Craftsman USA Ratchet History: Tear Drop Professional Full Polish Ratchets

Name: Craftsman USA Ratchet History: Tear Drop Professional Full Polish Ratchets
Uploaded: 2015-12-10T04:21:26.000Z
Duration: 23 min 59 s

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Welcome to the Craftsman USA Ratchet History Project!The fundamental design and patent for these ratchets was done by Easco as they were being acquired by the Danaher Corporation.This video features the USA made Craftsman “Professional” Full Polish Tear Drop Ratchets, which were offered through Sears stores, physical Sears flyers, digital Sears Catalogs, and the sears.com website from 1995 through 2011.All derivatives of this specific ratchet series sport a 36 tooth gear with a 3 tooth engagement per side pawl.These were also made in tandem with the USA and after the final USA production in 2011 in Taiwan. Product numbers for each ratchet:1/2” = 448123/8” = 448131/4” = 448143/8" Extended Length = 448333/8" Flex Stubby = 448343/8" 22 Degree Offset = 448353/8" Flex Ergonomic Grip = 44836Repair kit numbers for each ratchet:1/2” = 434443/8” = 434341/4” = 43424[NOTICE: All special 3/8" variants use the same 43434 kit as the standard 3/8" Full Polish Ratchet][NOTICE: There are USA and Taiwanese versions of these ratchets. Repair kits between these two variants are NOT cross compatible!]If you are interested in exploring the US Patents affiliated with this specific ratchet series please explore the following:61349915178047Appearance of USA Craftsman ratchets from end to beginning:Premium Grade Ratchets [Final USA made Craftsman Ratchets]Thumb Wheel RatchetsWrench Socket SeriesThe Next Generation Thin Profile RatchetsTear Drop Professional Full Polish RatchetsRound Head RatchetsTear Drop Ratchets (4th Gen. Raised Panel)Stainless Steel / Lifetime RatchetsWrist RatchetRound Head Fine Tooth (RHFT) RatchetsQuick Release Ratchets (3rd Gen. Raised Panel)Intermediate Ratchets (2nd & 3rd Gen. Raised Panel Hybrid)Long Lever & Butterfly Ratchets (2nd Gen. Raised Panel)1/2” Breaker Bar Ratchet AdapterBoxhead Ratchet Wrenches (1st Gen. Raised Panel)Circle U RatchetsBM / Circle K RatchetsBE & Circle H Ratchets (Multiple varieties)BT RatchetCraftsman Vanadium RatchetsC-XX Ratchets [1st USA made Craftsman Ratchets]Introductory questions that I sought knowledge on, regarding Craftsman Ratchets:1) When was X ratchet 1st introduced & discontinued, if applicable?2) What was the ratchet called by Sears? (i.e. special name/feature other than ratchet)3) Does the tool have a nickname from the professional/DIY community?4) How much did each ratchet size cost when it came out?5) Did a particular ratchet set have all sizes known today? (1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4” [any or all?])6) Where there variants vs. the standard sizes? (i.e. special color/plating, flex heads, etc.)

J.S-1981..the mechanisms in these ratchets have another, to me, major flaw BESIDES the plastic button and shift lever..Yes, it IS one of the easiest ratchet mechanisms out there to disassemble for cleaning/repair..HOWEVER..it came at a price..the THIN stainless disc, that, as pointed out, held EVERYTHING inside, gave virtually NO support to the bottom of the mechanism, allowing quite a bit of sideways "slop" or "play" in the ratcheting action...the Gen.3 Quick Release, for example, while more difficult to disassemble, has a MUCH thicker, sturdier, and I suspect heat treated, steel disc that both supports and holds tightly the mechanism inside..try grasping the anvil on one of these ratchets, new or used, with your fingers and try to move it side-to-side..then try that with a Gen.3..you'll see what I mean..This, along with the plastic parts, is why I Never liked these ratchets..I acquired 2 or 3 of these new in some of those $19.99 sets Sears used to have that I just couldn't resist...when I used the ratchets, I immediately noticed how sloppier they felt than my older ones, and when they developed problems, I returned them to Sears for a replacement...I always insisted to the clerk that I would prefer to swap them for one of their "rebuilt" ratchets rather than a new one..so I would up swapping them in for a "rebuilt" Gen. 3 QR, and a "rebuilt" fine-tooth round head quick release.. :) and good riddance for the Gen. 4 QR's...

