Broke my first Snap-on Wrench today

[Snapped-off]

Broke one of the jaws off the open end on a Long pattern Snap-on combo wrench. I don't normally tighten things down with the open end, but clearance issues wouldn't allow for the box end to be used.

I was tightening down a 3/8-16 flange nut with it and the jaw snapped off and flew under my toolbox. I used a Gearwrench to get the last 3/4 of a turn out of the nut.

Snap-on guy will have one for me next Thursday but I'm a little disappointed, as I just bought this set of wrenches 2 week ago.

 

[Hiball]

It happens, looking at the nut it appears it spread and rounded a edge prior to breaking.

 

[Snapped-off]

It happens, looking at the nut it appears it spread and rounded a edge prior to breaking.

The shiny part on the corner isn't rounded, the plating got scraped off by what was left of the jaw when she broke. It's pretty sharp.

 

[Hiball]

The shiny part on the corner isn't rounded, the plating got scraped off by what was left of the jaw when she broke. It's pretty sharp.

Ah... I see.

 

[Snapped-off]

I didn't get to see if the wrench spread or not, I wasn't looking at it as I was tightening it. I would think it would have spread and rounded off the corner before the wrench broke. That particular piece of hardware was just a grade 5 Chinese nut from Fastenal.

 

[jzt]

Living up to your username!

 

[Hiball]

I didn't get to see if the wrench spread or not, I wasn't looking at it as I was tightening it. I would think it would have spread and rounded off the corner before the wrench broke. That particular piece of hardware was just a grade 5 Chinese nut from Fastenal.

Dunno.. Could have been defective? Who knows? It happens...

 

[Snapped-off]

Living up to your username!

Unfortunately

 

[kiatech]

Living up to your username!

beat me to it.

 

[AutoTek]

That *****, good thing you have the warranty though.......

 

[Imcrazy]

Got a receipt?

 

[jzt]

Got a receipt?

Lets not go down this road. Again.

 

[powertrip]

If it was a craftsman it would be deemed as junk by the second post and people would have said by snap on next time

 

[DFW-LSX]

Im guessing 3ft cheater?


Sent from somewhere in Tx using Tapatalk

 

[Toolhorder]

If it was a craftsman it would deemed as junk by the second post

stir it up

 

[powertrip]

Nope, just the truth. ***** it broke, and its a nice wrench, but we all know what would be said.
Just warranty it, its a fluke. You probably couldn't do it again if you tried

 

[Snapped-off]

Im guessing 3ft cheater?


Sent from somewhere in Tx using Tapatalk

I guess I should have stuck with a 2' pipe.

I've tightened down about 1000 of those nuts, which hold down one side of a small rotary screw compressor, so I don't think I'm the problem.

Hopefully it was just a dud. I texted my dealer earlier though and he said he would have one on his truck next week for replacement.

 

[powertrip]

Don't the dealers have some sort of test fixture our something on the truck. I recall another member who had a matco wrench that broke in this test on the truck but the snap on wrench didn't break.

 

[Snapped-off]

Don't the dealers have some sort of test fixture our something on the truck. I recall another member who had a matco wrench that broke in this test on the truck but the snap on wrench didn't break.

To my knowledge, my dealer has nothing of the sort.

 

[DFW-LSX]

I guess I should have stuck with a 2' pipe.

Just giving you a hard time, I'm sure it was a fluke like the other guy said.

Don't the dealers have some sort of test fixture our something on the truck. I recall another member who had a matco wrench that broke in this test on the truck but the snap on wrench didn't break.

He might be talking about the torque calibrator thing on the wall like my dealer had?

 

[uudfourty]

Wow. That really *****, man! See what your truck guy can do to make up for the inconvenience.

 

[bob15]

Don't the dealers have some sort of test fixture our something on the truck. I recall another member who had a matco wrench that broke in this test on the truck but the snap on wrench didn't break.

I think you are referring to the Snap On gizmo which would show how the flank drive works when compared to the older, non Flank drive and non-lobular style Bonney wrenches and sockets. Snappy also has the fixture to show how their 4 way wrenches will work better than the competition by turning a nut or bolt 9don't remember which).

As to the original OP, it happens.....

bob

 

[Snapped-off]

Just giving you a hard time, I'm sure it was a fluke like the other guy said.



He might be talking about the torque calibrator thing on the wall like my dealer had?

Sarcasm on my part too.

I still can't believe it broke. But stuff does happen. Pretty sure my dealer mentioned he is getting something to measure the accuracy of torque wrenches on the truck, but no calibration. I don't think that is what the guy was talking about though.

Wow. That really *****, man! See what your truck guy can do to make up for the inconvenience.

It's less of an inconvenience and more I can't believe it broke so easily, so I'm not really bugged by not being able to use it for a week. I only bought the set because I pretty much got it half off brand new.

 

[oldtools]

I think this is a heat treatment issue. Heat treatment involves several steps. I think they forgot the step to reduce the brittleness and increase the toughness of the metal (tempering). Heat treatment is done in batch (not individual wrench), so there will be a batch of wrenches out there that are susceptible to fracturing.

