Hand Tool Restoration - Craftsman 1/2" drive "v" Series Ratchet Wrench
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- Опубликовано: 23 окт 2021
- Garage Journal Craftsman Manufacturer's Marks:
www.garagejournal.com/forum/t...
email: 357mdad@gmail.com
instagram: @357_magdad
Music: "Stalling" by Topher Mohr and Alex Elena
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Развлечения
Back when everything was serviceable, cleanable and more importantly repairable! Awesome work
Thanks! It was fun getting it running again!
When I was younger I threw a bunch of nice craftsman ratchets.
After that I took good care after each used so all the ratchets are still in good condition.
After watching this video (your video), I am going to give them a fresh tune up.
Thanks
Give them some TLC! Thanks for watching!
Clean it - lube it - GO! That ratchet has another million miles of use on it.
It's not pretty, but it is ready for work!
Your process really brought the rusty ratchet body back to a very presentable condition. Nice work.
Thanks! It is fun getting rusty junk working again!
Having done a couple craftsman ratchets myself, getting the spring, bb, selector switch, and pawl all back together is definitely the hardest part.
It took me several tries!
Years ago I worked for Sears for 5 years as a commissioned tool and tractor sales specialist or as they called the position back then a "tool pro". We would get a box of parts and the whole gear assembly for all the different ratchet's. We would keep it right under our counter on a shelf and when anyone would bring in a broken ratchet for what ever reason we would tear it apart right then and there and rebuild on the spot. When the customer left they would would have the same unit handle or casing they came in with. If you brought in a rusty one thats what you left with...or a perfect one or whatever. This would keep the guy who took care of his stuff leaving with a nice one or the same for the dude who brought in the rusty of weld splattered one or whatever the case. After a while you get really good and fast rebuilding them...especially when the owner is right there staring at you! : )
That sounds like it was a cool job!
At my Sears now they just hand you a chinese replacement
@@Blazini1980 Thats a shame. The time of taking pride in your work and making high quality items is a thing of the past.
Hi 357Magdad , Nice Job on The Old Craftsman. That Looks Like My 1st Ratchet in '77 !
This one was probably from the 1970's just like yours!
That has to be pre-1980 as it has an oil hole for lubrication. I believe around that time that’s when they stop that. It also doesn’t have a model number which makes it an older one. The newer versions had the model number on the back.
Thank you, enjoyed watching...
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
With all those tools in a $3 tool box you probably got that Craftsman 1/2" ratchet for several dimes and that's around $27 new. Good deal 357Magdad. I did a functionality restore on a 50s era 1/2" drive Craftsman ratchet and though it was a fun project. Its amazing what can be had for pennies. Judging by the insides of you ratchet and flats worn on the steel ball that thing looks like it never got a minute of maintenance. Garage Journal is my go to discussion forum. Nice work.
That ratchet wrench had a hard life even before it got flooded and rusted up!
@@357magdad HaHa for sure. I have looked a lot of things with ball bearings and I cannot recall one that l looked like that. If they could have been concave it may have been the first chrome golf ball. You have a great dry understated humor.
There are some interesting parts in that style of ratchet I have never had one of those
That push button design is pretty cool!
Guaranteed for life so use it till it dies is the best choice for a tool like this one
I'm glad I could get it running again!
Excellent, she lives again!
It's fun bringing rusty junk back to life!
It is amazing how you were able to restore this back to a usable condition! Except for the pitting it looks great. Thanks for sharing this.
It is a good user wrench now!
Very gratifying to see the transformation back to a useful life. Gives me hope that even a crotchety old guy like me can still be useful and productive on occasion! Keep up the great videos …. Love to see the fruits of your labors!
Thanks Matt! I wish Super Lube worked on arthritis! LOL
Thanks for this one. I have the same ratchet that was part of the first tool kit that I bought 50 years ago. Mine started slipping awhile ago. I hope I can clean mine and make it work like new again.
Thanks Kim! I hope you can get yours working again!
Great job looks nice. Those craftsman ratchets are tough. I like those pulling garden tractors at the end. Thanks 😊🙏
Thanks Mike! That was a cool hot rod tractor!
Chuck sure made it home quick from Texas.
I let him borrow the Batmobile!
Fantastic! I enjoyed seeing how those come apart! Awesome! Thank ya!
Thanks Vic! Ratchet wrenches are fun to take apart. Getting them back together can be tricky!
Love those old craftsman tools. They were made well. Thanks for the video.
Thanks Tony! I find the different ratchet mechanisms interesting.
