Ratchet fix for Craftsman 31424 torque wrench

[Torquemada]

For decades I've occasionally popped open the drive mechanisms on my ratchets and greased the teeth and bearing surfaces. It quiets them down and I've seen a lot of worn teeth on the cheaper ratchets. Now I'm feeling like an idiot because for the first time I can't figure out how to reassemble my Craftsman 31424 torque wrench.

There are only 4 parts to the ratchet mechanism: The drive cam, the half-moon drive insert with teeth, the ratchet directional controller and a small, bent wire spring that is driving me nuts. A simple hex screw holds it all together. It came apart easier than most ratchets. I greased the innards, but when I went to reassemble it the drive won't turn. I've spent a couple of hours trying to figure out how the spring fits in so that the half-moon tooth insert pulls back to let the ratchet unwind for the next twist. There is a small hole in the half-moon, which I'm pretty sure is for the vertical part of the wire spring. The spring then has an elbow in it, which ends with a U-hook shape. The inside of the ratchet controller has a pin next to a small, raised triangle. I thought the U-hook on wire spring fit over this pin, but when I assemble it the drive won't turn. I've manipulated the half-moon with the wire pin without the ratchet controller in place, and that seems to pull it back and let the drive turn, but no matter how I fit the ratchet controller back on the teeth won't disengage. I'm usually pretty good at these things, but I have to admit I am stumped by this one. Anyone familiar with this model torque wrench and can offer any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[JjKk40]

Pics to refresh my memory.

 

[rayik]

I had the same problem with a different Craftsman torque wrench that also had the little curved spring. Could not figure out how to get it together working.

I ordered a rebuild kit for it. The instructions with the kit show how to install it.
I've attached the instructions. While it's a different kit it looks like the same bent spring mechanism you were describing. Sorry about it being sidewards. Hopefully this will help you get it back together.

 

[Torquemada]

I had the same problem with a different Craftsman torque wrench that also had the little curved spring. Could not figure out how to get it together working.

I ordered a rebuild kit for it. The instructions with the kit show how to install it.
I've attached the instructions. While it's a different kit it looks like the same bent spring mechanism you were describing. Sorry about it being sidewards. Hopefully this will help you get it back together.

Hey man, thanks a million. That was exactly the fix, and one case where a picture was definitely worth a thousand words. The one picture below step 4 lit up the light bulb in my head so that I could see exactly how tension was applied to the spring. The spring in my torque wrench was the same as in the picture. On the downside, I am embarrassed to say that I might never have figured that out on my own, despite it being the logical way to get tension on the spring and the reversing cap seated at the same time. Oh, well...first ratchet I had that even used a spring. My usual experience with springs is that they go flying across the room when I take something apart and I spend hours looking for them.

Again, thanks a lot. My torque wrench is back in action. I had just switched out the alternator on my truck and since I had some time left I thought I would grease this torque wrench for the first time. The plastic locking ring on my decades old Craftsman torque wrench split, but Sears went ahead and honored their old warranty on it, which is how I got this one. All is as it should be now. Thanks.

 

[mcatdt]

Old thread but wanted to thank Rayik for the directions. I really was upset with my wrench not working properly when I needed it. Worked like a charm.