Ti mating prep now. The steel Ti mating is a slip air tight fit I have never see scratches on either surface from the anti seize.

Be sure to use the modern stuff as it no longer contains high concentrates of the heavy metals lead and cadmium. The newer stuff seems to be either AL bases or Ni based neither are going to wear down steel.

 

[Bull]

Ok, good to know. I'll wait for the stuff I applied to dry out before tearing down the ratchets and re-lubing, then.

Thanks.

 

[gatewaysysop]

Superlube..........

I'll add another vote for Superlube. I've put some in a couple ratchets now, including some Big Dawgs and the older 24 tooth style of Proto that preceded them. I think in the 24 tooth case it made the most difference. That thing is smooth as glass now, really feels nice to use.

 

[lauver]

Another vote for Super Lube Synthetic Grease with PTFE, PN 21030.

Advantages:

1) Does not dry out...lasts for years.

2) Does not weep out of the ratchet like Permatex Assemby Lube (aka "RLL").

3) It's clear; one look in your ratchet and you know if the Super Lube is contaminated with dust, dirt, metal filings, or automotive fluids. If so, time to clean and relube!

I keep a tube of this stuff in my ratchet drawer so I can find it whenever needed.

EDIT: I've tested every lube I could find, and Super Lube simply works best and lasts the longest.

 

[forceyoda]

My personal favorite is chris king ring drive lube. It is light grease from a bicycle company designed for the ratchet mechnism in their hubs and works perfectly in my cornwell ratchets.

 

[lauver]

My personal favorite is chris king ring drive lube. It is light grease from a bicycle company designed for the ratchet mechnism in their hubs and works perfectly in my cornwell ratchets.

Ok forceyoda,

You got me there. I've never tried chris king ring drive lube. Come to think of it, I've never heard of it until now. Sounds pretty exotic and pretty specialized.

 

[jerk_chicken]

It's application designed for a special engagement system used on Chris King hubs, which are very pricey mountain bike hubs. They'll set you back about 600 a pair.

 

[forceyoda]

You could call them the snap-on of bicycle components but the lube is only $9.

http://chrisking.com/store/tech

 

[49stude2r6]

It is kind of mind boggling how much help you guys are. I guess I have some choices. Sounds like the superlube is to my liking.

riley.m Actually closer to Silverdale, near the county fairgrounds.

 

[Snappy]

I am sorry......................what was that you were saying? With that avatar I just kind of quit paying attention to your posting!

Yea...I was going to say,I just now noticed the car in your avatar

 

[GDA]

I clean mine once a year and relube with Mobil 1 synthetic bearing grease. No ooze problem like the thin stuff.

Chris King stuff rocks. I installed a King headset on my old Colnago Titanio last summer; its so overengineered.

 

[mkdive]

I have tried the Permatex 81950, I wasn't that impressed not to mention it is messy as heck. All my ratchets leaked or bled red goop for quite a while.

I have tried Torco MPZ engine assembly lube. Its the same color as 81950. Didn't seem to bleed out as much. It was a step in the right direction for me.

My favorite and one I still contiune to use is Break Free CLP. I use it on my cheapo Cman thin profiles to my F80s. Works great across the board. Not messy, doesnt bleed out for weeks. Works for me

All of my guns and fishing reels get the break free. I have been using it on them for years, this has been the first year or two I have used it on my ratchets. So far zero problems.

My .02

 

[cruiser808]

I have tried the Permatex 81950, I wasn't that impressed not to mention it is messy as heck. All my ratchets leaked or bled red goop for quite a while.

I have tried Torco MPZ engine assembly lube. Its the same color as 81950. Didn't seem to bleed out as much. It was a step in the right direction for me.

My favorite and one I still continue to use is Break Free CLP. I use it on my cheapo Cman thin profiles to my F80s. Works great across the board. Not messy, doesn't bleed out for weeks. Works for me

All of my guns and fishing reels get the break free. I have been using it on them for years, this has been the first year or two I have used it on my ratchets. So far zero problems.

My .02

I just get my stuff for free from Sears. Just bring in an Altoids can and request filling the can,with the ratchet grease. No problem if you are able to fix your own ratchet.

 

[Merkava_4]

 

[Monte]

oouch the ratchet is bleeding ...
Doesn`t that belong inside the ratchet ? Or is that a permanent oiling feature so you can wipe the ratchet down so it doesn`t rust ??