 

[HaroRider]

If it was a craftsman it would be deemed as junk by the second post and people would have said by snap on next time

Sad but true..

And if it was a chinese craftsman.. you would really be in the *******.. lol

 

[redwrench60]

Yup, this is why good tools have warranty. You have a true brand new defective wrench. Had you been using it hard for years and broke it then I'd say abuse but broke right out of the gate.....time for warranty.

 

[Skin]

I think this is a heat treatment issue. Heat treatment involves several steps. I think they forgot the step to reduce the brittleness and increase the toughness of the metal (tempering). Heat treatment is done in batch (not individual wrench), so there will be a batch of wrenches out there that are susceptible to fracturing.

i very much doubt they forgot a step. They heat the wrenches in giant batches.

I already commented about this in the "best combination wrench" thread but the long snap-ons have no FD+ so i absolutely find them inferior in the open end to Matco or MAC in both contact area and where they engage. Might want to consider one of those brands instead.

Just to hammer the point home. Colored the head of this 19mm bolt, locked it down, used an extra long matco and a long snap-on (essentially the same length) and this is the contact pattern from the open ends. Snap-On on right, Matco (opti-torque) left. The more surface area the less the wrench jaws and bolt corners are stressed. Less chance of bolt rounding and wrench spread/breakage.

 

[chris142]

I think you are referring to the Snap On gizmo which would show how the flank drive works when compared to the older, non Flank drive and non-lobular style Bonney wrenches and sockets.

Yup . It was me. Now I have a non matching Matco wrench in my set.



http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140561&highlight=matco

 

[7th Kahuna]

Be glad it is from a new set. Suggests it was a fluke of manufacturing as opposed to poor quality or having worn out.

 

[Outlawmws]

Living up to your username!

Unfortunately

I was expecting this to be his first post! (Maybe it is and he's been busy!)

 

[oldtools]

i very much doubt they forgot a step. They heat the wrenches in giant batches.

I already commented about this in the "best combination wrench" thread but the long snap-ons have no FD+ so i absolutely find them inferior in the open end to Matco or MAC in both contact area and where they engage. Might want to consider one of those brands instead.

Just to hammer the point home. Colored the head of this 19mm bolt, locked it down, used an extra long matco and a long snap-on (essentially the same length) and this is the contact pattern from the open ends. Snap-On on right, Matco (opti-torque) left. The more surface area the less the wrench jaws and bolt corners are stressed. Less chance of bolt rounding and wrench spread/breakage.

If it fail after many uses, I can understand it fail due to fatigue. But failing after the first use? Seem like the metal is too brittle. Since heat has distinct step and tempering is usually the last step, there is a good chance they forgot to temper it or did it improperly.

 

[DFW-LSX]

Pretty sure my dealer mentioned he is getting something to measure the accuracy of torque wrenches on the truck, but no calibration. I don't think that is what the guy was talking about though.

Yeah that's what I meant... I'm slightly retarded... don't know why I said calibrator...

 

[short stack]

you were turning the wrench the "wrong" way like the commercial for the show American Restoration.

They must have broken their wrench also. This years commercial they are using the open end wrench the "right way"




Let the flaming begin!


short stack

 

[Mr Ratchet]

Broke one of the jaws off the open end on a Long pattern Snap-on combo wrench. I used a Gearwrench to get the last 3/4 of a turn out of the nut.

Those SO wrenches make for some good sling shot material, a little on the expensive side though. Good thing you had those superior GearWrench wrenches to save the day.

Seriously though, even the best make a bad one now than again. Could have been several things that went wrong. More than likely the new one will work great for years to come.

 

[Pointsnorth]

Everything breaks. I work on $8,000,000 helicopters, and you should see how often something breaks. The owners seem to accept high cost items breaking, and life limited parts, as it is just the cost of doing business, with no warranty either.
This is why you paid the money. Your dealer will actually come to your place of work, and put a new wrench directly into your hand no questions asked. That's worth the extra $$$ to me.

 

[6-Speed]

Ouch! that must be painful ... what hurt more is you used a Gearwrench to finish off the job.

 

[Snapped-off]

Ouch! that must be painful ... what hurt more is you used a Gearwrench to finish off the job.

I could have used a Wright, but I figured what the hell. I just broke a $42 wrench.

Hopefully that is the only Snap-on wrench I break I don't really like having to warranty things.

 

[EvilWelder]

I break things all the time, part if life in the world of industrial maintenance.

 

[Tavy]

At least it wasn't the long pattern 15/16 that is strictly used for removing Rockwell rear-ends after the nuts rust-weld themselves to the studs. Put the whole disaster under a garbage packer and you get an emergency room visit for a few broken knuckles.

 

[CWP1616L]

I was tightening down a 3/8-16 flange nut with it and the jaw snapped off and flew under my toolbox.

Next time try a Cornwell CWP1818L.