Teardown review: 120 tooth Craftsman ratchet from Lowe’s
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- čas přidán 19. 07. 2024
- Here's a link to my full review of the new Craftsman tool set from Lowe’s: • Review: New Craftsman ...
I recently bought one of the new Craftsman tool sets at Lowe's, and I tore apart the ratchet to show how this new Craftsman 120-tooth ratchet works. This is made by Stanley, and it’s one of the first new tools released by Stanley Black and Decker since the company bought the Craftsman name. - Jak na to + styl
I worked for Sears, and one of my tasks was to rebuild ratchets for exchange. Customers used to bitch non stop about getting a used tool, even if it was their original unit repaired and handed back to them. They all whined that they wanted a new one or they would call the corporate office and complain. Now that they are made so that they cannot be rebuilt (and must therefore be replaced with new) everyone is bitching that they want re-buildable units.
Yep. I worked at Sears around 2010 and ppl were always upset that I could rebuild them in a few seconds. Always wanted a new shiny one. Lol. Nope.
Blows my mind that folks would do that. If I've kept a tool around long enough to warrant a rebuild, I'm keeping it until they don't make parts for em.
I have a 1/2" Cornwell that's older than many people reading this. The way I used to "service" it was to soak and swish the head in gasoline, then do the same in motor oil and let it sit overnight in the oil. It still works like the day I got it.
Pro1er
Sounds pretty much like you described me gettin' ready to have sex! I swish the head around in gasoline, lube it up with some oil and get ready to light 'er ass on fire😁! The only thing different is, sometimes it don't work like the day I got it😔😢........😅
try marvel mystery oil and a soak and rub with transmision fluid a little les flammable than gassoline and qcker penetration over motor oil
@@wizard3z868 less flammable? why should that matter in this setting?
yeah i was thinking that as i watched the video.
@@paulk5311 In case you absent mindedly light up a smoke while doing it :)
It’s consumer grade tool. It’s OK for most people. Even a pro could use it for years with no problem. Just drop some oil around the edges and keep it lubed up.
Jeff Stone junk
"The snap ring pops into that grove, and that's how you can assemble it but never take it apart."
Took my toddler less than 5 minutes to disassemble this ratchet and now I'm here trying to figure out how to put it back together again
Thanks for the video. I have the Stanley 120 tooth ratchets which have the same heads, just different handles. I assumed it assembled a similar way. I have found 120 teeth to be beneficial. In very tight spaces, I can still use a 3/8 ratchet when I would have to use a 1/4 inch ratchet otherwise. It's nice to have that longer handle in those situations. It does suck that they're not serviceable, though.
Internals look just like the Stanley STMT81207. I would venture to guess as the Stanley Black & Decker ownership of the craftsman brand continues to mature there will be continued overlap with R&D and internal parts just different stampings and marking. Brings down overall manufacturing costs and reduces total cost that equal more profit to the bottom line.
For the typical consumer, it's a perfectly fine design. I'd like to see it serviceable too but I also see why they did it that way. I'm just glad to see Craftsman get a second life.
I just exchanged a years old 1/2" ratchet purchased at Sears and got a new one with no trouble. I was impressed with how Lowe's handled it.
I just did this a week ago, they still wanted I.D. and was about to put me in contact with Craftsman to mail my ratchet in and get a replacement because they didn't carry the same ratchet anymore, it was ~30 years old. I had to complain and point to the warranty where it says just bring the tool in for an exchange. I said I would take the cheapest 1/2" Craftsman ratchet in exchange, after all a working ratchet of any kind is better than a broken one. They ended up giving in and gave me the exact same ratchet in this video. I like it a lot. I also returned a Kobalt at Home Depot and their exchange process was immensely better. They just exchanged it, no questions asked, and no need for I.D. either.
I'm with you. I prefer serviceable ratchets. And so did Sears back in the day of the tear drop ratchet. A former coworker of mine use to rebuild them in the back of Sears store with the repair kits supplied by Sears corporate . Great video.
