Weekend score

[rick carpenter]

Craftsman 43797 ratchet

My Taiwan-made 9" Craftsman 43797 1/2" drive ratchet is cleaned up, but the selector mechanism freewheels both ways when selecting the other way unless the thumbwheel is held still while turning it. When apart, the teeth are clean and certainly sharp enough, and the spring is strong and clunks firmly into place. I can't figure out how to take the mechanism itself apart though.

Stanley made this ratchet for Craftsman and other brands according to folk here but I cannot find Stanley replacement mechanisms, and Sears doesn't provide them anymore. It's heavy and will make a good toolbag ratchet when/if fixed. Where can I find a replacement mechanism, or how can I fix it? My OCD demands this! Thanks.

 

[rick carpenter]

Sorry to have to reply to my own thread, but I didn't know how to bump it up. Anyhow, please look at my post above

 

[d.mcfarland]

So it works or doesn't? Sounds like it does by the way you described it. Just my opinion, but it's a less than $10 ratchet in perfect condition. A repair kit that may be hard to find isn't worth the cost to ship it, let alone buy it. I am fully for a repair rather than a replace, but I think the cons outweight the pros on this one Rick.

If you are set on repairing it by replacing the ratcheting unit, i think a donor ratchet is the easiest option.

 

[TJx]

I have the exact same ratchet that came with my 1st tool set my Dad bought me in the early 80's. I had a suspicion it was Taiwan made.
Worst case I guess you could take it back to Sears for a warranty replacement.

 

[rick carpenter]

It works OK when I hold the thumbwheel and turn the selector (both ways). So, it does work, but not right. I took it to Sears today, they don't have a replacement mechanism, and they offered to replace it with a new 1/2" drive ratchet but I declined because I already have a nice new 1/2" drive.

 

[3xpendable]

Then you could have two nice new 1/2 drive ratty's

Get you some.

 

[Dusty61]

Missing detent or spring maybe? Or see if the guts from the new craftsman one will fit in the body of the old one

 

[Outlawmws]

Need decent pics to have a prayer of helping but if you can get the basic mechanism out, use carb cleaner followed by some light lube and see where that gets you.

 

[bonneyman]

I for one always liked those Stanley-Craftsman rats. I call them the Tri-Wing style. Since Stanley made them, rebuild kits for some of the new Stanley will interchange. Somebody had an interchangeability list somewhere.

Here is a C-man Tri-Wing above a newer HUSKY ratchet. The head and handle shape is undeniable similar, and the gear sets interchange. FWIW

 

[Harry6]

I realize this an ancient thread, but fwiw, in case someone else passes through, I have had one of those C-man 943797 ratchets forever and it has worked the way the OP described since it was new. That is why, as I understand, round head ratchets usually are considered a two handed operation for direction change - one hand prevents rotation, the other moves the selector. In actuality direction changes are less convenient then with a pear head, but are done one handed with my forefinger blocking rotation and thumb flicking the direction switch.