Craftsman ratchet handel identifier for rebuild kit.

[Reichow7120]

We have this old Craftsman 1/2 drive ratchet handel that's been sitting in a old toolbox that was my Grandpa on my mom's side of the family for years. ( man died before I was born and im 41) The box ended up in our shop when Grandma died 20 years ago. The box always held misc tools we didn't need often or duplicates. 

The other day I was in the box looking for something and came across the handle and thought it would be a cool project that I could do in my house one day while watching the kids.

Question is what kit do I need. It's a V type ratchet but no other numbers are on it to identify it for a reference to a parts kit. 

Do we need it? No. But it could be useful with some tinkering. 

Any help would be appreciated 

[hardtail]

Those are V series from the 70s, my first set, lots of professional mechanics didn't care for them but there is a vintage following now, does it work mechanically?

[int 504]

Go to Alloy Artifacts site. Everything you need or want to know about vintage tools.

[Dirt_Floor_Poor]

Are there even kits for something craftsman that old other than NOS? Unless it has sentimental value, I’d just go exchange it for a new one. I never liked those older craftsman ratchets. I doubt if the new ones are great either, but I don’t have any to say for sure. 

[Reichow7120]

2 hours ago, hardtail said:

Those are V series from the 70s, my first set, lots of professional mechanics didn't care for them but there is a vintage following now, does it work mechanically?

Kinda. The head jiggles in the handle

[Reichow7120]

32 minutes ago, Dirt_Floor_Poor said:

Are there even kits for something craftsman that old other than NOS? Unless it has sentimental value, I’d just go exchange it for a new one. I never liked those older craftsman ratchets. I doubt if the new ones are great either, but I don’t have any to say for sure. 

I guess kinda sentimental. Belonged to a Grandpa that I never knew and have been told I would have gotten along pretty well as opposed to the one I did knew and didn't get along with. 

Wouldn't break my heart if I can't fix it either. 

[Dirt_Floor_Poor]

12 minutes ago, Reichow7120 said:

I guess kinda sentimental. Belonged to a Grandpa that I never knew and have been told I would have gotten along pretty well as opposed to the one I did knew and didn't get along with. 

Wouldn't break my heart if I can't fix it either. 

Maybe you could find something on eBay. 

[hardtail]

I think ebay is the primary source now for repair kits, if lucky nos or else some China may work for certain parts, there's not a lot in there may as well take it apart and see what it looks like, most have lots of dried grease and grime, a few years ago Craftsman would replace but that's not really what your after, if you get it apart count the teeth that will be a start to finding parts

[Ihfan4life]

Just tear it apart and see if it’s broken or just gummed up from age. It’s possible to tear something apart from the 80’s and see if it’s the same internal pieces? 
Good luck!

[iowaboy1965]

1 hour ago, Ihfan4life said:

Just tear it apart and see if it’s broken or just gummed up from age. It’s possible to tear something apart from the 80’s and see if it’s the same internal pieces? 
Good luck!

I was about to say the same thing.

We had an instructor in auto tech school in the 80swhen I went thru. He talked about leaving his ratchet heads soaking in oil over the weekend to losen up gunk that got in there. He also talked about taking ratchets apart and cleaning up the grime and grit out of them and often get them working again. He also talked about rebuild kits like your looking for.  I agree with sid, tear it apart and see if what's there is save able. Your probably not out anything other than your time. Worst case scenario you learn what's in there and then throw it away.  Or put it back together for a wall hanger....🤷‍♂️

[yellowrosefarm]

Are those screws welded to the plate on the back side?  Might be fun to get apart, and a sign of what may be inside.

[Reichow7120]

5 minutes ago, yellowrosefarm said:

Are those screws welded to the plate on the back side?  Might be fun to get apart, and a sign of what may be inside.

Bent over. If I straighten them they will come out. 

Pretty sure they aren't original. 

[hardtail]

I don't think they are, pretty sure mine does have them there

My buddy was a mechanic at an auto wrecker and would soak and wash all his tools minimum weekly in the parts washer

[Sledgehammer]

A lot of ratchets can be made to work like new by removing the internals, cleaning them and putting back together with new lubricant. Be careful when taking it apart that the BB for the ratchet detent doesn't fly across the room (don't ask how I know)  I like to use white lithium grease skimmed inside. It seems to last well. I know Snap On has specific grease for inside ratchet heads. 

[Injpumped]

for sentimental reasons to keep it around, I'd clean it up and put it in some sort of display case. That is so different in design than even ones I have from the late 80's that I'd be surprised if you'd ever find the correct service kit anymore, but even if you did, I'd probably not use it as we usually have much nicer ones now. Never throw it out though!

[hardtail]

I had the whole set with sockets in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2" drive, I only have the 1/2" drive left now and maybe 1 screwdriver although I have an old toolbox in storage that might have some more items, the sockets I have pretty much all but a couple, the wrenches I bought at the same time were all Gray in Canada, I think Grey in the US and still have that full set but rarely use them anymore 

[Reichow7120]

Actually turned out to be a very easy rebuild. Take apart, cleaned. All the parts checked out so put them back in. Works pretty good now.

Biggest thing that tightened it up was replacing the 2 non correct screws on the heads and replacing them with the correct size and thread which tightened everything up.