Bell System Brace 2101A

[John Padgett]

Hello. I bought a brace from the bay and the ratchet bearing only locks in one position. The little "switch" on the shaft slides freely. It drills just fine but it wont lock so you can turn it the other way to get the bit out.

Is there a way to repair this or did I just get a stinker?

Thanks.

John.

[Gary Herrmann]

Your brace may be suffering from green goo. Google George's Basement. He has a lengthy description of how to solve that problem, if the ratchet mechanism is indeed gummed up.

[Roger Bell]

You might also have a missing ratchet pawl from the last owner who might have googled George's Basement and got in over his head. Happened to me once.

Disassembly and reassembly after cleaning is not that complex but you do need to focus and keep close track of the process and the parts.

[Johnny Kleso]

What others said:

The grease they used gets hard and stops ratchet from working, I had to do this once and it helps a whole lot to have instructions and images to take bace a part..

[John Padgett]

I found the site. I think that is my problem. Full of green goo. Thanks for the help.