What's the difference between these ratchets, if any?

[priceman1414]

When I started looking for a rebuild kit for my older 3/8 drive craftsman ratchet, I noticed that the kits were hard to find. (the ratchet isn't broken, I just want to have rebuild kits for all my old Craftsman ratchets).

Virtually all of the rebuild kits for 3/8" US Craftsman ratchets I find on ebay are for the 43784. My ratchet is a #43785 V-. It does not have an oil port in the head. It also does not have the patent number on the handle. ( I know there is an older 43785 with an oil port and the pat# on the handle ).

So my question is, is there any difference between these two ratchets? I tried searching around on the net and couldn't find any discussions about it. They look externally the same based on pictures I've seen online (I don't own a 43784 to compare in person).

Some of the ebay sellers with kits for the 43784 claim it will work in the 85. A fellow GJ member gave me a link to an ebay listing with kits that said "for 43785" on the packaging, but the listing ended before I could get one.

Thanks!

 

[sberry]

Why bother and why pay to have a part on the shelf you may never need.

 

[retDAC]

Why bother and why pay to have a part on the shelf you may never need.

Unfortunately I have the same "toolitis" affliction. Joining this board made it literally about 10,000 times worse!

 

[Just_George]

Why bother and why pay to have a part on the shelf you may never need.

Maybe just because he wants to? That's a perfectly valid reason...

 

[sberry]

I really mean all this in a good way, 10 yrs from now a guy will wonder why he worried about it all... hahahaha,,, not only that as of the last 30 yrs a sears ratchet isn't worth rebuilding when HF carries one that works 5 times as long for less than the cost of the part,,, which sears will give for free,,, which when you get back is no better than the one you started with

 

[sberry]

Cause you want to is a good reason,,, if you are expecting something better than what you got then one would be disappointed.

 

[retDAC]

Don't know about the OP's situation, but I would like to add there are some tools, parts, etc. where I seriously do want one or more backups because I hate to have to stop and go get, or wait on, something.

 

[Westly]

So my question is, is there any difference between these two ratchets? I tried searching around on the net and couldn't find any discussions about it. They look externally the same based on pictures I've seen online (I don't own a 43784 to compare in person).

Some of the ebay sellers with kits for the 43784 claim it will work in the 85. A fellow GJ member gave me a link to an ebay listing with kits that said "for 43785" on the packaging, but the listing ended before I could get one.

Thanks!

I think the only difference for your purposes is in the pawl and the lever. The two together are interchangeable as a unit but the lever for one won't fit the pawl for the other. So the kit should work if it has both a lever and a pawl.

 

[jgromada]

If this is for a future prospective need its probably not a bad idea to put some kind of label or tag with them. I went through my uncle's shop after his death and found ratchet rebuild kits with absolutely no visible markings so you didn't know what they went to.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I wonder if the OP has used the rebuild kit yet or remembers where it is at and what it is for?

 

[seber]

I've repaired a large number of Sears ratchets over the years. Buying broken ones and reselling. I always thought they looked the same no matter what model. That was confirmed the last time I had a bad one. The service guy did not have parts he just had repaired ratchets. But he did not have the same model. That's when he told me he only keeps one model of repair parts in stock and they fit all models of ratchets.

 

[bonneyman]

I think the only difference for your purposes is in the pawl and the lever. The two together are interchangeable as a unit but the lever for one won't fit the pawl for the other. So the kit should work if it has both a lever and a pawl.

Here's two differing styles. D-slot and hyphen. You can see why these parts must be switched out as a pair.

 

[sk farmer]

Why bother and why pay to have a part on the shelf you may never need.

I really mean all this in a good way, 10 yrs from now a guy will wonder why he worried about it all... hahahaha,,, not only that as of the last 30 yrs a sears ratchet isn't worth rebuilding when HF carries one that works 5 times as long for less than the cost of the part,,, which sears will give for free,,, which when you get back is no better than the one you started with

Cause you want to is a good reason,,, if you are expecting something better than what you got then one would be disappointed.

purely speculation but this may be the reason........nostalgia.


sometimes you have had something so long and it has so much history that you just want to be able to preserve or maintain it for the long haul. i have a couple tools like that. one of them being a ratchet. my father gave it to me in a set and he has been gone just over a year now. i have other ratchets just like it and i would have no trouble finding a replacement for it. that said, they are not "the ratchet my dad gave me".

i have parts on hand to fix it even though i haven't had to fix one in years. not much different than having rolls of chain, bearings or other common parts in inventory for future use.

sometimes i may just sit and ponder during a project, doing nothing more than spinning that old ratchet in my hand. some days it may bring a tear or some days a smile but i know i don't have to be afraid to use it.