Not all tools are worth putting the time and expense to repair. These days with all the Crap coming out of china the strategy is to just trash the tool and buy another.
Some times tools are worth fixing. As a fixit website it’s our motive to show the good, the bad, and the ulgy.
lets explore an example.
Out categories are growing but we like the 15 minute fix the best. To show how to bring an item back into service quickly is a great achievement. Sometimes it’s just a firmware update or software setting. Sometimes it’s just an adjustment. Putting this information out in one location is our plan.
Here is a perfect example:
Tools are important and quality brands are the best, it shows professionalism when you have quality and take care of them.
This is a ratchet set. 3/8 and 1/4 in Mac tools. I love the brand, having been a professional mechanic these are premium
Problem: Mac tools gives lifetime warranty but only to registered tools or receipt. At this point it’s a cost for parts and time. Luckly we found a supplier and the cost was fair
Ok parts on order, repair to come
Read our post on corrosion to help maintain your tools
https://fixitfl.us/understanding-corrosion-and-dis-similar-metals/
Sometimes it’s not easy to find parts
The initial attempt was a failure, well kinda. Two ratchets, Two repair kits, Two wrong parts!
If there was a win it was with the 3/8 ratchet. After disassembly and lubrication it was returned to service. On the parts issue, the ratchets have a part number, the parts ordered for the ratchet part number but the received parts were wrong.
It turns out there are fine tooth and regular. Mine are regular spaced teeth and the new parts were fine. The parts kits were all together wrong, the part quantity and pieces different.
The mission will continue
My next attempt will be to find a MAC truck and see if a deal can be made on a parts kit. One thing to consider is there is a breaking point on costs, the tool really doesn’t have a lot of value, so many replacements available used it’s not worth more than 10 bucks for parts and i’m into this 5 now.
at this point it’s more about trying to revive a great tool and not just disposing it. Plus the benefit of having this post illustrate the internals of this specific tools
(right click and open in new tab for better view)
