How to Fix a GearWrench Back Together

I love my GearWrenches, but had one come apart last week. I took the opportunity to show what you'll find inside them and how to get them back together again. Here's my favorite set → amzn.to/2HUfFyw And here's the tweezers I used to get the wedge back in → amzn.to/2CHDHcu
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[@briansmobile1]

To get them to come undone do this: One side is a hair smaller diameter. You push it out from the small side working it in a circle. The C-clip has a gap. Pushing it in a circle (because you can't see where the gap is) gets the gap to pop out. Think the same as you would mounting a motorcycle tire or taking piston rings on and off.

[@wonka4]

Whats the spring for?

[@jacobscutzlas8712]

can you make a video showing this? I had one of mine come apart and put it back togeteher and didnt realize the paw had fallen out and now I can't get it back apart.

[@snap-off5383]

I used to think they'd be a little fragile and needed to be babied, but later watched AvE torture test them and they hold more torque than a snap-on 3/8" ratchet would. Almost twice as much.

[@haywoodyoudome]

Skookum as frig

[@socknetea]

I always thought the same, now I have to find that AvE vid hes great. Thanks for sharing

[@TgWags69]

I've had a two foot cheater pipe on mine. In fact when everything else was bending and slipping off including 6 point sockets and breaker bars, the gear wrench beat everything. I've had my set since 2000 when they first came out....never had a problem. Every once in a while if they get wet they might get kinda stuck but a squirt of penetrating oil and a sharp tap frees them right up.

[@maxhenry1977]

I have some husky ratcheting wrenches with the angled ratcheting head and a little flip lever to change directions i use at work. Love those wrenches.

[@condor5635]

Brian totally awesome video kind of missed the last part of how the snap ring went in but no matter I don't own these wrenches- yet! Best part of the video was the tribute to our amazing country at the end! Gosh what beautiful scenery and amazing fun flying those around! Great work

[@erniemartin654]

I too was also curious on how these wrenches work, now I know. Thanks for posting your video.

[@briansmobile1]

Welcome Ernie- good to hear from you.

[@capman911]

I live near a military base and about umpteen years ago we could get used wrenches like that but they had a gray plastic handle on them, I guess for cheap easy disposal. Then Chraftsman came with an identical set but were coloer coded for different sizes. Now I use The Gearwrench brand also. They are very good quality.

[@fegolem]

That was some nice amber waves of grain and majestic purple mountains in the BFATE.

[@CubasAutomotive]

Awesome! I've always wondered myself. Never had one apart yet! Thanks for posting Brian!

[@5x535]

I just subbed. Thanks for posting this info. I had one fall apart in my hands the other day----all the parts still there. I fumbled around and got it to snap back together without the pawl in place and now can't get it apart to reassemble it properly. Now that I know how to do it, I'll put on my glasses AND my loupes and do this right. Thanks again!

[@jeffmoore2351]

Have 2 fall apart in 3 years.

[@greygoosemafia]

That's amazing!! I have so many sets of them. All awesome. Thx for the video

[@txsviking]

I always wondered too. I have a very old set and have never had one break.

[@briansmobile1]

I've broke five if you count this one, but I use them hard and often. I've broke many wrenches with no moving parts too.

[@andyprairiedog]

Bought my GearWrench set at a yard sale about 6 years ago and love them.

[@gateway8833]

Most Excellent. I find if there’s an omitted size in a tool set that is going to be the most needed for the job. Especially 15mm.

[@briansmobile1]

Oh geez, yeah. That's your 5/8th inch, or your Ford/BMW wrench.

[@TheWwbartman354]

Thanks Brian! I've have wondered the same!!

[@dariocarafa3788]

You totally killed the glory shot. I just watched the whole video for that last part and you bunked it up 🤣🤣🤣

[@68cuda383]

I have a set of Gearwrench reversible that I purchased after my Snap-it-off,I mean Snap-on kept having to be replaced.Several of them.These GearWrench ones are bullet proof.Thanks for showing how to fix them if they ever broke.

[@briansmobile1]

Welcome Cuda!

[@68cuda383]

I see you are no longer in Alaska.

[@sammocat]

Thanks Brian, another great video. I've been following your adventures ever since you showed us the easy way to layout a gambrel roof. I also appreciated the show of patriotism and parasailing scenery. We need more of both. Ever try an ultralight? Go for a ride in a two seater, it cuts the risk factor by a large percentage. LOL!! Be careful in all that you do and watch your top knot. .

[@ozzstars_cars]

Cool parasailing footage

[@sirsweetness8332]

I have this set and have only used a few of them but the ratcheting mechanism seems strong.

[@briansmobile1]

It's VERY strong. It's based on a tire chock principle inside a strong ring.

