How to Lubricate a Craftsman Ratchet (VH-44809)

[@benjaminbeebe9182]

I used to work at a sears hardware store 2001-2006. So many people would take beautiful old ratchets and return them for newer ratchets. I would take the old ones and refurb them. Such an easy task. Well worth it for keeping my own beautiful ratchets.

[@learnsavediy]

Great point! I couldn't agree more. Our society is pushing consumerism so much that people are just wanting to replace rather than "fix". It doesn't help with how cheaply/poorly things are made now but if you can make something last, by all means!

[@petemoore8923]

My grandfather bought me a Craftsman ratchet set in probably 1985. 3/8 and 1/2. I bought a duplicate set of 3/8 in the 90’s to keep in my truck. The ratchet my grandfather gave me crapped out at some point (before KZbin) and I took the guts out of the second wrench I bought and put them in the older wrench and got a replacement for the newer wrench. Why? Sentimental reasons I guess. I still have the one he gave me and it gets used regularly.

[@petemoore8923]

@@learnsavediy Well said! It’s amazing what you can repair with a little knowledge.

[@learnsavediy]

@@petemoore8923 And to your point about sentiment, I'm the same way. My first tool was a set of Stanley screwdrivers from my grandfather that are nothing fancy but mean so much that I keep them clean and utilized given they tell a story.

[@nothankyou5524]

Not since Sears and Craftsman started selling garbage, I'm sure

[@renebollengier1111]

The dirt on your cardboard was killin me!

[@nothankyou5524]

That's what you got outta this? Got OCD or something?

[@brycesenff8313]

Me too, take apart and clean and put clean parts on a clean towel for lube and reassembly.

[@xanderz161]

Right? 😵

[@Hatim.13]

Rip

[@jerrycleveland2812]

Also, remember to depress the socket retaining ball and spring on the square driveshaft and lube it with a drop or two of oil. Makes snapping sockets on and off much easier!

[@learnsavediy]

I can't believe I overlooked this. Thank you, Jerry! Definitely don't neglect the ball detent.

[@Icehso140]

Mine quit working and Sears gave me the internals on warranty. Taking it apart I noticed it was just dirty. Kept the rebuild kit in the drawer. That was 40 years ago.

[@learnsavediy]

Always nice to have a spare!

[@pennywise8182]

Everyone rags on these Craftsman ratchets but all you have to do is keep them clean and they work like a charm....I use new motor oil on all my ratchets...Easy to clean.....Easy to re-apply in the future.👍👍👍

[@learnsavediy]

Well said!

[@brianp6965]

I use motor oil on mine too, but only because I accidentally drop them into an oil pan pretty regularly.

[@July.4.1776]

Older ratchets had an oil hole on the very top center.

[@learnsavediy]

Thanks!

[@oleboy4332]

Great job! Craftsman is a wonderful American company and make incredible stuff.

[@oleboy4332]

I guess was. Do they make anything here anymore?

[@simpleman2004]

UHHHH are you sure? I think they come from china now.

[@oleboy4332]

Now they do, yeah. 😩

[@branned]

Craftsman was a brand not a company.

[@oleboy4332]

@@branned ok whatever man. Great catch and not at all a waste of time

[@Dirt-Diggler]

I clean it with brake cleaner then simply put it in a pan of grease on a hob, heat the grease first then put the ratchet in the hot grease and it will suck the grease into the head, no snap rings or screws to mess with, i boil my ratchets every few years AND my ratcheting spanners 👍 sounds wierd i know but it works, slightly more dangerous than your way cos hot grease is a bit dodgy but it's kept my 40 year old tools working just fine 👌

[@learnsavediy]

In my opinion anything is better than nothing. Sounds like a great tip to get multiple things lubricated at once

[@George-tz1cv]

👏🏻For not editing out the difficulties removing the snap ring. They can be a pain.

[@learnsavediy]

Especially if you use crappy snap ring pliers, like I do!

[@johnhargis4566]

With regular care those older craftsman rachets will last the average diy er forever

[@learnsavediy]

Exactly!

[@skillet7805]

When taking anything apart 1st time layout parts pieces in order of removal

[@learnsavediy]

Nice tip!

[@jeffhildreth9244]

@@learnsavediy Not a "tip", it's part of the process.

[@jeffreyshepherd8488]

Thanks for the vid! I have 3 broken 1/4" drive crafstman ratchets i wonder if i can cobble together 1 good one. They are broken in different ways

[@learnsavediy]

You’ve got nothing to lose! Worst comes to worst, you can warranty them!

[@jeffreyshepherd8488]

@@learnsavediy right! I find it's a lot harder to do that now though

[@learnsavediy]

@@jeffreyshepherd8488 don’t give up. Try another store or just contact craftsman directly. I have warrantied every broken tool I have eventually.

[@gfriedman99]

@@learnsavediyDoes Lowes honor these old craftsman tool warranties or just Sears?

[@rawbacon]

@@gfriedman99 Lowe's and ACE Hardware both honor the warranty.

[@tmcorey1]

What about one that the little socket retention ball no longer works? Thoughts on repairing that issue?

