I’ve decided to set a date every 3 months and go through my entire toolbox and lube up everything in each drawer that moves. I haven’t had a single tool failure no matter how old and worn out it is. Tools last forever with just a drop of oil.
Thanks for the info Tony. I personally would not use WD-40 for this application because its not a true lubricant based on silicone, grease, Teflon, or graphite. I agree 3-in-1 is excellent as well as Super Lube grease and/or oil depending on the specific ratchet.
Good idea. I find the assembly lube and tacky stuff makes the gear and pawls stick when used on fine tooth ratchets. So I like to use the 3 in one on those as well. 👍👍👍
I have recently started taking all mine apart and cleaning if needed and lubing with grease in the low tooth count and oil on the high tooth count. I have Craftsman, Greatneck, Ampro, Benchtop, MIT, and one mystery brand. ALL are over 20 years old and this is their first disassembly. They may have got a squirt now and then with some WD-40.
I'll never use grease on my ratchets again. I kept busting my knuckles because the pawls slipped. Mineral oil works great for me. Long lasting and keeps the rust away. Also food safe if your a maintenance worker at a food production plant.
I have some used ATF in a coffee can. I dip the head and steer it few times and leave it overnight. No disassembly. Maybe not the preferred method but it works for me.
I just cleaned my made in usa craftsmans for the first time in 10 years because they were sticking on the back drag. Good as new now. Cant believe the junk that makes it inside. Probably worse with a push button ratchet.
I like to service all of my ratchets, coarse or fine tooth with a few drops of 80/90 weight gear oil and a few drops of 3 in 1 oil I compress the ball detent on the anvil and lubricate it the same way as the inside .if I buy a used ratchet that is seized up from rust I soak them first in a 50/50 mix of automatic transmission fluid and acetone, if nothing internally is broken this has always worked very well and frees them up before servicing
Less is definitely more as far as lubing ratchets goes! I learned the hard way, by packing them with grease and then having to take them apart again and clean all that gunk out. I now use Super Lube, the thin grease for coarser ratchets and the liquid stuff for fine tooth ratchets - if it's good enough for Snap-On, it'll do for me! I use WD-40 as a cleaner, not a lube.
In coarse and fine tooth ratchets I have I use Starrett tool and instrument oil, works good on micrometers too! Doesn't seem to leak out if I use just enough.
Hey Tony I just did all of mine in white lith. Let me tell you, I caught hell with my GW 1/2 flex head. The paws were driving me crazy. But I then realized I had them backwards. Info: the large paw goes in the back, small in the front.
Haha oh damn. Ya that will happen. When I used the assembly lube on my tekton the gear and pawls would stick together and jam up so I had to wipe it off and just use 3 in 1. The lube was to tacky for the fine teeth.
Thanks and wd is just fine as well. To me the lighter the better. That way the gear and pawls don't stick together like it will with lube and grease. Thank you 👍👍👍
Probably not the perfect way, but I've always soaked them in the old acetone/ATF overnight. It's even freed up old stuck ratchets that I've bought at flea markets and garage sales for cheap. Works good on ratcheting wrenches too. I just soak the heads overnight and blow them out with the compressor. Obviously your way is better, I'm just lazy lol
I just got my non quick release 3/8” Tekton ratchet in the mail today. Ordered on a Friday afternoon and arrived Monday at 11am. It is such a smooth ratchet👍🏻
On a high tooth ratchet I use super lube synthetic oil it’s clean safe and it works fantastic on low tooth count ratchet’s I use super lube synthetic grease.
I use synthetic super lube, i put a little behind the gear and at the paw and switch area, just a little dab. Super Lube is like Vaseline, its thick during application but gets a little thinner and spreads everywhere. I dont put it directly on the gear itself.
@@TonyTheTechnician Tony, all of my ratchets are Tekton. They are brand new and completely dry. Should the gear itself be left dry and the area behind the pawl lubed? The instructions from Tekton say to leave the gear dry, and that just seems odd to me. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
@@larrywhinnery1808 it's fine to oil both. The suggest just the one bc qlot of people were using a heavy oil, lube or grease. You have to use a light oil like 3n1 for tekton Ratchets otherwise it causes the pawl and gear to stick to each other and bind. So just use a small amount of light oil.
What can I use with my older 1/2 inch drive ratchet that has 40 teeth I initially put silicone paste but I just realized it's not for metal to metal applications
What is it that you do after using a socket and you are done with the ratchet for the day? Sometimes dirt or rust get on the ratchet head that holds the socket. How is that cleaned so it doesn't rust or get bad?
