The Williams BS-41AA 1/2" Breaker Bar

[FlushingDIYer]

Finally getting around to swapping out some axles and tie rods and broke a no-name breaker bar trying to crack an axle nut... Need to get to this job before it starts to snow around here.

Decided to look on Craigslist before spending any money on a Husky, Duralast of HF one... And saw this one, new, for $40 bucks. Figured it had to be sign!

Had to run into Home Depot for a Christmas tree and figured I would compare it to a Husky... That Husky one felt hollow next to this one... Wow.

I'd have to be some kind of idiot to break something like this right?

 

[FlushingDIYer]

I guess I'm some sort of idiot... I broke this on it's first use. Sigh, guess Craftsman, Harbor Freight, Husky, or Duralast would've given me the same kinda usage. Except then I would've had an easier go at warrantying this!

Trying to crack a 36mm Nissan Altima axle nut... I thought for sure this would take off this axle nut. I have removed axle nuts on this car with my USA Craftsmans 1/2" breaker bar. I thought a Williams breaker bar was supposed to be rock solid!

So am I correct to assume that I won't be able to warranty this unless I find someone with a Snap On account who just so happens to have something to purchase from a truck? I've seen repair kits for all sorts of breaker bars on eBay, is there one for the Williams BS-41AA? (I guess we know what the BS stands for...) Any insight provided would be greatly appreciated here. Many thanks!

 

[SMKS]

You can mail things to Williams for warranty. I've done it.

So how did it break? Was there a cheater pipe involved?

I'm not judging, just wondering.

 

[454ragtop]

I have some SK breaker bar repair kits in the classifieds here. If you can get some measurements I can compare them.

 

[FlushingDIYer]

You can mail things to Williams for warranty. I've done it.

So how did it break? Was there a cheater pipe involved?

I'm not judging, just wondering.

I just found the information. I'll send it off and hopefully I'll get a tool in return. For the price I paid, I could've paid a little more and purchased it retail. But then I would've had to wait... I don't think I'll purchase any second hand Williams stuff anymore... I was eyeing the Williams 14-piece Taiwan impact set for $42 from Toolsdelivered.com... But I don't know anymore. Everyone on Youtube says the HF metric impact sockets are the "deal of the century..."

- No cheater.
- Just standing on it.
- Pushing down. Not jumping up and down.
- PB Blastered last week, twice, and PB Blastered twice today over the course of an hour. - - Gave it four seconds of my electric impact before deciding to use the breaker bar.
- Broke slowly...
- Detent remained in 36mm deep OEM impact socket.

I have some SK breaker bar repair kits in the classifieds here. If you can get some measurements I can compare them.

I leave most of my tools at my parents' place. They have space that I don't have!) I'll check it out. Thanks for the support. Have you seen any Williams breaker bars be repaired?

 

[zkling]

Go get the harbor freight long one, with coupon.

 

[Danglerb]

Looks odd the way its broken. Doesn't seem to me that should be the weak point.

 

[Derek420]

Lmao damn the luck bro that ***** Williams is a damn good brand the problem is not tool as much as using the wrong tool you need to get a 3/4 socket and breaker bar and try again or use a torch 1/2 isn't that strong my xl 1/2 Snap On would have snapped even if the Williams did. Just call Snap On and they will send you a repair kit free of charge and you will have it in 3-5 days, they might send a whole new one to you and tell you to toss out old one. I have lots of Williams sockets and they are just as strong as a snap on in the USA sets and the Taiwan sets I have as well and are heavy duty even have the extensions and wrenches and all are top notch hell I'd trade you a brand new snap on for that Williams if you want and I'll get it fixed as I like Williams and don't even use my snap on as it is and never have used it I don't mind helping you out.

 

[BajaBound]

I love my Williams USA and Taiwan. I bet user error lead to the failure.

 

[firworks]

Most likely a manufacturing flaw in the drive end there. I had similar with a Wera chiseldriver. Broke on almost the very first strike because there was likely a little crack running through the tip from when it was manufactured. I've hammered away on the replacement and no problems. Since this was a new breaker bar and not one you've been using for 20 years, that's what I would suspect. I'm sure Williams will replace it and you'll be on your way.

 

[FlushingDIYer]

Go get the harbor freight long one, with coupon.

Yeah, seriously... At least I know I'll be able to warranty it pretty easily... But it's HF...

Lmao damn the luck bro that ***** Williams is a damn good brand the problem is not tool as much as using the wrong tool you need to get a 3/4 socket and breaker bar and try again or use a torch 1/2 isn't that strong my xl 1/2 Snap On would have snapped even if the Williams did. Just call Snap On and they will send you a repair kit free of charge and you will have it in 3-5 days, they might send a whole new one to you and tell you to toss out old one. I have lots of Williams sockets and they are just as strong as a snap on in the USA sets and the Taiwan sets I have as well and are heavy duty even have the extensions and wrenches and all are top notch hell I'd trade you a brand new snap on for that Williams if you want and I'll get it fixed as I like Williams and don't even use my snap on as it is and never have used it I don't mind helping you out.

