Vintage Craftsman 3/8" Drive 24T 'Butterfly" or "Flying V" Ratchet Rebuild and Cleaning

This is a DIY of the disassembly, cleaning, inspection, lube and reassembly of a 3/8" drive Vintage Craftsman 24 tooth 'Butterfly' ratchet.
Ratchet lubrication basics video • Ratchet Lubrication Ba...
Here is a list of the items used:
Angle tip needle nose pliers (These are small precision pliers from Tekton, similar to my Craftsman set) amzn.to/2ytlfW4
Small flat blade screwdriver
Ratchet reassembly tool (SPP744) NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM SNAP-ON (July 2019)
Super Lube synthetic grease amzn.to/2XLuUSj
SeaFoam Deep Creep lube/cleaner amzn.to/2S4hM7l
CRC Brakleen (for cleaning disassembled parts) amzn.to/2VCqbQk
2.5L Digital Ultrasonic Cleaner (Similar to Harbor Freight, better basket though!) amzn.to/2zdoWzt
Hammer
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made through the links above. Thanks!)
If you found this video helpful or interesting, please give it a "thumbs up" and consider subscribing. Thanks for watching!
ENJOY THIS VIDEO? SUPPORT US WITHOUT PAYING A DIME!
If you enjoy watching our videos and want to help us produce more, click the link below to learn how you can help without spending a dime! diynexus.com/support/
GET SOCIAL
We post stuff to both our blog and Facebook that doesn't make it to KZbin, so be sure to follow us there!
Blog: diynexus.com
Facebook: / diynexus
Share as: • Vintage Craftsman 3/8"...

[@harv855]

I have this exact model that I purchased new about 1959. I am about to clean and lube as you have done, so this video was all I needed to dig in. I would not have reused the damaged ball. The ball looks to be about the size of a bicycle headset bearing. They sweep these off the floor in bike shops, but I already have a supply of this size and similar sizes. Thanks for the video, I will be going into my wrench tomorrow for the first time in almost 60 years. It should then last another 60 years, long after I am gone. ;-)

[@wwsjr2]

Have the same one here. My favorite go to ratchet for the last 55 years.

[@briantruck2284]

That's a long time

[@rawbacon]

I'll check back in another 55 years and see if you're still using it.

[@marcoperez4712]

Thanks for the video, helped out with a 1/2 inch FLYING V i came upon and needed to clean and lube. Everything worked out and now I have a like new vintage ratchet in my collection.

[@byronvinson5519]

High quality video. 4.5 stars. I was very distracted however when that third hand came into view. I almost laughed out loud.

[@stephenkent8903]

I like that you were able to take apart and clean this vintage craftsman tool and get it back into usable service. I like somewhat older craftsman tools. A 1947 Craftsman Jig/ Scroll saw which belonged to my niece's father in law, 2 1/4" D handle drills from 1954 and 1957 from a friend and neighbor. Then a 6 1/2" and 7 1/2" circular saws I picked up! Old school is cool to use!

[@claytonscheiber3493]

I'm sure glad I stumbled across this video. I have one of these, it's not locked up, still works. It was my Grandfathers. I'm gonna clean it, lube it to help protect against rust and let it lie in retirement next to my other ratchets in the drawer.

[@pinballdave1197]

Hey, thanks for your help. I’ve had an old craftsman ratchet kicking around for a long time. It had totally failed and wouldn’t work. After watching a couple of your videos I tore it down. Now it works great again. Took me a little while to find something to hold the ball and spring in, but in the end, a small piece of metal with a small hole worked.

[@trekzilladmc]

12:00--Sometimes I wish I had three hands like you do :P

[@dfields9511]

Tire Tracks 😆

[@LilasTools]

@@dfields9511 :o

[@urbanlumberjack]

If you don’t have the specialized ratchet rebuild tool from Craftsman, I used the end of a corn dog stick to push the ball bearing down long enough to slip in the pawl, and it worked great! Lol

[@aaronwatson8164]

Thanks for telling the history of it. I have a 1/2 inch version that my dad left me and had no clue how old it was.

[@georgepagonis8516]

Thanks for posting. I recently inherited a few vintage Craftsman ratchets. Looking forward to taking them apart and making them work like new again.

[@f5tornadeau]

That’s cool. I have one that looks exactly like that except it doesn’t have the V shaped selector.

[@ureasmith3049]

Cool. I got a few of those from my dad's toolbox. Didn't realize they were that old.

[@coalheatefm1157]

I have this exact ratchet, still using it.

