Williams Ratchet

[07travis]

Anybody have one of these ratchets? http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-USA-JH-...570?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ccb1a0402
Looks like a super nice ratchet made here and reasonably priced. Any input would be helpful!

 

[jerryW]

I've got a couple of those in an older version. Very well made, fine style tooth easy on the hand with the round knurled handle. One of my go to ratchets.

Not too bad of a price either. Williams has always been a quality mfr. They are now Snap-on's industrial line.



jerry

 

[dandan111]

Always wanted one of those. I like the painted version also.

 

[mvptrukin]

The eBay seller is a member of the forum---excellent to buy from and that price is the lowest you'll see on that ratchet especially with free shipping! I have the S53-A--same 72 teeth count, just 4" longer. My only negative comment is that all the mfg. seem to have reduced the depth of the knurling on these types of handles--S•K included.

 

[John316]

The older version of that ratchet is lot nicer and can be had for the same $ or less depending on condition. The new ratchets have a different mechanism. They are nice, but I like the old style way better.

I really like my 1/2!

Here are my "old school" williams:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2789131#post2789131

 

[Farmall450]

Looks nice, good price too for quality tools.

 

[morregerbert]

i bought this item few months ago, so far so good, i dont think you can find us made fine tooth ratchet anywhere for such a price.

 

[reptilezs]

they are very smooth and fine action. if you like round head style then this is a good one. similar to sk and wright

 

[AL`]

The older version of that ratchet is lot nicer and can be had for the same $ or less depending on condition. The new ratchets have a different mechanism. They are nice, but I like the old style way better.

I really like my 1/2!

Here are my "old school" williams:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2789131#post2789131

I have an older one. It was my grandfather's who was a mechanic for a trucking company in Chicago. I love that ratchet for both its heritage and function. It is smooth and stout. And it saw lots of service before I ever laid a hand on it. Can you or someone elaborate on how the mechanism is different now?

Also, I agree with mvptrukin about the knurling on my older Williams vs my new SK ratchet. Since I haven't tried a new Williams, I can't say, but have no reason to doubt him. My older Williams just feels great in the hand. It grips better and feels more comfortable than the SK which came as part of a nice 1/2 set of 6 pt sockets from SK.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

never had a new one, but the old ones are my favorite ratchets. i'va added a few more since this pic was taken.

 

[Rickster]

I have several of the older version 1/2dr's and a couple of the 3/8 dr's. They are one of the nicer ratchets I've handled .....and they sell pretty quick too!

 

[AL`]

never had a new one, but the old ones are my favorite ratchets. i'va added a few more since this pic was taken.

How do you tell a newer one vs older one? For instance I see one of yours in that pic has the same selector knob as my old S-52 and shows the two holes as well. But the others seem to match what I see as new ones currently sold. I guess that means Williams changed that quite some time ago, and prior to Snap-on acquiring them. John316 mentioned that the internal mechanism is different on the new ones, and I wonder when the change occurred, and does it also mean you can't rebuild the old ones?

 

[John316]

How do you tell a newer one vs older one? For instance I see one of yours in that pic has the same selector knob as my old S-52 and shows the two holes as well. But the others seem to match what I see as new ones currently sold. I guess that means Williams changed that quite some time ago, and prior to Snap-on acquiring them. John316 mentioned that the internal mechanism is different on the new ones, and I wonder when the change occurred, and does it also mean you can't rebuild the old ones?

I f I recall the new ratchets are a single pawl design. The old style as pictured above are dual pawl. emeraldcoupe's post shows only the older style ratchets. The newer style are pictured here:
https://www.toolsdelivered.com/Will...ols-1-2-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Ratchet-Drive-Tools
Notice the torx screw in the center of the selector.
The drive end looks different as well... a bit like a modern SK ratchet in apperance:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-USA-JH-WILLIAMS-S-52A-1-2-DR-ROUND-HEAD-RATCHET-11-5-16-/261105517570
Also, you can get rebuild kits for the new:
https://www.toolsdelivered.com/Will...ols-1-2-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Ratchet-Drive-Tools
but not the old ;-(