I found a very similar Craftsman ratchet, extension and socket while magnet fishing several years ago. Although I wanted to restore it, I surrendered to the Sears' return policy gods and exchanged it for something similiar. I miss Sears. Nice video.
Thanks for watching! I've always wanted to give magnet fishing a try!
Nice work! Love finding old craftsman tools!
Thanks! Cleaning up old ratchets is fun!
Great patients and a great save. A good addition to your tool box. Thank You
Thanks! It is a good user!
This was the best ratchet Craftsman ever made. It had the tightest tolerances, build quality, and performance. The version that came after was workable but much sloppier. Then they were offshored.
This ratchet it simple, but had a relatively large number of parts and relatively complex machining. That’s likely the reason it was discontinued- it was too expensive to manufacture.
I do prefer the push button release. I bought the 3/8" drive version in the late 80's and still use it!
@@357magdad Same, I have ratchets I like better but I still use the old Craftsman frame time to time. They’re good ratchets.
Great job Magdad. The flitz made the difference❤
Thanks Stephen!
Nice work.
Thanks James!
Nice! My father was a mechanic in his early years, he's 86, and I have a huge roll around chest filled with old Snap-on and Craftsman tools of his. Most are well over 60 years old and still in good shape. Great to see you give this new life.
Thanks Mike! Sounds like you got a treasure chest!
Just an FYI from a retired gunsmith. Take an old small narrow tip flat head screwdriver. Use a Dremal with the diamond “Ball” round shaped bit and grind an indent in that old narrow flat head screwdriver tip. I modified a screwdriver like this and used it to hold down the tiny spring tensioned ball bearings when assembling firearms. You can also cut a notch into a screwdriver tip to hold torsion springs during assembly and disassembly . I modified a screwdriver into many custom tools in many instances due to performing the armorers crawl under my work bench too many times. Lol. 👍 thumbs up to your video. Superb work as always.
Thanks for the tip! I'm glad you like the video!
Use a heavy duty carton staple. It is very close to the actual tool that came in the kit at one time.
I used a fork. I cut the 2 outside tines off, bent the other 2 tines about 90 degrees, then bent those 2 tines closer together to hold that ball bearing down. This way I could hold ratchet handle and modified fork with one hand and install pawl with other hand. It wasn't a perfect way but it worked decent.
I think that part is the "pawl".
Chuck was thrilled at the outcome. We were too. It's very helpful to see your method of keeping track of the parts as you took it apart - you can't reassemble a tool, if you forget where you put the parts. Thanks for the patent info and the manufacturer info, and the reference to the Garage Journal for more complete listings.
I'm glad you liked the video! Researching the tools I find is part of the fun!
On the screwdriver you showed, the WF is Western Forge. The letter O that you showed is actually the date code. Prior to WF closing I spoke to a long time employee there, and he explained how the date code system worked.
Great job. I'd never have the guts to take apart a ratchet.
You're gonna have to try one now Ben!
Nothing to it. You can do it, I do them in five minutes flat now. Lol.
A rebuild kit to replace those worn parts would have it ready to serve another 50 years.. Good video M.D.
I think the next owner will get some more miles on it!
@@357magdad Craftsman had a sale on a large kit with over 400 pcs.. So I bought it for my son, and the very first time he used the ratchet, IT BROKE... The 50 yr old stuff is a lot better than the new stuff.. I had heard so many horror stories about the new tools.. The only Craftsman stuff I will buy now is the old stuff, even if u gotta get a rebuild kit for it.. M.D. keep up the great videos and take care my friend...
Good ole USA made Craftsman-can’t go wrong there and definitely worth the $3 and your time. Nice work.
There was a lot of cool stuff in that box!
Thanks, now I know how to take one apart for cleaning.
It was tricky to get back together, but not impossible.
Nice job! You can literally find those ball bearings and little springs every where. From skate board wheels to your microwave oven.
The ball was .172 diameter. I had 1/8" and 3/16". I also had BB gun balls that were very close in size, but not hardened. I figured I would put it back together and see how it worked. It seems to work ok!
Those ratchets are hard to kill. Love seeing it being brought back to life!
Somebody gave it their best shot with this one! I'm glad I got it working again!
Nice one Magdad. That ratchet has the oiler on the top but someone couldn’t be bothered using it. Probably a good thing otherwise it may not have been in the toolbox full of tools for $3. Boy what a bargain that was. Job well done. Cheers Stuart 🇦🇺
That ratchet had a hard life even before it got rusted up! That tool box is gonna keep me busy for a while!
