One of the reasons for switching to straps for me is the poor performance of my ratcheting chain binders. They are the American made quality. They just don't ratchet very cleanly and end up twisting the chain up around the assembly as opposed to threading in.

Until this last trip I had been using PB "The Dry Lube" and was not happy in this application. I used graphite and it wore off. So after this last muddy trip to Gilmer I broke them down and used bearing grease on the threads and the ratchet. I won't use them for a while to find out how I did, but they seem to be a lot cleaner in their movement.

What do you guys do to keep them performing well?

 

The best way for ratcheting chain binders to work is to give them to someone else! They suck! I much prefer the quicker no-hassle traditional chain binders.

 

I keep a can of wd40 in the trailer chain box and give them a spray whenever they get stiff. Fixes them right up. Grease would just be messy and attract dirt, compounding the problem. Not dropping them in the mud helps too.

 

I was keeping the dry lube in there. I thought WD would cause the same gunk problem as the grease. Now, there is not a large amount of grease there. It's more like a film. However, I am concerned that after the first muddy ride, they are just gonna clog.

 

My good friend broke his jaw using the traditional binder. Of course using a cheater bar of the wrong size compounded the event. Using good ol WD40 or lithium spray grease works great on ours at work.

 

PB Blaster works wonders for me.

 

I use wd40 spray it everytime befor I use them. But I also use traditional binders as well they both have thier advantages

 

Umm, I usually leave them on the trailer as opposed to dragging them thru the mud behind the Jeep. They stay prettty clean on the trialer.

 

If I may check and see what the maker suggest for lubercating them. Greasing them can over torque them making them unsafe. That being said I use Supperlube on my C-clamps it is a teflon grease or spray. Impervious to road salt and good for marine applacations and USDA approved for food handling areas. Copper Cote isn't supposed to change the torque of a threads so that maybe a option?

 

Trust me on this. If I can over-torque these ratchets by hand, I'd be on TV. Pretty sure I'd bend the axle housing first.

 

Chain lube.