How To Repair A Craftsman Ratchet Wrench

[@ericboggess3446]

I have the same wrench also. I took it to Sears and an older salesperson said not to trade it in, because it was vintage and of superior quality to anything that they offer today as a replacement. He suggested finding someone to repair it or ordering a replacement kit for the guts. I saw this video, followed the instructions and in about 30 minutes it worked like new. Thank you very much for the video.

[@user-pj5ff6xw4x]

I work for Sears for 35 years tool section if it's got the Craftsman stamp on it we replace it you can now go to any Lowe's and they will replace it doesn't matter how old it is I don't believe a salesman told you that I think you just have too much time on your hands

[@Deadbuck73]

I believe you. There’s a lot of people today that won’t touch anything new from craftsman. It doesn’t bother me because new or old I’ll break it anyways. I’d rather break something new and return it then break a tool that’s been handed down.

[@trimule]

@@user-pj5ff6xw4x Brother, you don't know what you're talking about. I've been to five listed dealers, including Lowe's. Four of them said they (ACE and NAPA stores) were given the option of honoring warranties (unlike the Craftsman site info says) AT THEIR EXPENSE and, of course, "no thank you not interested in that deal", so no warranty replacement. The Lowe's tool guy said their policy was to honor only EXACT item IN STOCK replacements. They don't carry 25 year old models so, sorry, can't help you. As to Sears, of course, they are down from 3500 stores to 50+ and those are in bankruptcy. Craftsman has an online warranty process through Sears website that is long and complicated which may result (eventually) in an online use coupon for the Sears Craftsman website (you pay postage).

[@artgoldsworthy]

@@trimule I worked in tools & hardware at Farm & Fleet. The way they handled warranty was they would only replace if they had the exact model in their normal inventory. Sears is now closing their Home Town Stores in the next two months. Online will be only option. I filed a claim tonight on two ratchets. I am now going to take them apart per this video & see if cleaning them helps. Mine are 45+ years old, forged in USA.

[@stephenhagen234]

I am in the middle or repairing my vintage Craftsman wrench, #43875, 3/8" drive rachet. Getting the detent ball for the lever operation installed is the most difficult part. Reassemble that part of the wrench in a well lit, light colored carpeted area (not shag carpeting) as the spring and the detent ball bearing may inadvertently become airborne and launch into who knows where. I have some old grease for firearms (LubriPlate #103) so that should work fine to lube the gear teeth. I am really somewhat hesitant to use any oil or grease as this attracts dirt and then things quit working. I"ll use a Q-tip to put the grease on as this applies very little. Thank you for making this video. It really helped me!

[@brianhilton1794]

I just want to say thank you for this repair video, my 3/8 needed repair and your video saved my set ,I couldn't find parts, I bought the gearwrench and fixed my ratchet and I'm back in business again, I bought my set back in the late 90s on clearance table at sears for $30.00 51 PC set. Best investment I ever made. Thank you !

[@kitesailor]

I have had my V 43185 since 1969. I inherited it from my father, not sure when he bought it, but as near as I can tell they were first made in 1959. This sounds about right as we was working at a Ford dealer as a mechanic. I was working with it yesterday and somehow the clip that holds the flapper in came loose and the parts fell out in the gravel. I found all the parts, but it was hard to figure out how to put it back together. I found your video and the missing part was the ball bearing. I went out with a big magnet and actually found it. With your help I got it back together and it is probably good for another 50 years. Craftsman tools back then were sure made to last. I was so surprised when starting the video that it was the same 1/4 inch drive ratchet, wow! Thanks for the great video.

[@boballard6040]

My 1/2" and 3/8 drives were pretty much locked up. I spent two 30 minute phone calls with Craftsman to get them replaced and they told me to drive 45 mins. to a Sears that is closing this month. I couldn't even get somebody to answer the phone at the Sears location. So while I was on a long hold with Craftsman I found this video.. I love you man! haha.. It took me 15 mins to do both ratchets which I've had over 20 years.. they work great now. Excellent video.

