Craftsman socket wrench

When I was graduating High School in 1979 my dad offered me a choice for my graduation present:
1) a trip to Europe with family
2) a set of Sears Craftsman tools.
Needless to say I took the tools and have been using them ever since.   
I recently had my 3/8 socket wrench from 1979 go bad on me after 42 years.   I took it back to Lowe's and they gave me a new one.
That was about 2 or 3 months ago and now the new replacement Craftsman socket wrench (made in China, I'm guessing) is already gone bad!

Learned something new. I didn’t know them as a sprocket wrench, only as a 3/8 drive ratchet. Might be too late if your old one is gone but they used to offer replacement drive parts. Not sure if that still true.

Yeah, the Craftsman brand is dead.  It's amazing what CEOs will do for profit.

I have two big Craftsman socket sets and many other hand tools.  But the warranty is useless now because all you get in exchange is crap.  I'd rather buy from harbor freight.  At least they are honest about selling cheap tools.

You can get rebuild kits for the Craftsman ratchets.  It looks like they go for about $10 on eBay.  The packages say they are made in China or Taiwan, so maybe not great quality.  But at least you can keep your original forged handle.  Those never wear out. 

www.hemmings.com/stories/article/craftsman-ratchet-rebuild-kit

I recently went through all of my ratchets and cleaned and greased them.  They are easy to service.

Edit:. Do you know if there is a used tool store in your area?  They probably have a supply of vintage Craftsman ratchets.

If you call the 800-number for Craftsman tools they will send you a rebuild kit for your (socket wrench) ratchet free, I believe.
I tried calling the 800-number and got switched several times and ended up getting the Stanley Tool division so I just got frustrated and hung up.
I was at NAPA auto parts store this afternoon (they also sell Craftsman tools) and I was able to switch out my bad new socket/ratchet wrench for another new one for free.

Even in the last days of Sears (90's and early aughts), the qulaity was plummeting. But back then, you could take your busted ratchet to Sears and the old guy who did exchanges would tell you your ratchet was better than the new stuff and he'd rebuild it for you instead of exchanging it. 
It was a business model that was too good to last, I guess.

I keep a keen watch for the Craftsman tools at yard sales and swap meets.
I bought a never used gold plated Snap-On 3/8 ratchet drive still in its velvet box for $5 bucks at a yard sale.

One of my fav finds at a garage sale was a set of sockets with ratchet and breaker bar for 5 bucks. Worn just enough to see it was used but still tight and nice. Snap-on for 5 bucks has it beat though.

Bought a huge set from Sears on sale maybe in 73 or so for just under 300 bucks. Needed the cash a few years later and sold it for what I paid. Still sorry for that.

$300 bucks bought a lot of Craftsman tools back in 1973.

I recently ( maybe two years ago?) broke a 1/2" breaker bar from Craftman that I used for.........................Can't remember. 20+ years. Maybe 30+. Pin that holds the head became loose and small ball and spring flew somewhere while I was using it. Anyway, took it back to Sears before they close down here and got a brand new one. Only to break in two uses.

Ever since, I'm using cheap Chinese made breaker bar that I bought on Amazon. So far, haven't broke on me. Feels flimzy and flex at the handle, but it's been holding up to my uses. If that breaks, I have another old Craftman bar that I bought at yard sale but I'm saving that for that rainy day.

LOL, it's getting to the point where we're using our old Craftsman tools as if they're family heirlooms.

I picked up some Craftsman tools in the early 1990s - a 3/8" socket set, some screwdrivers, and an impact driver - and still have most of them. The impact driver allowed me to swap the clutch in the GPz550 in 1993; soon I hope it will let me get the intake manifolds off the project engine.

Since Craftsman stopped being Craftsman I've picked up some Husky tools at Home Depot. The 1/2" click-type torque wrench seems to work well and it hasn't broken yet.

And to be fair, sometimes Lowe's has the 1/4" "Craftsman" ratchet sets on sale. Those are nice because they're available in either metric or SAE, instead of having to buy both.