SK Professional Tools Thumbwheel Ratchet; is this correct or broken?

[Ohio Andy]

I have not previously owned or used a Thumb-wheel Ratchet so I purchased two SK ratchets.

49270 1/4" Drive and 45172S 3/8" Drive Thumbwheel Ratchet.




The 1/4" is flawless in my initial testing. The 3/8" is flawless in one direction, but, in the other direction the Pawl sometimes disengages and can free spin in either direction. In my case, it works fine if the free spin is clockwise and can easily be put out of shape if I free spin the big wheel counter-clockwise. I suspect that there is a spring or something inside that is either broken or not where it should be.

I dropped an email to SK, but it is a Weekend and a holiday so probably won't hear from them until next week. If it was not new I would open it up and peek inside to see what is going on. I don't want to open it, however, and find out that it does not go back together easily.

Has anyone taken these apart or know of a video where this can be seen. Now that I think about it, I should search Youtube based on the part numbers rather than the names. I found some ratchet tear downs from SK, but not a thumbwheel.

 

[3baygarage]

Should open the same as any S-K with the snap ring. With the correct fitting pliers should go fine. Put the selector in neutral while removing/replacing gear.

 

[Kaervak]

Should open the same as any S-K with the snap ring. With the correct fitting pliers should go fine. Put the selector in neutral while removing/replacing gear.

Correct, they come apart just the same as any other SK ratchet. I have both the 1/4 and 3/8 thumbwheels and have had them apart for cleaning a few times. The only time I've ever had any SK ratchet act up is when there's too much lubrication in the ratchet. Take your 3/8 apart and give everything a good cleaning. The entire drive mechanism comes apart too, just be careful taking out the selector switch assembly as it's spring loaded and you'll launch the pin into oblivion. Ask me how I know

 

[Ohio Andy]

Correct, they come apart just the same as any other SK ratchet. I have both the 1/4 and 3/8 thumbwheels and have had them apart for cleaning a few times. The only time I've ever had any SK ratchet act up is when there's too much lubrication in the ratchet. Take your 3/8 apart and give everything a good cleaning. The entire drive mechanism comes apart too, just be careful taking out the selector switch assembly as it's spring loaded and you'll launch the pin into oblivion. Ask me how I know

So is there just one pin?

I guess when I take this one apart I will put it in a plastic bag.

Does it go back together pretty easily? My older Craftsman sockets? It was quite useful to have seen a video

 

[Kaervak]

So is there just one pin?

I guess when I take this one apart I will put it in a plastic bag.

Does it go back together pretty easily? My older Craftsman sockets? It was quite useful to have seen a video

Yes, just one pin holds the pawl in, The drive selector can be a bit annoying to remove, but overall not that bad. Reassembly is very easy, the SK drive mechanisms are designed extremely well and are beautifully simple. There should be a YouTube video out there showing the entire process.

 

[KnurledNut]

@Ohio Andy

 

[Ohio Andy]

@Ohio Andy

Thanks... I will give it a watch... Or four before I open mine.

 

[Ohio Andy]

I watched the video couple of times.

Sk said we're sending you a new one so I figured, I'll just take that one apart. See what's going on.

So the initial tear down went very easily, but then they want you to pull a piece out. And in the video the guy says I hold down the plunger. I think he said plunger after moving the paws to the middle and then he manages to pull this piece out and I just cannot get that piece out.

So, I put it back together. Not that I took it apart much..