[@alanbrownstein4407]

I have the exact same socket wrench, part of a large Craftsman tool set I got when I was a kid in the early 80's. I just turned 50 and I still have the set, but this one socket wrench started having the same problem you described. Watched your video and got it taken apart, cleaned and lubed, and reassembled in about 30 minutes. It's working perfectly again. Thanks for the tutorial. I expect to get another 40 years out of it.

[@justinjohnson8221]

I’m 19 years of age and I own this vintage V series set along with the VV set. I only get my tools from garage sales and auctions this particular set was greased up bad to most lost to time but I took it apart and cleaned it out and lubed her up and she’s like brand new. I do this to all tools I find for the conversation and the pride in American made tools

[@davida2043]

Good going kid, I bought my first Craftsman at about the same age, I'm 49 now and still have them all with me. At first I could never afford Snap-on ot Matco, now I just prefer Craftsman because they've stood the test of time.

[@d024130]

Thanks for the video. After 45 minutes I gave up on getting the ball bearing back in and had lunch. After lunch I turned the piece which switches directions upside down, easily got it in place and then pushed the bearing down enough to spin it around to the proper position. I would never have gotten it on right side up without a tool since my 30 year old craftsman 1/4 drive had a slightly longer spring than you show here.

[@DANNYO53]

Excellent video! I got my Craftsman 1/2" drive handle for my 16th birthday (51 years ago). It finally started slipping a couple of days ago. Definitely the "old&dirty" problem. The spring was crusted with dirty grease. Cleaned up and well oiled it works like new. Snap-ring pliers are definitely recommended as it is very fiddly getting the snap rings in without them. You helped me save an old friend...thanks!

[@jaywholoveseveryone1721]

I know this video is 9 years old, but it is sooo relevant today, November 14, 2023. My grandad left me his WHOLE collection of Craftsman _everything_ .(RIP Granddaddy😥❤) I never knew why. Now I know. I'm a single mom who has learned to repair and replace parts on a 2008 vehicle...all with Craftsman tools. I have the same ratchet and it was just not ratcheting. Before I learned of Craftsman's warranty, I almost threw it away. Glad I didn't. I would have thrown away an antique/vintage and sentimental tool that was passed to me from at least 55 years of use. Thank you so very much. ❤ EDIT: Question - Can I use mineral spirits if I don't have paint thinner?

[@stephenhagen234]

Mineral Spirits and Paint Thinner are the same thing. They are used to thin oil based stains and paints and as a degreaser. Just be sure to get far away from anything with an open flame or a spark as it is very flammable. Best to clean outside where there is plenty of fresh air and no possible accidental ignition/explosion from a flame.

[@cunard61]

You have the old "V" style Craftsman Ratchet, and they are the best Craftsman ever made, keep it properly lubed and it will outlive you, and probably your kids too. This is a great "how to" video on some often neglected, but important, routine maintenance. Thanks for sharing.

[@ababner317]

Nothing like the old time tools for durability. I wish a company would sell them. I guess the only ones left are Snap On + Mac tool but they are soooo expensive. I don't know.

[@MichaelLivingston-me]

I found this video very helpful. This may seem hard to believe but the Craftsman 1/2 inch wrench I worked on is nearly 50 years old. It's one of my originals from my earliest tool purchases. Your video gave me the step by step to disassemble, clean and put this wrench into pristine working order. I used to have 100% confidence in Craftsman tools, and this socket drive is exactly why that was a reasonable assumption. I've purchased hand tools, power tools and even a 10 inch table saw from them. That table saw has helped me and the person I gave it to, to build many worthwhile projects, including an addition to a house. I miss quality products like these that set American craftsmanship apart. Now we buy junk overseas and put labels on it that associated a name only.

[@mirek8320]

THANK YOU! I was going to drive down to a Craftsman retail store to exchange my wrench, but I watched your video, and had it all clean and lubed in less time than driving to the store. Works like new!!

[@justinjohnson8221]

mirek8320 no you fuckin aren’t that’s a vintage v series ratchet you got son of a bitch that’s American made

[@c-qc-q2021]

Great vid. My 35 year old 3/8" V ratchet has been slipping for at least 20 years. Now fixed after about 20mins of effort. THX!

