Loosening up a Billings Spencer female 1/2" Drive Ratchet

[dimwittedmoose51]

Need some tips on getting this thing to spin(assuming it5's spozed to spin like Alloy says it is).  Want to maintain the integrity of the tool, so maybe non heat solutions wold be the best. 
The tool doesn't look that rusty to me, but it won't spin at all.

TIA

DM&FS

[J.A.F.E.]

My favorite is a 50/50 mix of acetone and ATF or power steering fluid. Sometimes the ATF works well by itself.

[dimwittedmoose51]

I guess I was just too impatient.  The 5th day must've been the charm. I pulled it out tonight and chucked up my favorite Taiwan 1/2" extension and slipped the ratchet over the male end and started working it.  Hard to tell which direction was the proper spin direction, but enough"cajoling" with my hand and it freed up.  Douched it with PB Blaster with a chaser of Triflow and all is well.  That thing really bled rusty brown towards the end.

BTW, I tried to post photos,l but I kept getting an error message about #500 server something or another.

Also the 1/2" drive was loose enough on the female end of the ratchet that it makes me think that it's really a 9/16" drive tool.  I'll try the acetone and ATF solution next time around..

DM&FS

[dimwittedmoose51]

Last try for the pix

[Wrenchmensch]

With regard to the looseness of the 1/2" opening of your CA B & S ratchet, some of these ratchets came with a spring inside the opening to grip the male tangs of the original B & S sockets in the sets(51, 52,and 53) these ratchets came with. Your ratchet does not appear to have a spring attached to the wall of the opening. B & S  CA ratchets with a spring had a notch in one of the opening's walls for that spring.  My CA ratchet has a spring and works well with the sockets in my 53 B & S set.

[dimwittedmoose51]

Thank.  It may end up as strictly wall decoration if I can't get it to move....

DM&FS

[Fins/413]

That is a neat looking ratchet.

[sumner52000]

I have the same ratchet, and mine is stuck too.  If you get it to move let me know how.  I tried the ATF for several weeks with no luck.  Didn't try the acetone just kind of gave up and threw it in a drawer.

[dimwittedmoose51]

10-4!!!


DM&FS

[bc_z]

PB Blaster is ok, Kroil is great stuff to break the rust/goo bond.  A bit picey, but great stuff.  www.kanolabs.com

bc_z

[Papaw]

I like Kroil, I got 2 cans on their special last year, now I get lots of promo mail from them at Papawswrench.com .

[Wrenchmensch]

 Today I freed a stuck B & S CA ratchet.  Determining that the ratchet travels in clockwise direction when the ratchet is lying with the Billings & Spencer - Triangle B stamp up, was an important first step (I have two other CA ratchets). To start, I put the ratchet end of the wrench in boiling water for 2-3 minutes.  Then I placed the ratchet handle horizontally in wood vise to protect the handle. I took my Craftsman 1/2 ratchet and used it to loosen the B & S ratchet. After 30 seconds of increasing effort it gave way. I took the B & S ratchet out of the vise, using the Craftsman to continue turning the B & S ratchet until I got the two holes lined up and could depress the pawl and remove the ratchet, pawl and spring.  All got a good cleaning. The ratchet was assembled and lubricated. It works fine now!

[Papaw]

Good job! Nice to revive an oldie, isn't it?

[dimwittedmoose51]

Can't hurt to try something new when nothing else has worked.  Thanks

DM&FS

[sumner52000]

Great job Wrenchmensch.  I guess i just didn't try hard enough.  Take care of it, or find someone who needs it to complete their set.  Thanks.