Gearwrench 120XP are similarly designed. Dual pawl with 60 teeth so 120 clicks. But it's totally serviceable and reasonably priced.
Damnit, I should've come here first.
You should make a video of taking it back to the store to see if they would replace it.
“It was that way when I got it. I swear.”
Just flex your muscles and tell them "That bolt was tight"
Actually the Bear from the Den of Tools took back all his ratchets that he cut the ends off...and got free replacements!
Very good demonstration. I just purchased that 120 tooth craftsman wrench. Not realizing I was only buying what I knew in part. Now I know in whole why I purchased the tool. Craftsman has a good warranty and I don't use wrenches much. I was particularly impressed with the 2 pawl set up as it seemed to be precision machining of gears and pawls. I have broken a few cheaper 3/8" ratchets. And I don't like going to the store for any brand tool more than once. I will definitely give Craftsman ratchets needing replacement in my tool box first look. Thanks again for a very informative video.
Glad to see this teardown. I tried to drive out the selector as well when I reviewed this ratchet and quickly discovered that wasn't the ticket, ha.
Thanks for sharing. I think a 90 tooth ratchet is all you would need.
Excellent, informational video, I am an old gear head , 45 years of wrenching, l needed swivel head ratchets long handled 1/2 3/8 Ann so forth ,Snapon is out , I was going to get gear wrench on amazon, 120 tooth , you just educated me, Thanks
I use this ratchet daily wrenching on high end European. It is well designed and I believe the metals are imported from the USA. I bought the 3/8 then got the 1/4 and plan to get the 1/2 I liked it so much. It kills the harbor freight ratchets. Also as far as cleaning it, castle brake parts cleaner works just fine then use high quality spray penetrating fluid such as BG in-force.
I opened up a Stanley Rachet and it had a round plastic cylinder with a spring connected to the selector. That moved the 2 paws. I had never seen that type before.
Well done analysis. My contention about ratchets is the design for handling. I prefer the round handle. Easier on the palm and fingers. Anything else is secondary.
Love your channel. wish you made more videos.
Thanks. I have a lot of family and work obligations, so I don’t have as much time for videos as I’d like.
I just lubed mine up by putting some gun oil around the moving parts and it worked really well. Definitely recommend
I rather have a 72 tooth ratchet with a serviceable ability then a 120 tooth ratchet
yeah, same. making the palls 1/2 the size seems like a bad design tradeoff...guess the PR department won
Max T yep pr department won I have over 10 72 tooth ratchets and never let me down
The simple fact that it is sealed is enough to know that this is throwaway after its first use.
Steve Sheldon they sell rebuild kits for them or take it back and exchange it for a new one but then if you have a true original it's made in the USA and you will get one made in China to replace it I think they still make rebuild kits for the USA made ones and yes even tho it looks identical to the made in China tear drop ratchet the guts are different
@@jamesf9610 i have taken several craftsman ratchets back over the years. the first couple times they handed me a new one but one time they gave me a rebuild kit instead. that was fine by me as those were all serviceable.
i recently busted my 3/8ths drive so i will soon be taking it back as well. i always loved the no receipt deal and is one reason i have been using craftsman tools for 30+ years.
I have the Craftsman V Series CMMT86322V 3/8" flex head ratchet approximately 7 5/8" long. Its a sealed head with no quick release push button. My opinion. A quick release button may allow dirt inside plus a sealed head. Exchange under warranty if it fails.
Its has very nice or smooth ratcheting action and has improved with use.
Love the vids!
Mine froze up first time using it. But Lowe’s gave me a new one
I don’t like ratchets with screws in them because the screws slowly come out over time. I noticed that don’t have thread locker which is probably why the screws loosen over time. I’d prefer the clip design
Thanks for posting!
Thanks for watching.