[@alyouresocool]

Wow, I have this exact same 20+ year old ratchet, and it started doing the exact same thing today. Working like a charm after stretching that spring just a *tiny* bit, thanks! I had to use a tiny/thin jewellers screwdriver to hold the ball bearing and spring back, so I could slide the underside piece of the lever back in.

[@ToddRyan1]

Eight years after you posted this video, I found it and revived the exact same wrench. I thought I'd have to go swap it for a new, cheaper quality replacement. Mine was so caked with gunk that I couldn't see that their were retaining clips so I didn't know how to get it apart. Thank you for posting this and letting me keep my great old tool!

[@mpraineri]

Just went down to my garage and fixed 2 of my ratchets. One was over 40 years old and just spun around in each direction. That one really needed the spring stretched out a bit. I used a very small flat blade screw driver to hold the bearing in place and depress the spring at the same time. Bottom line is that all of them now work great. Excellent video. 👍

[@cacooke77]

That’s why even though I bought the 450 piece craftsman tool set at a Sears that was closing (60% off!), I kept my old random craftsman ratchets. With a minimum of care, they will out live YOU! Thanks for the video.

[@richardbujaki4746]

Excelent video. Just what I need to repair some Craftman socket wrench's that I bought 55 years ago but are now froze up due to a tool box that leaked. It's a shame the lack of quality tools on the market today. Like my father used to say, "Cheap tools are like cheap women, use once, then discard."

[@carlsteiger2530]

Thanks for the video. Great detail in all the steps. I was going through my toolbox and found a 1/2 craftsman ratchet that I probably haven’t used in 20 years. It was locked up but after watching your video, I felt good about tearing it down, cleaning and reassembling it. Had the super lube on hand already so it was a breeze (aside from the 10 minutes spent trying to deal with the detent ball on the selector…😅). It’s clean, lubed and working like a champ now! Thanks again!!!

[@BM-ru7ef]

So cool. I found a couple Craftsman USA ratchets in my tool box and they were gunked up inside. It was a pain to get the bearing and spring to cooperate but now its a shiny, lubed and working ratchet. Thanks for showing me how to bring it back to life.

[@warrenjoubert4027]

Have a Mastercraft rachet exactly like yours- about 10 years now lying in the cupboard because not working. I even purchased a new one for my set because I needed the set for work. Anyhow, always bugged me that the old 1/4 rachet was not working- even tried to have it repaired by the manufacturer. Now, just followed your video, and working fine. it even went back into its original set, and its replacement has been sidelined for now.

[@zang9147]

I used this video to fix the smaller 1/4 inch Craftsman 43185. At 7:00, where you're replacing the part that slides over the ball bearing, I couldn't do it this way. I aimed to point in the opposite direction, leaving the larger space. Then I held the ball bearing down with the end of a paper clip while I spun it around. PS: you saved a gift I got from my father 37 years ago. Thank you!

[@andym7504]

Just got my exact same ratchet working again thanks to your help. It was seized up for years and now like new.

[@Mr2004MCSS]

Great video. I used it to clean and re-grease my roughly 25 year old Metrinch ratchet that I've had since new. All of the parts were just like this Craftsman has so it was simple to follow. This was the first time it's been apart and cleaned. The insides were still in great shape and it now works like new. Thanks. I also took apart an old SK 1/4" ratchet that I recently bought at a flea market. It had a different setup but was easy to disassemble and put back together. It now works like new and very smooth. I used the same Superlube grease that you did since I had some laying around.

[@mostlymoparih5682]

Good vid. I have a few different styles of Craftsman ratchets and years ago when one of them was not working properly I took it to Sears and at that time they gave you a repair kit. I took the kit home and when I took it apart I found that there was nothing wrong with it. So this video probably will help fix 95 percent of the craftsman ratchets that are not working.

[@benbarrow]

I don't own a Craftsman ratchet wrench, nor do I plan on repairing any soon, but for some reason still found this video fascinating. Thanks!

