Ratchet cleaning

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Aug 14, 2008 | 07:36 PM

Mr.Ford 351W

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Ratchet cleaning

I have a JH Williams 1/2 drive ratchet and a 3/8 drive
both are superratchet, with what should i oil them or,
I cleaned one with brake cleaner, it was nice

Aug 14, 2008 | 08:21 PM

Ford_Six

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From: The Big, Oregon

Probably the same light oil as mentioned in the snap-on ratchet thread.

Aug 15, 2008 | 08:12 PM

frederic

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From: New Jersey

If my ratchets get really gunky I toss them head first into a coffee can of acetone and let them soak, then after a while I wipe them and toss them into another coffee can full of a lightweight oil, and soak them some more. Then, when I remember, I take them out and wipe them thoroughly with an old towel so they don't leak and stain the liners in my tool chest drawers.

I prefer soaking because i'm too lazy to scrub anything.

Aug 17, 2008 | 02:12 PM

mason55

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From: Marryville, Tennessee

A good light wt. oil will work. I use the same oil as I use in my air tools. 3 in 1 is good, sewing machine oil is good, gun oil works good too.

Aug 18, 2008 | 12:41 AM

mark a.

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Every once in a while I take all my rachets apart, clean them & pack them in white greese. IMO oil doesn't last & doesn't work as good as greese.

Aug 19, 2008 | 02:10 PM

CheapRanger

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From: State of Misery (Missouri

The older Snap~on I have (similar, if not the same as JH Williams), uses oil. Their recommendation was 30 weight non detergent, according to an old timer I knew. However lots of others I know prefer to use air tool oil.

Now the new lubed/sealed ratchets, use SuperLube (not sure if it is one word or two).