Sooner or later even the best tools wear out. Sturtevant Richmont created the Ratchet Renewal Kit for those times when your ratchet doesn't quite work as smoothly as it once did.

The kit includes a reversing pin, washer, retaining ring, spring, and ball.

IMPORTANT: When replacing any part of a ratchet, all parts of the ratchet renewal kit MUST be used. While the parts may look OK to the eye, don't be tempted to take the shortcut.

IMPORTANT: When you are installing the ratchet renewal kit, be sure to lubricate the internal parts. Without lubrication, the ratchet teeth, and the slide pin would engage in unprotected metal to metal contact. When properly lubricated, these pieces are highly durable. When they are not properly lubricated, they literally tear each other apart. In non-functioning ratchets that have been returned to us after the owners installed the ratchet renewal kits without lubrication, we could see metal shavings inside the ratchet. Failure to lubricate will shorten the useful life of the ratchet.

Tools required to install a new Ratchet Renewal Kit include:

■ Snap ring pliers
■ Small flat-head screwdriver
■ Tweezers
■ Molybdenum Disulfide
■ Vice or stand