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Admin Grease
December 6th, 2005 07:21 AM
Found the brochure: http://www.swepcousa.com/bpsite/bppdf/j11376.pdf# and an explanation of how this product flows readily: http://www.swepcousa.com/lubesite/lubepdf/TG_200508.pdf so it appears to mostly be an economical low-temperature calcium-base grease that is somewhat liquid.

I picked up a used Snap-On 1/4" "permanently lubricated" ratchet that was loud and crunchy-feeling, so I took it apart and cleaned out the dried "lifetime" grease. No wear, and it has an incredible number of little seals to keep dirt out. Even the cover plate has a groove around the edge to hold a tiny o-ring, and it took me an hour to fit everything back together! Hardest part was getting the little spring loaded ball back in its hole--having no spares, I actually worked in a drawer so as not to lose the ball bearing that kept flying out.

I decided to forego the rebuild kit even though it probably included a packet of the correct grease and was only $10 (merely 1000x the price of a Craftsman one that does not), because there was no real wear. So I packed it with some grease I already had around the house: Redline CV-2 synthetic, a calcium-base grease that is kind of thin. I figured it was watery enough to redistribute itself whenever the ratchet was dropped, and unlikely to attack rubber seals, being synthetic and made for use in ball-joint boots. After all, any grease is better than no grease. Well now the ratchet looks, sounds and works just like a new $57.45 one!

Thanks Adam, for taking the time to explain the rebuilding process details, or I would have never opened up anything more complicated than a Proto.
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