Do you lube your ratchet?

[pwd72s]

I figure what's good for snap-on is good enough for me. short video...maybe 6 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ryrqy1DvYH4&ab_channel=DIYNexus

[masraum]

I've never lubed a ratchet.

[Evans, Marv]

Me neither. Now I'm starting to panic.

[GH85Carrera]

Yea, I prefer lube, but I never called it my ratchet.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Yea, I prefer lube, but I never called it my ratchet.

Make sure it's NOT petroleum based. I believe water based is the standard recommendation.

[pwd72s]

Well, tools are $pendy. Makes sense to me to take care of them. This sort of a confession. Just disassembled, cleaned up. and lubed an old Sparta ratchet (actually made by New Britian, sold by Napa decades ago,) I have...it suffered a life of rattling around in a metal toolbox I carried in my pickup for decades. Nearly frozen solid, needed to use pliers to get it to change direction. Figuring nothing to lose, I took it apart, removed all the gunk via carb cleaner & a toothbrush, light lube on the parts, reassembled, now works like new.

[vash]

i'll ocasionally lube my ratchet when i lose control of the fast exiting hot oil from my drainpan. good to go.

[speeder]

Funny because I do not lubricate them in general but I picked up my small 1/4” ratchet yesterday and it felt sticky when switching directions. I dripped some 3-in-1 oil into the cracks and it feels like new again. 3-in-1 is one of the greatest penetrating oils ever, IMO. It seems to clean and de-stick things instantly.

[Bill Douglas]

It's never occurred to me to lube it. And I'm into maintenance.

I was about to throw out and replace my 1/4 ratchet. But, umm, what you say sure does make sense. I'll spray some Wurth HHS 2000 in to flush out gunk and leave it lightly oiled.

[masraum]

I think we need to figure out what the best ultrasonic cleaner is to really get the gunk out. Then a dip in something to displace any moisture to cause rust, then a lube. May want to check things out, maybe polish the pawls for a smooth action, hit anything that looks rounded with a file to tune up the holding power too.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by vash

i'll ocasionally lube my ratchet when i lose control of the fast exiting hot oil from my drainpan. good to go.

Good point, most of mine are probably fine from some project or another.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by masraum

I think we need to figure out what the best ultrasonic cleaner is to really get the gunk out. Then a dip in something to displace any moisture to cause rust, then a lube. May want to check things out, maybe polish the pawls for a smooth action, hit anything that looks rounded with a file to tune up the holding power too.

LOL

Yeah, those fools out there who don't idolize their ratchets, they just don't understand.

[stevej37]

Does lubing make the 'righty tighty' work better?

[Rusty Heap]

where can you take a Craftsman 3/8" ratchet to get replaced, or parts for the ring/pawl on them? Or do I have a fishing weight?

[rfuerst911sc]

I installed zerk fittings in all my ratchets 😁

[stevej37]

^^^ studded...a great idea!

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

where can you take a Craftsman 3/8" ratchet to get replaced, or parts for the ring/pawl on them? Or do I have a fishing weight?

Assuming you were serious, you could take it to Lowes to exchange it for China made krap. OR if USA made, take it apart. it may be just full of krud. Yes, repair kits for several ratchet brands can be found on ebay...but the ones made for the chinese Craftsman stuff don't work on the USA made ratchets. Check youtube for "how to" videos.

OR..don't bother. Just buy new. But really, why? The disassembly, clean & lube, and reassembly, took me less time than a trip to a store to buy a new one.

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Does lubing make the 'righty tighty' work better?

I don’t know about that, but it’s certainly easier to do the double backhand. :/

[Robert Coats]

Originally Posted by masraum

I think we need to figure out what the best ultrasonic cleaner is to really get the gunk out. Then a dip in something to displace any moisture to cause rust, then a lube. May want to check things out, maybe polish the pawls for a smooth action, hit anything that looks rounded with a file to tune up the holding power too.

I recall a guy like that (RIP Phil Hartman):

[fanaudical]

Why YES, I do lube my ratchets - about once every 10 years or so. I think I did them all last in the fall of 2019. I find the grease dries out and they start to get gummy and not ratchet correctly.