Wilde Tool & Forge Co., Hiawatha, Kansas

[Private Lugnutz]

Looking through this thread, this seems to be the most common wrench found. Anybody got a reason why?

Statistically speaking, my guess would be the small variety in the superset. Wilde was not known for wrenches. Unlike mfgrs like Williams or Vlchek where you could expect to find every type and style of wrench ever made for every application.

 

[mgmlvks]

At local lumberyard placing order today in NE Kansas ans saw these!

 

[Steven 33]

An old wilde socket set with a trace of a decal

Is that 3/8 drive? If so I got a universal for you.
Send me a message if you want it. I got no use for it and hate it see it go to waste

 

[nz44tool]

Late to the party as usual, but here's a sad little Wilde item.
I picked this up at a Restore today; couldn't believe my good fortune. Oddly, the ratchet had a Wilde swivel adapter GLUED onto it.
I took it home and pried off the swivel, and what do I find but a missing detent ball.
Too bad; the ratchet is in beautiful shape otherwise.
Now I'm wondering if there's another brand 1/4" ratchet out there made by the same folks who made this one for Wilde - with the same mechanism, so I can cannibalize it.
Does anyone have an idea to save this piece from uselessness?

 

[Lesserstore]

Late to the party as usual, but here's a sad little Wilde item.
I picked this up at a Restore today; couldn't believe my good fortune. Oddly, the ratchet had a Wilde swivel adapter GLUED onto it.
I took it home and pried off the swivel, and what do I find but a missing detent ball.
Too bad; the ratchet is in beautiful shape otherwise.
Now I'm wondering if there's another brand 1/4" ratchet out there made by the same folks who made this one for Wilde - with the same mechanism, so I can cannibalize it.
Does anyone have an idea to save this piece from uselessness?

If I remember right, Wright made these.

 

[Zrxrunner]

Agree. Looks like either wright or Thorsen made. Another thought to try tho...how snug does a .177 BB fit? Can find a heavy little spring and BB or ball bearing at good hardeare store and try to press it in there. Doesn't appear to have any quick release mechanism to worry about. Might have to use just the right sized punch and stake it in after you find the closes ball and spring you can to secure it a bit too. Ive made this work mote than a few times.

 

[d42jeep]

If you are unable to re-Install a ball and spring and can’t find a matching Wright or Thorsen ratchet, you might compare a Powr-Kraft 1/4” drive ratchet. They were supplied by both Wright and Thorsen. The Wright supplied ratchets have a W in the part number and the Thorsen made ratchets have an H in the part number.
Thorsen made



Wright made

 

[nz44tool]

Many thanks for your advice and help, folks.
I'm part-way there - I found a junk 1/4" spinner, which, after a little Dremel persuasion, donated a spring and ball that fit perfectly.
Now I just need to figure out how to hold the ball down and make a punch mark or two next to it.
...wish I could see the tool that does this operation in the factory.

 

[Zrxrunner]

Ive used a regular pin punch that is just slightly larger than the hole. Put the other side of the 3/8 square drive on an anvil or heavy steel and whack er!
Oh yeah, make sure you have the spring you want in there before doing this! After its staked, its hard to get back out

 

[nz44tool]

Ive used a regular pin punch that is just slightly larger than the hole. Put the other side of the 3/8 square drive on an anvil or heavy steel and whack er!
Oh yeah, make sure you have the spring you want in there before doing this! After its staked, its hard to get back out

Thanks - sounds like the right idea. I'll try it.

 

[nz44tool]

Well, Zrxrunner, your method worked! Thanks! I didn't hit it quite on center, and I hit it a little too hard, so that the ball doesn't stick out as far as I'd like. But it does hold the socket well enough, and it doesn't look too bad.
All in all, a success.

 

[Zrxrunner]

Ive made it work on a few abused breaker bars n rats. Seen more than a few of them like that from factory so figured it would work.