Lubing Hyper Tough Ratchets.

[stchman]

Hello all. I recently got these ratchets from the clearance aisle at my local Walmart. They were only $12 for the entire set. They appear to be about the same quality as the Harbor Freight Pittsburgh ratchets, heck they might be the same maker with a different logo stamped on them.

Robot or human?

My question is, has anyone tried to take the back cover off? I like to lube my ratchets as a LOT of manufacturers simply leave the gears almost dry. There are two T-10 torx screws on the front, but the back where there is a single torx screw there looks to be a peened over rivet of some kind.

I was able to take the screws out of the from and squirt some oil in the mechanism, I gather this will probably be good enough.

Thanks.

 

[Trav]

Sure and if it isnt sealed just drop the heads in a jar/can of ATF overnight or the whole weekend and take nothing apart. Let it drip out on a paper towel, wipe it off and you are good to go.

 

[AutoMechanic]

Haven’t seen the ones with the knurled handle very cool. I agree drop it in some ATF and adding grease or oil to it should be just fine.

 

[Creekside]

I haven’t done those but have had several other HF and Kobalt ratchets apart. I use the moly engine assembly lube. I tried regular grease once but my 1/4 ratchet wouldn’t ratchet when it was cold. I store most of my everyday use tools in a job box in my truck so they stay cold for a while.

 

[stchman]

Haven’t seen the ones with the knurled handle very cool. I agree drop it in some ATF and adding grease or oil to it should be just fine.

The knurled handle does make it easier to grip.

I was able to take the screws out of the front and use my needle oil bottle to squirt oil in. I gather that if the teeth strip on the ratchet just throw it away,

 

[AutoMechanic]

The knurled handle does make it easier to grip.

I was able to take the screws out of the front and use my needle oil bottle to squirt oil in. I gather that if the teeth strip on the ratchet just throw it away,

Lol yeah or if they offered a rebuild kit you could rebuild it. I’ve rebuilt many of my dads old ratchets but these I don’t think they would sell a rebuild kit for.

 

[Delta]

Sure and if it isnt sealed just drop the heads in a jar/can of ATF overnight or the whole weekend and take nothing apart. Let it drip out on a paper towel, wipe it off and you are good to go.

This is a very good tip, I've saved several older Craftsman ratchets that way. Let them sit a week and they're like new! Yes they make rebuild kits for them, but I doubt they're the same quality as the original internals; most of them are from the 80's.

 

[AutoMechanic]

This is a very good tip, I've saved several older Craftsman ratchets that way. Let them sit a week and they're like new! Yes they make rebuild kits for them, but I doubt they're the same quality as the original internals; most of them are from the 80's.

They don’t have Craftsman rebuild kits anymore. Unless you find one on eBay or something. They give you a whole new ratchet.

 

[Delta]

They don’t have Craftsman rebuild kits anymore. Unless you find one on eBay or something. They give you a whole new ratchet.

Oof, even more of a reason to let them soak in ATF...

 

[4WD]

They don’t have Craftsman rebuild kits anymore. Unless you find one on eBay or something. They give you a whole new ratchet.

People used to brag about finding abused tools at garage sales for a buck … and take to Sears for a freebie

 

[AutoMechanic]

People used to brag about finding abused tools at garage sales for a buck … and take to Sears for a freebie

Lol I know. Craftsman warrantied my parking lot find ratchets so I’m pretty pleased. Not as good as USA but oh well I didn’t have to turn the old ones in since I went through them directly.

 

[AutoMechanic]

Oof, even more of a reason to let them soak in ATF...

True. But you don’t have to turn the old ones in lol.

 

[SZR48207]

Well now I'm curious if any of my old ratchets can be taken apart and lubed. Some have been used for decades without any service done to them.

 

[demarpaint]

People used to brag about finding abused tools at garage sales for a buck … and take to Sears for a freebie

Been there done that a few times many years ago.

 

[Trav]

This is a very good tip, I've saved several older Craftsman ratchets that way. Let them sit a week and they're like new! Yes they make rebuild kits for them, but I doubt they're the same quality as the original internals; most of them are from the 80's.

A lot of people poo poo ATF as a ratchet lube but ATF is a great lube for non sealed ratchets, you figure ATF is even used in some manual transmissions that are all gears in there and they last a lifetime so it obviously protects gear teeth.
The other thing is it really reduces back drag better than any other lube I have use. This is huge, there is nothing worst than having a loose bolt in a area you cant get your fingers in and the ratchet just moves the bolt back and forth.

Back in the day when I was doing this every day I would throw the ratchets in the ATF on Friday at the end of the day and start working with them on Monday and never had any problems with the tools.

 

[UncleDave]

Folgers can with ATF - worked for Grandpa, Dad, and me.

 

[UncleDave]

This is huge, there is nothing worst than having a loose bolt in a area you cant get your fingers in and the ratchet just moves the bolt back and forth.

In the heat of battle with such bolts, my Grandad wove a tapestry of obsenity that as far as we know, is still hanging in space over Lake Michigan.

 

[Oildudeny]

That’s a great idea sitting the ratchet in ATF... I usually remove the cover and smear a fingers worth of lubriplate no. 105 assembly grease on the gears.

 

[stchman]

Would ATF be so much better than say 5W-30 to soak the ratchets in?

 

[AutoMechanic]

Would ATF be so much better than say 5W-30 to soak the ratchets in?

I don’t think I’d soak one in oil. But that’s just my opinion I don’t think it would react with the grease inside too well.