SK 3/8" Ratchet Recommendations?

[maximummax]

There was a post on the Tool Section last night recommending used SK ratchets. What are your recommendations as to the model, year, and # teeth? I also found 36/40 tooth upgrades to 80 teeth on Amazon, but they're about $30 each. Do I need an 80 tooth upgrade? I'll be using it for DIY at home car and bicycle repair. What's a good price and places to find vintage SK ratchets? I see some on Ebay, but they're $20+ and has either dechroming, rust, or both.

 

[d42jeep]

There was a post on the Tool Section last night recommending used SK ratchets. What are your recommendations as to the model, year, and # teeth? I also found 36/40 tooth upgrades to 80 teeth on Amazon, but they're about $30 each. Do I need an 80 tooth upgrade? I'll be using it for DIY at home car and bicycle repair. What's a good price and places to find vintage SK ratchets? I see some on Ebay, but they're $20+ and has either dechroming, rust, or both.

I have found quite a few S-K ratchets at estate sales and flea markets. Those are the best places to find bargain ratchets. Any of the round head ratchets are good users. I wouldn't worry too much about tooth count unless you are working in really confined spaces. Here are some of mine. The darker finish ratchets are wartime.
-Don

 

[DwightS]

The S-K 45170 is probably the most plentiful and a very smooth ratchet with a little cleaning and lubing. I picked up two last weekend, although I didn’t need them, opened them up, cleaned and lubed and they work great.

I think I am going to upgrade one of mine to the 80 tooth just to see. If you search around, I think you can find the upgrade repair kit less than $30.



Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[lardy1]

At one time Circle C was selling the upgrades pretty reasonably.

 

[four.cycle]

I see some on Ebay, but they're $20+ and has either dechroming, rust, or both.

You should be easily able to find a S-K model 45170 in good condition on Ebay for about $20 bucks.
If you want cheaper than that, you're going to have to start cruising swap meets and garage sales.

 

[bonneyman]

The best all-around 3/8" drive ratchet ever is the S-K 45170. Been around for decades, takes daily use without failure, comfortable round handle is the perfect balance of grip and weight. You can't go wrong having a couple in your tools. And Epsteins has the upgrade kits for $18.45.

https://www.harryepstein.com/800700-3-8-drive-dx-sk-ratchet-mechanism-dt80.html

With the DT90 upgrade kit, S-K hit a masterstroke. They came out with a way for millions of users to upgrade their existing ratchets, addressing one of the biggest complaints of the tool crowd (i.e. it wasn't a fine tooth ratchet). While waiting to research and develop their new ratchet lines (very slow I agree), they couldn't have done anything better or smarter business wise. Just a perfect offering! The new upgrade kit is dual pawl, much like the 1953 Williams patent on their Superratchet line, which are immensely popular.
If you prefer an existing fine tooth offering from S-K that I like, try to find one of the Tuff 1 versions. (45175 for 3/8" I believe)