Modified ratchet mount

Ratchet with modified mount

I’ve had issues with the ratchet since my high school days. The mount on the typical ratchet only fits on a drum set bass drum counter hoop. Yes, under normal circumstances it should be held up for its visual impact but too often the percussionist doesn’t have the time to make the switch from another instrument.

I removed the nut on the end of the crank handle, the 6 screws at the base and removed the back plate. The original mount was tack welded and easily removed by placing it in a bench vise and twisting it off.

A 1 ¼”x 1 ¼” perforated square steel tube cut slightly under 1”.

Enlarged the hole for the mounting eye bolt to ½”.

The 2 holes for an accessory post were enlarged to 3/8”.

3 small holes (opposite the mounting clamp hole) drilled to accept ‘pop rivets’.

Drilling the same size holes in the back plate I attached the new mount with the ‘pop rivets’.

I installed the back plate using the 6 screws and the crank handle nut.

An eye bolt assembly (Gibraltar) installed into the ½” hole.

Finally I installed a nylon sleeve onto the crank handle to reduce the friction when turning.

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A Percussionist's Notebook

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