the snooper
getting older by the day
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- 21,063
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- Hull UK
dirt making the ratchet stick / a good squirt with wd 40
- Thread starter Kayos
- Start date
Bill Edwards
Member
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- 4,959
- Location
- Scarborough, North Yorkshire
I've certainly walked on and has two ratchets and a screwdriver blade replaced without hesitation - before becoming a good customer.
Fazerruss
Member
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- 3,104
Best thing to do is give it to a mechanic who is a good customer and ask him to ask the snap on man. I did this with my 19 year old ratchet screw driver that fell to bits when it fell on a carpet floor from 18 inch. About a month later the mechanic who lives on same street as me knocked on my door with a brand new driver. 
Britool are also good, they replaced 3 1/2 inch ratchets over the years some of which must be 40 years old along with many other items such as screw drivers etc without question and Halfords have done the same. Life time warrantee to me is as long as it's being used! Speak to Snap On I have always found them to be good and fair also and never paid to have anything replaced.
- Messages
- 13,409
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- England
Get on the snapon website and buy a repair kit, search the part no (for the ratchet) and service parts are then listed.
I broke the lever off of mine, and havn't had a dealer for a few years. I did my 1/4" one last year. Kit was about £15-20 iirc. Comes neatly packaged, all held together by a little magnet I seem to recall, just drops in, take the plastic cover/magnet off and put the cover back on. Only takes a few minutes.
I broke the lever off of mine, and havn't had a dealer for a few years. I did my 1/4" one last year. Kit was about £15-20 iirc. Comes neatly packaged, all held together by a little magnet I seem to recall, just drops in, take the plastic cover/magnet off and put the cover back on. Only takes a few minutes.
lotus_esprit_s1
Member
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- 845
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- UK
I went on the snap on website and attempted to order a 3/8 repair kit. It was something stupid like £36 plus postage.
I went on the US site and the same part was under $15, so i got my brother in law who lives in us to order it for me bring it over next time he was on business.
Only lasted two months and the centre QR button and locking ball fell out. Chucked the whole lot away and bought a halfords advanced 3/8 ratchet and a britool one as well for the same price as a uk repair kit.
I went on the US site and the same part was under $15, so i got my brother in law who lives in us to order it for me bring it over next time he was on business.
Only lasted two months and the centre QR button and locking ball fell out. Chucked the whole lot away and bought a halfords advanced 3/8 ratchet and a britool one as well for the same price as a uk repair kit.
brightspark
Member
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- 40,158
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- yarm stockton on tees
ive got all britool ratchets and paid peanuts for them second hand and had -- them over 40 years probably give 20 quid for the lot so why pay -big money for something thats just a.must have item with a fancy name and price tag
Bill Edwards
Member
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- 4,959
- Location
- Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Why buy a ratchet kit when it's a free item that somebody else will fit for you as well! And you've already paid to be able to have that with the high initial cost anyway. 
To all those with ancient ratchets which still work, and probably will for another 20 years, how many teeth are there in the head?
Because I can't recall ever finding an old one that isn't very course, which may be fine for light use but for the cost of them having fine toothed stuff (72 tooth minimum, I like SO 80 tooth) makes life so much easier in a tight place.
To all those with ancient ratchets which still work, and probably will for another 20 years, how many teeth are there in the head?
Because I can't recall ever finding an old one that isn't very course, which may be fine for light use but for the cost of them having fine toothed stuff (72 tooth minimum, I like SO 80 tooth) makes life so much easier in a tight place.
Bill Edwards
Member
- Messages
- 4,959
- Location
- Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Oh and with regards to Brittool, they used to make very good quality ratchet/socket gear. But not may years ago I bought myself a new ratchet from them, after no time at all and no abuse whatsoever it failed. Bought some spanners too which are also rubbish.
For whatever reason, I get the impression they've gone over to making the tools out of cheese.
For whatever reason, I get the impression they've gone over to making the tools out of cheese.
lotus_esprit_s1
Member
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- 845
- Location
- UK
Why buy a ratchet kit when it's a free item that somebody else will fit for you as well! And you've already paid to be able to have that with the high initial cost anyway.
To all those with ancient ratchets which still work, and probably will for another 20 years, how many teeth are there in the head?
Because I can't recall ever finding an old one that isn't very course, which may be fine for light use but for the cost of them having fine toothed stuff (72 tooth minimum, I like SO 80 tooth) makes life so much easier in a tight place.
I bought a repair kit because the local Snap On dealer wouldn't repair it. He offered to sell me a kit for the list price of £36 or take my ratchet handle in p/X against a new one, which was still going to cost me an additional £80.
And if it is a free item why do they sell them for £36?
Bill Edwards
Member
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- 4,959
- Location
- Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Because somebody will buy them...
Like Halfords also sell them despite replacing them for free as mentioned on I think this thread.
I have bought the replacement knuckles for breaker bars (well, included in the deal but essentially the same as buying). They are free when you take a broken bar in as that's warranty however I got them so that I can change them myself to finish a job then get the replacement FOC at a convenient time.
Ratchet failures are warranty, and I have had them replaced as such. The only time this could be an issue is if you brought it in with a big bend in the handle from sticking a pipe on or signs of serious hammer marks, which in fairness to SO is overstepping the mark when it comes to appropriate usage - it's abuse.
I will try to remember to ask my SO man about the older ratchet warranty but I am certain it covers any age. I have obviously never had any questions when taking things in.
brightspark
Member
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- 40,158
- Location
- yarm stockton on tees
morethan likely but all my sets are over 30 years old none are worn out and none have ever snapped. i lost a couple of sockets and wouldnt buy the new ones and replaced them with more expensive old type second hand ones of ebay
Richard.
Member
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- 18,344
- Location
- Cambridgeshire
Britool 30 years ago was quite literally as good as tools got. I too have a few sockets that I had handed down to me from that era. They were made to serve a lifetime. Sadly it's not today. The hallmark range is ok but this expert stuff is soft rubbish IMO. I can't think of a single brand inc snap on that produces tools as good as they did way back then. They are becoming more expensive and more throwaway. Regards to the guts in the ratchet if the teeth or pivot lock are broken then they will be changed under the warranty. If they are worn to the point it slips they won't. If the handle has a bend or obvious dents from extended sleeving then again it won't be warranty replaced.
MattF
Forum Supporter
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- 16,594
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- South Yorkshire
My Irimo is around that age and still going strong. Been used lightly as a hammer too if I ever got stuck up the ladders and needed to tap something in. Yes, I know it's not done, but either that or suffer p*ss poor weather for longer and/or a traipse back to the van....