I rebuilt a flex ratchet model number 42793 that a RUclipsr sent me after finding in a 1972 Ford Gran Torino in the junkyard. The video of him finding it in the junkyard can be found on RUclips. I completely dismantled it and got it in brand new functioning condition, leaving the patina exactly as found. We estimate that it sat in the radiator support of that car for well over 35 years in the junkyard. It works like brand new now. I do the same thing-I find ratchets that are “broken“ off of eBay and at garage sales and what not and like you 9 times out of 10 a cleaning and re-lubing is all that they need to work like new again. As an aside, a heavy duty carton staple works very well as a ball retention tool. The early rebuilding kits actually had a tool for this purpose. I have several of those kits.
American craftsmanship at it's best!! Both from you and Craftsman!! Would not expect any less from you. Thanks for sharing and take care!!
Thanks 2/3! I'm glad I was able to get that ratchet wrench running again!
Thanks for showing the foundry code chart. I had a copy laying around but have misplaced it. Craftsman is a non player to me these days but their older tools like this ratchet are worth refurbishing. I could watch videos like this all day.
Thanks Chris! I've got a WW2 era Snap-On ratchet wrench project coming soon!
Chris Walstrum,
You are VERY MUCH correct, the "Craftsman" brand IS PRETTY MUCH a non player today, and as far as I'm concerned, it has been heading in that direction for many years, quality-wise!!
I worked at a Sears store, from 1997 to 2000. First as a Receiving Associate, then later, as a Tire & Battery Tech; in the Auto Center.
During my tenure there, I witnessed, (on at least 2 occasions), one of the Floor Managers, along with one of the Stock Managers, sitting down in our break room, & installing replacement 1/4" and 3/8" ratchet heads, by 2 Gallon Bucketfuls!!
On a personal level, (and during that same time period), I had both the drive end of a 3/8" breaker bar, and the drive of a 3/8" ratchet, snap like twigs, and under a fairly low amount torque too!!!
Almost seemed like the parts were made of "Pot Metal" & I'm pretty certain, that the drive end on that 3/8" Breaker Bar, WAS made of Pot Metal!! AWFULLY CHINTZY if you ask me!!!
As a result, I stopped buying Craftsman Ratchets, Sockets, & Breaker Bars, many years ago! These days, I usually buy Stanley Sockets, Ratchets, etc. & they hold up rather well!!
Definitely better than my last experiences with Craftsman, THAT'S FOR SURE!!
Best Regards!
Ron H.
Abilene, TX.
I have a 1/2 and also a 3/8, they're great ratchets that have stood the test of time.
I have a 1/2" and 1/4" models of the older design without the push button that were my dad's. I also have a newer 3/8" push button model that I bought in the late 1980's. I definitely have put some miles on that one!
I like your way of restoration very much. i.e. just remove dirt and rust and leave it as it was just used last week.
Sometimes I go crazy and give something a high polish and fancy paint, and sometimes I like to just get the item working again.
If you could find one, Sears used to sell rebuild kits. The 1/2" kit would fit for all but the very earliest Craftsman ratchets. I've got one from the early 50's that I put a kit in along about 2004 or so. I know what you mean about having to fiddle getting it back together. The fact that the kit fit a wrench from 50 years ago was amazing.
I was happy to get it working again. Maybe the next owner will track down a kit.
Outstanding!
I've been on Garage Journal for many years. I need to get back on to update my garage build thread. Thanks for reminding me.
Thanks Jeff!
1:46 Exactly what I said to myself, “Don’t lose that!” Great job inside and out. 🔧
Thanks Robert! I have one of those magnetic trays, but sometimes it magnetizes small parts like that ball making reassembly even more difficult!
Lovely ratchet brought back into usable condition !
I've got a Snap-on ratchet clean up coming soon!
Fantastic job sir and great find! I found that EXACT ratchet at a flea market and ive been using it since!! :-)
It seems like a good sturdy design!
@@357magdad It's definitely is a durable setup, I love the vintage feel and history
Found an old "Flying V" type 1/2" drive Craftsman ratchet buried in a pile of rusted junk in the trunk of a car at the junkyard once. Brought it home, cleaned it up, rebuilt the internals and I've been using it problem-free for 20-25 years now. They sure don't make them like they used to!! 😁👍
Great job as usual.👍
Thanks Frank!
I just repaired the one that was my Dad’s. Works great again
It's gonna be like having you dad working along with you when you use it!
@@357magdad thanks, that means a lot
Great job. Enjoy seeing the whole process.
