Williams Breaker Bar Disappointment

[MarkG]

Since putting tons of force on a breaker bar is pretty 'cave man', it seems like having a ratcheting head on one is a pretty bad idea anyway!

I like the plain old solid bars-----the fewer parts to break or bend the better, when it comes to trying to break something loose. I have a Duralast 72-121 I'm happy with, although even this one has a 'weak' link in the swiveling head probably, but it's been fine so far! Sometimes it can be a pain to get it into a place where you can actually use it, but there's no flimsy ratchet mechanism to fail at least.

 

[Steinmetz]

A tiny difference in diameter makes a huge difference in bending strength. Radius to the fourth power. Ditto for torsion.

Some manufacturers make tools super beefy for this reason. Seems like the imports (not trying to bash imports) make stuff stout to account for dirty steel and poor heat treat control.

I noticed my Snap On extensions are quite slender. My guess is Snap On engineers choose better materials so they can get away with smaller cross sections that can make some tools nice to use.

The flexural stress is proportional to one over the bar radius to the fourth power. My morning back-of-the-envolope calculation informs me that a ten-percent increase in bar radius (20% increase in bar diameter) reduces the flexural stress by approximately 60%.

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

The flexural stress is proportional to one over the bar radius to the fourth power. My morning back-of-the-envolope calculation informs me that a ten-percent increase in bar radius (20% increase in bar diameter) reduces the flexural stress by approximately 60%.

The main part of the handle appears to be 1". The smaller stem is 13/16".

So, the main part of the handle is 23% larger than the stem.

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

I called the local distributor just for kicks. The person I spoke with there had never heard of Williams, but checked their computer and found that they were indeed a distributor.

So, they are going to check into what they would have to do to warranty it. We will see. This could go well, but I get the sense that it is going to be a bit of aggravation for the person on the other end of the phone.

 

[Steinmetz]

The main part of the handle appears to be 1". The smaller stem is 13/16".

So, the main part of the handle is 23% larger than the stem.

Which explains why it failed there first.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I bought it new from Tools Delivered last summer. It bent the third time I used it.






I don't know about the other guys, but for me, the hassle factor comes into play.

Williams wants you to send the tool to either a distributor or mail it to them. I sent a message to Tools Delivered last night asking if they were the distributor in this case and got a reply back this morning with the name of my local distributor.

So, I can drive 1 hour round trip to the distributor, or I can pay shipping to Williams. Because of the size and weight of the handle, it will probably cost me $12 - $15 to mail it.

The handle was just $44 to begin with.

This is why people end up with a pile of tools they should warranty out, but never actually do.

How true that is.. and how bitter would the sour taste become if you went through the hassle factor of returning the bent handle, only to have the second one bend....?

I have the bottom drawer of a file cabinet dedicated to housing such tools.. Some of these tools get repaired or replaced when taken along on a road trip for other reasons.

 

[Steinmetz]

I guess that imported Chinesium metal is not holding up for Williams...

Suitable for rebar, not breaker bar. There must have been some mistake in translation.

 

[Farmall450]

Wow, that's disappointing. Never had a problem with my 24" snappy 1/2, albeit I weigh a little less. Or with my cman now that I think about it.

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

The local distributor is refusing to warranty it.

That is probably the end of Williams tools for me unless I catch them cheap on ebay.

 

[3baygarage]

Did they ask for proof of purchase?

Just go down there with that big metal bar in your hand!

 

[zengarage]

I was tightening not loosening when I bent mine. I had to go to 850 Ft LBS so I had to lean on them a Little. I was tightening them up as much as possible before I put the torque wrench on them. I replaced it with a snap on with the 36" handle. I'm not even going to try and warranty it. Not worth the hassle.

 

[zengarage]

That ratchet head can take a beating. The ratchet is plenty strong to use as a breaker. we have the older version of it in the shop and we have put a 10' bar on it with no problem. The handle is by far the weak point.

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

Just to follow up, I called Williams and spoke with a very nice lady there.

She said that their distributors are not required to provide warranty service and can refuse to at any time. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[Hiball]

Just to follow up, I called Williams and spoke with a very nice lady there.

She said that their distributors are not required to provide warranty service and can refuse to at any time. Just something to keep in mind.

Did she offer to remedy the situation? If Not I politely would have informed her that they should choose there distributers more closely as this type of Poor Customer service on a Newly purchased tools not only affects that distributers name but Williams also.

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

Did she offer to remedy the situation?

