Re-creating a ratchet drive plug.

[Sunset_Z28]

Ok, so I've got several old duro ratchets and couple have lost their drive plugs over the course of their lives. I didn't really want to pay eBay asking prices for them so I decided to try and make one using 1/2" key stock and adjustable ball plungers. They seem to work pretty good, not sure how the plungers will hold up over time compared to the original ball bearings though. Enjoy.

 

[four.cycle]

^ You are correct about the Ebay prices on those. A 1/2" drive Armstrong unit went last night for $17.00 (incl. shipping.)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Arm...203827?hash=item36136de7b3:g:YREAAOSw32lYs5OC

Very cool that you can make those yourself!

I finally found them online.
I've been looking for "drive adapter" and "drive adapter plug" and "drive plug".
It never occurred to me that they're apparently referred to as a "drive coupler" by the British and the Europeans.

They're available online from KC Tool in Olathe, Kansas

1/4" drive is a model 60141 Heyco (Wiha) and sells for $5.42
https://www.kctoolco.com/wiha-heyco-60141-1-4-square-coupler-0-79/

3/8" drive is a model 60261 Heyco (Wiha) and sells for $8.36
https://www.kctoolco.com/wiha-heyco-60261-3-8-square-coupler-0-98/

1/2" drive is a model 60366 Heyco (Wiha) and sells for $7.60
https://www.kctoolco.com/wiha-heyco-60366-1-2-square-coupler/

Shipping charges were minimal: $4.61 for four pieces

They're currently out of stock on all three, but the young man I just spoke with says they receive orders from Wiha twice weekly, and lead time (if you ordered it today) should be about a week.

They are supposed to have a bright chrome finish and are not marked with maker's name or part number.
I will follow up with photos when they arrive.

KC Tool - Olathe, Kansas
Direct: 913-440-9766
Toll Free (US Only): 888-545-8665

 

[ken w.]

I would buy a few of each of them. They are priced right too. I put a set of 3 on Ebay a few years ago and got over $ 60.00. They were 3/8 1/2 & 3/4 . That was quite the surprise as I started them at $14.95.

 

[rlitman]

My only concern is that keystock is nowhere near as strong as a forged cr-mo drive coupler. I'd be worried about it shearing off.

I needed a 3/8" coupler, and recall paying close to $10 last year on eBay, but it took patience to find an auction that was close to reasonable.

 

[Sunset_Z28]

Thanks for the links four cycle. I'm definitely gonna look into some of those. I probably would've been better off buying original plugs but it turned into a challenge to see if I could make one. Cheaper and easier to buy those by far.

 

[Sunset_Z28]

My only concern is that keystock is nowhere near as strong as a forged cr-mo drive coupler. I'd be worried about it shearing off.

I needed a 3/8" coupler, and recall paying close to $10 last year on eBay, but it took patience to find an auction that was close to reasonable.

I agree. I don't really plan on doing much wrenching if at all with this particular ratchet thankfully.

 

[Ratchet.]

Nice work, and some useful links there.

I have a few Duro ratchets that also have lost their drive plugs.. well i suspect never had one originaly (They are an odd ratchet.. 3/8 drive mech in a 1/4 body, seem to have been contract made for the UK ministry of defense/army )

I have bought an Elora drive plug, as they are easy enough to find new (and cheap, may be useful for other makes of ratchet) but they are too long to fit my ratchet correctly, plus there is no a detent in the head to retain it properly.

I have seen the correct drive plug and it is very similar to the ones you have made, with a round section to stop it going right through, they are virtually impossible to find however so i may copy your idea, possibly with tool steel, or mill down an extension bar and retain it with a bolt on cap

 

[joecon]

I don't know if it would work but ether mac or matco made a
similar plug for there reducer. It would go from 1/2 to 3/8
and when you broke it you would just change the plug.

 

[four.cycle]

I should mention as well:

In my search for those "drive adapter plug" / "drive coupler" pieces, I was directed by an old thread here to Hazet, who also manufactures them:



6413-1 - 3/8" insert square drive $42.90

6413-2 - 3/8" x 1/4" square through plug $10.86

6413-3 - 3/8" x 3/8" square through plug $9.10

6413-4 - 3/8" x 1/2" square through plug $12.20

http://www.themotoringshop.com/hazet.php?curPage=30

TheMotoringShop.com

800-327-1668

Note that they don't make all three sizes in the straight style: the only straight through model they offer is the 6413-3 - 3/8" x 3/8".
They do, however, have the oddball 1/4" x 3/8" and the 3/8" x 1/2" drive adapters available.
Note they are considerably more expensive than the Heyco (Wiha) models.
Note also they are calling it a "through plug", presumably to further add to the confusion.
When I called on the phone and inquired about them, it sounded like they were not an item that was stocked and they would have to be special ordered from a New York distributor. My continued searching led me to the Heyco (Wiha) models from KC Tool.

======

To keep things in perspective:

Again, that 1/2" x 1/2" Armstrong S150 sold last night for $17.00 including shipping. Unfortunately I was outbid on it.

The last one I purchased on Ebay was a no-name 1/2" x 1/2" that was in pretty decent condition - it set me back about $14.00 including shipping.

I can't find the listing now, but there was a W1109 Walden Worcester (1/2" x 1/2") listed about 6 weeks ago for $29.99 + shipping. I am assuming it was sold, but I can't find it right now.

Bottom line: pretty hard to beat the Heyco (Wiha) deal from KC Tool.

 

[bonneyman]

Nice work, and some useful links there.

