Ratchet GREASE for round heads.

[darkzero]

I have seen some of the Facom models or Snap-on dual 80s advertised as such.

Typically a pear head with a flat top (anvil doesn't poke through) and some sort of o-ring or similar on the bottom. Supposed to prevent dust or fluid intrusion.

Ah I see. My Matco BFR ratchet (flat top) has 2 orings IIRC, one on the anvil/cover plate side & one on the direction lever. I believe my AFR is like that too. I suppose those are considered sealed then but oil could still get in if dunked though, still not my preference to do it.

I do have one Dual 80 but I've never opened it yet. Come to think of it, my FHL936A & F936 are stamped "Sealed" on the cover plate. I haven't opened them in a long time so I don't remember if there are orings in them but I'm assuming yes now.

I just took a look at them, they do say sealed & they also say do not immerse in fluids. So does my F80, T72, & F72.

 

[dnschmidt]

You could use canola oil and it would "work fine". Sure, ATF can work, it's just not the space age wonder-lubricant you were making it out to be. Also has a few downsides compared to other options but nobody is telling you what to use.


I have yet to see a sealed round head ratchet

I could be wrong but I believe the Harbor Freight swivel head ratchet (which is of course round) is a ratchet that can't be taken apart. The mechanism that is used to release the socket is where typically the screw would go to enable the head to be disassembled. I'll have to find mine and check to see if this is correct.

 

[RFBIII]

Thank you! I greased the ratchet again and put it together. It’s annoying trying to line the pin up with the spring but I think I got it this time. Every so often the entire mechanism will spin if I try to change the direction but I noticed my flex 1/2” does the same and I haven’t messed with that one. So I am going to leave it and see how it goes. I really do love these palm control ratchets. I know I said Snap-on are really nice in another thread but then I go out and use the Protos and fall in love again. I think I’m a Proto round head kinda dude at heart.

CHI_Tool&Die,

Glad you're back in business with your ratchet. Yep, I too am very fond of the Facom style sliding pawl ratchet mechanism.

Continued success with your Proto!

 

[Ton ton]

What is considered a sealed ratchet? If it's sealed, shouldn't dunking in oil not do very much?

I have a ratchet or two that I remember having orings inside (not round heads) but I don't consider them to be sealed. Dunking would work on those but that's not how I would lube them.

I do have some V-series Craftsman ratchets that at a quick glance don't appear to be able to disassemble easily. I suppose those I would try dunking if ever needed (ATF wouldn't be my 1st choice though).

Some of the older USA made craftsman ratchets benefit a lot from a lube job. I'm actually being serious.

 

[TdK71]

I use Lubriplate 630-AAA. NGLI number 0. Does not dry out. Not too thick, not too thin - a little goes a long way. We used it on aircraft drones.

Garand Grease, been lubing "The Greatest Battle Implement ever devised." since 1942.

 

[tamaraw]

I could be wrong but I believe the Harbor Freight swivel head ratchet (which is of course round) is a ratchet that can't be taken apart. The mechanism that is used to release the socket is where typically the screw would go to enable the head to be disassembled. I'll have to find mine and check to see if this is correct.

That just sounds like non-serviceable, different than sealed.

Not to say that you couldn't build a sealed round head but given that it is open on both sides of the head, might be a bit more challenging.

 

[darkzero]

Some of the older USA made craftsman ratchets benefit a lot from a lube job. I'm actually being serious.

I don't doubt that, I don't own any Sears Craftsman ratchets.

But if a ratchet is serviceable I'd rather take it apart, clean the old lube out, then relube rather than dunk. Not like it takes long to do & don't need to do it often. I normally use grease anyway, only my fine tooth ratchets that don't like grease get oil. That's just my preference though.