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Ratchet: grease or oil

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WallyKowalski

Active member
Joined
Jan 23, 2014
Messages
34
If you live in temperate climates such as southern California, then grease wouldn't get hard enough to make the ratchet slip. However, I have noticed that if you work in sandy conditions, the grease attracts sand and grit into cracks and crevices. I personally use the same oil I use in my air tools. a few drops go a long way. And when sand gets in places that it shouldn't, I use an air gun to blow out the sand.

Oil is simply more neat to use and won't get all over the place.
 
R

rumb

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Joined
Jun 5, 2013
Messages
87
Location
Latvia
I saw Craftsman manual here, it says SAE30W oil only! With oil no slip anymore. Works great, clicks loudly.

There are many greases, that don't get hard in cold conditions, then i bougt Gitzo GH2780QR photo ball head and start shooting in -20C, it's just stuck. I disassemblet it and regreased with some Russian grease, its just don't change viscosity till -30C, now my ball head works great in cold conditions and silk smooth, sadly I don't have grease left any more, and I don;t know exactly, that i t was.
 
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M

MellyVan

Active member
Joined
Aug 5, 2012
Messages
38
Well, can't really do anything with it. Strangest thing is, in Europe, no-one has ever heard of servicing your ratchet, hence, no special oil available...

Guess i'll clean them out and use compressor oil in there...
 
O

OxJaw

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Joined
May 27, 2012
Messages
697
Location
Medina, Ohio
I use super lube, I like it. It works well in the gearwrench 84 tooth ratchets that I have. It made my old Cman ratchets super smooth. I haven't tried in my dual 80's yet though. I buy it from Harbor Freight.
 
6

69supercj

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Jan 26, 2010
Messages
555
I actually used a bit of both. I used some of the old fashioned engine assembly lube plus a drop or three of air tool oil. Works like a champ so far.
 
G

GTO

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May 8, 2009
Messages
3,931
Location
NJ,FL
There is a million threads on this.
Super Lube is what they give you in the rebuild kits.
Unless your turning wrenches for a living(heavy use) I would not worry about it too much.
 
J

joebachor

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Joined
Nov 22, 2012
Messages
171
Location
toledo ohio
super lube for series 80, marvel mystery oil for matco 88s and other fine tooth rats, any quality oil for the rest. I like break free CLP gun oil.
 
S

SuzukiGS750EZ

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Joined
Apr 26, 2012
Messages
3,273
I used grease on my fine tooth ratchets but they would stick or switch positions, even a minute amount. So I switched to ATF and it's been awesome ever since.
 
T

thebeekeeper1

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Joined
Sep 5, 2012
Messages
1,011
Location
Illinois
RRich said:
Does anyone lube ratcheting box wrenches? How?
Click to expand...

I do. I just use spray lube labeled for guns. One of mine (forget which brand) has "Clean And Lubricate" stamped on it. :)

For things needing grease there is a great brand of really light and creamy and "fine textured" (if there is such a thing) grease called "Pro Gold Lubricant" made for guns by Pro Shot Products. I get it at gun shows, as it's made/sold for use on firearms. I use it MUCH more on stuff besides guns. Guns are icky, per modern thought. :evil:
 
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bobcatdan

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Jan 4, 2011
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9,948
Location
Kaukauna,WI
I don't think I have ever lubed a ratchet at work other then I when I have open one up to see if I broke a tooth or something. Farting around at home, I have open up all of them, cleaned them and lubed with fluid film. Then again I use fluid film for everything, surprised I don't brush my teeth with the stuff.
 
9

90zcar

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Nov 8, 2013
Messages
3,254
I use super lube. It's the exact same stuff that snap on uses and it's available at harbor freight for like 3 bux for a nice size tube


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
S

skruft

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Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
759
I use oil of one kind or another unless the manual calls for grease. Once I had an old ratchet torque wrench that had been filled with grease, which became solid, so I had to take it apart.
 