Thanks for sharing and sacrificing a ratchet for our education. Was there any lubrication inside the ratchet? everything seems dry. i have Facom and Wera ratchets that also aren't serviceable but, i prefer being able to disassemble, clean, and lube as needed for longer life. However, the wera & facom are still going strong. I feel that anything over 60 tooth is overkill as far as ratcheting action go but, that's just me. Thanks again, well done!!
You are welcome. There was some light grease in there.
Fedwrench thats my thinking/common sense as well. The more teeth count the more slim and precise. When factor in time/ day to day use and abuse (if it can even handle abuse)/ great amt of torque applied, this seems like a total epic fail. Id prefer a less tooth count simply because the teeth are thicker and so would the teeth on the pawl plus i can open it and replace (doubt i would with thicker teeth) parts and clean and re oil. Anything brand new will work but things that hold the test of time are what matters.
Great post sir.
They had to go to 120 tooth in order to stay current and competitive with the other brands but I agree their 84 tooth single paw slim line ratchets are wonderful even if a little heavy
It's amazing to me that being able to print "120" on a box has more legs than "serviceable". Then again, this comment section is full of people ok with a disposable ratchet.
I'm curious how much torque that dual pawl system could take before breaking or jumping the teeth... Seems having a much wider single pawl would be way stronger. I've broken plenty of ratchets but all were mostly the big two tooth variety.
The hero we need
Ah, so I was wondering why someone would throw two of these 1/2s, three 3/8s and a 1/4 one in the road today. I circled around and picked them up and brought them home thinking that I could clean and repair them. NOPE! Then I found this video. All of them are stuck in the _loosening_ position. I can loosen some things like a mofo with these but not tighten ISH! I'm still not gonna throw them away like the previous owner. 🙂
interesting choice to have a hidden circlip. you can now test out Lowe's lifetime warranty with the ratchet lol
Will flex-seal fix that? Hahaha.
How was the engagement before chopping it up? I have a gearwrench 120xp 1/2, 3/8 and 1/4 and sometimes the half inch drive one doesn't like to engage as quick as the smaller ones
My Craftsman 3/8"" ratchet failed because I hammered on it too many times. I went to the local big box store and 6 of the 3/8" ratchets I tried would rotate in either direction. I was shocked and questioned my own sanity at that point!
Love your videos
Thanks
Rebuildable or just take to store and swap out when it gets sticky or breaks?
Looks like a Chinese Stanley I bought on clearance at Wal-Mart for $4 years ago. Thing is the Stanley Craftsman’s at Lowe’s are more expensive than the Sears versions if you want a consumer grade stuff. I suppose if it was on sale or something there isn’t anything wrong with it.
These things are relatively inexpensive, might not be a good choice as a primary ratchet but is a good tool to have in the box for that once in awhile tight situation where you wish you could get a couple more clicks out of the ratchet. Not a must have but nice to have tool.
I'd be interested to see if a thin plastic shim (such as the plastic cut from a 2 liter bottle), could slip around the cir-clip just enough to compress it so the ratchet drive would pop out.
thin metal shim.
if you dont have one, buy a cheap feeler gauge set.
@@316diag yeah I tried that and destroyed a feeler gauge... No dice...
I had a sneaking suspicion that Husky was made apex. Where did you get this info?
This makes me kinda sad. It only shows how disposable our society is. I work at Sears, and still commonly clean and re-lubricate vintage ratchets for people when they need "exchanged". I know the tricks for taking the early 70's Easco made round heads apart and cleaning the spring between the two pawls in the ratcheting head assembly. Things that aren't really meant to be serviced usually can be, but it just upsets me that they purposely made this non serviceable by any means. This ratchet is completely alien to anything that has had the craftsman name stamped on it it almost doesn't deserve it. at least the cheap "Sears socket sets" (they made them, they were not branded craftsman, they were cheaper japanese made sets wearing the sears name only) sold through the 80's weren't this bad. Now I need to see how we are supposed to order these through the Warex tool exchange system. from the glimpses I have seen of the part number, it is in an odd format. usually it is a 9/44811 or just 44811 stamped on it. that looked like a completely different numbering system.