[@learnsavediy]

You mean on the square drive of the ratchet that holds the socket on? I’d douse it in a solvent (wd40, brake clean, ipa, acetone, etc) to help break up the rust and then apply some 3in1 oil or something similar (even atf)

[@tmcorey1]

@ yes. Thank you. So they are unserviceable? No way to change the ball or spring?

[@nelsonfernandez7473]

Im 58 years old since i was 5 my dad had me the hand me tool boy ,I only use craftsman and i still have tools that i have had since I was 12 not to mention my dad's tools when he passed very good tools at good prices

[@learnsavediy]

I have a lot of craftsman hand-me-downs that have served me well. They take care of you if you take care of them!

[@JourneymanRandy]

I have placed all my rachets in a soup can of trans fluid three or more times a year over night and they never need to be taken apart. I've been doing this for over thirty years. Grease holds onto dirt. Oil flushes out dirt. No grease in my ratchets ever.

[@learnsavediy]

Nice tip. I’ll have to give it a try. Some ratchets are a pain to disassemble

[@onmyworkbench7000]

I use *_WD-40 and a acid brush_* to clean the old dried grease from small places like the ones in this ratchet and on all of the parts.

[@learnsavediy]

Nice tip!

[@johnroberts4823]

I bought two new in box craftsmen rachets 1/4” drive and 3/8” drive and both went bad after 5 uses! I need to return them and see what they will do about it?

[@learnsavediy]

Yeah I’m not super happy with the new craftsman stuff. That’s ridiculous it broke so quickly!

[@eamonnmckeown6770]

I did this last year for a 20+ year old one that had stopped working in one direction years ago. Worked a charm. Then the detent ball for the socket stopped working. lol. Not a terribly heavily used ratchet either.

[@c.j.cleveland7475]

A Craftsman rebuild kit will have a new drive gear assembly with it, if you haven't gone that route yet.

[@jeffhildreth9244]

@@c.j.cleveland7475 The new parts are junk.

[@doctorrs5317]

Washing the entire parts set with paint thinner will make it quicker and much cleaner.

[@bobbylibertini]

Any idea where I can get the little drive mode selector switch Just like the one on your ratchet? The one on my 1/2" Crapsman is missing (Likely from using the ratchet for it's intended purpose...as a hammer...literally days after getting a new Gearwrench set. I think the Crapsman got jealous!)

[@learnsavediy]

Have you checked eBay? They usually have misc parts like that for a decent price.

[@bobbylibertini]

@@learnsavediy Yeah, I did check Ebay- they only had one, and it wasn't the right one..and they wanted 10 bucks for it. Guess I'll just have to retire that ratchet (Meh...it wasn't that great anyway...just hate to lose something because of my own stupidity) Thanks for the reply,m and nice video!

[@virgilflores8754]

Just go to Lowes and trade it in for a new one.

[@bobbylibertini]

@@virgilflores8754 My local Lowe's told me to call Crapsman...so I did. They're sending me a new one. That was unexpected! Old one lasted me 30 years- albeit it's pretty crappy compared to the Gearwrench ones i have now...but for free, I'll take it! (We'll see how long the new one lasts.... )

[@8luggarage]

Interesting video. I like my US made craftsman tools. But hate the ratchets. I use imported ratchets because they work way better. I will try this on my craftsman ratchets

[@learnsavediy]

I’m not using these much either but I have found it helpful in slightly improving performance and longevity.

[@craigdave3266]

I use a bic lighter spring and cut it shorter and u get less back drag and save the old spring

[@learnsavediy]

Awesome tip, especially as it can be hard to find replacement parts

[@jimclifford1241]

Craftsman used to be the standard for good tools. Now they are garbage. Shame. I have other ratchets that are older than I am, and they don't require maintenance.

[@learnsavediy]

I will concur that the new stuff is not anything like the old stuff.

[@branned]

Use WD40 to clean everything first before the new grease. Steel wool will take off that rust also with WD40. My local Snap-on truck guy just uses motor oil not grease to reassemble even though the parts kits come with that same brand of grease from Snap-on.

[@learnsavediy]

Thanks for the tip!

[@jonyoung6405]

So many better choices of ratchets today . Can’t believe I used a craftsman as long as I did .

[@learnsavediy]

What’s your new go-to? I have been giving Icon a try and been happy so far

[@jonyoung6405]

@@learnsavediy My favorite 3/8 drive is Carlyle R38LFQR with locking swivel head. I still have my old Craftsman USA ratchet too .

[@zapa1pnt]

I have Always had a terrible time with snap rings Those things are an absolute B. It doesn't matter at all what brand tool you use. 😁✌🖖

[@learnsavediy]

These style of snap ring pliers truly are the worst 😂

[@renebollengier1111]

Use a channel lock brand snap ring tool. Works well

[@lizard944]

I bought a set of German Knipex. Total game changer

[@kensmith3665]

Just for what it’s worth I bought a new craftsman ratchet and it just broke internally under minimal use… I just tossed it in the garbage…. Lifetime guarantee…. Worthless…. Now an old school one like this is worthy or refurbishment.

