Solvent for soaking ratchets?

[Jason280]

Any suggestions on a good solvent/degreaser to soak ratchet heads and assemblies in for cleaning?

 

[diesel research]

transmission fluid

 

[Jason280]

I've heard mention that ATF was a good soak. Is it a better option than diesel fuel?

 

[redwrench60]

ATF is great. Soak it a day, work it, soak it, wipe it off......done. Remnant acts as a rust inhibitor and lube.

 

[rusty65]

ATF and carb cleaner just take all the plastic parts off first.

 

[G_P]

I have used paint thinner with good results.

Had a few that had to have their guts soaked in either acetone or lacquer thinner to clean up. Those were old ratchets that the grease had turned into rock hard cement in.

 

[shampoop]

ATF makes more sense for like ratcheting wrenches as both a solvent and a lubricant.

For a ratchet, it doesn't make much sense to do anything other than use a pure solvent for cleaning and put some grease in there afterwards like superlube.

 

[redwrench60]

I assumed we were talking about old school non sealed ratchets.

 

[Jason280]

I assumed we were talking about old school non sealed ratchets.

Both types, actually. I just need a decent solvent to soak the internals in once the ratchets are disassembled. I've pulled a few apart that were gunked up pretty bad, and would have greatly benefited from a a soaking.

 

[redwrench60]

Oh, well I still soak em' in ATF to soften the crud then disassemble to blast out with brake cleaner and compressed air, lube and reassemble.

 

[spongerich]

I like to soak them in some citrus based cleaner. It's pretty mild but softens old grease and crud nicely. For smaller stuff, I use it in my ultrasonic cleaner.

 

[XxToolAholicxX]

Any suggestions on a good solvent/degreaser to soak ratchet heads and assemblies in for cleaning?

I use ATF with a little Bar and Chain oil mixed. Works great every time.

 

[Fretters]

Paraffin, (kerosene).

 

[seboyandong]

It's pretty mild but softens old grease and crud nicely.

 

[chopper1]

Soak in a 50/50 mixture of ATF and acetone

 

[n8n]

^ that's what I did. I was unable to get one of my B-52s apart but the ATF still lubed it so I don't feel quite so bad using it. Even with ATF/acetone mix when I got all my other ratchets apart they still required manual cleaning however (unless the original lube was brown...)

 

[bonneyman]

Soak in a 50/50 mixture of ATF and acetone

This!

 

[HairMetal]

Wd-40

 

[Davefr]

Do it the right way and take them apart to clean them whenever possible.

 

[TrivQuad]

I recently tried orange oil degreaser in the ultrasound and got mediocre results. Then I tried carburetor cleaner spray (ok results, I suppose) followed with a dish soap scrub in hot water. Then I blew everything out with compressed air and sprayed on WD-40 to prevent rust. Superlubed the new parts and a drop of Breakfree in inaccessible spots (pawl spring hole). My 30 year old Snap-On ratchet spins like a champ now. The lesson is don't use axle grease and neglect the tools that take care of you.

 

[rick carpenter]

Soak in a 50/50 mixture of ATF and acetone

That will always separate and not stay in solution. You'll have to mix it up frequently, which is what I did until going to a straight atf soak. But I suppose you could alternate soaking in pure acetone and pure atf containers back and forth for good effect. Finish with a long soak in atf or lube of your choice, maybe Permatex Red.