[@lagrandeconfusion]

I have a useful tip which I discovered during attempts at that most difficult part, inserting the mechanism without pushing the ball bearing out of place: Put the piece in the wrong way, turned 180 degrees from the proper placement, so it fits in easily without disturbing the ball bearing. Then you simply rotate it into place, pushing the bearing down with a small screwdriver when you come to it, & then it'll snap up into its groove when it should. But this video was great, thanks.

[@tomk0314]

Yep, that sure helped. Thanks!

[@mattieserna18]

STEPHEN BILLICK thank you!!!

[@ababner317]

@@mattieserna18 I understand what you mean but I think I need a second person to do it. Does Snap on make a springy metal piece that is used for compressing the ball bearing and the spring?

[@ababner317]

I tried this didn't work for my Grey Pneumatic. I'm sure it works for some situations. Thank You.

[@fiddlegal01]

I used the above video to rebuild my circa 1960's craftsman socket wrench. Everything was a "piece of cake" until I got to assembling with the ball bearing in the proper place. I tried about 20 or so times as shown above. I read your comment, then I used your technique inserting the part 180 degrees the wrong way. I also used a very thin piece of metal (small thin Jewelers file) to hold the ball bearing in place. Got it immediately. Many thanks to RJ, the Bike Guy and to you for your problem solving.

[@AndrewShackleton]

Thanks RJ! Wrench was sitting unused in box for 15 years. Works perfect now.

[@dukefrank]

Thank you , this video helped me restore my vintage craftsman ratchet 44985 to perfect working order, you saved me time and money, much appreciated

[@georgeblack589]

Thanks for the video! I got some old craftsman ratchets in an old box of tools off Craigslist, and now they're working great. Very happy to use them, thanks to you!

[@DavidBishop-y4f]

Oldie but a goodie. My craftsman is like new. No more slippage!! Thank you.

[@svmojo5146]

Excellent! I had my 20+ year old 1/2" 44985 reconditioned in 30 minutes after watching your video. Nicely done.

[@bobkatz9525]

Have same tool here. Was ready to exchange it but now it's like new. Thanks!!

[@Kaedenfu]

Just took it apart and just cleaned it with spray nine then lubricated it with bottom bracket/seat post lube and now it works fine. I got this ratchet from my grandma’s house and had rust all over it and didn’t work, but now it works like a charm! Thanks!

[@johnjohansenjohnj9028]

Thank you. Have a vintage ratchet and nobody was exchanging them. Now my ratchet works good as new and it’s vintage quality. It took 40 years to need grease so guessing another 40 and my son will have to deal with it. Again thank you

[@matthewbyrd398]

Great video! Had the same issue with my 30-year-old Craftsman rachet. Now, its better than new! THANK YOU!!!

[@guitarbass95]

Picked up this wrench for 5 bucks with some adapters at a garage sale, my circlips were a little more annoying to deal with but great guide, especially the emphasis on the ball bearing. Put it back together with some bicycle chain oil because its what I had. I'll probably go back in with the right grease later. It basically gained about 2/3rds of the teeth back.

[@michaelwittman1935]

Yeah I stopped buying craftsman tools when they stopped honoring the lifetime warranty. No need to pay for the name if its not an honorable company. I found another solution to the ball bearing re installation process. After my third try and having the ball bearing hit the floor and find a corner to hide in. I decided to push down the ball bearing with a small flat head screwdriver then install the lever at the same angle which allows for the thickness of the screwdriver to still be in the ratchet. Then slide out the screwdriver worked first try. CAUTION the ball bearing while being pushed down is under pressure if you let go with screwdriver it will fly out the back of the ratchet. This was a fantastic video, thank you for making it!

[@hollymayfield6641]

Thank you for this clear video for an old Craftsman. Just what I needed.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Great!

[@grega659]

Great video. I have the newer version ratchets with the black plastic lever. I did same thing to all three and all work great now without replacing any of the parts.

[@fuzzy19111]

My buddy had a long handle floppy head matco ratchet he found at a junk yard. it was totally seized with rust I offered him 20 bucks for it and he sold it to me. I tore it apart and wire wheeled it all lubed it put it back together and it worked perfect...looked it up and you cant get a new one for less than 100...epic win! He was pissed...lol

[@jimroberts3561]

I have the same wrench with approx 20 years on it. Put a dab of heavy grease on the ball bearing to help hold it in place before reassembly. Thanks for a super informative video!