I have a few Duro ratchets that also have lost their drive plugs.. well i suspect never had one originaly (They are an odd ratchet.. 3/8 drive mech in a 1/4 body, seem to have been contract made for the UK ministry of defense/army )

I have bought an Elora drive plug, as they are easy enough to find new (and cheap, may be useful for other makes of ratchet) but they are too long to fit my ratchet correctly, plus there is no a detent in the head to retain it properly.

I have seen the correct drive plug and it is very similar to the ones you have made, with a round section to stop it going right through, they are virtually impossible to find however so i may copy your idea, possibly with tool steel, or mill down an extension bar and retain it with a bolt on cap

I've got a pair like that. Guess it was just their way of keeping costs down.

By the way OP - nice work!

 

[four.cycle]

I have a few Duro ratchets that also have lost their drive plugs.. well i suspect never had one originaly (They are an odd ratchet.. 3/8 drive mech in a 1/4 body, seem to have been contract made for the UK ministry of defense/army )

^ You are correct, sir. Produced for a government/military contract.
That would have been the Indestro model 2888 or 2889 - both part numbers were available in both 1/4" and 3/8" drive. (Don't know the Duro Chrome part numbers off the top of my head - Bonneyman just posted them above: 4488 and 4489)

There are three of them currently listed on Ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MASTER-RATC...618832?hash=item3adc080f10:g:iXcAAOSw6DtYTP3S
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RATCHET-288...618831?hash=item3adc080f0f:g:yukAAOSwImRYTP9p
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-X-MASTER-...616783?hash=item3adc08070f:g:fnIAAOSw2xRYTPxs

Note all three of those are the 2889 3/8" drive reversible model. (I own a 2889 1/4" drive reversible now.)
I would have already bought all three of those, but this thing called "International Monetary Transfer Fee" through my bank caused me to change my mind. If you're in the UK you might be interested. They're all new old stock that's still coated with the original cosmoline (or whatever that gick is they're coated with.)

(* If you're not confused enough yet by the use of the same part numbers for different drive sizes and styles of Indestro/Duro ratchets, please see the "Duro Ratchet?" thread HERE: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36699 *)

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Ok, so I've got several old duro ratchets and a couple have lost their drive plugs over the course of their lives. I didn't really want to pay eBay asking prices for them so I decided to try and make one using 1/2" key stock and adjustable ball plungers. They seem to work pretty good, not sure how the plungers will hold up over time compared to the original ball bearings though. Enjoy.

What a pain in the *** to see your pics....click on link>click on download link>click on download to open pic. I use to use imageshack and you can insert the image into your post so anyone can see it without clicking anything. IIRC copy the IMG file and insert it with the mountain icon in the message box.

 

[Sunset_Z28]

What a pain in the *** to see your pics....click on link>click on download link>click on download to open pic. I use to use imageshack and you can insert the image into your post so anyone can see it without clicking anything. IIRC copy the IMG file and insert it with the mountain icon in the message box.

I think I've got them fixed. I just recently started using imageshack because photobucket was becoming painful to use on a mobile phone due to the pop ups and such. If someone ******* about them being too big I'm blaming you.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I think I've got them fixed. I just recently started using imageshack because photobucket was becoming painful to use on a mobile phone due to the pop ups and such. If someone ******* about them being too big I'm blaming you.

LOL...yep from one extreme to the other...

I forgot in my little tutorial to get you to resize your pic.IIRC you need to choose your pic > get link> box pops up and in there you can change the size of your pic. Once you've done one all the rest you link to will follow suit.

 

[four.cycle]

Ordered Monday, 03/06. In my box today when I went to pick up the mail:



1/4" drive is a model 60141 Heyco (Wiha) and sells for $5.42
https://www.kctoolco.com/wiha-heyco-...-coupler-0-79/



3/8" drive is a model 60261 Heyco (Wiha) and sells for $8.36
https://www.kctoolco.com/wiha-heyco-...-coupler-0-98/



1/2" drive is a model 60366 Heyco (Wiha) and sells for $7.60
https://www.kctoolco.com/wiha-heyco-...quare-coupler/

As noted above, all chrome plated and polished with no maker's mark or part number marked on them.

KC Tool - Olathe, Kansas
Direct: 913-440-9766
Toll Free (US Only): 888-545-8665

 

[jumbojak]

I just sent KCTool an email asking about a 3/4 drive coupler for a 3293 ratchet I got today. With any luck I'll have one soon and can try this bad boy out.

 

[Derek420]

I have an extra 1/2 drive coupler from when I rebuilt a European ratchet of mine and it's in perfect shape I think it may be satin finish but beck it could be black idk can't recall but it's in the bag the new guts came in and it's double ended to be able to be pushed through for reversing. Anyways I'd love to trade for an older 1/4 Matco 12mm shallow but if no one has one I'd just give it away as I don't even use the ratchet anyways so an extra plug does me no good. Pm me as I might forget to check back

 

[ken w.]

I could use a 3/4" plug as I picked up an Armstrong 3/4" ratchet missing the plug.

 

[four.cycle]

Heyco HY0501600 1/2" drive drive coupler
Heyco HY0401600 3/8" drive drive coupler
Gedore GR6170830 1/4" drive drive coupler
available from KC Tool, Kanas City, MO
they had all of them in stock, and I even got "A bit of thanks" (along with great service on the phone from Ben.)

yeah yeah yeah .... they're not "original", but they'll sure as hell make those female drive ratchets usable!

 

[d42jeep]

I keep a set of those on hand and pick up originals whenever I see them. The 1/4” drive Walden refrigeration style ratchets are frequently missing the drive plugs that they came with. Thanks again
-Don