Thanks Gary! Actually the WHOLE process would have included me cursing out that little ball every time it slipped off of the spring putting the thing back together!
Really nice job on the ratchet. I'm sure the video doesn't reflect the patience required for that level of a teardown. Thanks also for the link to the Craftsman tool markings. It confirms several Craftsman ratchets / sockets and wrenches that I bought back in the late seventies / early eighties which are marked "V".
Thanks Joe! There was some frustration and swearing when I went to put it back together!
Got it looking like new again, nice job!! Thanks for the code info at the end too!
Thanks! The research is part of the fun for me!
Nice job ! With care, good for the next 100 years !
Those Craftsman V series were made well!
Yet another GREAT build!! Thank you for saving another useful tool from the scrap heap !!
Thanks! That $3 tool box had a few good projects in it!
I didn’t even know I could get the detent ball and push button apart, thanks!
It is a pretty cool design!
Good job Magdad.
Thanks!
That was a satisfying restoration and thanks for the helpful identifying information at the end!
Thanks! Researching the old tools I find is part of the fun!
Thoroughly enjoyed the video….I’m now gonna be hunting crappy old ratchets down at the boot sales just to strip em down……😀😀🇬🇧
Ratchets are challenging, but fun to clean up!
You gave a great new life to that rust bucket. Nice job Magdad.
Thanks John! Bringing rusty junk back to life is fun!
I bought my son a Craftsman ratchet a few months ago. He used it twice and it failed. I bought one of these 1/2" drives about 50 years ago. I have used and abused it ever since. Still works as well as the day I took it home from Sears.
They don't make tools like they used to...
Looks great as always👍! I found it interesting how the ratchet disassembles, kind of different from others I’ve seen
Every ratchet is a little different. I was just working on a WW2 era Snap-On that was also tricky to reassemble.
i picked up a patent pending version of that same ratchet at the flea market in a frozen similar condition. A good clean up and superlube brought it back to life too. Interesting thing too is your ratchet has an oiling port while mine didn't come with one.
Thanks for watching Robert! Cleaning up old tools is fun!
Thanks for explaining the marks!
Researching my finds is part of the fun!
Awesome job! I have the same model ratchet in about the same “before” condition. It’s been in my “to get to” bucket since last winter. Time to dig it out
Thanks! I hope you can your wrench back into service!
I learned something new today. Thanks for showing the push-button disassembly.
That's a pretty nifty mechanism!
Good job, I clean the ratchets I use on a regular basis at least several times a year. Most of what I use are SK, or my old EASCO's, I once pulled a rusty lump of SK Wayne 3/8 ratchet from the bottom of a water filled junk bucket. A week in the Evaporust had it good enough to come apart, another three days had everything clean, been using it for five years now. Makes that Craftsman look brand new. I find good USA tools rusted like this and tossed in our scrap buckets all the time, I clean them up and return them to service. Now if I could just keep the helpers from losing them on me, or using things that aren't hammers for hammering things all would be good.
Cleaning up old tools is fun! Evapo Rust is magic juice!
I even use Evaporust to strip the black tar left behind by gasoline in neglected fuel tanks. It will gently clean the heavy corrosion sometimes found on nickel plated brass parts. It won't polish the metal for you, but will take off the crusty green crap.
Nice! Certainly an excellent tool, and well worth the TLC. I've been diligently looking for this video since you replied to my comment.
Thanks for the ride-along, as you rejuvenated this piece of my Americana.
I plan to work on more items from the $3 tool box in the near future!
Not sure how I missed this one! I did get ahold of that grease and plan on tearing apart my ratchets to grease them up. I had been using a waterproof grease I use on my bicycle (name escapes me, green tube) but it's messy. I do it yearly (summer usually). Been going on 30 years I've had them. Very nice job. Brought that thing back from the dead! Great investment that $3.00 box!
Thanks Aaron! A lot of ratchet guys swear by that grease. I think I've got one more project left from that $3 toolbox!
I loved this video again. I did the same thing to a ratchet handle I've had since I was a kid (I'm 70 now) and it works like it did originally. Thanks a ton.
Thanks Kim! Tools used to be made to last a lifetime!
Sweet 👍🏻 👍🏻 I have never considered even trying to restore one of those! Ha! Excellent.
I've taken apart several ratchets now. The different mechanism designs are interesting.
@@357magdad Excellent! I had no idea and now I'm intrigued. Gotta do it! 👌
Great work Magdad. Thanks for the history info too.
Thanks! Researching the history is part of the fun for me!
Awesome video magdad!