Thanks for the support, Derek420! I know, I should be using 3/4" drive tools for axle nuts... But I've cracked all these axle nuts with my USA Craftsman 1/2" breaker bar before! I thought for sure this Williams would tackle this job easily. Let me reach out to Snap-On and see what they say. I really appreciate the offer for help, though. That's really gracious of you. And in keeping with the holiday spirit!

I love my Williams USA and Taiwan. I bet user error lead to the failure.

Some user error, no doubt. But just cracking axle nuts in a driveway the way DIY folks have been crackin' nuts in driveways for the past 50 years!

Most likely a manufacturing flaw in the drive end there. I had similar with a Wera chiseldriver. Broke on almost the very first strike because there was likely a little crack running through the tip from when it was manufactured. I've hammered away on the replacement and no problems. Since this was a new breaker bar and not one you've been using for 20 years, that's what I would suspect. I'm sure Williams will replace it and you'll be on your way.

Let's see!

Looks odd the way its broken. Doesn't seem to me that should be the weak point.

I remember watching some videos on Youtube (some fellow who likes to break ratchets?) and he said something about how the metal around the detent pin should break.... I can't recall how "good" steel and "bad" steel is supposed to break.

 

[KnurledNut]

Repair kit S-41RK

http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ols-1-2-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Ratchet-Drive-Tools

 

[FlushingDIYer]

Repair kit S-41RK

http://www.toolsdelivered.com/Willi...ols-1-2-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Ratchet-Drive-Tools

Oh wow, that's it? Do you know if it's terribly difficult to swap out? I reached out to Snap on to see what they say. If they tell me good news, I might just order this and something else from Toolsdelivered, you know, to make the order worth it!

Thanks for the link.

 

[T45]

Oh wow, that's it? Do you know if it's terribly difficult to swap out? I reached out to Snap on to see what they say. If they tell me good news, I might just order this and something else from Toolsdelivered, you know, to make the order worth it!

Thanks for the link.

yeah, the snap on ones are like $10 delivered, nothing to get worked up over.

that beings aid, a modern 1/2 square drive should good for over 500 ft pounds.

A 200 lb person jumping on 18 inches is like 300lbs...so should not be enough to trash it unless it was a defect.

 

[FlushingDIYer]

Thanks for the insight. That's what I was thinking... The impact I used to crack my axle nuts have a max torque of 350lbs/ft. So I was way under 500lbs!

I sent an email to Snap-On this morning and got an email back tonight directing me to call the Williams number.

The number was answered by a Snap-On answering machine...

I'm a little confused.

But anyhow, will call back tomorrow during office hours and see what they say.

 

[LXCam]

That *****! Hey don't feel bad there's probably a real good chance all you did was finish off damage done by someone else.

 

[johninct]

Did you use a pipe on it?

 

[thesilverone]

Did you use a pipe on it?

- No cheater.
- Just standing on it.
- Pushing down. Not jumping up and down.

.................

 

[lutter94]

yeah, the snap on ones are like $10 delivered, nothing to get worked up over.

that beings aid, a modern 1/2 square drive should good for over 500 ft pounds.

A 200 lb person standing on 18 inches is like 300lbs...so should not be enough to trash it unless it was a defect.

Jumping would be much higher.

 

[FlushingDIYer]

Just updating this thread, finally got around to mailing it back to SnapOn... $11.35 shipping costs from NY to GA. I'm down the cost of 3 HF breaker bars...

 

[T45]

Jumping would be much higher.

Ha ha...yes. Thats why I left it at standing

But seriously a good square drive is probably easily closer to 750ft lbs, so standing gives you a 1,5x safety factor.

Dynamic forces can overcome that, so then its time to bring out 3/4 drive ...

...if you need 1,000 ft/pounds to break something loose...

 

[Olafur]

Brittle odd fracture on square drive. No plastic deformation.
You deserve a free replacement, this is junk.

 

[FlushingDIYer]

Brittle odd fracture on square drive. No plastic deformation.
You deserve a free replacement, this is junk.

I hope I get one... I don't think there will be any problems. But man, this thing broke exactly the same way my 15yr old "Performance" breaker bar did...

And now, the wait... 4-6 weeks? I'm gonna guess it arrives 1/31... I wonder if that's being hopeful!

 

[straightcut]

Oh wow, that's it? Do you know if it's terribly difficult to swap out?... Imight just order this and something else from Toolsdelivered, you know, to make the order worth it!

Thanks for the link.

I swapped in the repair kit on an S-K flex handle in less than 5 minutes. Sorry to give you the 20/20 hindsight, but if you'd have ordered the kit, that tool would be back in action right now.

 

[FlushingDIYer]

Just wanted to update this thread. Look what I received in the mail from Snap-on today!!

I mailed out on 12/27/2016 and received on 1/10/2017. For a total of 14 days or 2 weeks. Taking into consideration that it was received and processed during the post-Christmas and New Years holidays... I'm pretty pleased with my first experiences with Snap-on/Williams. Yes, I did have to shell out $11.36 to ship it to them, but I suppose that's the cost of doing business. I don't think this thing will break again.