This is an awesome design! Cudos to you for the destructive review.
I envisioned a design exactly like this.
As an addendum, I dont believe the pawls alternate. They seem to be selected individually for direction.
I welcome your input. Did you count the teeth on the anvil?
On second inspection, it seems to me that the anvil has 60 teeth, and the pawls are offset by half a tooth, giving the feel of a 120 tooth ratchet but actually only providing half that number.
With this in mind, it seems likely that designing the mechanism to be non-serviceable would serve to hide this fact.
Still a very strong design.
Does that mean that when it clicks you're not always engaging the selected pawl on the anvil and taking up distance around the anvils circumference? If they are offset and do alternate then it seems to me that it would effectively be a 120 T ratchet. Probably why it has 2 pawls in the first place otherwise why go through the trouble of designing it that way?
I recently bought a Kobalt socket set which has their Pro 90 ratchets (on clearance, I would not have paid full price for this set). They aren't slim ratchets, but they do appear serviceable. Unfortunately, while the 90 tooth ratchets have a nice, short throw, some of the sockets do not fit the ratchets as tightly as they should (though some do fit tightly). There's some play when turning the socket, so some of the ratchet's high tooth advantage is lost. I will say the 3/8" sockets are tighter fitting than the 1/4" sockets, but overall fit-and-finish is a bit lacking.
"Craftsman" was only a brand. You always received a tool made by another company that provided the lowest bid.
did they warranty the tool :). I didn't cut it apart. It just fell apart I don't know what happened
I suspect that the 120 position thing hasn't really caught on because so many of us like to take our ratchets apart and lube them, etc. With the dual pawl and extremely "fine" tooth mechanisms, too much grease or inadvertently changing the pressure of one of those springs makes the ratchet not work right when it is put back together. I wonder if that hasn't led to an excess of "warranty" claims on ratchets that would have been otherwise alright, albeit a bit dry. Pure speculation on my part. So the new, non-serviceable Craftsman solved that little problem for us and for themselves LOL.
3:41 looks like a smiling xenomorph.
What material is the selector switch made out of? I know for a while Craftsman used plastic switches due to customer complaints of their tools rusting but only because they were leaving their tools out in the elements.
I prefer the chromed switches. The black oxide ones rusted in my tool box. When it's humid, the condensation will ravage things. I wipe them down with oily rags now and that has helped.
good time to test if they will honor that warrenty??
Grinder!!! LOL!
Its a press type clip, you have to press it in and out. If ya have rebuild CV joints you will know what im talking about. Likeany have said you could use a small thin shim to press the spring clip. Not super difficult, just annoying for sure. And clearly made for exchanging rather then rebuilding.
I perfer the older craftsman ratchet. The newer design likes to blow up when you least expected.
My 1/2in 120 failed my taking of my honda axle nut with a jack handle 240lbs was the touque i had to set it to then the 3/8th fail doing brake caliper nracket bolts and they are are to switch gears and dont rachet my dad set is good tho 120 tooth as well
These are serviceable. there are two small torx screws that come out
I think you might be able to get it apart by pressing out the center. A little pressire, a bit of wiggle and the ring should compress.
I've done it using a very thin piece of steel as a shim. Like you said "a little wiggle" and a lot of patience.
I don't even have any Craftsman tools I've got to use a few of a friends even I don't care much for their new tools : (
Gear wrench 120 XP ratchets are serviceable and employe a very similar mechanism to this craftsman ratchet
How do you get it apart? Using a press?
Use a powerful magnet to recompress the snap ring! 😂
Quarterly, swish in mineral spirits--> rinse with WD-40--> lubricate with copious 3 in 1 oil. Monthly add oil. Serviced.