[@rwbishop]

Related: I don't have any ratcheting box end's... however, I do take my (non sealed) ratchets apart from time to time for a clean & lub. Keeps them working smooth & silky. I've found that oil type engine 'assembly lube[1]' works perfectly in _most_ of them. Also, for the 'pear head' ones with that nasty to install pawl spring & ball, there is a special tool... try to talk your Snap On guy out of one, or some people make & sell them on eBay. (Do the spring/ball dance with your hands & ratchet inside a transparent plastic bag to contain inevitable flying parts... and note that some pear head ratchets have 'staked in' reverse levers... but can still be cleaned reasonably well with brake cleaner.) [1] The stuff I have is 'Lucas' high performance simi-synthetic assembly lube... that claims a bunch of Zinc, Moly & other goodies, but I think most any of them would be fine.

[@briansmobile1]

Great tips- thanks!

[@gottaprepordie]

Oh man, I work in a factor and can't tell you how many I've had fall apart. We just through them in the trash. 🗑 wish I knew they could be put be together!

[@jasonochs8369]

its amazing how much waste these companies "allow". I cringe whenever I come across dewalt drills in the scrap bin for dumb reasons like the rubber trim on the grip came off, or vice grip clamps because theyre covered in silicone. And the amount of consumables they use are astonishing. I tell people "if you had to buy that, you would be a LOT more aware of waste" They reply with "what do you care, its not coming out of your pocket". "Oh, but it is....your raise is directly related to profit and youre throwing profit away"

[@mr.carguy3161]

Just bought one of their XL 12 mm double box end ones for removing my driveshaft. I LOVE gearwrench!

[@snap-off5383]

12mm driveshaft bolt? Gearwrench doesn't make anything unique, they're a brand put on "runs" of tools made in china and taiwan that also make those same tools for other companies like pittsburgh, carlyle, milwaukee, capri, etc These are "ratcheting combination wrenches" I guess in the north western "midwest" it seems they've gained the moniker "gearwrenches" like we call "facial tissues" by a brand-name "Kleenexes".

[@mr.carguy3161]

@@snap-off5383 Gearwrench wrenches may be made by a larger company -Apex Tool Group or ATG- But, they do NOT make Pittsburgh wrenches. Those are the CRAPPIEST wrenches I ever bought! Snap-on are great, Craftsman are good enough. But so is the Gearwrench brand racheting wrenches. When you can put a wrench on a driveshaft bolt, and put a cheater bar over it, pull hard on it, and it breaks it loose WITHOUT breaking, slipping off, or stripping the bolt head, that's a tool made with good, quality metal. That's what I was saying.

[@snap-off5383]

@@mr.carguy3161 Even Apex doesn't make everything apex makes. Like I was saying they order runs from the same factories in asia. Did you read country of origin? Pittsburgh stuff is made in china, india, vietnam, and taiwan. The only stuff that would be the same as gearwrench would probably be the made in taiwan stuff althought there's a line of CR-MO gearwrench sockets that are made in china that are just like glass, and they may share origins with made in china pittsburgh stuff. Some ratcheting wrenches with the pittsburgh name on them are carbon-copies of the gearwrench ones. Of course suppiers ship different "runs" to different stores so mileage may vary especially when they're doing a higher volume run and having more than one factory fill their orders (like some of the full mechanic's tool sets from harbor freight the made in china ones are junk and the made in taiwan ones are renown, even though they look almost identical). My pittsburgh ratcheting wrenches are 10 year old made in taiwan ones. They do look different than the ones on the shelves now. I've done exactly what you said with mine. Their design holds more torque than a snap-on 3/8" ratchet does, if you haven't seen AvE's torture test of these its worth a view. EDIT: I've also obtained "Gearhead" made in taiwan ratcheting wrenches, and have had great success with them in torturous situations.

[@mr.carguy3161]

@@snap-off5383 I must say, you taught me something today. I believe mine are made in Taiwan. That's what I look for. I try to steer away from China made wrenches, rachets, and sockets. But like you said, there's gems in different batches if you know where to look. Great info though. Thanks!

[@cpcoark]

Glad you shared this. To bad you was off camera when putting it back together. But, you goit the idea across.

[@briansmobile1]

I was pretty hard on myself for that. I was going to re film it, but it was 1am in post when I caught it. It's tough when you're on the hunt and focused on 1 thing. When you film you have to focus on being in frame, lines to say, and on top of that figure out how to do what you're doing. I dropped the ball. Not enough sleep and too much task saturation.

[@cpcoark]

Don't beat your self up. It was still an excellent video. I have a couple wrenches that I will now disassemble to clean & oil. Your video showed the secrete.

[@miriamvivo4279]

Muchas gracias brian now I know. Still have that po448 getting rid the 2006 sti checking out the honda civic type r

[@briansmobile1]

Have you tested your vent valve and vent valve circuit/wiring to see what's happening at the plug? I would guess there's water in the plug, the harness got pinched, or the valve is bad from being beat on in a bad motor swap or head gasket job.

[@josipdrazin6708]

I love them because they fit mostly anywhere

[@BOBHANNA01]

I bought a set at Sears when they first came out, not tthinking to much of them but there pretty tough, some years later bought the flex head good tool with good quality finish.

[@kdipi]

Got worried when my cheaper wrench came apart like that. Thanks for the explanation. It's back together now.

[@closertothetruth9209]

yeh ive had some cheaper ones fall appart on me, such a small piece of metal that can handle so much force. never owned gear wrench but they must be ok if you have used them for a living.

