Craftsman Ratchet Repair

['68OrangeSunshine]

I have a Craftsman 1/2'' drive ratchet, p/n 44985. Since Sears folded, Ace Hardware and Lowe's have been carrying Craftsman tools.
The ratchet mechanism is stripped. I have brought it to both the above stores, only to be told, ''Oh we don't carry that part number, so we can't replace it.''
When Sears operated, you could pick a new ratchet off the rack, get a receipt for it at $0.00 and go on your way. Sometimes the tool department guy would ask if You minded his repairing your old ratchet. If you said yes, he got out a kit and replaced the guts in less than 5 minutes.

Does anyone know where I can get the repair kits?
I would rather repair this one.

I bought a 9/16 box wrench from Lowes a few months ago -- to replace a wrench that went missing from a work call -- and even though it had the same P/N as my USA-made wrench, it was made in India and obviously of poorer quality.

Lowes gave me a 1/800 number [888-331-4569] to arrange replacement or repair, but I never called.

[Getter-Done]

I am subbed to this Thread.

I inherited most of my Grandpa's tools.

He was Faithful to Craftsman.

I don't use the ratchets , Because of this issue.

I am tool poor so I can survive

I would like to see A company Step Up and take over.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Anybody ever call 888-331-4569?
[EDIT]
OK. So I called. After going thru a bunch of questions from a Robot, [and it would click-click after each response] I finally got a human, who referred me to Sears at 800-366-7278. There, I talked to a guy, who said they only did appliance repair. Craftsman tools was sold. --I know, I said -- he passed me off to a woman who gave me 800-469-4663 for Craftsman. Also www.Craftsman.com.

[mongocanfly]

ive got a pile of craftsman ratchets that need repaired/replaced.. i thought you could walk in to lowes and swap em out like sears did...this is sad to hear
i need to get me a whole new socket set, was thinking about all new craftsman..maybe not so much now

[4u2nv]

Here in Ontario Canada the Craftsman Ultimate series are guaranteed for life
I take mine to where I purchased , no questions asked and give me a new one

[greystoke]

a few years back I took a broken ratchet to Sears and they fixed it while I waited. I'm thinking about 8 or 9 years ago.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by greystoke

a few years back I took a broken ratchet to Sears and they fixed it while I waited. I'm thinking about 8 or 9 years ago.

Yeah. They did that for me too, once.
I'd really like to get my hands on one of those little parts repair kits the Sears Associate used.
Then I could repair my old USA-made Ratchet.

A friend of mine is an aircraft mechanic. He deals with the Snap-On retailer.
Guy drives a big van to his hangar at work, and will swap out the gearset in a ratchet in minutes. But $nap-On is expensive. He says he ''Owes his Soul to the Company Store.''

[Hammered 77]

There's a kit on ebay for $35.00 plus shipping

Rick

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by Hammered 77

There's a kit on ebay for $35.00 plus shipping

Rick

That's a bit steep. I wonder how much a new, complete Snap-On 1/2'' Ratchet is retail?

[EDIT]
I looked it up on Evil Bay. With Shipping and Tax it's $43 and change. Gee. I dunno?

['68OrangeSunshine]

So I called 800-469-4663 and got the same Sears phone tree I got at 800-366-7278.
Quite the run around.
Hitting craftsman dot com.
[EDIT]
So I went to the Craftsman website. Under Customer Support I looked up the 1/2 Drive Ratchet 44985.
First I went to CHAT.
A Robot popped up, her name was Taylor.
She asked where I bought it...Sears, I said.
Whar country? ... USA, I said.
She then told me warranty claims were being handled by Sears at 800-366-7278... I said I've been there already, and they sent me here. Sears sold Craftsman...
Get me human, I said.
After a few minutes I got Angel.
After giving her the part number and description, she asked for my name and shipping address.
I was told they are sending me a new Ratchet via UPS. Should come in 2 weeks.

I'll let you guys know if they actually came thru after 2 weeks.

Point is -- Be Persistent -- don't tolerate Robots programmed to save the Corporation's money.

[pjmoreland]

All of the Sears mall stores closed in my area. They've opened a few of what they call "Sears Hometown Stores", where they sell mostly appliances and home garden tools. The one in my town has a small inventory of Craftsman tools. I took a cracked 1/2" deep socket in there a few months ago, and the guy said I could swap it for a new one if they had it in stock. They didn't have a 1/2", but they did have a 13mm, so I took that.

[lolife99]

I’ve replaced my ratchets at Lowes.
Maybe it was a mistake, but they gave me a new ratchet off the shelf.
It was a totally different style than my old 1/2” drive.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by lolife99

I’ve replaced my ratchets at Lowes.
Maybe it was a mistake, but they gave me a new ratchet off the shelf.
It was a totally different style than my old 1/2” drive.

My Lowes wouldn't play ball.
''Sorree, we don't carry that part number...''
I almost tossed it thru their plate glass window.