[@ashleymcgovern5120]

Jim Roberts Yep, Jim's right. I was about to type the same thing but, saw the comments. Rebuilding small RC model belt pulleys requires placing a lot of bbs on the centre part which fall straight through the hole when attaching the sides with the slightest knock. A little engineering grease or Vaseline on the holes keeps them in place.

[@sailawaybob]

older video but hey i got one of these old Craftsman wrenches that skips , i paid $10. for at a antique stores i always liked these and hey Made in the good old USA . i watched this video all the way through than took it apart step by step my fear is losing the bearing or little spring i'm a pro at losing the little stuff but step by step apart clean - i used a dremel with a brush attachment and just penetrating lubricant to clean and only grease i had was for fishing reels hey should be waterproof . Awesome video i have a handful of socket ratchets most china stuff so this will be my new favorite .

[@ababner317]

Great job. I can't believe how easily you got the spring and ball back into the ratchet at 6:15 its been a real pain for me so far.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I have done it a bunch of times. It gets easier with practice. A little luck helps. Snap On used to sell a tool to help hold the ball in, but they don't anymore.

[@ababner317]

@@RJTheBikeGuy I finally got it what a Pain. Made a tool out of a piece of aluminum flashing. Some people say use an index card. I purchased the tool before making it work on Ebay. I think this is the tool you are talking about. Thank You. www.ebay.com/itm/SNAP-ON-ratchet-repair-tool-Craftsman-Rachet-repair-tool-Matco-Rachet-repair/133232367414?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Yeah that is it.

[@worknman78]

Awesome video! I just picked up a V 44975 (1/2" ratchet) and it has a ball on the top for oiling. You can't beat OLD American made hand tools!

[@myvicariouslife4012]

@3:10 Wow, RJ's wearing gloves. Never thought I'd see the day lol. Currently rebuilding all my ratchet wrenches. Thank you for making this video.

[@JTS_RC]

Five years later and this simple procedure still works? Amazing!! Great video, sure helped me out. I was just about to warranty this darn thing!

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I use this wrench frequently, and haven't done anything to it since this video.

[@JTS_RC]

@@RJTheBikeGuy Very nice, mine was all locked up and i sprayed brake cleaner all around and in it before I could think about taking it apart. Once i got inside it was a total rust bucket (if you will) and had to scrub that thing silly. That Super Lube from HF is highly recommended like you said in the video. After a second look at the video your wrench must be 3/8" drive. The wrench I have is a 1/4" still same concept. Anyhow thanks for the informative video.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

@@JTS_RC Yep, same concept. Try scrubbing out the rust with a nylon bristle brush and soap/water. Maybe use the WD-40 to help. I love Evaporust for serious rust. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6u7q3l8jceog9k

[@Deadbuck73]

I have the older version of this ratchet in 3/8s. The pawl is approximately 3/4s round and the spring is longer and comes up out of the hole a bit more. The pawl going back in is such a booger. The pawl is not shaped like the batwing in this video. I used a very thin spark plug gaper tool to push the bearing down while fighting to get the pawl back in. I’d also recommend greasing the bearing a bit as well as the spring so when you drop the bearing it won’t go rolling away on you. So in total paid 2$ for it and went to the local bike shop for a new bearing. I was charged 10¢ for it. Nice little ratchet for $2.10! We’ll see how it goes on whatever comes up next!

[@bannedbycommieyoutube5time920]

This was extremely helpful, I was able to get 4 very grungy ones working like new, all from the 1960’s and 1970’s inherited from my Grandfather.

[@TheMacGeek]

Thank you for making this video, I've been looking all over how to do this properly.