Ive never lubed any of my ratchets ever and i beat the shit outta them. Never had a problem my Cornwell ive had for 6yrs now and it's a 72tooth one. Me I dont see a point in doing it. I don't ever oil my air guns either and never had a problem
If you use your tools every day you shouldn't have to oil them they get oil on them.i do have ratchets I don't use every day and I'll oil them here and there
Brake Clean and one of those cheap brush sets from Harbor freight. Ya I used towels before and that was a mistake haha. Hope this helps and if you don't want to use brake Clean you could try solvent or wd40
"My Thoughts"...are I buy name brand {S.O. because I like them} Good Ratchets that work/feel GOOD & have a lifetime warranty. I wipe them off with a rag when I put them away. If i have a problem with one I replace it. I don't stroke or sleep with them I don't have time for that, I use them and try to make money with them LoL... Just my THOUGHTS, I buy you a beer anytime Tony.
ok... uve shammed me into goin out to the garage & cleaning & lubing my 30 year old sk ratchets... its been so long since ive... no... wait... ive NEVER lubed my sk before... this could prove interesting
Wow, I've been fixing things like my own go Kart since I was like 6 and now I'm over 40 and I've never heard of a ratchet having a front or a back side. I would think the logo is the "back" 💁♂️ is there a technical truth to which side is the front or back!? I use Super Lube (ptfe) synthetic OiL , a bit thicker than 3 in 1. and yes, better than grease!
Lol that's a good question 🤔 🤣 I guess I was just speaking from how I was looking at the ratchet. Not sure I specifically meant it was the front or back lol 👍
Viewers -- WD-40 is not a lubricant!! If it is all you have laying around -- do NOT use it to lubricate your ratchet. WD-40 stands for "Water Displacement -- Formula #40".. it's great for spraying on a surface that you just cleaned with a water based cleaner -- but that is IT. It will not lubricate like a true lubricant -- and it just doesn't belong in this video as a suggestion IMO!
It does have its place but you are right, not as a lubricant for the ratchet but to clean the preexisting lubricant off and to clean the exterior of the ratchet.
@@TonyTheTechnician Great video -- but I feel like the people who don't know better -- will just grab their WD40 off the shelf and make their ratchet worse than when they started... so I felt the need to comment!!! WD-40 is a great cleaner and water displacer -- but it didn't come through on the video that the WD was there for a different reason than lubrication. I'd guess WD-40 is the most misused product on the market. It says right there on the bottle is it OK for lubrication -- even though it isn't. Who can blame 'em though? If they start telling everyone WD40 isn't a lubricant -- they probably wouldn't sell it by the gallon to unsuspecting users at the home centers.
Hey Tony, In the market for a decent set of adjustable wrenches, preferably with grips on them. I don’t have access to any tool trucks. Any sets you recommend online, man? Thanks
Check out channellock they are made in Spain by Irega. Very high quality. Snap On and Bahco wrenches are likewise made in Spain. You can find them on Amazon.
@@zacharycross4357 yes indeed I added a set of channellock and a set of Irwin adjustable wrenches to the tools link in the description. Hope you enjoy 👍
I’ve decided to set a date every 3 months and go through my entire toolbox and lube up everything in each drawer that moves. I haven’t had a single tool failure no matter how old and worn out it is. Tools last forever with just a drop of oil.
Thanks for the info Tony. I personally would not use WD-40 for this application because its not a true lubricant based on silicone, grease, Teflon, or graphite. I agree 3-in-1 is excellent as well as Super Lube grease and/or oil depending on the specific ratchet.
Well done Tony. I use 3 in-one oil for fine tooth ratchets and a light coating of Super Lube for coarse tooth.
Good idea. I find the assembly lube and tacky stuff makes the gear and pawls stick when used on fine tooth ratchets. So I like to use the 3 in one on those as well. 👍👍👍
I have recently started taking all mine apart and cleaning if needed and lubing with grease in the low tooth count and oil on the high tooth count. I have Craftsman, Greatneck, Ampro, Benchtop, MIT, and one mystery brand. ALL are over 20 years old and this is their first disassembly. They may have got a squirt now and then with some WD-40.
I use Marvels Mystery Oil on my fine tooth stuff. Keeps em minty fresh.
For the older stuff I use Redline grease.
I'll never use grease on my ratchets again. I kept busting my knuckles because the pawls slipped. Mineral oil works great for me. Long lasting and keeps the rust away. Also food safe if your a maintenance worker at a food production plant.
I have some used ATF in a coffee can. I dip the head and steer it few times and leave it overnight. No disassembly. Maybe not the preferred method but it works for me.
Atf= automatic transmission fluid?