It seems like the Williams BS-41AA was updated. This one feels heavier than the one I shipped back to them. You'll notice that the lettering is stamped differently on this one. Sorry for the crappy picture.

And the head looks different, too.

So all in all, I've spent about $52 dollars on this breaker bar... I could have purchased two Huskys/Duralasts and three/four Harbor Freights for this price... So buying Snap-on/Williams, when you don't have access to a truck, man is not for the faint of heart! But I like the customer service (not the emailing...), you call, some lady in Georgia picks up and takes your info down and that's that.

If Toolsdelivered starts to carry the Williams stuff I would like, I'll definitely give them more business. Yeah it sucked to have to wait two weeks, but I'm guessing that I won't have to warranty many things all that often...

Also, I wouldn't purchase a used BS-41AA if it has the model number stamped horizontally on the bar. I don't know how else to say it, the tool just feels different--more solid. I should have weighed the other one!

Thanks for all the support in this process, fellas.

 

[Honda 1]

I believe this is the same breaker that I purchased from Harry Epstein.It has worked very well for me.Williams should warranty this for you.

 

[T45]

That looks like the modern breaker bar joint which you can tighten and need be rebuild with an inexpensive kit (which you can buy cheap or they can send to you). So that should be the last time you need to send that breaker bar in for service. So thats a good upgrade.

I would say this whole deal is more about buying used tools that are of unkown vintage and work-history moreso than anything specific to Williams. That new bar should be better than anything you get at aoutozone or harbor freight, and you can likely rebuild it with Snap-on branded internals for $10, meaning you really shouldn't ever need to upgrade it either. So if that $12 dollars in shipping is the worst case scenario, you did alright on this whole situation.

But you might want to think about how you select and screen used tool purchases. Not every penny pinched is worth it in the long run!! Of courses...from here good luck and enjoy the new bar.

 

[American Locomotive]

It's about time they started offering breaker bars with an easily removable pin. Glad to see Snap-On/Williams took care of you though!

On a side note, I've personally broken more 1/2" breaker-bars than ratchets. In fact, usually when I snap a breaker bar, I end up having to use a ratchet with a cheater pipe on it, and that usually gets it without breaking.

Coincidentally, the last breaker bar I broke was also being used to remove an axle nut.

 

[FlushingDIYer]

I believe this is the same breaker that I purchased from Harry Epstein.It has worked very well for me.Williams should warranty this for you.

They did! Only took two weeks, too. I'm pleased. They've earned more of my business. Now, if only toolsdelivered had stuff in stock...

That looks like the modern breaker bar joint which you can tighten and need be rebuild with an inexpensive kit (which you can buy cheap or they can send to you). So that should be the last time you need to send that breaker bar in for service. So thats a good upgrade.

I would say this whole deal is more about buying used tools that are of unkown vintage and work-history moreso than anything specific to Williams. That new bar should be better than anything you get at aoutozone or harbor freight, and you can likely rebuild it with Snap-on branded internals for $10, meaning you really shouldn't ever need to upgrade it either. So if that $12 dollars in shipping is the worst case scenario, you did alright on this whole situation.

But you might want to think about how you select and screen used tool purchases. Not every penny pinched is worth it in the long run!! Of courses...from here good luck and enjoy the new bar.

You're absolutely right. This was an impulse buy. Did I need it? Should I have gone with something cheaper, probably... Three broken Duralast breaker bars would've gotten this axle nut loose... But like many of the guys on here, I have a sentimentality for USA tools.. Saw it locally on Craigslist. Saw that it was half the price that Amazon wanted for it. So I went for it. Especially considering that my 15 year old Performance breaker snapped when I tried to crack that axle nut earlier in the day.

As a DIYer, I want Snap-on/Williams, but really need to consider the price-use trade off: I figured this breaker bar would be used break lugnuts, axle nuts, and to hold fasteners while, so it would definitely get some use. So yeah, why not? And frankly, I was curious as to the "hoopla" of having something Snap-on(ish.) I only have three Snap-on tools: three screwdrivers a previous tenant left in my apartment. You're right though. I should've been more prudent. And I definitely will in the future... (I am thinking about this.... if it drops another 100, I'm there! http://newyork.craigslist.org/que/tls/5950660720.html)

It's about time they started offering breaker bars with an easily removable pin. Glad to see Snap-On/Williams took care of you though!

On a side note, I've personally broken more 1/2" breaker-bars than ratchets. In fact, usually when I snap a breaker bar, I end up having to use a ratchet with a cheater pipe on it, and that usually gets it without breaking.

Coincidentally, the last breaker bar I broke was also being used to remove an axle nut.

Yeah, this seems a hell of a lot easier to fix than the previous version. This is my second broken breaker bar. I've used my USA Craftsman for EVERYTHING and it's never felt like it would break so I can't imagine breaking these things with any sort of frequency! But I just wrench on the side here and there.

This better not break! Ever!