Oh, I still have the option of shipping it back to Williams on my dime. Per the USPS website, it should run about $14 for shipping.


Edit to add: She suggested trying a different distributor. Regrettably, Motion Industries (the distributor in question) is the only distributor within an hours drive.

 

[Farmall450]

Since putting tons of force on a breaker bar is pretty 'cave man', it seems like having a ratcheting head on one is a pretty bad idea anyway!

I like the plain old solid bars-----the fewer parts to break or bend the better, when it comes to trying to break something loose. I have a Duralast 72-121 I'm happy with, although even this one has a 'weak' link in the swiveling head probably, but it's been fine so far! Sometimes it can be a pain to get it into a place where you can actually use it, but there's no flimsy ratchet mechanism to fail at least.

The ratchet didn't fail here..?

I don't think it's supposed to a ratcheting breaker bar but rather one handle that can accommodate a variety of tasks for a variety of jobs.

 

[Farmall450]

Oh, I still have the option of shipping it back to Williams on my dime. Per the USPS website, it should run about $14 for shipping.

That's really not bad for free replacement. Same as SK's and many others.

 

[Hiball]

That's really not bad for free replacement. Same as SK's and many others.

SK will send out Pre-paid labels, If I was the OP I would Kindly and Politely request a Label and link this Thread.

Edit to add: She suggested trying a different distributor. Regrettably, Motion Industries (the distributor in question) is the only distributor within an hours drive.

Its Irks me when companies pass the buck to there Distributors..

 

[mrborohachi]

Hiball I'm getting that go back to the Distributor from Lisle. In this day and age companies should be accepting e-mails with a picture attachment

 

[Mohawk Dave]

In this day and age companies should be accepting e-mails with a picture attachment

I agree with this! (I know some companies do, but not enough/all). And for safety measures, they can give you a Return # or something that you write down on a post it note next to the item...(that way you can't just find broken tool photos on line and steal).

It would save them money on shipping, make everyone happy. We have the internet, might as well use it. -End Rant.

 

[Hiball]

Hiball I'm getting that go back to the Distributor from Lisle. In this day and age companies should be accepting e-mails with a picture attachment

I suppose I don't have any problems with distributors being the 1st line of warranty service, but when the distributor balks at handling the situation, the manufacturer should address the problem immediately.

 

[JDSV]

SK will send out Pre-paid labels, If I was the OP I would Kindly and Politely request a Label and link this Thread.

That is what probably makes SK one great company. According to the Williams warranty, you can ship to them "Freight pre-paid".

http://www.snaponindustrialbrands.c...trialbrandscom/Content/PDF/JHWTG-WARRANTY.pdf

Do we as the consumer pay this freight charge?

I know I would be in the same boat as the OP, I live in a small city and the distributors for most USA brands are probably an hour an half to three hour drive away. If SK does send out pre-paid labels then their tools are very appealing to those of us that do not have readily available access to a distributor.

 

[redwrench60]

This is why I tend to shy away from the industrial brands even though some of them are very good. Trying to get someone to give a **** about service after the sale is like pulling teeth. I think they hope to make it just enough of a pain in the *** that you'll just give up and buy a new one.

 

[zengarage]

I have so many broken tools that are supposedly lifetime warranty it's a shame. Most of the time the hassle of replacing the tool costs more than the tool is worth. So when I break something its time to replace it with a truck brand.

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

So when I break something its time to replace it with a truck brand.

I may have to try that. There are no tool trucks anywhere near my shop, but I should at least be able to catch one in town.

 

[Farmall450]

SK will send out Pre-paid labels, If I was the OP I would Kindly and Politely request a Label and link this Thread.



Its Irks me when companies pass the buck to there Distributors..

IIRC SK's policy is you send it back on your dime, which is perfectly fair IMO as they send it back to you on theirs.

That's part of being a distributor, no?

 

[Hiball]

IIRC SK's policy is you send it back on your dime, which is perfectly fair IMO as they send it back to you on theirs.

That's part of being a distributor, no?

Im not sure what there Policy is, But on 2 recent Personal experiences I have received a Pre-Paid Label via Email.

Im not sure what your asking in regards to "Being a Distributor", SK is the Parent Company, While Limited based off there website they have Retailers/Distributers but if you are required to send it back to the Parent company on your dime "AFTER" dealing with one of there "Authorized Retailers" I think that is BS. The way I see it, Is if the Parent company is going to profit off Retailers getting there product to the Consumer, They should make sure the Retailers take care of the Customers when Warranty Needs arise.