Harbor Freight tools torque wrench falls apart..
- Thread starter Zako2
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I consider everything at harbor freight disposable.
Sometimes when I buy stuff like plug boot pullers, I buy two because I will break one doing the job.
Sometimes when I buy stuff like plug boot pullers, I buy two because I will break one doing the job.
Don't send a 3/8" drive to do a 1/2" job first of all. Oh well better luck next time on the Tq wrench. I have a 3/8 craftsman and a 1/2 snap-on. I do not own much snapon for cost, and the fact people steal.
I've had good luck with the 3 ton orange jack bought in 1996, it gets used around here at least 2x a week between myself, brother and his friends. the motorcycle jack currently on sale for 69.99 is good for lifting half a car to rotate wheels F--R. It says 1500 capacity, im probably right there with the neon and it's hung in there.
I've had good luck with the 3 ton orange jack bought in 1996, it gets used around here at least 2x a week between myself, brother and his friends. the motorcycle jack currently on sale for 69.99 is good for lifting half a car to rotate wheels F--R. It says 1500 capacity, im probably right there with the neon and it's hung in there.
You've heard of Snap On Tools? A friend of mine calls HF "Snap Off Tools."
John
John
With wheel bearings costing $150 and plastic intakes running over $400, I cannot a afford a Harbor Freight torque wrench.
Matco makes a decent one. The handles are a little rough, but they are US made and come with a certification. If you go Snap On, the twin beams are a nicer style.
Matco makes a decent one. The handles are a little rough, but they are US made and come with a certification. If you go Snap On, the twin beams are a nicer style.
I looked at those $9 torque wrenches a few weeks ago. Out of 5 on the shelf none worked! I passed and found a Made In USA one at Sears in the clearance section for $60.
The only thing that surprises me about Harbor Freight is how long their 1/4 drive composite plastic ratchet has lasted.
I got it on a whim. Just for doing battery terminals and stuff. But I have put a fair amount of torque on it many times. It works as good as the day I bought it. Handle's a little nicked up but it is plastic.
Anything else from Harbor Freight? no surprise when it fails.
I got it on a whim. Just for doing battery terminals and stuff. But I have put a fair amount of torque on it many times. It works as good as the day I bought it. Handle's a little nicked up but it is plastic.
Anything else from Harbor Freight? no surprise when it fails.
I have heard good things about Harbor Freight. Every shadetree mechanic I have run into LOVES that store. There is one in Braintree! I was going to go...
Cost and quality were supposed to be the attractions. Heard everything was "super cheap" there.
Cost and quality were supposed to be the attractions. Heard everything was "super cheap" there.
Originally Posted By: Spazdog
The only thing that surprises me about Harbor Freight is how long their 1/4 drive composite plastic ratchet has lasted.
I got it on a whim. Just for doing battery terminals and stuff. But I have put a fair amount of torque on it many times. It works as good as the day I bought it. Handle's a little nicked up but it is plastic.
Anything else from Harbor Freight? no surprise when it fails.
Those ratchets aren't bad. Their 25" 1/2" drive breaker bar is pretty good too, especially for the price.
The only thing that surprises me about Harbor Freight is how long their 1/4 drive composite plastic ratchet has lasted.
I got it on a whim. Just for doing battery terminals and stuff. But I have put a fair amount of torque on it many times. It works as good as the day I bought it. Handle's a little nicked up but it is plastic.
Anything else from Harbor Freight? no surprise when it fails.
Those ratchets aren't bad. Their 25" 1/2" drive breaker bar is pretty good too, especially for the price.
I had their compression tester from about 6 years ago, which I use in my shop now. Whenever somethings a little off, I get the snap on one out and re test, but the HF is always dead accurate. I also use their orange body panel tools, they look like little 6" swords, for taking off wheel weights and they've held up over a year and a half. My $70 "Storm" digital micrometer I bought through Mac had a sticker over the Central Electric logo embossed on the box, which retails for 8.99 at HF. Their hub puller/slide hammer is a POS, and the air inflater/gauge didn't hold up very long.
Originally Posted By: Zako2
I got maybe 6 months of service out of it. I mostly used it to torque wheel lug nuts and for minor mechanical work. It was good while it lasted. Alternatives?