 

[AL`]

I f I recall the new ratchets are a single pawl design. The old style as pictured above are dual pawl. emeraldcoupe's post shows only the older style ratchets. The newer style are pictured here:
https://www.toolsdelivered.com/Will...ols-1-2-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Ratchet-Drive-Tools
Notice the torx screw in the center of the selector.
The drive end looks different as well... a bit like a modern SK ratchet in apperance:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-USA-JH-WILLIAMS-S-52A-1-2-DR-ROUND-HEAD-RATCHET-11-5-16-/261105517570
Also, you can get rebuild kits for the new:
https://www.toolsdelivered.com/Will...ols-1-2-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Ratchet-Drive-Tools
but not the old ;-(

Thank you, although I had hoped you were going to tell me there were still good old rebuild kits available . I was just looking at that site before I clicked back on this thread. Looking closely at the new ratchets, not only do you see the torx screw, but the way the tool is inscribed is distinctly different with only "Williams" on the backside. I think I need to target some older ones on ebay to complement my S-52, although those new ones are very reasonabley priced and I do like supporting new manufacture.

Interestingly enough, the description of the single pawl design with 36 teeth is touted as a stronger, better design with tighter tolerances and few parts. Maybe it is, I really couldn't say. I just know how reliable the one I have is and how smoothly the mechanism works.

 

[SMKS]

So, given that the new roundhead ratchets have a dual-pawl, 72 tooth design, might the rebuild kits be compatible with the older ratchets?

No, the new ratchets have a single-pawl design that is sort of like the one used in the Facom/SK 72 tooth ratchets.

Tools delivered even spelled it out on their website:
http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ols-1-2-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Ratchet-Drive-Tools

Williams never updated their catalog when they released the new ratchets years ago. The online catalog still says they use a dual-pawl design, but that's wrong.

 

[AL`]

No, the new ratchets have a single-pawl design that is sort of like the one used in the Facom/SK 72 tooth ratchets.

I'm not disputing what you say about the single-pawl design, but click that link in the bottom of my post and scroll down. That table on toolsdelivered says it is a double pawl with 72 teeth for the S-52A, S-53A, BS-52A, and the S-52ARK. The table above that states the enclosed heads are single-pawl, 36 tooth.

 

[AL`]

OK, you edited your post. That threw me for a loop for a moment. So that dual-pawl description is in error on Williams part. Rats.

 

[SMKS]

I'm not disputing what you say about the single-pawl design, but click that link in the bottom of my post and scroll down. That table on toolsdelivered says it is a double pawl with 72 teeth for the S-52A, S-53A, BS-52A, and the S-52ARK. The table above that states the enclosed heads are single-pawl, 36 tooth.

Believe me, I've been through this before. Williams has had this error in their catalog since they released the new ratchets.

Check the link for the repair kit posted above. Tools delivered has had to point out that it doesn't fit the old ratchets.

 

[AL`]

They (both Williams and toolsdelivered) really ought to fix that. Talk about creating some confusion. I should probably go back and edit my post so someone doesn't get mislead.

 

[AL`]

Believe me, I've been through this before. Williams has had this error in their catalog since they released the new ratchets.

Check the link for the repair kit posted above. Tools delivered has had to point out that it doesn't fit the old ratchets.

So is the tooth count of 72 correct, or is that also wrong?

 

[SMKS]

So is the tooth count of 72 correct, or is that also wrong?

It think the tooth count may still be correct, but I haven't owned one of the new style, so I've never counted.

 

[The collector]

Anybody have one of these ratchets? http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-USA-JH-...570?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ccb1a0402
Looks like a super nice ratchet made here and reasonably priced. Any input would be helpful!

The old rats have a double pawl design were the new one has a heart spring single like a roto head... they list the newer style online as double pawl but it's not

 

[Snapped-off]

The old rats have a double pawl design were the new one has a heart spring single like a roto head... they list the newer style online as double pawl but it's not

2012 man...

 

[The collector]

I wish it still was....