[@kimchee94112]

Put that wrench in a vice so you don't have to struggle with it. Oh yes make sure to clean out the work area in case the ball and spring flys off or work in a glove box like a sandblasting box to retrieve small flying objects. Don't ask, been there in my blackhole shop with mysterious parts appeared years later.

[@maskedavenger2578]

Good job well done that man ,you should be mentioned in dispatches for going above & beyond in the name of ratchet recommissioning 👍

[@spockworm]

I just bought one of these in a antique store for one dollar and it works great. Man am I happy.

[@MarzNet256]

I have same ratchet except with quick release and frying pan shaped selector. It helps to clamp handle in vise with rag around it to make it easier to work on.

[@chriscalderin6677]

Water and vingigar a no go. Use something mild but evaporats but the rest is great I would have packed that super lube thick it is great grease for solvent free conditions . I have broken ratchets but they are basically forver used within reason I have used the same 1/4 craftsman professionally for 25 years. The detent is going out but still use daily.

[@t-wreckscustoms3745]

Well Done! Very clear resto. Subscribed! T-Wrecks

[@mattbstx75]

I found if you use a stapler to press down on the ball bearing will work too.

[@bruinshockey1990]

could you do a rebuild and lubrication of a craftsman ratchet with oil port?

[@TylerSnyder305]

What I do is hammer the end of a small nail into a paddle shape and put a bit of a dish in it. Takes about 30 seconds to make.

[@4jeffgordon]

At 11:00, the stores were supplied with a tool to depress the ball bearing from the opposite side.

[@benjamins7229]

Currently doing this with a 1/4 Flying V and the parts are very small. Hard to work with

[@workingmanpatriot8760]

Thats some trick with your third hand. Lol

[@funkervogt47]

Can white lithium grease be used inside?

[@davidtrant9373]

I have the same ratchet. How do I know which repair kit to purchase?

[@JKTritt]

1/4” - kit # 4483 3/8” - kit # 4478 1/2” - kit # 4498 Good luck finding a kit. They stopped making them decades ago. If you can find one on eBay, it will cost you. But to preserve the memories, it may be worth it. Most of the time, though, those old ratchets just need a good cleaning and new lube to get them working again. I once found the “Speeder” version (very rare, worth up to $170 on eBay) sitting in a bucket of water at a yard sale for 50¢. It was so rusted up that it took me 3 months to get it apart. In the end, I only had to replace the clips from a donor ratchet and polish it up. So far, I’ve only had to use it once for pulling out a few extremely long bolts, but it did the job and saved a lot of time . Look up “ Craftsman Speeder Ratchet “ , it’s an odd one that was only made for 2 or 3 years.

[@6atlantis]

I have 3 vintage craftsman ratchets I want to restore. How much are these worth in used but working condition?

[@DIYNexus]

It really depends on how old they are, how common they are, and their condition. A quick search on eBay showed me that they range from $15 to $200+ shipped.

[@MorrowSind]

I didn't see any questions answered in the comment section. I'll try one: Is this channel still active? I like the content. Just curious.

[@DIYNexus]

Great question! Heh. Not currently active, but will be starting back up in the near future. Hopefully we'll get a video up explaining the break in content.

[@joshlang4660]

I know this video is 4 years old but I'm currently restoring one myself but in trying to remove the snap ring one of the pins broke has anyone found what the best replacement is or can use any standard snap ring for replacing also if anyone knows where you can get one of the oil ports on top since the one I'm working on was missing when I got it

[@DIYNexus]

I'd bet that the snap ring is a standard one that you could probably get from a good hardware store. Just bring your original broken one as a guide. I don't have any idea on the oil port though!

[@baileythesleepless9966]

I used a guitar string to replace broken retainer rings on mine, seems to work just fine!

[@chriscalderin6677]

All (good) ratchets fail 100 percent from dried grease not including abuse like dirt and over torque

[@johndisalvo6283]

By the looks of those nails you must be a doctor. Am I right?

[@tomallen6073]

That super lube is crap, it will dry out, try some krytox. Amazon.

[@mystuff1405]

Looked up Krytox. Excellent. Thanks. On order.

[@mystuff1405]

I agree. This is not the best.

[@myvicariouslife4012]

break out the wallet

[@briantruck2284]

Synthetic grease

[@tttarms1970]

"Commonly known as the worse ratchet ever made"

[@johndisalvo6283]

Really? Says who? Worse or worst?

[@megaeverything101]

Americana