Servicing ratchets

[MellyVan]

Hi all,

I've been reading a lot here and will contribute some nice EU (old world) tools, since i'm quite fond of those.

What I've never done is servicing ratchets. Is this something you do regularly? Just open them up and put some lube in there? what kind of lube?

Thanks!!

 

[Mr Ratchet]

Welcome to GJ. This question in one form or another comes up pretty regularly here. Start by opening them up and cleaning the internals. Then followed by a lube job, buy don't use too much. I like Sil-Glyde from Napa. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054DWS1W/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Many others here like Super Lube which is a similar product. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004FH7XRW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[transittech]

I depends on the kind of ratchet and how often You use it. For the Proto style ratchets with great pig pawls, you can use a regular grease and it will work great, I prefer white lithium grease. For ratchets with much smaller moving parts, I would use a thinner lube. If its a sealed head ratchet, you can use oil. Some manufacturers specifically state what to use, Wright says oil only on many of their ratchets. SK rebuild kits come with a thicker sticky grease. Snap On uses oil on their Dual 80 ratchets.

Another favorite lube for me is Phil Wood grease or Phil Wood tenacious oil.

 

[MellyVan]

Well, we don't have those kinds of grease here. We do have the MoS2 grease, or wheel bearing grease, would that be the same?

 

[Outlawmws]

An important point for some ratchets: Disassemble them inside a clear plastic bag in case something goes SROING! and always do it where you can lay out the parts so you know what goes back and in what orientation.

If using grease use a light coating; don't pack it, it will interfere with the mechanism.

 

[Outlawmws]

Well, we don't have those kinds of grease here. We do have the MoS2 grease, or wheel bearing grease, would that be the same?

Where is "here?

What kind of grease is MoS2 and what is it used for? How heavy is it? I'd guess it's a Moly base Re: the "Mo"

 

[MellyVan]

It's indeed Moly based. Here is the Netherlands

 

[transittech]

Our (US) wheel bearing grease is much heavier than what I would recommend, and probably yours is about the same as ours. Never heard of MoS2, maybe others will chime in.

 

[transittech]

It's indeed Moly based. Here is the Netherlands

You obviously have bicycles, I'd walk into a bike shop and buy some light weight wheel bearing grease. A small tube will last you forever.

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

Depends on the ratchet. for my Dual 80 ratchets i really like RLL (permatex engine assembly lube) makes them insanely smooth almost like a one way ratchet. For my floating paw ratchets. (craftsman premium, matco, armstrong gearwrench ect) I like light oil. I find that marvel mystery air tool oil is a good compromise between thick and thin. its thin enough to allow the ratchet to operate but not so thin it all seeps out in 2 days of use.

For big clunky ratchets and my little roundhead and thumbwheel ratchets I like Heavy grease. I steel some Aeroshel or Mobil from work and pack them up. works pretty good. and by steal i mean i just take a tiny bit and pack the ratchet on the toolbox. not ripping off an entire tube.

Good Luck.
Sean Scott

 

[transittech]

Just remembered, Shimano uses a fluorescent green grease, it would be about perfect, and being a global company, you should be able to find it there. Campy makes a nice grease too.

(bicycles use a lighter weight grease in the wheel bearings than automobile bearing grease)

 

[MellyVan]

Hi Scott, nice of you to confess, let's hope your boss is not reading (who gives )

It should be thick enough not to seep out indeed... I still don't know what to use best, but it all can't hurt, can it? I have an old Hazet ratchet which I want to test this out on. I can always clean it up and try another type of lube.

I wish there were as much options here as in the us

 

[MellyVan]

@transittech: nice to know, I have someone related in the bycicle industry, I will ask him

 

[north]

I prefer my spray can with bike chain oil myself for both my coarse and fine tooth ratchets.

And take Outlawmws's advice on plastic bags.

 

[mvptrukin]

You could go to : www.super-lube.com They have an online store or you could send an email to them. I would be surprised if there wasn't an EU distributor. Also one of their distributors is Fastenal and they show locations in the EU.

 

[north]

Insane overseas shipping rates at the super-lube store.

Can be found on ebay with reasonable shipping though. Might have to order me some one day.

 

[ndoran]

Our (US) wheel bearing grease is much heavier than what I would recommend, and probably yours is about the same as ours. Never heard of MoS2, maybe others will chime in.

MoS2 is Molybdenum diSulphide it is an ingredient in many greases including EP2 Moly grease

 

[bart1]

Insane overseas shipping rates at the super-lube store.

Can be found on ebay with reasonable shipping though. Might have to order me some one day.

I could send some if you can't find a reasonable way to do so.

 

[EuropeTool]

Sending will make the product too expensive i think, i'll try and look for some here in NL

 

[north]

I could send some if you can't find a reasonable way to do so.

Many thanks for the offer. I hereby dub thee Awesome Tool Shopper.

Here's a 3oz and 1lb that are among the better deals from this point of view.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

on my craftsman RP I use super lube, on my low profile & premium craftsman ratchets I use 3 in 1. same with my Armstrong aerospace and locking flex I use 3 in 1. ratchets with a floating Pawl need a light oil or they will skip teeth.

 

[thesilverone]

red lube of love