I personally use roller follower and cam shaft assembly lube. It’s thin and slippery but sticks well to everything without leaking out
I just cleaned my made in usa craftsmans for the first time in 10 years because they were sticking on the back drag. Good as new now. Cant believe the junk that makes it inside. Probably worse with a push button ratchet.
Ya it is crazy what will get inside and true it's a little easier for stuff to get in with a quick release. Glad your came out like new again 👍
I like to service all of my ratchets, coarse or fine tooth with a few drops of 80/90 weight gear oil and a few drops of 3 in 1 oil I compress the ball detent on the anvil and lubricate it the same way as the inside .if I buy a used ratchet that is seized up from rust I soak them first in a 50/50 mix of automatic transmission fluid and acetone, if nothing internally is broken this has always worked very well and frees them up before servicing
Less is definitely more as far as lubing ratchets goes! I learned the hard way, by packing them with grease and then having to take them apart again and clean all that gunk out. I now use Super Lube, the thin grease for coarser ratchets and the liquid stuff for fine tooth ratchets - if it's good enough for Snap-On, it'll do for me! I use WD-40 as a cleaner, not a lube.
In coarse and fine tooth ratchets I have I use Starrett tool and instrument oil, works good on micrometers too! Doesn't seem to leak out if I use just enough.
Tri flow works great
I use white lithium grease and works amazing
Very nice. Thanks for sharing
Hey Tony
I just did all of mine in white lith. Let me tell you, I caught hell with my GW 1/2 flex head. The paws were driving me crazy. But I then realized I had them backwards. Info: the large paw goes in the back, small in the front.
Haha oh damn. Ya that will happen. When I used the assembly lube on my tekton the gear and pawls would stick together and jam up so I had to wipe it off and just use 3 in 1. The lube was to tacky for the fine teeth.
@@TonyTheTechnician Exactly, hopefully I wont have to touch it again.
I used some Amsoil Gear Oil I had left over after my differential oil change.
thank you so much
Glad you made this vid I just keep a bowl of wd40 and just dip everything in and keep it move
Great vid I'll do better from now on
Thanks and wd is just fine as well. To me the lighter the better. That way the gear and pawls don't stick together like it will with lube and grease. Thank you 👍👍👍
Probably not the perfect way, but I've always soaked them in the old acetone/ATF overnight. It's even freed up old stuck ratchets that I've bought at flea markets and garage sales for cheap. Works good on ratcheting wrenches too. I just soak the heads overnight and blow them out with the compressor. Obviously your way is better, I'm just lazy lol
Hey actually I heard atf works very well and shoot if that works for you that's all that matters 👍
A nice collection of ratchets Tony. I have that same exact tube of 105 assembly lube
Thank you. Very nice 👍
I just got my non quick release 3/8” Tekton ratchet in the mail today. Ordered on a Friday afternoon and arrived Monday at 11am. It is such a smooth ratchet👍🏻
Very nice and ya mine would have been delivered fast but it got lost lol. Glad you enjoy
Get some lube in it, theyre dry
@@willclemons7664 ya they just come with very light Machine oil in them
Will Clemons Mine came with a sufficient amount of oil in it but I will certainly keep up with lubricating it. Excellent ratchet.
On a high tooth ratchet I use super lube synthetic oil it’s clean safe and it works fantastic on low tooth count ratchet’s I use super lube synthetic grease.
I use synthetic super lube, i put a little behind the gear and at the paw and switch area, just a little dab. Super Lube is like Vaseline, its thick during application but gets a little thinner and spreads everywhere. I dont put it directly on the gear itself.
I grease my snap-on’s with red bearing grease. They dont slip and theyre much more smooth and quiet now then how they came off the truck.
Can't beat that red lube of love in my opinion
Haha thanks 👍
I used FML2 grease, it's perfect for gear application
😃 yay Clean Mines! ☺️
Haha 👍
Recently tried fluid flim on mine.
Do you recommend superlube grease? My snap on rebuild kit came with it
Ya I have heard that works well also
@@TonyTheTechnician Tony, all of my ratchets are Tekton. They are brand new and completely dry. Should the gear itself be left dry and the area behind the pawl lubed? The instructions from Tekton say to leave the gear dry, and that just seems odd to me. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
@@larrywhinnery1808 it's fine to oil both. The suggest just the one bc qlot of people were using a heavy oil, lube or grease. You have to use a light oil like 3n1 for tekton Ratchets otherwise it causes the pawl and gear to stick to each other and bind. So just use a small amount of light oil.
@@TonyTheTechnician What about Super Lube?