[@silverssonyoutube8438]

Mine is missing the snap ring for my 9mm . Not sure what size replacement I need

[@petemoss9693]

Thank's for sharing this video with all us subscribers - now we know

[@borilopez8581]

And the question that i think everybody has How take that ring out

[@briansmobile1]

To get them to come undone do this: One side is a hair smaller diameter. You push it out from the small side working it in a circle. The C-clip has a gap. Pushing it in a circle (because you can't see where the gap is) gets the gap to pop out. Think the same as you would mounting a motorcycle tire or taking piston rings on and off.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Great video I have a ton of them gear wrench wrenches

[@chrisjones6165]

I've had good luck with warranties at Menards. Tools to cheap too bother with for me. Nice to know how it works though. I hate China tools but have beat on my reversible ratcheting wrenches and no issues. Really like em for beam clamps on that square nut they work great

[@heavysnow8616]

Great stuff Brian. Thank you very much.

[@brianpenney1215]

I've had several of these come apart and repaired them the same way you did. Do you have a video showing how to repair wrench set you showed at the end of your video with the left right switch/ on off leaver?

[@jetenginethrust863]

You're a mechanic, why didn't you show everything? I wanted to see a close up of how the snap ring goes back in. I'm sure I could figure it out but the other viewers would like to see it and the gear going back in also. Thanks for sharing though, at least we know how they're made and what parts are in them.👍

[@zeez4178]

One of mine had siezed up with rust so will have to overhaul it

[@theadventuresofjavier8698]

Very nice. Thanks B

[@briansmobile1]

Welcome Javier!

[@JSchrumm]

Spacely sprockets and cogswell cogs.

[@gcarson19]

James Schrumm Jaaamesss! Stop this crazy thing!!!

[@jackhenry290]

A strip of metal came out of one of mine. Must have been that snap ring. It still works fine though 😅

[@sergeibzk]

But when you put the holding ring inside, the ratchet wasn't on the camera....😢 I was looking how to assemble them back together Maybe you have another video?

[@MorrowSind]

Great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@DlaMajsterkowicza]

Thanks for sharing

[@briansmobile1]

You're welcome!

[@anthonyhitchings1051]

thanks so much

[@antegas]

Good vid! i LIKE IT. Question? How did you take out ring?

[@briansmobile1]

As I explained, it came out when I was torquing it at an angle. To get them to come undone do this: One side is a hair smaller diameter. You push it out from the small side working it in a circle. The C-clip has a gap. Pushing it in a circle (because you can't see where the gap is) gets the gap to pop out. Think the same as you would mounting a motorcycle tire or taking piston rings on and off.

[@DesmondHughes]

Couldn’t see how you fixed it!

[@joachimjohan1215]

great vid brian! but why do you need us to click the bell?

[@briansmobile1]

If you click the bell you'll be notified when I launch a new video. The more views a video gets right when the video launches the better reach the video has for being recommended when people search that topic.

[@spankey0069]

Thanks

[@briansmobile1]

Welcome!

[@rfrashid]

GOOD VID THANKS BRIAN

[@FishFind3000]

I love mine.

[@jeffmoore2351]

Had two fall apart in 3 years so much for lifetime warranty. Have saved your video and subscribed as I cannot afford these sets to drop their guts whenever they want. Thanks Aussie Jeff

[@frontspring1]

Brian is the only person I know that would dissamble a gearwrench.Must be many neurons synapses firing in his brain.

[@paulsmith9341]

Is it possible to take it apart for cleaning and lubing or so you have to wait until is falls apart?

[@briansmobile1]

To get them to come undone do this: One side is a hair smaller diameter. You push it out from the small side working it in a circle. The C-clip has a gap. Pushing it in a circle (because you can't see where the gap is) gets the gap to pop out. Think the same as you would mounting a motorcycle tire or taking piston rings on and off.

[@paulsmith9341]

@@briansmobile1 cool. Understand completely. Thanks!

[@HugDeeznueces]

you like these better than craftsman and snapon?

[@OttoByOgraffey]

I would love to see how you did it, but you have to be in the camera shot.

[@georgebonney90]

Wow like peeking behind the curtain,thx man

[@danb.3397]

That helped a bit

[@disabledsubmarinevet6717]

My son is a hand glider instructed and won 2 time youngest

[@chrisjones6165]

Why not warranty

[@tlover94]

The gears they have 72 teeth

[@JuanOrtiz-mo8be]

End of video was fenominal AMERICA THE GREAT.

[@briansmobile1]

Thanks! Stuff like that I put on my other channel- theskiviking. You can see and share it from there without the end cards over it. → kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHi6enh_mLZ4Z6M

[@mycorrhizae1832]

Nope craftsman was the first to come up with this type of tool

[@joebriggs9599]

yes but a flex head is so much better.

[@briansmobile1]

Locking flex heads are, but at a cost. You lose torque and add fail potential. My favorite ones are the offset with a switch as shown.

[@davidbronicki5024]

Those are at box and ratchets there are no gears in those.

[@postonme]

they're also lifetime warranty