New Tool Day
- Thread starter WVJeep304
- Start date
Just a word of advice about the ratchets: be cautious with rebuild kits. If there are multiple options, do your homework. A lot of rebuild kits these days (even from the OEM's) are cheap chinese trash. I've had to retire a few old ratchets due to getting multiple junk rebuild kits. There are supposedly some quality kits out there, but I've yet to run across any for the ratchets I was dealing with.
I didn’t realize it was that old.
Remove the two screws, tap square drive onto a hard surface until the bottom plate is loose. Remove the spur and pawl. Clean with brake clean or rubbing alcohol, both work. Renstall spur and pawl and oil with a light oil. Reinstall plate and screws.
The ratchet isnt old old. New script says its 80s and newer.
I have several of that style but not black. Have never oiled a Snap On ratchet, just take apart clean and grease every decade or so
Not my pic, but all this lever style Snap On is the same. Just clean it out and new grease. And if needed rebuild kits are available.
The Snap On script on that ratchet is 80s or newer.
The pics of the two I posted are old script.
Like I said above....maybe his/yours isn't but that ratchet design dates back to the 1940s, at the least. Pretty sure the origins of the 71 go back farther than that, here's one from 1933.
Also, I believe the G may indicate it's a government contract model (in black oxide), yours is a consumer model.
The bonus, from the disassembled photo, it looks like there's nothing particularly susceptible to wear in the ratchet body itself. Aforementioned kit quality warning by @WVJeep304 aside, it should be infinitely rebuildable if maintained.
Good tools made back when we made good shit here. Unfortunately, "Made in America" on new things doesn't mean what it used to...
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Like I said above....maybe his/yours isn't but that ratchet design dates back to the 1940s, at the least. Pretty sure the origins of the 71 go back farther than that, here's one from 1933.
View attachment 687636
Also, I believe the G may indicate it's a government contract model (in black oxide), yours is a consumer model.
The bonus, from the disassembled photo, it looks like there's nothing particularly susceptible to wear in the ratchet body itself. Aforementioned kit quality warning by @WVJeep304 aside, it should be infinitely rebuildable if maintained.
Good tools made back when we made good shit here. Unfortunately, "Made in America" on new things doesn't mean what it used to...
Most on the ones I have had that didnt work were just gunked up. Just gotta be mindful that there is a spring under that ball for the direction change piece
This has inspired me to go take one apart that doesnt work
Most on the ones I have had that didnt work were just gunked up. Just gotta be mindful that there is a spring under that ball for the direction change piece
This has inspired me to go take one apart that doesnt work
After doing more research on them, it's inspiring me to buy one! Being a "massive tool" myself (as labeled by friends), I like a good tool.
These two just didnt ratchet at all in either direction.
Not worn out, just dry and crusty. Cleaned up the gears with a wire brush and did not pull the direction change part. Because it is a major bitch to successfully get the ball on top of the spring in the hole and get the direction change thing back in.
Flex head one is weird. New script head, old script handle.
And those 1/4 drive handle 3/8 drive ratchets are one of my favorites
Greased them up and good as new.
Not worn out, just dry and crusty. Cleaned up the gears with a wire brush and did not pull the direction change part. Because it is a major bitch to successfully get the ball on top of the spring in the hole and get the direction change thing back in.
Flex head one is weird. New script head, old script handle.
And those 1/4 drive handle 3/8 drive ratchets are one of my favorites
Greased them up and good as new.
These two just didnt ratchet at all in either direction.
Not worn out, just dry and crusty. Cleaned up the gears with a wire brush and did not pull the direction change part. Because it is a major bitch to successfully get the ball on top of the spring in the hole and get the direction change thing back in.
Flex head one is weird. New script head, old script handle.
And those 1/4 drive handle 3/8 drive ratchets are one of my favorites
Greased them up and good as new.
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View attachment 687667
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If you're a Snap-On guy, I've got a TM711A ratchet available for purchase. Make very special price for you...
Speaking of Snap-On ratchets and repair kits, I just came across this reference, might be useful:
https://public.snapon.com/RatchetRepairKits/RepairKits.pdf
Ok, answered my own question. There were two virtually identical Craftsman ratchets, the "BE" which is this one, from 1935 to "early 40s". There was also the "Circle H", which was "late 30s to late 40s". In any event, they're quite easy to take apart and clean - so I'm gonna do that and see if the "false shift" in the direction lever gets better.
How about an old ratchet that didnt ratchet anymore so we picked it up for near nothing.
1980s find at a Tulsa pawn shop
1980s find at a Tulsa pawn shop
KennethS
TJ Expert
WTH? Where’s the rest of it? Or is that stub the actual handle? Is that a no-torque wrench?
Most of the 3/4 drive and up are just ratchet heads. You purchase the type of handle you want separately for your needs.
KennethS
TJ Expert
Ah, I had no idea. 3/4” is way more wrench than I have ever needed for working on any of my cars.
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