Repair or Replace Vintage Box End

[jonathan75]

I am not sure how old this is but I don't see that Sears offer a box end exactly like this anymore. One side is locked up. Can I soak it and get it working again by just working some penetrating fluid in it? Or should I drill the rivets out and use a nut and bolt to put it back together?

The other option is try and replace it with two box ends new. I don't think they offer this size combination anymore. I just got it today so I am not attached to it yet. But part of me would like to keep it and get it working.

 

[Sharky]

Penetrating oil then put it on a bolt head and torque on it a bit to break it loose. Then just work it a bit as it loosens up.

 

[nmantas]

Is it frozen from sitting or did something happen to lock it up?

I would soak it in then I would put a the right sized bolt in a vise and put pressure both ways (ratchet direction and lock up direction). If that doesn't work there probably is a spring in there that went.....take it back to sears and see what you can get for it.


EDIT: Geez great minds think alike....I can't believe it took me two minutes to write that.

 

[zkling]

I guess I'd try a little oil soaking and then turning in the respective direction for the side. Does it rotate at all or completely frozen? I personally wouldn't waste time drilling the rivets.

 

[devoncoolman]

Those ratchet wrenches are antiquated. They're old news. Toss it. I gave all mine away and mine worked fine. Gear wrenches are slimmer and more compact and function smoother.

 

[jonathan75]

Penetrating oil then put it on a bolt head and torque on it a bit to break it loose. Then just work it a bit as it loosens up.

Thanks for your feedback, I will let it soak tonight and purchase a bolt tomorrow to exercise it.

 

[jonathan75]

Is it frozen from sitting or did something happen to lock it up?

I would soak it in then I would put a the right sized bolt in a vise and put pressure both ways (ratchet direction and lock up direction). If that doesn't work there probably is a spring in there that went.....take it back to sears and see what you can get for it.

EDIT: Geez great minds think alike....I can't believe it took me two minutes to write that.

I guess I'd try a little oil soaking and then turning in the respective direction for the side. Does it rotate at all or completely frozen? I personally wouldn't waste time drilling the rivets.

I got it to move just a little bit. It feels like just rust and dried grease. Probably sat for a long time. There is rust on the other side on the rivets.

 

[AndrewV]

Other than grins and giggles of working on it. It would be hard to replace/fix parts for it.
If the soaking doesn't work, i'd just warranty it.

 

[n8n]

I respect you wanting to fix this... I had a similar set that was in the bottom of a toolbox and some Permatex No. 2 leaked all over them. Took a lot of soaking in alcohol followed by Diesel fuel to get them working again.

But the truth is, I've never used them since I bought a set of Gearwrenches when they first came out. I gave them to my roommate who will also probably never use them.

 

[jonathan75]

Wow that was fast and effective! After just a few squirts on each side it started moving again. It was binding a lot but moving. So I kept working it in the cracks and turning it. It was getting better and better on every rotation. Finally I took it to my Harbor Freight engine lift and it just so happens to have 7/8 bolts on it! Looks like this new wrench has a dedicated safety job of making sure the bolts are tight on my engine lift.

It will still bind a few cogs on every rotation but it seems to be getting better. The wrench is now soaking over night and I will give it a little metal polish for a reward tomorrow.

Now I smell good after using half a can of WD-40. Why does it smell so good?

 

[Outlawmws]

Those ratchet wrenches are antiquated. They're old news. Toss it. I gave all mine away and mine worked fine. Gear wrenches are slimmer and more compact and function smoother.

Yes and no. while the handle is fat and clunky compared to a modern gearwrench, the clearance at the business end is essentially the same, surprisingly.

 

[Conductor562]

In the future if you have something locked up like that soak it in a 50/50 mix of Acetone and ATF fluid for a day or 2.

 

[sberry]

Was probably worth the experience of loosening a part.

 

[Packard V8]

Know what you mean. I reflexively fix it just to see if I can.

Those ratchet wrenches are antiquated. They're old news. Toss it. I gave all mine away and mine worked fine. Gear wrenches are slimmer and more compact and function smoother.

Yes, the old style are a bit heavy and the handles bite more.

No, as Outlaw correctly states, the new gearwrenches are not really that much thinner height-wise.

Maybe, not everyone has to have the newest, latest whizbang. Marketers love the "early adapters" who keep the economy growing by buying new because it's new before the old is worn out. Some of us love the earlies because they pass on perfectly good tools to those who are still satisfied with them.

I now own far more AC powered tools than I could have afforded because the earlies all want batteries. Same with screwdrivers and ratcheting wrenches.

If one wants latest and greatest, go for it. The older stuff functions well and cost effectively for the rest of us.

jack vines

 

[bonneyman]

My feeling is why buy new if you can repair what you have? If it's too far gone, sure - buy new. But alot of things can be fixed without to much trouble.
Here's an old Dunlap (Sears) Double ratcheting box end that I restored. Grind the rivets off, clean and grease, repair the simple parts if needed, put back together with SS bolts. Any DIYer can repair these with regular tools in an ordinary shop.

Here's my complete set, ready to go if/when my current rats fail.

 

[jonathan75]

My feeling is why buy new if you can repair what you have? If it's too far gone, sure - buy new. But alot of things can be fixed without to much trouble.
Here's an old Dunlap (Sears) Double ratcheting box end that I restored. Grind the rivets off, clean and grease, repair the simple parts if needed, put back together with SS bolts. Any DIYer can repair these with regular tools in an ordinary shop.

Here's my complete set, ready to go if/when my current rats fail.

Thanks for the pictures, it is nice to know what it looks like inside. Turns out I don't need to take it apart because the penetrating lubricant fixed it right up. It is working well but I may try and work in some lithium grease or something else someone may like to recommend. I have some high quality German chain lube that may work also.

 

[jonathan75]

As promised the tools reward for working so well was a nice polish and top drawer location with my other ratcheting box ends. The set was the missing the larger size I needed. The ratchet on it feels better then my newer set. My Son tested and approved it as well.

 

[ffemtdisp]

I'm glad he agrees with you!

 

[jonathan75]

Here it is in the 1970 Sears Tool Catalog.