I have a 1/2" drive Armstrong ratchet that finally quit ratcheting. I looked for a rebuild kit, only to find that Armstrong was bought out by another company, GearWrench, and they no longer make the rebuild kits.

Cant find the rebuild kit, but I did read several post where they said that the 1/2" drive rebuild kit from Matco will fit. Tooth count is not exactly the same but close.

Has anyone done this rebuild with the Matco kit?

I just put these words:

armstrong 1/2 drive ratchet repair kit

into a search engine and found multiple sources for the kit.

Is it worth rebuilding? I’d consider buying a new one.

Yeah, but if you look a lot of them are "not available". Also, I need a 12-965 kit. Not all 1/2" drive kits fit all 1/2" drive ratchets.

My ratchet new cost about $60 and that was 30 years ago. Now one similar to it cost $100+. If I can rebuild it, a kit usually cost $15-$25. I just haven't been able to find the kit I need.

Someone needs to tell Jed Clampett that there are stores and pawn shops full of brand name ratchets for sale.

LOL..... Nearest pawn shop, that I'm aware of, is 50 miles from where I live.

Send Kingston you address, perhaps he'll send you one?

Aren’t you a geographical oddity! How does a ratchet rebuild kit get closer than a new ratchet?

Have you disassembled it to confirm it's broken? Many just need a good clean & lube.

If it is broken, I would continue my search for parts as most any new ratchet will be subpar to an older Armstrong.

Is the Matco kit returnable? If so, try one & see.

It’s a long shot.

Give Harry J Epstein’s a call.

They may have some stored away.

I don't know where you live, you left that out of your avatar. But in most of the south the only tools you'll find in Pawn shops are crappy Chinese or Indian. The creme de la creme being Craftsman and very few of those. Guns are about the same way too.

So you live in the desert and wonder where the water is?

Learned me something, didn’t know that

There are lots of people on here with a broad range of knowledge. The man asked about re building a ratchet hoping someone might be able to help him out. I don't see how that warrants some of the responses he received.

I never heard of rebuilding one. Thank you...now I have.

No, I explained why you can't get quality tools at a pawn shop like you suggested where he lives.

Mark..... some of them remind me of this statement, "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." And then some are just 'stirring the ol pot'.




Didn't say it was closer...... said it was cheaper AND I'll agree with gunzo "if I can repair this ratchet, it will be better than the junk you buy nowdays".

The method used to be.
Break ratchet.
Go to Sears, hand them broken ratchet.
Receive new ratchet..
Go home.

Carlyle, Mac, ever built, etc all have hand tool lifetime warranties.
Don't know if B&D, or was it Stanley is honoring Craftsman...

I have a ratchet that is missing a teeny tiny screw, making it inoperative. It's part of a larger set, dammit.

But then, some say, so am I, all of the above....

Randy, if you end up looking for a used one in Pawn shops and such, and run into one branded NAPA, and is an older ratchet, they are good ones. I have a 1/2 inch drive one that I have mistreated since around 1980, and it is still going strong. I have used more cheater pipe on it than should be used on a ratchet without a problem, and it has been out in the rain more than a good tool should be. A few squirts of oil once in a while, and it is good to go. miles

Are Armstrong ratchets the ones with the left right button that is three or four concentric circles?

No, this ratchet has a lever you flip back and forth for on/off. I found one similar (best I could tell by the pic and info) to mine and they wanted $131.00 for it at MSC Direct.

Anyway, I took mine apart, as gunzo suggested, and found that a small sliver of metal had worn off the backside of the big toothed piece and had gotten into the teeth and locked up the ratchet. I gave it a good cleaning, put it back together, and it seems to work fine. Time will tell.

Thanks.
Broke a spring (if I recall) on one of my grandfather's quarter inches, but couldn't remember the brand. Most of his stuff was good quality tho.

When I was working in the auto dealers for about 30 years I bought snap on tools. if you had a problem they would fix it for free.. my ratchet of 30 years still works like it did when I bought it.. cost more than the other supposed to be good ones but I never had to buy a new one.... its all in if you buy the best you will get the best...

Frugal enough to be satisfied with something as long as it works properly, I am still using a Bausch & Lomb Zoom 60 bought in 1971 when I first moved to the Yukon. It has endured plenty of bumps and bruises, and also spent some time under the muddy Stewart River during a Spring bear hunting trip. That occasion required a complete disassembly and cleaning in camp that night. It certainly looks its age, but still reads bullet holes at 200 meters and counts growth rings on sheep horns.

About two months ago, I replaced the transmission on our clothes washing machine with one found for the cost of the travel to the local dump and about two hours of my time. That little effort save us about $600. Two days ago, I Jiffy-Sewed an old pair of jeans before I went fishing and trolled up a nice lake trout for dinner. My 40+ years old Kelty pack frame and bag is going into the mountains on the 17th of this month on a younger back than mine, but will do just fine.

Not difficult at all for me to understand the desire to fix that ratchet. Unfortunately, the throw-away-and-replace paradigm has become so entrenched in our culture that repair is becoming a lost path to perfectly good use of appliances, tools, and other equipment.

Ted

Randy. thanks to your initiative, the wrench is working again. But, then, it was your initiative to find parts for a very good older tool that caused this thread. Well understood - I have some very old Craftsman, Williams, etc quality tools that I would rather repair than replace. - if I can - and have done so a few times. I sure do admire your initiative and willing attitude, and your willingness to wade into this morass of personalities to express your good request.

In doing so, you help highlight the differences between a self-responsible gentleman who has initiative and some confidence in the knowledge and good will of others - for those who seemingly have neither soon rise to reveal themselves.

P,S If that one breaks again and you can't get it fixed, LMK and I'll send you a good old one from here.

Gear wrench also sells matco ratchets. When mine seized up, my Mac dealer rebuilt it since its the same manufacturer

Paul, thanks for the offer, but hopefully, I got it fixed. Got my fingers crossed anyway!

Joel, I didn't know that Gearwrench sold Matco stuff.... thanks for the info.

Here are a bunch of tool nuts,https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=4

Someone will know for sure about the interchangeability. Armstrong was a quality industrial brand. Gone now

Mark..... some of them remind me of this statement, "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." And then some are just 'stirring the ol pot'.

Is it faster to Phoenix or by bus?
Depends on if you walk or carry a Armstrong ratchet

You're not missing any screws. They're just a little loose!

It is a reminder of Nurse Ratchet.