K

krdiesel03

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Joined
Jul 7, 2013
Messages
317
Location
Farmington NM
Film fluid is sweet, We use it here at the power plant on everything.

I never have to lube my 19MM gear wrench though, every 5000 miles i some how end up dropping it in the oil bucket :)
 
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zakmartin

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Joined
Jul 3, 2012
Messages
620
Location
Seattle, WA
I used to use 3-in-1 oil but got tired of the slick it'd dump on the bottom of the ratchet drawer. I also tried the Permatex assembly lube and it gave me the same result, only it took longer to happen. I finally ended up using Mobil 1 synthetic grease. I apply it sparingly with an acid brush and it's never leaked, hardened up or attracted grit. All my ratchets get re-greased every 2 years and so far it's worked great.
 
A

ATC

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May 12, 2012
Messages
8,350
Location
VA
I use whatever my hand reaches for first. Engine oil, ATF, air tool oil, Liquid Wrench white lithium grease, etc...

Ratchets don't care what oil you use...anything that helps with metal-on-metal friction.
It's not like I'm gonna wear one out in my lifetime anyways...
 
R

Rickster

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Joined
Jun 26, 2005
Messages
6,218
Location
SE PA
If I have to take one apart then I use the SuperLube clear jelly lube. Otherwise I stick them all in a can of trans fluid. The trans fluid has always worked great!
 
A

airdale

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Jun 27, 2009
Messages
349
Location
Oregon
Last summer I started using Super Lube on all of them until winter hit. It made a number of ratchets really stiff (Proto Professional, Craftsman pear heads, SK). In the cold it becomes too viscus for most fine tooth ratchets with the exception of Craftsman RHFT. Less noticeable on coarser rats. I even applied it sparingly with an acid brush because I had already found out the hard way what happens when overused.

Also used on my old Snapon top box with friction slides became very stiff in cold. Haven't remedied that yet.

So, looking around the garage, I decided to try chainsaw bar oil because it clings. Only tried in one 1/2" SK so far. Seems good. Kept it in the warm house for a week to see if it would drip out - no problem. I did apply lightly. Has been in the cold garage now and still feels good.
 
G

gtermini

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Joined
Feb 1, 2013
Messages
533
Location
Amity, OR
Royal Purple assembly lube, I put that **** on everything!

41zDYB45OGL._SL500_AA300_.jpg


Greyson
 
S

Stokes_

Banned
Joined
Nov 17, 2013
Messages
183
Location
Stokesville/Rockingham County, VA
airdale said:
Last summer I started using Super Lube on all of them until winter hit. It made a number of ratchets really stiff (Proto Professional, Craftsman pear heads, SK). In the cold it becomes too viscus for most fine tooth ratchets with the exception of Craftsman RHFT. Less noticeable on coarser rats. I even applied it sparingly with an acid brush because I had already found out the hard way what happens when overused.

Also used on my old Snapon top box with friction slides became very stiff in cold. Haven't remedied that yet.

So, looking around the garage, I decided to try chainsaw bar oil because it clings. Only tried in one 1/2" SK so far. Seems good. Kept it in the warm house for a week to see if it would drip out - no problem. I did apply lightly. Has been in the cold garage now and still feels good.
Click to expand...


Mineral spirits.
 
B

BFHtime

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Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
983
I use Lucas engine oil additive. It works super fantastic in dual 80s, even in the 100 tooth round head. I strongly suggest giving it a try. Super smooth, with decreased drag. Drag is increased slightly with cold which makes it feel like regular lube until a few turns. These turn so smooth, it really is great.

I have been wanting to try Amsoil lube, I have heard it is good, but I am one of those people that has doubts, until I try myself.
 
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rtole

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 25, 2014
Messages
366
I use transmission assembly grease on my older snap on ratchets. 36 teeth. The duel 80s did not like that. They liked oil. Synthetic gear oil for me. I live in the cold, grease never made them hard to use. It just made them smoother and less noise. Most guys I have worked with never took a ratchet apart, they use em till they break.
 
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