Seized Snap On R1618S Ratchet Wrench

[niss]

Found this one in my grandfathers toolbox and looks great, problem is the gears are seized.

Pic taken from ebay.

It looks like there are solid rivits, any suggestions on how to dissasemble this sucker?

I left it soaking over night in WD40 and then all day so far in heavy duty penetrant. No dice.

I really want to be able to use it, I doubt snap on will warranty it, and being my grandfathers I would really rather keep the original even if they would.

Thanks!

 

[64merc]

Try soaking it for a week or so in ATF. Many guys on this board swear by this method

 

[Bull]

WD40 is good for a lot of things. I would not rely on it alone to free up a long-neglected ratchet or ratchet wrench.

You do not need to take that thing apart and risk damaging it.

As Merc said, drop it in some trans fluid or trans.acetone mix and let it sit. Take it out periodically to try and work the gears, tap it carefully etc. Eventually, the rust will lose

I have been trying to free up the ball on an old Thorsen for about a week now. I can't believe how much rust is coming out of the thing. Ball isn't yet free, but it will be dammit!

 

[billymade]

If it is rusted; I wonder if evaporust would be something to try?

 

[GTO]

Kano Kroil

 

[J.A.F.E.]

Like others have suggested ATF or ATF/acetone soak is your best bet. ATF/acetone makes an incredible penetrating oil. Lilely it will free up in less than a day, possibly within four or five hours.

 

[Fins/413]

Is it jammed by rust or grease? For rust, I.d use evporust for greaseor similar I'd try acetone/AFT

 

[Bull]

I achieved victory today on my frozen Thorsen ratchet. You will, too. Just let it soak (submerged in fluid, don't just spray it with WD or similar and let it sit...not good enough) and take it out periodically to tap it to loosen up the crud.

Let us know when victory has been secured!

 

[Junkman]

I soaked a similiar rusted pliers in EvapoRust for a few days, and they now work without any effort. Before that, they were so badly rusted, you couldn't pull the jaws apart.

 

[niss]

Here is the ratchet wrench in question.

I soaked the one end in ATF for the night and it loosened up a bit but not to the point that the spring is springy and ratchety.

I am soaking the other side, but anyone know what I can do worst case scenario? Can this be rebuilt?

Thanks,

Niss

 

[billymade]

I still vote for evaporust; it will remove the rust, which maybe causing the binding you are experiencing. These are riveted together; aside from removing the rivets, cleaning and putting it back together.... I think that's your only option. Evaporust it and see if that works! If you remove the rust and still is messed up; see if snapon will warranty it.

 

[niss]

I still vote for evaporust; it will remove the rust, which maybe causing the binding you are experiencing. These are riveted together; aside from removing the rivets, cleaning and putting it back together.... I think that's your only option. Evaporust it and see if that works! If you remove the rust and still is messed up; see if snapon will warranty it.

Im giving the evaporust a shot. How bad does it look? Do you think it needs to sit all night.

 

[Joe Mamma]

I would not let it sit for more than a few hours at a time. Evapo-Rust works very quickly. Don't fall for the "if a little bit is good, a lot is better trap."

If it sits in Evapo-Rust too long, it will put a hard black oxide type of coating on the bare metal (non-sstainless steel) surfaces. I'm sure that will screw up the action, and you won't be able to do anything to reverse it (unless you take it apart).

Just my 2 cents.

Joe Mamma

 

[rsanter]

I would resist taking it apart
keep working with the oils and stuff and work the action
I think you will get there

bob

 

[volvo420coupe]

If you are a regular snap on customer you could get it warrantied I'm sure, probably not so much luck if you don't have a regular money drip going out to mr. snappy. I have warrantied several tools with date codes 15 years before I was born.

 

[billymade]

You could always send it in; that is a option as well, if snapon doesn't come to your work...

 

[niss]

Does Snap-On realize the sentimental value of tools & let you keep the original? Again, these were my grandfathers, so I would rather keep the tool that doesn't work than trade it in for one that does. I can always buy another ratchet wrench if I have to.

 

[GTO]

Kano Kroil

Keep it and soak it the above.

 

[Bull]

Overnight is not long enough. As I said, I worked on the old ratchet I just unfroze for about a week. ATF won't hurt it, so let it soak in there, but take it out each day to work the mechanism and tap the body to loosen up the crud. This is essentially guaranteed to work, you just need to be patient. But, it sounds like you are very attached to the tool, so the patience will be worth your while.