[@jubyloo2]

Great video. Have an old Craftsman with same issues. Will give it a try

[@mwesbrooks]

Well done, well explained & good visual. Guys like you make my life easy. 👍👍

[@robertleftwich1122]

Colonel Hogan - I’ve been a engine mechanic for 50 years, both at home and Railroad Machinist. I collected many of my tools buying from pawn shops. I have 8 of the Craftsman and 6 of the 1/2 in drive. They’ve been good especially the push release. But, I’m not a fan of only 24 teeth. I prefer the newer models . I keep them around for vintage sakes. In the 80’s Craftsman took good stuff out of metal and started making tools twice as fat and heavy. That’s when I stopped buying any of their hand tools. Keep the old skinny sockets and wrenches their 5 times better even if some of the chrome is gone. .

[@philohio]

I really appreciated your video. On a quiet 2024 Thanksgiving afternoon, I was idly wondering if it was possible to take one of my several ratchet wrenches appart for preventive maintenance and lubrication. Your video answered my questions. Thanks very much.

[@kaylamarie8309]

Thanks for posting this video. :-) I have this exact same Craftsman ratchet that I acquired last year in a bucket of rusty tools. The ratchet was in pretty nasty shape but other than being greasy/dirty, it was structurally still like new on the outside. Years of rust and gunk inside though that would not even allow me to switch the position of the ratcheting. I started to chunk it in the garbage but I hate to throw things like this away and that's when I found your video. I cleaned it up inside and outside, reassembled it and now it looks and works just like it did when it was new :-) Thanks again!

[@justinjohnson8221]

Kayla Marie I wish my woman was like you

[@TheOneWithTheAccent]

Just bought an 1/2 Craftsman ratchet (US PAT 3208318)that is about 11 inches in length for $25 bucks and now I'm here to properly take care of it because it has a bit of rust and I want this to last as long as possible.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Cool! I don't know where you are, but $25 seems kind of high for a used 1/2" ratchet wrench.

[@TheOneWithTheAccent]

@@RJTheBikeGuy yeah dude was looking up ebay prices and I said why not. Just wanted an American made tool basically

[@jamesbruggeman1069]

Thanks for the excellent video. I found installing the ball bearing and piece that works the ball bearing is much easier if hold ball bearing in the hole with very small flat screw driver.

[@aktrapper6126]

Well done video, I've done a couple of these same model and got to say yours was already very clean compared to mine. 30 years of professional daily use and mine were full of black sludge and junk. These are very tough ratchets and well worth rebuilding even if you have to buy new parts.

[@fredsamuel6817]

Thank you! Your video saved me $65 ( just to get the Sears shop to look at my wrench)!!

[@jimalessandra5908]

Wow! Great video, now I have the confidence and know-how, thank you!

[@skittles7168]

Holy crap this is great. I got a lot of tools from my grandpa and this is the only wrench that is slipping. The exact same one.

[@miztrusa]

My dad called the replacement number and they sent him a new 3/8" & 1/2" ratchet and a 3/8" breaker bar no questions or returns at all on both of them and he got them within 2 days so it doesn't hurt to call and get freebees for your troubles repairing your old wrenches and it never hurts to have backups.

[@TheMan-ue7ri]

Really ?

[@miztrusa]

@@TheMan-ue7ri yup

[@Starman-yt8lj]

Excellent video. Thanks for taking the time. Made cleaning and lubing my 44985 easy.

[@copperkettlepot]

Thanks! I just brought a 6" balky ratchet back to life.

[@paulbrallier7028]

Thank you, Bike Guy! My ratchet went from unusable to "like new".

[@GregHopperNC]

Worked like a charm!

[@tomgolota1526]

Excellent video - made it easy to repair!

[@josedanielcuautle2036]

Thanks, man! It really helped out fix my dad's wrench.

[@redbeak1453]

Great video, I think I stripped the inside of my USA made 1/2 ratchet trying to remove my Volvo axle nut. Since Sears has tragically met it's end, I think I will order the repair kit and follow your great video.

[@googleusergp]

If you use a breaker bar to break it loose, and then use the 1/2" ratchet to finish the removal, they would not break. A ratchet should not be used to break something loose like that. Not being critical, but that's likely what finished it off. A rebuild kit should do the trick for you.

[@redbeak1453]

@@googleusergp You're 100% correct!! It was late, cold and getting dark and the worst thing is when you are in a rush and not thinking. Even with a breaker bar it was a monster to get it loose. What hurt the most was that I have many old great Craftsman tools my late dad used and I broke it. But I did get a original repair kit and I have my great heavy duty ratchet back.