[@MontanaWelldigger]

Did you use a 2ft. cheater bar on a 1/4 ratchet?? I have many craftsman hand tools of 60's and 70's vintage that are still working fine.

[@lrich8181]

A good place to find old tools is a pawn shop.

[@ekummel]

Unfortunately, I have a low-profile Craftsman Stainless Steel ratchet that I've loved for 40 years that is now skipping...repair kits for this are non-existent...haven't used it in years because it's so unreliable! In fact, all my older Craftsman ratchets are unusable anymore because they no longer hold...and like the link you supplied, there are no repair kits to be had...I just went to my local Harbor Freight and picked up one of theirs...I was that frustrated with my Craftsman ratchets...

[@learnsavediy]

Yes, I don't love craftsman ratchets. I warrantied out another ratchet for a new one and functions horribly. What HF ratchet did you end up going with?

[@IDYLBERRY]

I bought a Gearwrench 3/8" flex head with 72 teeth. Feels good in the hand, easy to work the rotation lever, the flex head doesn't flop. Good tool that's not overpriced.

[@Letsmake123]

Nice!!❤

[@romantrans1]

I have lot's of Craftsman tools. Many are close to 50 years old and still going strong. Too bad they are gone now and nothing but a bunch of Chinese junk.

[@learnsavediy]

I agree. Very unfortunate

[@marcobrownstone]

For best results after disassembly, soke the ratchet in solution of water & salt overnight to get rid of rust. Then clean next day using old toothbrush and assemble & lubricate with light oil.

[@billhamilton7524]

My first set of tools were craftsman 1972..the new stuff is probably china made now

[@learnsavediy]

Most is. Not what it used to be

[@paulc.1639]

Q tip would have been better

[@learnsavediy]

I dislike working with Qtips but a good tip nonetheless!

[@tomallen7699]

Craftsman is junk now, Fischer Price makes better tools than them...

[@learnsavediy]

Hence why you need to make your older stuff last!

[@jeffhildreth9244]

A few years back I took one of my Craftsman ratchets to Sears for a freebee warranty replacement. They said they no longer do that. They overhaul them for you. 30 minutes later the guy comes back out and hands it to me. It's worse. I said give me back my parts, .. he said I tossed them. I said, I want a replacement ratchet. I finally was able to talk to the manager. He gave me a new ratchet. Junk I now get my Craftsman ratches at garage sales.

[@sms9106]

Not so much on older stuff.

[@MasterYoist]

Although Craftsman still promises a lifetime warranty on most tools and 25-year warranty on other tools, they do not honor it. I found out the hard way that Craftsman stopped honoring their warranties when there tools started being made in China. According to the Craftsman spokesman that I conversed with, although the tools still say made in usa, they are not.

[@learnsavediy]

I have had not had any issue warrantying Craftsman hand tools through Lowe's or corporate. What did you try to get replaced and where?

[@jeffhildreth9244]

@@learnsavediy Where ever you went , they did not get the memo. Why bother getting more Craftsman junk? Go to garage sales for older tools.

[@stvargas69]

The AK47 of ratchets Its ugly Its simple It works

[@learnsavediy]

Truth!

[@msilver4888]

i would just return it for the life time warranty

[@learnsavediy]

I personally do not like the new craftsman stuff so for me, it's worth the time and effort to try and revive. To each their own!

[@lonniesamaniego965]

Me too

[@donjohnson3701]

@@learnsavediyforeign made stuff nowadays, might as well buy it at harbor freight.....I take care of my old tools made in the USA

[@WL-mt4mv]

The older ones were made better but the one in the video was not an older one.

[@blackhorse2947]

At 75yo, I grew up using Craftsman tools bought from Sears…………I think the last 30 yrs or so the quality is gone.

[@bigrick7108]

The worst ratchets ever made.

[@learnsavediy]

Have you tried DeWalt's ratchets? I think they might compete for 1st place.

[@jeffhildreth9244]

@@learnsavediy No, I don't buy junk. I do not do business with DeWalt, worst customer in the biz next to Festool and Saw Stop.

[@brycesenff8313]

Not by a long shot, used much worse growing up

[@0505abab]

Why bother they are junk

[@learnsavediy]

Because this might be all someone has to work with. I feel they perform a bit better once lubricated too so it’s worth the $0.08 and 10 minutes of effort.

[@0505abab]

@@learnsavediy I don't know how many I've replaced and it's too bad because a good ratchet is imposable to find

[@learnsavediy]

@@0505abab I hear you. It isn’t my favorite ratchet but I had one just like it when I got started so anything I could do to make it better was absolutely worth it.

[@brycesenff8313]

Bought my craftsman tools in the mid to late eighties and still work great, have my Dad's old socket set of Herbrand and they still work great for a DIY'r.

[@jeffgriffith7003]

I actively avoid using grease on a ratchet because if the grease is thick enough or cold enough, it might prevent the pawl from fully engaging between the teeth and skip across the teeth. I prefer to use a light oil.

[@learnsavediy]

I’ve always used grease on coarse teeth and oil on higher tooth count ratchets but I’ll give it a try on my next one and see the difference. Thanks Jeff!