Thanks Ian!
It turned out nice , a good usable ratchet
Thanks Barry!
Excellent restoration as usual. As you said it may not be pretty due to the rust and pitting but now a good addition for a toolbox. I did not know when the push button design was developed. Good to know.
I love the video clip of the hot rod tractor. An amazing machine.
Dave.
Thanks! That tractor was cool!
The pushbutton ratchet has a bit of a controversy behind it. Peter Roberts, who was a Sears employee actually invented it. He then eventually sold the patent to Sears for about $10,000 as I remember. Sears told him they didn’t think it was going to sell quite a bit, which was actually not true. In the end it took over 20 years and Mr. Roberts prevailed in court. The case and details can be found online.
The good news is that none of the parts were broken. In days of old you could just take the broken one in and Sears would give you a rebuild kit with all the internal parts. Not sure if that would happen today. It’s nice to see an old dog get a second chance.
I just had a really good experience with Snap-On customer service finding parts for a WW2 era ratchet wrench.
My Sears in El Paso TX will give you a new ratchet but it's from china. The young guy working there was repairing a few of them right at the register. I talked to him about the repair kits and he said they don't sell them. I asked him about what they do with the USA made ratchets. He said they're suppose to repair them and hand them out as the replacements but in reality they just keep them.
Thanks for the restoration and especially the information!
Researching the old tools is part of the fun for me!
Very nice Magdad. It's hard to beat those old Craftsman ratchets. They're cheap to pick up, they're durable and you can still get new parts most of the time.
Thanks Ivan!
Nice job Magdad 👍🏻. That will be good for at least another 50-60 years or more!!
Thank You for sharing
Thanks Jack! It still has life left in it!
I like where you stopped. Sometimes we take our projects too far removing the history and the character. Excellent job. Can you tell me why you cleaned it with mineral spirits instead of something more powerful .. like lacquer thinner?
Thanks Bob! I work in my basement shop and I prefer the low odor of the mineral spirits.
I have a craftsman mechanics set from 1993. Still using it all to this day. I rebuilt all three ratchets with original rebuild kits that I found on eBay. And yes, trying to get that spring and steel ball back in place was definitely an acquired skill!
I have my 3/8" drive from the late 1980's. Still works great!
A carton staple works well to keep the ball in place. The early kits had a ball retainer tool.
I have some of these ratchets, so it's useful to see their parts and how they went together. Thank you for saving this nice quality tool and bringing it back to a useful lo life. I dont understand why people dont seem to mind letting their tools rust away. Thanks
I was happy I could get this ratchet working again!
Very nicely done!
Thanks! I was happy to get it working again!
Simple restoration but very useful. Great job you've done..👍👍
Thanks!
Great job on a useful restoration, may it give you many years of service 👍
Thanks Daniel!
Near about every ratchet I own are Craftsman. I do have a few other brands, but the majority of them are Craftsman. I have a couple that seriously need disassembled and cleaned. They seem to want to flip from one direction to the other when using them with my hand over the selector area after breaking the nut or bolt loose and speed using them... Thumbs Up!
Thanks for the thumbs up!
Nice job! Works great now!!!
Thanks Bill!
Great restoration video!
Thanks Jess!
Great job.
Thank you!
Nice to see the break down and rebuild...
Thanks Chuck! I'm glad I was able to get it working again!
Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
@@357magdad You're welcome!!
That looks really, really good!
It definitely looks way better than it did, plus it works now!
But it is pretty Magdad, another quality tool saved, well done on a great job 👍🇺🇸🇬🇧
Thanks Phil!
That version Craftsman is one of the best that Craftsman sold....Personally I use motor oil instead of grease in my ratchets....Easier for the pawl and gear to engage.....Easier to clean and re oil when you need to.👍
I think the manufacturer agreed with you since they added an oiler!
enjoyed the video thanks for posting
Thanks Trevor! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
Great job MagDad 🔧👍😊
Thanks Sparky!
Great video as usual!
Thanks! I'm glad I was able to get this wrench working again!
I am late to the party! Awesome restoration, I only like ratchets with the quick release for doing work these days...
That quick release design is pretty ingenious!
Nice one as always!
Thanks Chris!
Very cool 👍 turned out great.
Thanks!
Great work as always chap keep it up 😁👍
Thanks!
Awesome work
Thank you! Ratchet wrenches are interesting to work on!
Looks great. Was surprised you could get that apart.
It was tough to get apart. It took me a while to realize that the retaining ring groove was filled with debris preventing me from being able to compress the ring enough.