Breaker bar question

[mensa]

Is there a benefit to the style of head on the Mac breaker bar? It's almost too big to be useful.

With the exception of maybe an easier warranty repair for the tool company, I can't find any benefit to having this style of breaker bar head.

Thanks.

 

[drivesitfar]

Mensa: i don't know about you, but if i'm using my breaker bar it's usually on a bolt that has all kinds of access. i'm sure some of you are using it in a tight space so in that case use the old small one and carrying two similar tools for the same job is not unusual around here.

by the way i do like the new design and if the tool companies can make quality tools and figure out a way to keep replacing the whole tool and eventually going out of business to a cheap import i'm all for it.

 

[Buckgnarly]

If you are referring to the top style, I am guessing that it is not easier to warranty for company as they no longer make that style. That said, I have searched out those old ones and it's all I own for Mac breaker bars. I have whaled on that style with no problems at all, and I have beaten the **** out of them!
I have also stocked up on NOS repair kits, though I have yet to need one!

 

[sac02]

I have had many instances where a smaller breaker bar head is appreciated. So many in fact that I specifically look at the size of the head as a criteria in purchasing a breaker bar.

I would never buy one with this monster size head style (HF sells some like this, I was looking for that picture as an example, but ran across this one instead)

 

[mensa]

If you are referring to the top style, I am guessing that it is not easier to warranty for company as they no longer make that style. That said, I have searched out those old ones and it's all I own for Mac breaker bars. I have whaled on that style with no problems at all, and I have beaten the **** out of them!
I have also stocked up on NOS repair kits, though I have yet to need one!

Yes...no doubt it is tough I'm just not seeing the point to the change of style of the pivot head and why it's so big and bulky. I just wonder if that IS the benefit.....strength at the sacrifice of size?

I have had many instances where a smaller breaker bar head is appreciated. So many in fact that I specifically look at the size of the head as a criteria in purchasing a breaker bar.

I would never buy one with this monster size head style (HF sells some like this, I was looking for that picture as an example, but ran across this one instead)

Yes.......I always use the smaller size and specifically search for that style of breaker bar, like the Plomb (bottom picture). But I really like the handle and feel of the Mac. Just don't care for the bulky head. It's one of the most comfortable handles I've used.

 

[Jere]

I have heard a few people advise against the newer style forked end rather than the forked bar. The forked bar is supposed to have less twisting apart problems. Maybe someone else can chime in on this?

 

[franzdom]

Snap-On's newest 1/2" 32"L breaker bar L113H is the forked end style.

 

[T45]

Take a photo from the top with the square drive @ 90 degrees.

My guess is the rotational circumference is smaller on one of the two styles.

 

[mensa]

Take a photo from the top with the square drive @ 90 degrees.

My guess is the rotational circumference is smaller on one of the two styles.

Picture...

 

[sac02]

Off topic, but those seem like pretty short 1/2" breakers, how long are they?

 

[T45]

Based on that second angle, it seems like the new-style bad is just as "fat", if not even wider in max width.

The only thing going for it is the more rounded shoulder

 

[bobcatdan]

Snap-On's newest 1/2" 32"L breaker bar L113H is the forked end style.

My guess with the SO is it was an easier way to make a head that would except the replaceable drive end. Personally I don't think there is no real advantage to one head style to other.

 

[mensa]

Off topic, but those seem like pretty short 1/2" breakers, how long are they?

Not 1/2". Both 3/8 drive.

My guess with the SO is it was an easier way to make a head that would except the replaceable drive end. Personally I don't think there is no real advantage to one head style to other.

I'm just saying the mac style head is huge. It won't get into tight places, which is the beauty of the little breaker bars......they really get in there. But the big head design is almost as big as a ratchet head. No advantage to the big head that I can see. But the point is.....there HAS TO be an advantage; or why change the design? Or am I looking too deep into this?




.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I do not like the forked end style as we are discussing in this thread. I vastly prefer the bar to be forked.

 

[Wakefield]

There was an excellent topic on the breaker bar heads some time ago. Seems one manufacturer had to use one or the other since someone else had a patent on the other.
www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=73602 if I am correct
Old MAC might have one of the strongest of one type and old S*K might have been one of the strongest of the other(fork in the handle)

 

[espyking83]

^^ Nothing beats a Plomb breaker bar!

 

[Wakefield]

There is also the controversy between having a pin or a bolt for the pivot in either fork design-I think a properly sized and engineered axle bolt might be more efficient but I think some of the old pinned head bars are stronger because they have more metal backing up the fork
old S*K with pin-does it have more metal in the head than the newer bolted one (still might have a bigger diameter bolt than its competition)