Floppy Wright flex-head ratchet,,,how to fix it???

[mrchuck]

This 3/8 inch flex-head is totally sloppy floppy.
I tried to drive out the pin, can't,,,wont budge.
I squeezed it in my Wilton vise,,,nope, can't.
Any ideas to get the flop out?
I like the tootsie handle, but pass it by due to the floppyness.

[Dustin21]

dont they have a pill for that ?

 try driving it out from both sides when i did my sk thats what i had to do to get it out it also might    a few good whacks

[mrchuck]

Doesn't move even with a Kroil soak and a proper size drift punch using a 2# machinist hammer.
Either side, no difference.

[mrchuck]

Dustin, I went back out to my shop, Kroil oiled it again and vised up the ratchet, and gave it another good smack and felt the pin move.
Yep, got it out, then vised up the yoke and squeezed the "goal posts" closer.
A few times squeezing, and re-installed the pin.
It's much, much tighter now, and no more flop.
I expect this will have to be done after the next use of the ratchet.
But, no problem now as I can always tighten it again if necessary.
So, this 1975 vintage ratchet gets it's place back as the # 1 ratchet to go to.
Thanks for the help.    Chuck

[Dustin21]

Dustin, I went back out to my shop, Kroil oiled it again and vised up the ratchet, and gave it another good smack and felt the pin move.
Yep, got it out, then vised up the yoke and squeezed the "goal posts" closer.
A few times squeezing, and re-installed the pin.
It's much, much tighter now, and no more flop.
I expect this will have to be done after the next use of the ratchet.
But, no problem now as I can always tighten it again if necessary.
So, this 1975 vintage ratchet gets it's place back as the # 1 ratchet to go to.
Thanks for the help.    Chuck

glad to hear you got it to go.    :)

id also like to had this knoweledge is second hand from snapmom  i encountered a similar problem last year and she helped me along with someone else i forget  who tho..

[Lewill2]

Doesn't it have a ball detent that holds the position of the head? I thought the swivel head ratchets all had ball detents to hold the head in position.

[J.A.F.E.]

Some companies have detents some don't. Snap on in general does not but some Snap ons have a locking button that will will fix the head in one of several positions or release it. MAC and Wright seems to use them.

In general my preference is not to have the have the detents but that is the way I learned to use the ratchets in the first place.