snap on ratchet maintenance?
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,133
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From: Dracut, Massachusetts
snap on ratchet maintenance?
i heard somewhere that you are supposed to oil the insides of snap on ratchets. is this true? and if so what is the recomended lubricant?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
I have used light oil in most of my ratchets, straight 10w lube oil but that's not available to most people.
3in1 should work ok, you don't want to use grease though since it'll dry out and gum it up a bit.
3in1 should work ok, you don't want to use grease though since it'll dry out and gum it up a bit.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 3
From: Dracut, Massachusetts
i took it apart because it was in a toolbox i got for free and was all rusted up. the 3 in 1 oil free'd it up and now it works perfect!
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 299
Likes: 2
From: Marryville, Tennessee
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Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,360
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From: SW VA
I've never oiled any of my ratchets. Some are still going 30 years later...(the one's we didn't break with a cheater-bar 
)
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,191
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From: Blairsville,Ga
Back in the days when I used my ratchets daily I would soak the heads in a can of transmission fluid weekly for a hour or so
The snap-on ratchets I would take apart an clean after a month or so,they don't like dirt or grit
I never used Snap-on ratchets in the field other than 3/4" and 1" drive only in the shop
My other ratchets I would clean about every 6 months
The snap-on ratchets I would take apart an clean after a month or so,they don't like dirt or grit
I never used Snap-on ratchets in the field other than 3/4" and 1" drive only in the shop
My other ratchets I would clean about every 6 months
New User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Had a "tools safety" presentation taught by an Industrial Rep for Snap-On. They say that if you have a non-sealed ratchet that you should take it apart once a year and lubricate with "light oil", he recommended air tool oil. Otherwise the oil will attract dirt into the gears. If you have a newer sealed ratchet you realy don't have to do anything. The case has a couple of seals and keeps out the dirt and dust.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,220
Likes: 26
Looks like too much work.
Feel free to send all Snap-On ratchets to me and I'll replace them with late-model Craftsman ratchets. These will break or skip forcing you to exchange them LONG before lubrication is an issue! I'm only here to help.
Feel free to send all Snap-On ratchets to me and I'll replace them with late-model Craftsman ratchets. These will break or skip forcing you to exchange them LONG before lubrication is an issue! I'm only here to help.