Craftsman Tools - USA History: Round Head Fine Tooth [RHFT] Ratchets - Rebuild & Discussion

Welcome to the ancillary component of the Craftsman USA Ratchet History Project!

Here we focus on repairing ratchets!

This video features the USA made Craftsman Round Head Fine Tooth (RHFT) Ratchets.

The RHFT ratchet series were made by Easco up until the company was acquired by the Danaher Corporation in the early 1990s.

While these do feature the same basic design as the LL/Butterfly Ratchets (2nd Gen. RP), the Quick Release Ratchets (3rd Gen. RP), and even the Tear Drop Ratchets (4th Gen. RP) from the neck down, the ratchet's head as well as mechanism are completely novel to this specific ratchet. This series shares nothing else with other ratchets other than the I-beam style neck and raised panel handle.

Uniquely, the RHFT series ratchets were launched in 1970 without offering the 1/4" size, where the 1/4" would first be offered in 1971. The Flex head variants were first offered in 1978 only in 3/8" and 1/2" right up until they were no longer for sale. The RHFT series saw its final days being offered in a 2008 Craftsman digital online catalog.

Despite having a 38 year run within the Craftsman timeline, I did not award this particular ratchet with a "longevity" award as I did with the Quick Release (3rd Gen. RP), which had a 26 year run. This is due to the fact the RHFT was offered as a Sears Catalog / online, when it became available, exclusive. The Quick Release (3rd Gen. RP) was actually physically present at Sears stores, whereas the RHFT was not available in stores.

Although these ratchets are very popular among professionals, DIY, and collectors, they don't have the prominence they could have had due to their almost ethereal exclusivity.

RHFT 1/2" has 45 tooth gear w/ 3 tooth engagement per side per pawl (2x pawls are working together at the same time) This affords the 1/2" drive 4 degrees arc swing. RHFT 3/8" has a 41T gear (~4.4 degrees of arc swing) and 1/4" has a 35T gear (~5.1 degrees of arc swing). Among the different sizes, the arc swing increase was negligible.

Given the refinement of the mechanism and the fact that the ratchet has 2 independent pawls working together at the same time, different tooth counts for each respective size ratchet realistically had negligible differences in ease of use from one another.

The Craftsman RHFT ratchet series were known to be as tough as nails, and, for their time, had an extraordinarily refined mechanism. Some owners have said they have NEVER lubed their ratchet in the nearly 4 decades of owning it, and the ratchets still function as if they were new.

These factors, ultimately, are why RHFT ratchets are still so lauded to date, and the reason why their prices continue to climb.


Product numbers for each ratchet:
1/2” = 44977
3/8” = 43781
1/4" = 43187

1/2" Flex Head = 44983
3/8" Flex Head = 42794


Repair kit numbers for each ratchet:
1/2” = 43446
3/8” = 43436
1/4” = 43426

[NOTICE: 3/8" & 1/2" ratchet repair kits work for their corresponding flex ratchets]


If you are interested in exploring the US Patents affiliated with this specific ratchet series please explore the following:

3467231
3532013


Appearance of USA Craftsman ratchets from end to beginning:

Premium Grade Ratchets [Final USA made Craftsman Ratchets]
Thumb Wheel Ratchets
Wrench Socket Series
The Next Generation Thin Profile Ratchets
Tear Drop Professional Full Polish Ratchets
Round Head Ratchets
Tear Drop Ratchets (4th Gen. Raised Panel)
Stainless Steel / Lifetime Ratchets
Wrist Ratchet
Round Head Fine Tooth (RHFT) Ratchets
Quick 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 Adapter
Boxhead Ratchet Wrenches (1st Gen. Raised Panel)
Circle U Ratchets
BM / Circle K Ratchets
BE & Circle H Ratchets (Multiple varieties)
BT Ratchet
Craftsman Vanadium Ratchets
C-XX Ratchets [1st USA made Craftsman Ratchets]