Festool Ratchet Set - a warning

[Roseland]

I have the Festool Ratchet Set which I love; it's compact yet has so many uses.

However this week I had to replace the dampers in the bottom of the washing machine.  My usual crappy 3/8" socket set was too big to get in the limited space, so I used the 1/4" ratchet set.

I think I overloaded the ratchet, it doesn't turn freely any more. 

Sadly I gather the ratchet is not available as a spare on its own, so I'm left with three options: live with it, buy a new set or try and dismantle it and repair it.

So a word of warning; beautiful it may be, but don't expect too much of it!

Andrew

 

[tjbnwi]

Did you check with Festool to see if a rebuild kit is available? I have Snap-On ratchets I bought 40 years ago and have rebuilt several times.

Take it apart, see how bad the damage is to the gear.

Tom

 

[jeh]

Snap-On is a world apart from the toy socket set that Festool sold (sells). All the more reason to stick to their core products and not get caught up with products that are outside of their expertise.

 

[Roseland]

I did check (with the ever-helpful Phil Beckley), but I don't think such a kit is available.

However I took it apart (it's only held together by two Phillips "O" screws"), de-burred the gear and pawl, re-oiled it and reassembled it. 

Reassembly is easier said than done; you need to hold the spring and ball that click the ratchet back whilst you reinsert the pawl.  Happily I had a set of lock picks and a small tension tool was just what was needed.

It's easy to tighten the cover down, but it doesn't need to be tight - there is thread lock compound on the screws.

Anyway long story short it works again.  Perhaps not quite as silky smooth as before, but perfectly usage.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Andrew

 

[leakyroof]

I did check (with the ever-helpful Phil Beckley), but I don't think such a kit is available.

However I took it apart (it's only held together by two Phillips "O" screws"), de-burred the gear and pawl, re-oiled it and reassembled it. 

Reassembly is easier said than done; you need to hold the spring and ball that click the ratchet back whilst you reinsert the pawl.  Happily I had a set of lock picks and a small tension tool was just what was needed.

It's easy to tighten the cover down, but it doesn't need to be tight - there is thread lock compound on the screws.

Anyway long story short it works again.  Perhaps not quite as silky smooth as before, but perfectly usage.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Andrew

  Then you've done about as much as you could hope for if a rebuild kit is not available.

 

[Peter_C]

You probably chipped the pawl a little bit. I wouldn't trust that knuckle buster, and would stop using it.

I have busted a lot of ratchets gear sets and keep a couple spares in my tool box. Fortunately Snap-on ratchets are generally rebuildable.

 

[Roseland]

You probably chipped the pawl a little bit. I wouldn't trust that knuckle buster, and would stop using it.

I have busted a lot of ratchets gear sets and keep a couple spares in my tool box. Fortunately Snap-on ratchets are generally rebuildable.

The gear was stiff, so I think it was a burr rubbing somewhere.  If I get any hints of it failing I'll get a Snap On, but for now I'll just treat it a bit more carefully.  I'm only a DIYer, so it gets very light use.

Thanks for all the inputs.

Andrew

 

[Svar]

Snap-On is a world apart from the toy socket set that Festool sold (sells). All the more reason to stick to their core products and not get caught up with products that are outside of their expertise.

Festool ratchet set is made by Wiha which is as good as Snap-On.

 

[sancho57]

I did check (with the ever-helpful Phil Beckley), but I don't think such a kit is available.

However I took it apart (it's only held together by two Phillips "O" screws"), de-burred the gear and pawl, re-oiled it and reassembled it. 

Reassembly is easier said than done; you need to hold the spring and ball that click the ratchet back whilst you reinsert the pawl.  Happily I had a set of lock picks and a small tension tool was just what was needed.

It's easy to tighten the cover down, but it doesn't need to be tight - there is thread lock compound on the screws.

Anyway long story short it works again.  Perhaps not quite as silky smooth as before, but perfectly usage.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Andrew

Find out who makes the ratchet for FT. Maybe Wera? But anyway they may have a rebuild kit for it or even buy a ratchet and swap parts.

 

[bobfog]

Snap-On is a world apart from the toy socket set that Festool sold (sells). All the more reason to stick to their core products and not get caught up with products that are outside of their expertise.

Festool ratchet set is made by Wiha which is as good as Snap-On.

Wiha are good, but nothing compares to Snap-On IMO.

 

[Runhard]

I had the same thing happen to my Festool ratchet. Unfortunately I didn't have success when I tried fixing it.

 

[Scott in San Diego]

The Festool ratchet appears to be a rebadged Felo Smart ratchet.  I believe the "Smart" ratchet has been discontinued by Felo and replaced by their R-GO model ratchet.  Felo guarantees their ratchets for life.  I wonder if the Festool version is also covered?
http://www.carbideprocessors.com/sm...wCPKX_6J9K5AcL6S4eKGHvmi00b6vbe1GMaArpO8P8HAQ

 

[Holmz]

...

Wiha are good, but nothing compares to Snap-On IMO.

All three manufacturers should have specs for max torque.
I did get a 3-set of snap-on braker-bars. The 1/4" one is cute looking with the size, but it works well.