Is having a serviceable ratchet important?? I’m looking for a pro-quality ratchet that I can pass down to future generations. I like how these are smooth w 120 teeth.
A non serviceable ratchet is a real turn off. The first thing I do with a new ratchet is take it apart and grease it myself. Half the time they're bone dry in there. I like being able to fix things myself too so if something goes wrong I have to get in line like a regular consumer and go through the process to get a new one. I don't like disposable tools and want to be able fix myself if possible. Hopefully we'll see serviceable USA made ratchets from Craftsman soon.
glad to see lowe's breathing new life into craftsmen brand, I hope they unzombiefy it.
ace hardware too
Any chance of a teardown for harbor freight earthquake 68425 or 68424? They are still made. They are the aluminum style instead of the composite
That’s a good suggestion. I’ll keep it in mind.
ouimetnick
Just use it one time. By the end of the 3rd turn, it should all be in pieces on the ground!
e, are you saying that because they are that bad or are you being a brand snob because I have been using my 1/2" XT every day for 2 years and haven't had a problem out it. I have been beating the hell out of it on 180psi and love it. At first I tried to break it so I could warranty it but now I just want to see how much abuse it will take. Hell I don't even oil it any more
Tool Teardowns I took apart my Williams s53a. I put it back together 10 times and it still doesn't work.....don't know what I'm doing wrong. If you want to do a video on it I'll send it in LOL
I noticed that it’s built like a ratcheting wrench. If I buy one I’ll soak it in a light oil as I do with my ratcheting wrenches.
New sub here. Has anyone ever told you that you sound a bit like John Mulaney? Awesome vids!
You're not the first to say that. Thanks for the kind words.
I was thinking about buying this ratchet in a 1/4” but now I’m not. It’s a nice looking ratchet though. It does not look like it was greased either.
I been waiting for this videos for years , truly life changing
Depending on price I'd just go with the gearwrench 120xp
Hmm... let's see if Sears can one up this design with their craftsman line up. Don't forget Sears can still design, manufacture, and sell their own line of craftsman tools. I would personally like to see the Sears line of tools replace the craftsman evolv. Then have Dunlap replace Craftsman. Finally have Sears Cross country as the pro line up.
SK, MAC or SNAP-ON. Craftsmans' days are behind them
and not a bit of lube. I thought it sounded dry. personally I have always opened them up and filled them with moly. think I'll wait till they change the design before buying new 'craftsmen"
See guys, you DONT drive out the pin. Jk lol
Why would you not just go with Gear wrench 120xp ? Serviceable, and obviously good enough for Stanley / Craftsman to copy ...
theyre actually made by the same parent company, apex tools. just different branding
That was an ap"pawl"ling video...Sorry I had to do that;)
Love your channel, wish you had more subscribers....
Thanks for the kind words. The channel has grown pretty decently in the last couple months. Hopefully that will keep up.
It is what it is and nothing more. I’ve used all three drive sizes in the 120 gun metal series in my travel/junk yard set going on two years. In this time I’ve only had to warranty one 3/8‘s after about a year, granted it was my fault that it failed as I had to use it on lug nuts in a emergency to change a spare roadside. The cons of the ratchet IMO are it is definitely a little on the thick side but not terrible as it’s similar in thickness to my dual 80’s head. Next is the most obvious being it’s non serviceable. I guess if you really want to be critical you could say they are a bit on the heavy side, but there is not much else bad to say other than it’s not a 🇺🇸 made tool. I can say this I do believe this is a better design than any of the the plastic selection RP ratchets USA produced or not.
Was it my imagination or did I hear you reporting on NPR this morning?
I had a rat in my kitchen! He ate evvvverything and I had rachet all over the place!😅
You do such a great job on your videos. Always great content and presented well.
