SK Palm Control arrived today...question

[landon1]

it seems to keep slipping out of gear and going in reverse if you don't hold the center...the whole assembly seems to have quite a bit of play in it - is that how it's supposed to be?

 

[glenmore]

Tighten the allen until it is obviously too tight and you can't change direction easily. Then slowly back off until it is just right. If it still slips, take it apart and see if something is not right inside.

P.S., is that the 1/2" drive from ebay that went for like $12? That was a steal!

 

[landon1]

nope...it's 3/8 set i got BIN 1/4 through 7/8 sockets with ratchet, adapter, and rail for 52.98 shipped...SK's site lists around 176 - i basically paid $4/piece! in the background is 1 of 2 sets of 1/2 inch drive sets i recently inherited in addition to some miscellaneous SK sockets, breaker bar, wrenches, etc.

thanks for the help...i never use allen/hex stuff and i only have metric pieces - now i have an excuse to buy a set of standard keys

 

[Monte]

If the ratchet is older and laying around at the dealer for a while the grease could be hard so the pawl could stick

 

[J.P.]

I had 4 palm control ratchets in various sizes. They ALL had this same problem and had since they were new. I took them apart and nothing looked out of sorts. Those things drove me nuts. Slipped into reverse just about every other swing. I finally got rid of them several months ago. Maybe I got a bad batch or maybe their is a major design flaw in them. I do know that either way, they weren't worth the hassle....or the busted up knuckles. You shouldn't have to take a NEW ratchet apart to see why it slips in reverse constantly.

 

[landon1]

exactly - it came still wrapped in the plastic and in a cardboard box with SK part number...maybe i'll see if i can swap for a regular round head if i can't get it figured out today.

 

[kburns]

I picked up a brand new set of these ratchets about a year ago pretty cheap. The grease in them had about dried up and hardened so much it made the ratchet mechanism stay engaged all the time and it couldn't be reversed. I guess thats about the opposite of the problem your having, but at least it didn't make me bust my knuckles!

I opened them up, cleaned and regreased, and reassembled. In reassembling, I found that the adjustment of the hex bolt in the middle is ultra-critical. When it is just right the ratchet is perfect, but when it is just a hair too tight or too loose it will drive you f&(%!^g nuts. I found that it worked better if I removed the large central washer that supposedly allows you to apply palm pressure on the ratchet head. I replaced it with a flat washer & it worked better. I no longer have the option of applying palm pressure, but that never worked very good anyway.

I usually use my old SK Waynes anyway, so these usually just lay in the toolbox drawer taking up space. Maybe I'll sell them at the flea market.

 

[glenmore]

I have the 1/4" and 3/8" and they have never slipped. I just recently took them apart and regreased them and they are smoother than ever. The tightness of the hex is important. Make it as tight as you can without causing the knurled ring switch to bind.

 

[tonydanzah]

the palm control that came in my spline socket set was doa like that. It felt like a piece of junk so i never bothered fixing it.

 

[MAD]

It is definitely worth checking for hardened grease in the palm control ratchets. I got one that the paw and gear were literally glued together with hardened lube. Once the bond was broken, it skipped due to places where the teeth were filled. Once it was completely cleaned out and re-lubed, it worked great.

 

[Unearthed]

I have a palm control that came with my spline set, and I had to take it apart and get rid of the factory grease. Lubed it with 3 in 1 oil, and it works good now. I also have 3, Tuff 1 ratchets and 2 Proto flex head palm controls (all use the same guts) that I have never had to disassemble- yet.
As everyone else has said, disassemble, clean, and use a light oil of choice.

 

[landon1]

well......i took it apart and the white grease in it was hard as a rock, caked-onto everything. it took me probably 4 tries before i actually got everything together right and now it works flawless. my dad talked to a mutual friend and he said his Mac guy always tells him to take apart ratchets and rebuild kits, clean em up and re-grease.

so, i'm happy about my purchase now - i was getting pretty frustrated that the $13 Stanley ratchet i got my dad for a gift worked from day one