[theastronaut]

I've been using ebay for repair kits. Before the local sears closed they had quit doing repairs and wanted to swap out my broken USA ratchets for chinese made ratches, and before that when they tried to repair them they lacked the competence to install the correct repair kit (course tooth kit in a fine tooth ratchet). It wasn't worth the hassle so I just started ordering kits on ebay.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by theastronaut

I've been using ebay for repair kits. Before the local sears closed they had quit doing repairs and wanted to swap out my broken USA ratchets for chinese made ratches, and before that when they tried to repair them they lacked the competence to install the correct repair kit (course tooth kit in a fine tooth ratchet). It wasn't worth the hassle so I just started ordering kits on ebay.

A guy I was working with at the Arizona Theatre Company today, used to be a Sears associate. He's going to look up some of his old contacts to see if he can get me a parts kit.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by theastronaut

I've been using ebay for repair kits. Before the local sears closed they had quit doing repairs and wanted to swap out my broken USA ratchets for chinese made ratches, and before that when they tried to repair them they lacked the competence to install the correct repair kit (course tooth kit in a fine tooth ratchet). It wasn't worth the hassle so I just started ordering kits on ebay.

Do you have a link?

Never mind. I found it on EBay.

[franken]

Sad that the Craftsman warranty doesn't work much anymore. The last thing I swapped was a 1/2" breaker bar that couldn't fit sockets without a lot of force. No argument at all.
I usually pick up ratchets at the swap meet for a few bucks and beat on them. It's pretty shocking how many have different names, but the exact same shape and feel...

[44th Miss Inf]

I’ve got several old Craftsman ratchets I wish I could get repaired. They are just worn out, but my father/grandfather bought them 40-50 years ago, and even what I was buying 25-30 years ago wasn’t as good a quality

[67C10Step]

I figured this would be the case when Craftsman got sold. Sad really but no surprise. I got a couple ratchets that are starting to show their age. The wrenches my dad bought me while I was in college are still going strong though. That was over 30 years ago now.

[blazer2007]

Same here in Can. craftsman open up again a couple years ago. They replaced mine. Find a Can. buddy and get the phone # and see . or send them up here.

[72c20customcamper]

My local ACE replaced a few craftsmen tools I bought years ago. No questions asked.


Best customer service is from S&K i found a large 1/2 drive ratchet with a broken pin drive on the road .Everything done on line I got a response in two days and the part was at my house 4 days later. I just needed to give them the model # again no question as to where I bought it

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

My local ACE replaced a few craftsmen tools I bought years ago. No questions asked.


Best customer service is from S&K i found a large 1/2 drive ratchet with a broken pin drive on the road .Everything done on line I got a response in two days and the part was at my house 4 days later. I just needed to give them the model # again no question as to where I bought it

That's great. I bought a set of SK box wrenches when I first bought my '68 C/10 Stepside in 1973. My truckbed tool box got broken into while I was hanging out in a Country Swing bar in the Late '70s. I thought my SK wrenches were in the 24 x 8 tool box that was missing, but they had fallen deeper into the bin. Allstate insurance insisted I get a Sears Craftsman tool set as a replacement [Sears and Allstate were in the same conglomerate then.]
But I still have my SK wrenches -- 1/4'' thru 3/4'' or 7/8ths. I bent open the jaws on the 1/4'' wrench on some impossible bolt years ago.
Where can I get it replaced? Could you give us the link?

[Accelo]

New Snapon Ratchet. This is the least expensive ratchet on the truck. Rubber grip, extra long and every other option costs more.
$202.50

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by Accelo

New Snapon Ratchet. This is the least expensive ratchet on the truck. Rubber grip, extra long and every other option costs more.
$202.50

Jeez! My aircraft [A&P] tech buddy sometimes jokes, He paid 3 Grand for a Snap-On Satin Tour Jacket, and they give him the tools free. Professionals need high end tools, and can afford professional prices.
That puts the high-priced EBay replacement part in perspective.
My stagehand buddy, who used to be a Sears Associate looked at my 44895 1/2'' Ratchet and disassembled it for me. Now I have to clean it up.
He's looking up some insider connections and will email me if he gets a contact.

['68OrangeSunshine]

About 20 years ago, I was working backstage on a Broadway show that was playing in my town. One of the road guys tossed away a Husky 1/2'' Ratchet. I said, ''If you go down to Home Depot, they'll replace it under warranty for free.''
''I don't have time,'' he said.
So I took it down to the Depot a week later, and got it replaced. Free and no questions, no hassle.
Then I tried using it to assemble a little red shelf/cart for my shop. It broke before I was half done. Dealing with 1/4-20 boltsets or 5/16 fasteners did it in. I brought it back -- that one broke. I brought it back again, and it's still in the wrapping as a curio.
Total Asiatic Crap.