Ratchet binders

I use them all the time and never had an issue with the truck or trailer but have crushed a few wire baskets, a couple of pieces of what is called Check Aid Material and a "bucket" that is used to pour molten metal.

I never use an extension, I watched another driver use an extension and broke a chain.

 

I put a couple notches in a stake pocket from a chain... I have binders rated at 7700lbs. They are the heavy duty binders for 3/8 & 5/16

 

They better then them ******* snap binders. Save your limbs from getting wacked.

 

Like the others; never used a cheater on one, never damaged trailer but did have to be careful not to crush something I was chaining down but overall loved me some ratchet binders vs chain brakes (breaks?) ok chain binders. Good investment is a couple cans of spray grease for the threads and ratchet. I liked red grease. It was a lithium grease and did a better job and didn't gunk up like black grease does. WD-40 did more harm than good because the grease keeps the surface rust that causes sticking from forming. WD-40 doesn't do good at that and if you spray WD-40 it will melt away the grease. Only time I used WD-40 on my ratchet binders was to clean out gunked up grease that had gotten thick and useless. Used WD-40 to clean off old grease, then sprayed fresh grease and worked everything til smooth. Spray "Brake Cleaner" also works VERY well at getting caked up gunk outta the threads and ratchet. Evaporates too so not nearly the residue that WD-40 leaves. Did use WD-40 to break a sticky one free, then sprayed red grease. Plus it has a little plastic tube like WD-40 does so you can the grease right where you want it. Grease over WD-40 for my ratchets worked real well for me. Motor oil works too but Lord it's messy.

 

I work with one company regularly where that's all they use on their ratchets - WD-40. They get mad at me when I do my equipment check on the truck and then pull my own binders out of my van to use instead of theirs. This is a foundry where sand is everywhere so their excuse is grease traps the sand so I said if you clean them every month, you won't have the issue. I cleaned theirs a couple weeks ago, degreased them, wire brushed them and then greased them up. Mine get cleaned every month if they are used more than a few times.

I use a good synthetic water proof grease on mine, I found that not only does this work well in all kinds of weather, it really makes them work better. I get some on these assignments that get "stuck" and I have to actually break them loose with an extension. Poorly maintained@!@#@!!$

Synthetic Water Resistant Grease - Amsoil GWR3P-EA

 

No doubt. Used to be such a PITA. I take care of "my" binders (not actually mine, they belonged to the company but they were in MY stock and I did my best to keep them that way) and other's don't and you had to swap to a loaded trailer and DANG you had to get the cheater out to break them free. I get the Maintenance Dept not having time to do PM on securement (ratchets, chains and straps); I mean that's something we can easily do as drivers. So . . . be a guy. Do it. You want good securement . . . do your part. Right?

Yup the synthetic stuff is a tad more expensive but totally worth it. Especially if you can keep the same binders and thus can keep up with them staying free and easy. I loved the spray because it has the delivery like WD-40 which is totally cool but is actually grease which is awesome.

As far as trapping grit; IMO the negligible grit it does trap (I can't disagree with that; grease DOES keep particulates in it - til they get worked to surface to surface then they get get crushed) is put under such pressure that it powderizes to a point that it doesn't do perceptible damage to that hardened steel due to abrasion which is what they are saying. It's a binder - not a crank or cam. The steel is much harder than the grit. Does it do "damage"? Sure. But the damage it does is the same as normal wear and tear from doing it's job as a high tension binder with moving parts and does NOT shorten tool life any more than normal wear and tear does; so I'm with ya on that. You'd have to put a handful of sand directly into the threads and ratchet to do that.

 

I've snapped a 5/16 chain and broke a stake pocket with one of them Durabilts. Never talk to someone while you're ratcheting lol

 

The sand is an issue for some of this but managable if I take the time to do the right thing for the customer. The thing is when sand gets delivered at some of these places, the dust is kicked up with some large sand particles and that gets every where. I can take two hours out of my day to make the truck drivable if someone leaves the window open. I'm still trying to figure out how sand gets into a seal gauge.

One company I worked for had a new bed put on the truck, the upfitter was a clown outfit and they didn't provide any idea what the pockets could take. The first and only day with the truck, I cracked the weld on six pockets. They just got the truck back from that shop, which said I abused the anchor points but how can I, I had nothing really heavy to tie down nor did I really tighten it down.

 

Have you ever tried gear lube(as what you would put in your steer axles)? Does not wash out of the threads when it rains/snows and lasts longer than spray on lubricants.