Snap-On LSF720

[baku911]

Hello everyone,


I have been gifted a LSF720 ratchet from a friend mechanic. It's been in my possesion for over 4 years now and it's seen plenty of use. I have searched through this forum and the interwebs for a repair kit, in order to refresh it, re-grease it and make sure it's maintained well. However, I was unable to find such a kit (I'm located in the UK btw.). I'm no expert on Snap-On tools, as this ratchet is my only SO tool in the toolbox. Does anyone know where can I obtain a genuine repair kit for it? Is it still available to buy? Any help will be greatly appreciated!

If anyone has anymore info on this ratchet such as: what years it was manufactured in (I've read on this forum it could be between '75-'78?) or anything else regarding this ratchet, I would be happy to read about it.

Attached photos if it is of any help.

Last question. Is the bounce of the direction switch normal on those? Or is that a faulty switch, gears? Here's a video.

 

[Wrench97]

Not normal, you get the kits from a snap on dealer or possible the web site.
The last 72 tooth in had my dealer replaced with a dual 80 when it needed rebuilt.

 

[rancherbill]

If anyone has anymore info on this ratchet such as: what years it was manufactured in (I've read on this forum it could be between '75-'78?) or anything else regarding this ratchet, I would be happy to read about it.

Snapon Date codes will tell when it was manufactured
https://sites.pitt.edu/~blair1/snapon.html

 

[Jacobs976]

Kit RKRLSF720 is the proper kit for it however it's no longer listed in the Snap On rebuild kit list meaning it's not in production or in a SO warehouse gathering dust. Only way to get one is through eBay and the likes or a lucky encounter with a SO dealer that happens to have one on their truck. I don't believe there's any compatibility with current kits given it's a compact 1/2 drive and that's a rare configuration.

As for the bounce it's normal because it's a large tooth ratchet and the pawl has a fair amount of room to clear the gear between clicks.

As far as cleaning goes however, simply opening it up and checking the teeth along with degunking it then greasing it would be sufficient assuming no teeth show any major deterioration. Cleaned 3 similar models Sunday and they probably seen daily use and still had no major deterioration despite never being cleaned or rebuilt.

 

[Jacobs976]

Also post a picture of the back of the ratchets head. Date code is in the middle of the selector switch area.

Appears to be a 1974 but I can't see the date code clearly enough from the video to offer a guaranteed dating.

 

[baku911]

however it's no longer listed in the Snap On rebuild kit list meaning it's not in production

That's why I posted here, hoping someone might know more, as I was unable to find it on the SO list or anywhere else. Just received an email from SO customer service and they told me the same thing. Also advised to contact a local franchisee, but I don't really see how he could help me with it, unless he has this specific repair kit somewhere, which I highly doubt.

As far as cleaning goes however, simply opening it up and checking the teeth along with degunking it then greasing it would be sufficient assuming no teeth show any major deterioration

Upon inspection, I think that is what I'm going to do.

As for the bounce it's normal because it's a large tooth ratchet and the pawl has a fair amount of room to clear the gear between clicks.

Makes sense, just thought it was odd compared to all my other ratchets.

Also post a picture of the back of the ratchets head.

Please see attached. I couldn't figure it out from the list rancherbill posted earlier. Sorry it's still a bit dirty, haven't had the chance to properly clean it out.

Lastly, thank you for all this info, it's awesome to know more about it. Proper tools geeking, love it.

 

[Jacobs976]

Looks like a 1984.

Also no problem on the info, had to learn a bit because the dealer in my area doesn't do repairs unless you catch him at a stop that has put in an order for at least $500 and even then you're on thin ice. Won't stop unless the threshold is met so my shop plus two sister shops along with any friends or anybody else that wants their ratchets serviced come to me and that involves ratchets from near invention to today's variety. Of course they still have to order the parts if repair is necessary but end of the day they get little hassle and get to use their tools again the next day assuming no issue.

 

[baku911]

Wow, 1984 and it still works perfectly(ish)

order for at least $500 and even then you're on thin ice. Won't stop unless the threshold is met

Considering this, I highly doubt the local dealer will even want to exchange greetings with me, just so he can sell me one tiny repair kit.
I'll make sure I clean it out good and grease it well.
Thank you again for your input, answered all my questions and some more. Appreciate it!

 

[Jacobs976]

Wow, 1984 and it still works perfectly(ish)

Most do, the few I worked on were abused a bit but the internals are hard to damage on the older large tooth models. Usually it's just gunk buildup that actually affects function.