[@googleusergp]

@@redbeak1453 Yup, it's worth keeping these things in good condition because they "don't make 'em like they used to". Fortunately, there were a lot of them made (by Easco/Moore Drop Forge) for Sears, so they turn up all the time at yard sales and on Ebay.

[@Thomas-ei1yk]

I had to remove the axle nut on my nissan in order to replace the axle and I tried using a 24 inch breaker bar along with a 30 inch pipe and stood and even bounced on the thing and couldn't get the darn thing to budge. I wound up using an impact wrench and after it beat on the nut for a while it finally broke loose. Man those things are on tight so I can see how easy it would be to strip a ratchet. Hope you were able to get the kit to repair yours.

[@tomk0314]

Thanks for posting this! Got my old ratchet working like new again.

[@tomhermann4099]

I was here for 6:30. Thanks for the video!

[@bricago2302]

A tip for the difficult reassembly step at 6:30: use a skinny allen wrench inserted through the top back side of the head and press the ball all the way into the hole. Align the fox head shaped piece so a curved recess is in line with the ball position, and it's contacting the allen wrench. Then, quickly press the fox head piece in while removing the allen wrench. It's a fast move, but it works.

[@Bogieman116]

Great! Was just about to buy 3 replacements that were having the same issue. Sm, Md and Lg. All fixed now. Thanks for the video.

[@davecast3953]

Thank you for this video. I just fixed the exact same ratchet. All is right in the universe again.

[@krishadley7052]

Great video very helpful on every step!! Thank you

[@CrocodileMick823]

The hardest part is keeping that ball bearing in place. In the old rebuild kits they talked about using an "Assembly Tool" that naturally nobody has or knows where to get. Luckily they show a picture so it is easy to duplicate. Basically about a 2" long strip of thin metal about 3/16" wide with a 90 degree bend on each end going in opposite directions. One end you place over the ball and the other end you use the 90 to pull down and compress the ball and spring. I used the bottom of an aluminum pop can. The sides were too flimsy and weren't strong enough to hold the ball down to get that directional pawl into place. The lid from a tin can will work. Just for information the ball diameter for the 3/8" drive is .140 or 9/64" diameter. Not sure about the 1/4" or 1/2" drive. If you lose the ball you can find replacements but you may end up buying a bag of 100 to get one.

[@TheNickLavender]

I'm getting 3 "broken" Craftsman "V" series ratchets in the mail that I plan on fixing. I am thinking they just need to be lubed up and cleaned. If not, I have rebuild kits as well :) Thanks for the video!

[@googleusergp]

9 times out of 10 a good cleaning and relube is all those old "V" units need to be like new and good to go for another 40 plus years...

[@keithsorrels6903]

Your video was helpful, Thanks!

[@one_mega_ohm9139]

The "spring" piece from a pair of harbor freight mini-wire clippers works perfectly as a ball bearing installation tool. By spring I mean the little metal piece that holds the clippers open, just rip them out (which makes for a better pair of clippers anyways). They have a perfect little indentation.

[@paulhadfield7909]

that was the best video ive seen on you tube,ill go and try it on my craftsman ratchet, thank you

[@martinalbert5653]

Consider soaking it in paint thinner to clean it out. Later lube it with spray like white lithium grease instead of removing the ball + spring. Probably just as good and a lot easier.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I have always don it this way, and my wrenches last for years.

[@arleighbaker5860]

Excellent video - Very helpful.

[@bernardsaucier2062]

well done instruction. Thanks!!

[@roncooke2188]

After seeing your video i pulled one of my Snap on ratchets from the draw, had it over 30 years and not serviced it before so it certainly needed good clean and a touch of grease it much better now works well, smoother too many thanks for the video

[@rnjenterprises]

Thanks much for the great instructions! Worked like a champ!

[@OjStudios]

Nice! I like these repair videos alot and have learned a thing or two from them.

