Restoring old Proto 5449

[skamaria]

I have some of my grandfather's old tools, including some Proto ratchets. The 5449 that is the subject of this post is in considerably worse shape than the others. It is an old Los Angeles stamped model that was my grandfather's so it has sentimental value even if I can never do anything with it. Besides being beat to hell (character, etc) it is a bit gritty and I would like to crack it open, clean and lube it. But, this is going to be a problem.

First issue... common screws, which I am not sure are even original, are very shallow. In this picture you might see this in the bottom screw.



Second issue... I'm not sure if longer screws were used and mushroomed out or if these were spot welded or what.



So I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions for how to go about opening this thing up without destroying it. If not for the mushroomed portion I thought maybe easy out the screws, though I have never tried doing that on screws this size.

Your recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[justanengineer]

I'd try center punching the tip (NOT THE HEAD!) of the screw and seeing if a standard rotation twist drill would back it out. Worst case, if you think that the end is mushroomed you might try using a chamfer bit after youve drilled a shallow pilot to tear out the mushroom.

 

[WJD]

Hello skamaria,

Thats a beautiful ol' proto ratchet.

Those screws look just hammered over 'peened' so they would quit working there way out...

You could do 1 of 2 things to remove the old screws. One way would to be ever so gently use a sharp center punch to make a pock mark in the middle of the smash end of the screws for a 'guide' then slowly drill the peened portion off even ever more gently. Starting with say, an 1/8 inch bit and work up in size till a ring of peened metal shows up around the drill bit.

Second way would be to place a piece of electrical tape over peened end of screws removing just enough tape over the damaged portion to expose peened screws and with great care grind off the peening with a die grinder. The tape will help guard the plate from damage.

If all goes well, you should be able to turn the screws out normal.

 

[bfm336]

Please note, don't do what I did to mine and let it sit in CLR as it will only kill the finish!

 

[skamaria]

Thanks for the feedback. I am scared to try and grind on that mushroomed portion, as I'm afraid I will mare the finish, the patina, of the plate. Seems the consensus though is to start at the tip end and not the head so maybe I will try tear up that mushroomed bit carefully and go from there.

I'm wondering if this is even worth it or if I should just leave it be. I don't need to use it exactly. It has sentimental value and I don't want to wreck it but I always have a strong desire to make an old tool functional again. Let them do what they were born to do

Thanks again for the advice. I'm new here and loving the place.

 

[Conductor562]

As someone who has walked this same path and disassembled at least 100 Proto rats, I can tell you this:

The screws are notorious for being a hair long and eithe being peened by the user, or worn with use.

The only way those are coming out without damaging the face plate is to drill them out.
If you choose to drill them out, do so on a drill press, do not attempt it with a hand held. Drill it about half the diameter and very shallow and try to break the mushrooming off. If that doesn't work, drill it all the way out.

I've drilled them out several times, but I have ruined a couple plates as well, so be careful.

If it were me and I wanted to use and enjoy the ratchet, I'd tear it down, hit it with a sandblaster, and blue it. It won't be original, but it'll bring you a lot more enjoyment than sitting in a drawer.

 

[bonneyman]

Thanks for the feedback. I am scared to try and grind on that mushroomed portion, as I'm afraid I will mare the finish, the patina, of the plate. Seems the consensus though is to start at the tip end and not the head so maybe I will try tear up that mushroomed bit carefully and go from there.

I'm wondering if this is even worth it or if I should just leave it be. I don't need to use it exactly. It has sentimental value and I don't want to wreck it but I always have a strong desire to make an old tool functional again. Let them do what they were born to do

Thanks again for the advice. I'm new here and loving the place.

Been here, done that.
With as much "patina" as it has, I'd risk using a dremel tool with a cutting wheel and use the edge to slowly grind off the mushroomed section. If you go slow and carefully your risk of hitting the plate is small, but, if you do, the tool has lots of grind marks already. I'd rather be able to get it apart and get it functional.
Soaking in Supco 88 will help with stuck/frozen gear assemblies.

 

[larry_g]

If it were mine, inherited from GPA, I would do nothing but soak it some solvent to try and wash out what grit may be in the head. This is GPA's work and you should use it as a reminder of how others made do with what they had. Now it is GPA's rachet. If you do a bunch of work on it then grandpa's touch is gone and you might as well of bought one off the used market. Its like the story of grandpa's hammer. He bought it in 1901. Its had 3 new heads and 9 handles since then, but it is GPA's hammer.

If you insist on disassembling, I would suggest drilling the head of the screws off and drop the plate with the remaining screw shank out the bottom. Then you can probably just turn the remaining screw out without trying to remove the mushroom and risking damage to the plate.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[skamaria]

If it were mine, inherited from GPA, I would do nothing but soak it some solvent to try and wash out what grit may be in the head. This is GPA's work and you should use it as a reminder of how others made do with what they had. Now it is GPA's rachet. If you do a bunch of work on it then grandpa's touch is gone and you might as well of bought one off the used market. Its like the story of grandpa's hammer. He bought it in 1901. Its had 3 new heads and 9 handles since then, but it is GPA's hammer.

If you insist on disassembling, I would suggest drilling the head of the screws off and drop the plate with the remaining screw shank out the bottom. Then you can probably just turn the remaining screw out without trying to remove the mushroom and risking damage to the plate.

lg
no neat sig line

You make a good point about his "touch" being gone if I do too much too it. Something to think about. Since I would probably not be using this ratchet, there is something to be said for just leaving it as is.

Thanks again!