Considering this, I highly doubt the local dealer will even want to exchange greetings with me, just so he can sell me one tiny repair kit.
I'll make sure I clean it out good and grease it well.
Thank you again for your input, answered all my questions and some more. Appreciate it!

Again no problem. I'm of the opinion my local dealer is a black sheep so you might have luck with yours however I'd recommend finding a shop they service and get the shops approval for you to come by and chat with the dealer when they come by.
Also go expecting nothing of course given the rarity, better to go with no hopes and leave happy than go with hope and leave disappointed. Plus if you're not too attached to the ratchet and it does need repairs you would most likely end up with a new ratchet.

 

[82355]

Try your local dealer before judging him.

I have known of some crappy dealers, but I have had two GREAT Snap On dealers over the past twenty+ years. Had a terrible Cornwell dealer twenty years ago, and his replacement who has been running the route for almost twenty years is also great.

Martin

 

[Dave455]

Wow, 1984 and it still works perfectly(ish)


Considering this, I highly doubt the local dealer will even want to exchange greetings with me, just so he can sell me one tiny repair kit.
I'll make sure I clean it out good and grease it well.
Thank you again for your input, answered all my questions and some more. Appreciate it!

I’m in the U.K. as well. Most of the Snap On dealers are pretty decent and none will turn down business! I’d be honest and tell him you were gifted it.

They might get a bit pissed off if someone they’ve never met wastes half an hour browsing round the truck then wants a free warranty replacement, but if you’re trying to buy a repair kit you’re a customer!

Personally, I think you will be out of luck availability wise, so the “clean and grease” plan should work well. As Jacobs above said, those older ratchets were prone to getting filled with crud. My Dad had one of similar vintage which lived in his briefcase for emergencies, but going to use it one day it was solid with fluff! A quick clean restored it just fine.

Probably best to avoid grease. Even the coarse tooth ratchets respond best to oil. The handles are Eastman Tenite. It’s a fairly durable material (apart from the odd bad batch, generally on the Canadian made handles) so you can sand it down and polish it!

 

[Jacobs976]

Probably best to avoid grease. Even the coarse tooth ratchets respond best to oil.

I actually use red packing grease in my large tooth stuff. There's alot of back and forth on the subject of grease vs oil but my personal choice is red packing grease because it dampens the sound and is designed for excessive motion and contact given it's for bearings. In the end it's the users preference though of course but if grease is requested when I work on others ratchets then it's red packing grease.

 

[baku911]

They might get a bit pissed off if someone they’ve never met wastes half an hour browsing round the truck then wants a free warranty replacement

Haha, well I would be pissed off too. As much as I'd love to buy more stuff from them, I can't justify the cost to my personal use ratio. However, I think I might treat myself one day and find something on the used market.
I think I'm just going to pass on the repair kit, as there is no major wear on the gears, nor the selector switch. Give it a good clean, as I can clearly tell there's a lot of crud like sand and the old grease/oil.

Probably best to avoid grease. Even the coarse tooth ratchets respond best to oil.

I've seen videos on the Snap-On youtube channel where they used 'super lube' synthetic grease with PTFE, so will probably find one online and use that. But the writing on the ratchet's head states to check and top up oil as needed (or something along those lines). Common sense tells me that oil would surely leak out over time (as it isn't a sealed head) and the 'super lube' would be a better choice here.

you can sand it down and polish it!

Now that's something I didn't think of, or even knew I could do. But, I do like that it has it's scars and marks, it adds to it's 'history' of use. It has a small melted/burn scar and also a patent number. As tempting as it sounds to make it all nice and shiny I think I'll leave the handle untouched, but polish up the metal part to a nice shine.

 

[KnurledNut]

Snap-on sorely needs to offer a 1/2" drive gear and cover plate to fit in the 3/8" dual 80's.

 

[JSCraftsman]

I thought I would throw in my input here, realizing this thread is over two years old. But for everyone's information, here are the kits which is currently available on Ebay right now...at least for the moment, because they're selling and the quantity is getting low now. But kit RKRASF730 is the kit needed for the Snap-On's SF and LSF720 & 730 series ratchets (1/2" compact in 3/8" body). And for the older 1960's & 70's 1/2" compacts the SF and LSF710 series ratchets, they use repair kit RKRA12DC which is also still available on Ebay as well, at least for the moment, because they too are also selling fairly quickly. Regards to everybody again, and have a wonderful evening!-JS