[@boashna]

see if you can fix it without taking the ball bearing out .. it is a pain to get it back in .. but if you were crazy enough don't stretch the spring , put grease on ball bearing so it can be sticky as it will fall out and bounce and if you have grease on it you wont have to look for it bouncing . use tooth pick to move the ball bearing to spring .. somebody here said to start backward.you will here a click if you were successful in putting the bearing back. I damaged the spring and had to cut it but it still worked for me . I had to cut it with a grinder you may be able to use large finger nail clipper. metal cutting shears and cheers failed me.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I will continue to do it the way I did it in the video, thanks.

[@aijem423]

Thanks for this video! Helped me fix my craftsman 3/4".

[@JoeCnNd]

normally I'd say take it back and replace it but that looks to good to replace with what's out now.

[@donsmith9478]

My Craftsman torque wrench from the late 1960s is disassembled right now, waiting for a replacement gear. The teeth are broken in several places - a hazard of wheel lug nuts that require 140 ft-lb torque.

[@Deadbuck73]

Just scored this ratchet without the quick release but with the oil port for $2.00 at the pawn shop! It’s not looking quite as nice as yours. I’m on vacation so now I have something to play with when I get home!

[@Almadabes]

I have a different model, vg-44807 - came here to see how you got around the ball bearing install. But i see you didnt try anything i wasnt 😢 However - there is aparently an "install tool" which is just a metal tab they use to compress the ball and spring. I made one out of a soda can - worked well!

[@Jordanmilo]

Good vid. You saved me a trip to Sears.

[@jetjazz05]

I've serviced about 10 designs of ratchets, that's the first time I've seen the lever have a snap ring on it though. Usually they just have a little lip that holds it in place, and if you pull the lever up slightly to a 20 degree angle the part of the lever inside the ratchet slides out through the opening for it.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

We have a junk shop not too far away that has a lot of old tools. I am going to check there for some old ratchets. See if I can find some quality older ones that just need cleaning. But I like this one. It actually is part of a set that came with three sizes of ratchets and both SAE and metric sockets. So I didn't particularly want to swap it for a complete different one.

[@jetjazz05]

shyflirt1 If you look for older ratchets they often times have rebuild kits for pretty cheap or even free in Craftsman's case. A lot of people have ratchets with sentimental value, so they have a kit with the gear, pawl, spring, and ball bearing (or whatever mechanism drives the ratchet). Also that's how Craftsman has forever warranties on a lot of these, they keep making the internals for the different ratchet models they've made throughout the years but not the body of the ratchet. I believe other companies (MAC, Snap-On, probably a few other US companies) have kits to rebuild ratchets too, I'm just not sure of the availability on those. I thought my 3/8 Craftsman ratchet had gotten stripped a few weeks back (turns out it's ok though), but I was going to go to Sears and just order a rebuild kit as the new ratchets they have are from China and my old one is a nice U.S.A. one.

[@jaylasky5589]

Excellent video Thanks!!

[@GearZenChannel]

Me - holding 50 year old Craftsman wrench passed down from family that is working poorly Father in Law: Those things wear out. Me - goes to youtube: Hold my beer.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Nice! :D

[@thegunshow9112]

Really great video. I have two old Ones i found that aren’t working, it seems like the lever slips out of place. Think cleaning it will fix it?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Try it.

[@thegunshow9112]

@@RJTheBikeGuy I did and it worked! I cleaned 3 of them and they work great now!

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

@@thegunshow9112 Awesome!

[@richk6827]

Very nice video. I inherited a very similar wrench from my father-in-law. It's model V-43785. It appears that it had been disassembled previously because the spring and ball are missing. What size is the ball? I'm going to attempt to use a spring from a pen.

[@SushiPac]

That's the best grease you can use. Same stuff snap on uses

[@ronsbeerreviewstools4361]

Good job & good video.

[@NGinuity]

I have a half inch drive that slips into "neutral" sometimes when it's under load, and I've busted my knuckles more than once to the point where I don't care to use it anymore. Do you think it's the spring not engaging correctly? It's done that since I've had it.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Try taking it apart, cleaning it, lubing it. If the spring seems weak, try to stretch it JUST A LITTLE.

[@NGinuity]

Thanks for the quick response. I will try that tonight!