24in snap on 1/2 breaker bar

[Andersonfarms]

Hey guys I got to use my 24in so breaker bar the other day on a 5/8in bolt.... I was tightening with it while dad was holding the wrench. I had it probably bent so the end to end diffrenece was probably 1-2in to the point of I though I was going to snap the shaft.... I'm only 195 pounds. Are you guys satisfied with your 24in breaker bars or think they need to be a little beefier???

 

[tjmonsen5]

If they didnt have any flex they would snap at a much lower torque rating. Ive never broken a breaker bar. Ive put cheater pipes on them too.

 

[kunkernator]

Personally, I would probably never buy SO's bar. With all the good reviews of the HF bar, I bought one. I have used it for so many ridiculously huge amounts of torque, with 6 ft cheaters on it. The head isn't even loose, and if I break it.....$10 (or lifetime warranty).

But, back on track.... Yes, a little bit of flex is normal, as the guy above stated, if there is no flex, it would break easier. Think of having no flex as the bar being "brittle". Brittle things break extremely easy.

 

[MattPersman]

The HF is a good starter point for a breaker bar. I ran across one application where it just had too much flex to get the job done (was trying to crush a crush sleeve on a diff) and had to use a different brand.

I now have a couple Matcos and a snap on. Went a little over board after than crush sleeve got the best of me for a while lol.

 

[MattPersman]

Other note I might add is I have a SHLF80A snap on 25.75" dual 80 1/2 drive ratchet that probably could be bought instead of a breaker bar this thing is tough you can lay into it heavy. Mine is the comfort grip which could get beat up by a pipe and of course there are applications where the head might not offer quite the clearance of a breaker bar and then the price these are over 200 bucks at retail.

 

[74craig]

The SO breaker bar is hands down a tough bar.I had an eight foot cheater on a 3/4 bolt with two guys pulling with no issues.

 

[ken w.]

I have the S/O 24" with the soft handle. I would have prefered the regular handle. I have bent this thing to the point that I was sure it was going to snap.I have jumped on it,my 300 pound friend has jumped on it and it hasn't broke yet.It's pricy at around $125.00.I think it was worth it. It's hard to compare the Craftsman breaker bar to this , but I broke 2 in a row trying to get lug nuts off. As soon as I stood on it and gave one bounce it snaped. The second one did too. You get what you pay for.

 

[Toolman12]

I bent one awhile ago and yes i had a cheater bar on it but it did not snap i called the wonderful ladies at the snappy warranty center and they sent me out another one right away. That tool can take a lot of punishment.

 

[fordbroncodave]

no. snap on 24" breaker bar is the one to have. dad put a 8ft water pipe on his to snug pinion nuts and never broke a head off yet. very good quality and durable.

 

[neonlazer]

My friend has the 24in bar and I was trying to get off an axle nut..i put all my weight onto it and it was bending like crazy and i was SO afraid it was gonna snap..he was like.."stop bein a sissy..step on it!" I did.. and it worked..LOL..gotta get used to it flexing so much XD

 

[Packard V8]

JMHO, but the game of "how long a cheater pipe can be used before the 1/2" bar bends/breaks" just isn't fun.

For the really tough nuts, I've picked up an old 3/4"dr beam torque wrench about 3' long and the 3/4" sockets to match. Had to get it out the other day to loosen some '50s truck 1" lug nuts which had been outdoors for years.

Another FWIW - if a 3/4"dr isn't available, a propane torch on the nut for a couple of minutes makes most come off much easier. A neighbor had a flat on an old VW which hadn't had the rear wheels off it in many years of salty winter roads. His lug wrench wouldn't budge them and he wanted to borrow my long breaker bar. I suggested heat. He didn't want to burn the paint on those rusty old steel wheels. He took the long bar and promptly broke my Easco 17mm socket. He said he'd pay for it, got a 17mm impact socket and promptly twisted off the first wheel stud. He borrowed the torch and got the others off. Still owes me for the socket and the propane.

jack vines

 

[wise]

I don't own that bar, but I've used them quite a bit and they are the best breaker bar I've personally used (and I've owned + broken about a dozen). If I have the space, and I'm applying really high torque (8ft bar, all my weight, bouncing) I use a 3/4 Sliding T Bar and 3/4 socket.

My 3/4" Craftsman Ratchet holds up to the 8ft bar test as well, fyi. I know it's not recommended and dangerous if it slips, but it sure is strong!

 

[RCP]

I have one and it is definitely handy. It has a comfort grip witch makes it really easy to use. Guy I work with has a craftsman, he was using it on some head bolts trying like hell for 20min rounding off torx heads, I came over and cracked them for him in a couple seconds.

I use it daily turning over motors and breaking stubborn bolts with my 12pt 1/2 set, it has saved me countless hours as well as using other tools the wrong way.

I got it new for 35$

 

[bobcatdan]

If you are worried about flex, step up to 3/4". You will snap the drive end off 100 times before the bar will.