@JS_-hq1wm 27-10-2019 05:12

GearWolf, could I add one specific detail about the very earlier derivative's of these ratchets, which I have realized myself. As far as I have seen, I just recently came across a VH code 44813 ratchet. From what I can gather, the "VH" code 44813 was probably the very first code of the 44813's produced?? This ratchet is mint condition, not a single scratch or was ever used from what I can tell, shows not a single sign of wear INSIDE THE HEAD from use. The real point that I want to make is that all the internals are exactly what you would find in all those earlier 4th gen ratchets(early to mid 90's). The ORIGINAL PAWL from the factory in this VH 44813, IS THE 2 TOOTH PER SIDE engagement, "batman" style with the BC code stamped in it. When I opened up this ratchet I was happily surprised to see that my theory was correct, that some of the early "professionals" did indeed have this 2 tooth per side pawl in them, (NOT THE LATER 3 TOOTH) and the rest of the same internals as the early 4th gen raised panels did. (The VF and VG's had their own different "NON CODED", "higher back drag" batman style pawl in them as well, but's that a different story). They also had BOTH metal QR and selectors as well, but you already mentioned that before. I know this isn't at all a critical fact or anything that important, but I thought I'd throw it out there. Thanks again for all your videos!!

@JS_-hq1wm 11-10-2019 04:16

I absolutely love the fact that he points out how the selector and quick release BOTH were originally made of metal and went to plastic as time went on!! That key point is a MAJOR reason why people turned away from these ratchets! And a real big mistake made by whoever made that decision to change that key feature of these ratchets! Whether it was Sears or Danaher?

@danohstoolbox 17-01-2019 17:43

i have a bunch of replacement anvils i bought up from sears when they closed hear in canada not sure how many i got but one thing i noticed is some of the 1/4 drive ones would fit the Stanley ratchet still had not had a chance to try it but it sure looks like they will fit

@blu4x5 06-12-2018 17:12

i have the 3/8 long handle and stubby since about 96-97

@themonolithian 09-10-2018 03:53

Hey there friend. Do you know If these are essentially a 4th gen raised panel with a different handle?

@eduardodelgado6027 27-09-2017 17:29

Hi, I was wondering if you could help me find information over a 3/8 Craftsman ratchet I just came across. The handle is rounded, identical to the ones on the video, so I assume it belongs to the Professional line. However, the head looks more like a "boxhead" with a retention plate held together with 2 screws. It has a quick release with a 45 tooth gear. The only identifying marks are CRAFTSMAN on one side and the number 42286 on the other. The only information I have found using the model number on google is the repair kit on the Sears Canada website which is unfortunately out of stock. The ratchet has a few broken teeth and I would really like to find a repair kit from Sears or an equivalent from the original manufacturer. Any information about the ratchet would be appreciated.

@johngreene1537 05-05-2016 19:17

Do you work on cars or do you just like the tools?

@twinwankel 31-01-2016 18:08

I have this entire set that I bought when each came out (at least my recollection). I don't use them much because I really have too many other ratchets but I do like the handles. What I don't understand is why the ratchets sound and feel different for every member of the 3/8 collection. Maybe what you said in the video that Craftsman made many compromises and that might affected the action of each ratchet is true for my set. Regardless none of mine has solid teeth engagement and they are a bit loose. The member with best teeth engagement is the long handle 3/8. Is this close to your experience with your set?

@BroadcastBuddy 24-01-2016 04:17

Some info:

The powdered metal pawls have been used in Craftsman ratchets since the late 60s with their introductions of the RHFT. Powdered metal is actually longer wearing than the forged/machined version and is found in high end ratchets like Snap-On's Dual 80 series ratchet pawls.

In late 1999, Danaher redesigned the pawl to facilitate lower drag. Unfortunately, this new pawl also led to easier "freewheeling" and poor tooth engagement, especially on the 1/4" and 3/8" variants. With poor engagement, the gear would strip teeth and pawls would chip.

So in short, it wasn't the material, it was the pawl design.

The plastic reversing levers were also introduced in mid to late 1999. The plastic is a strong blend of fibers and High-density polyethylene. These almost hardly fail, and are probably less brittle than the zinc levers they replaced.

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Craftsman USA Ratchet History: Tear Drop Professional Full Polish Ratchets

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