I think the double paw to turn the 60 tooth to a 120 tooth is a clever design, but I just don’t know who would really want that ratchet. I feel like anyone who would utilize that 120 tooth design isn’t going to buy that obtuse looking ratchet. It’s so ugly it looks exactly like what it is: a Chinese made Stanley tool that has the word Craftsman stamped in it instead.
That wrench has no charm at all. It’s corporate using the brand name of an American staple and the marketing strategy of trying to put the highest number of teeth they can possibly write on the package. No one who has ever used a ratchet was involved in designing that.
Use a pick and run it under the lip. Youll feel it catch and you can get underneath it surely they wouldnt make a ratchet that cant be repaired. Its the same type of snap ring that holds the round roto type ratchets together. Its an overlapping spring type retaining ring.
That won't work on this ratchet. That's not the type of retaining ring it has. The clip is fully hidden inside the body of the ratchet once it's assembled. There's no lip to catch with a pick.
it is serviceable.
you just have to know how.
i use a thin shim.
Warranty?
Good info! RIP perfectly good tool tho.
What grinder was used in this video?
It's the cheap paddle switch one from Harbor Freight.
I won’t touch any Craftsman wrench that’s imported. But I do disagree with there not being any real world advantage to what is basically under a one degree gain with the fine tooth. I have had some extremely cramped areas where that one degree has made it possible to at least get one click of engagement, granted it takes you fifteen minutes to get the damn bolt out but it still makes it possible.
Love your channel, wish you had more diversity in comments.
I've never had an issue with gearwrench which uses the same design. I'd bet this would take the abuse too
120 clicks with the strength of a 60 tooth? i’m gonna pick up one of these just for tight spaces
Couldn't you just clamp onto the drive and pull it out really hard, or maybe even press it through and break the snap ring?
A 20 ton press could do it. Hopefully only the snap ring breaks.
Servicing a tool is obsolete if you can replace it easily. If you are isolated or far from lowes or ace hardware then yeah a serviceable tool is better. Personally I like tools that can be fixed I hate waste and disposable things.
A mechanism with more, smaller moving parts (making it more prone to jamming due to internal buildup) and it isn't serviceable. Add in sockets that are rusted out of the box and you have...junk.
pretty much sums it up
....sockets out of plastic. Then market this to you: LIGHT WEIGHT/ MADE IN THE USA. you should check out their most recent commercial about how proud they are to STILL be made in the USA and the twats/actors "ive never had any problems with craftsman tools". They are working super hard to re name them selves to crapsman.
For the price, I don't see it being a decent competitor to Gearwrench, Tekton, or even Harbor Freight.
The Gearwrench also has a simulated 120 teeth but is a serviceable ratchet.
If I'm somewhere I need 120 teeth, I'm not using enough extensions or my ratchet handle is too long. Cool design though.
Market driven evidently.
I prefer serviceability. I have older sprag roller ratchets for tight situations. "120 tooth" ratchet seems gimmicky to me.
It's a total gimmick. The number of teeth doesn't necessarily correlate to the movement angle which is the only number that really matters if you're looking for a tight ratchet. If there's slop in the ratchet and slop in the square drive then all the teeth in the world won't make it a better tool.
Same as the 120xp from gearwrench not 120 teeth but 60 just alternating pawls. Love it but not serviceable is just stupid
should of put it under a press to get it out
@ 3:41, all I see is a mouth and two eyes lol
Luke Bender from Futurama good looks thats pretty cool metal mouth
Dry. Ice.
It was a ratchet designed by accountants.
If you tap the side of the ratchet on a hard surface and turning it a few times the ratchet will come apart.
Interesting idea, but I think it's very unlikely that would work.
@@ToolTeardowns I have done it to my gearwrench wrenches. I didn't think they would come apart until I dropped my 3/4 gearwrench from a trailer deck to the concrete floor. After that I tapped the head a few times and if you get it just right the mechanisms does come apart. The smaller wrenches 9/16 and under are a little hard to take apart.