Was That the 3/8 inch model or the 1/2 inch. The 3/8 ths is a piece of junk, but my 1/2 inch Pittsburg has held up over 10 years that I've had it. As mentioned by another bitoger, get the 1/2 inch one and you should be ok for torquing wheel nuts.
Regards, JC.
I got maybe 6 months of service out of it. I mostly used it to torque wheel lug nuts and for minor mechanical work. It was good while it lasted. Alternatives?
Was That the 3/8 inch model or the 1/2 inch. The 3/8 ths is a piece of junk, but my 1/2 inch Pittsburg has held up over 10 years that I've had it. As mentioned by another bitoger, get the 1/2 inch one and you should be ok for torquing wheel nuts.
Regards, JC.
I had the 1/2" work its little ratchet screws out, I guess they weren't lock-tited. However the flip side is I can easily get in to lube the ratchet. Got some little screws, think they're 3 or 4mm, and now it looks more boss than the day it rolled out of its shipping container.
Originally Posted By: Zako2
I got maybe 6 months of service out of it. I mostly used it to torque wheel lug nuts and for minor mechanical work. It was good while it lasted. Alternatives?
How did it "fall apart?"
Did you unscrew the handle too far? Did the screws on the cover plate fall out?
I got maybe 6 months of service out of it. I mostly used it to torque wheel lug nuts and for minor mechanical work. It was good while it lasted. Alternatives?
How did it "fall apart?"
Did you unscrew the handle too far? Did the screws on the cover plate fall out?
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And the beat goes on!
Originally Posted By: JustinH
I consider everything at harbor freight disposable.
ditto. Most of my HF tools are busted after multiple uses except the Central Pneumatic Earthquake 1/2 impact gun. That thing just keeps on chugging.
I consider everything at harbor freight disposable.
ditto. Most of my HF tools are busted after multiple uses except the Central Pneumatic Earthquake 1/2 impact gun. That thing just keeps on chugging.
Originally Posted By: Rand
Since we are talking about a torque wrench here.. if you were looking for a value 3/8" drive for use at 5-50# or so what would you get. Would prefer usa made or at least 1st world.
I have this one and it is about the best bargain you'll find in a USA made torque wrench.
http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/MiscInventory/CDTW.html
This wrench goes from 15 - 75 lb-ft. I can't think of too many wrenches in the 50 ft-lbs max range. I have a smaller in-lbs torque wrench for the really low-torque fasteners.
Here's a really nice torque wrench, but it is a little pricey. It does 100-600 in-lbs (up to 50 ft-lbs). Precision Instruments used to make, and probably still does, the split beam torque wrenches sold by Snap-On.
http://www.torqwrench.com/tools/item.php?StockCode=C2FR600H
http://www.tooltopia.com/precision-instruments-c2fr600h.aspx
These split beam wrenches are very nice
Since we are talking about a torque wrench here.. if you were looking for a value 3/8" drive for use at 5-50# or so what would you get. Would prefer usa made or at least 1st world.
I have this one and it is about the best bargain you'll find in a USA made torque wrench.
http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/MiscInventory/CDTW.html
This wrench goes from 15 - 75 lb-ft. I can't think of too many wrenches in the 50 ft-lbs max range. I have a smaller in-lbs torque wrench for the really low-torque fasteners.
Here's a really nice torque wrench, but it is a little pricey. It does 100-600 in-lbs (up to 50 ft-lbs). Precision Instruments used to make, and probably still does, the split beam torque wrenches sold by Snap-On.
http://www.torqwrench.com/tools/item.php?StockCode=C2FR600H
http://www.tooltopia.com/precision-instruments-c2fr600h.aspx
These split beam wrenches are very nice
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I agree with the plastic ratchets being awsome! I use my 1/4 every day. It never reverses like my $60 Matco one does and if I hit a battery post or back of an Alternator no sparks fly.
I took my 3/8's one to PicAPart and had to really lean on it to break a bolt loose and it held up fine.
The 1/2 Earthquake impact is great too!
I took my 3/8's one to PicAPart and had to really lean on it to break a bolt loose and it held up fine.
The 1/2 Earthquake impact is great too!
my first use of their torque wrench broke off 3 caliper screws
they are REALLY bad.
your story does not suprise me.
they are REALLY bad.
your story does not suprise me.
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