What can I use with my older 1/2 inch drive ratchet that has 40 teeth I initially put silicone paste but I just realized it's not for metal to metal applications
What is it that you do after using a socket and you are done with the ratchet for the day? Sometimes dirt or rust get on the ratchet head that holds the socket. How is that cleaned so it doesn't rust or get bad?
Ive never lubed any of my ratchets ever and i beat the shit outta them. Never had a problem my Cornwell ive had for 6yrs now and it's a 72tooth one. Me I dont see a point in doing it. I don't ever oil my air guns either and never had a problem
Hey to each his own. Which ever works best for you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts as well 👍
If you use your tools every day you shouldn't have to oil them they get oil on them.i do have ratchets I don't use every day and I'll oil them here and there
Tony, are there any tricks or techniques to cleaning the knurled handles on ratchets? To get out any embedded dirt or grease?
Brake Clean and one of those cheap brush sets from Harbor freight. Ya I used towels before and that was a mistake haha. Hope this helps and if you don't want to use brake Clean you could try solvent or wd40
I used Lucas red and tacky grease
"My Thoughts"...are I buy name brand {S.O. because I like them} Good Ratchets that work/feel GOOD & have a lifetime warranty. I wipe them off with a rag when I put them away. If i have a problem with one I replace it. I don't stroke or sleep with them I don't have time for that, I use them and try to make money with them LoL... Just my THOUGHTS, I buy you a beer anytime Tony.
Haha that's understandable. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and watching
I finally got around to picking up that 'murica t-shirt for ya. Just need to know where to send it to cuz lol
ok... uve shammed me into goin out to the garage & cleaning & lubing my 30 year old sk ratchets... its been so long since ive... no... wait... ive NEVER lubed my sk before... this could prove interesting
Lol shoot. That's like a transmission if it been that long i would just leave them lmao
Wow, I've been fixing things like my own go Kart since I was like 6 and now I'm over 40 and I've never heard of a ratchet having a front or a back side. I would think the logo is the "back" 💁♂️ is there a technical truth to which side is the front or back!?
I use Super Lube (ptfe) synthetic OiL , a bit thicker than 3 in 1. and yes, better than grease!
Lol that's a good question 🤔 🤣 I guess I was just speaking from how I was looking at the ratchet. Not sure I specifically meant it was the front or back lol 👍
Transmission oil the best lubricant 4 all ratchets
Heard that a few times 👍
Can you show us How to do this on the cheap ones . Like the .99 freight harbor stuff
Viewers -- WD-40 is not a lubricant!! If it is all you have laying around -- do NOT use it to lubricate your ratchet.
WD-40 stands for "Water Displacement -- Formula #40".. it's great for spraying on a surface that you just cleaned with a water based cleaner -- but that is IT. It will not lubricate like a true lubricant -- and it just doesn't belong in this video as a suggestion IMO!
It does have its place but you are right, not as a lubricant for the ratchet but to clean the preexisting lubricant off and to clean the exterior of the ratchet.
@@TonyTheTechnician Great video -- but I feel like the people who don't know better -- will just grab their WD40 off the shelf and make their ratchet worse than when they started... so I felt the need to comment!!!
WD-40 is a great cleaner and water displacer -- but it didn't come through on the video that the WD was there for a different reason than lubrication.
I'd guess WD-40 is the most misused product on the market. It says right there on the bottle is it OK for lubrication -- even though it isn't.
Who can blame 'em though? If they start telling everyone WD40 isn't a lubricant -- they probably wouldn't sell it by the gallon to unsuspecting users at the home centers.
Use WD40 As the cleaner then lube
I use the 3 in 1 oil fpr mine but i think i over do it because it can leak out
Hey Tony,
In the market for a decent set of adjustable wrenches, preferably with grips on them. I don’t have access to any tool trucks. Any sets you recommend online, man? Thanks
Check out channellock they are made in Spain by Irega. Very high quality. Snap On and Bahco wrenches are likewise made in Spain. You can find them on Amazon.
C.T Designs -Charlie Thompson Thanks man I really appreciate it!
@@zacharycross4357 yes indeed I added a set of channellock and a set of Irwin adjustable wrenches to the tools link in the description. Hope you enjoy 👍
For me anything that rotates gets oil. If it slides it gets grease.
When would you use WD40? To flush out old dried lubricant from gears?
3:32... Sounds like a Blue Point I have... buttery. ..
Haha nice!!!
Im just spray them with wd40 for cleaning. Then spray chainlube
Why not just use motor oil?
Molycote 111
I worked with a off road equipment mechanic years ago and he dropped his into a a can or some container of 30 w motor oil