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3/4 inch breaker bar

KEH

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Joined
Jan 31, 2010
Messages
5,142
Sometimes on here a person wanting to go into the mechanic business asks for advice on tools. I'm not a professional tech, but at times I advise the use of a 3/4 inch breaker bar with 1/2 inch drive adapter, which I have and like. It got me out of a small bind recently. I was changing oil in a tractor with FEL and the drain plug was a little awkward to get to. I was using a Proto 5430 long handle(16 inches total length) 1/2 drive ratchet but couldn't quite get enough muscle to bear on it. Did not want to use a cheater pipe on my ratchet, which is used but looks like new, so I got my 3/4 breaker bar which provided a lot more leverage and broke the plug loose. Saved some time.

KEH
 
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wmm2

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Jan 10, 2016
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152
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio
I'm in favor of using a breaker bar instead of abusing your ratchet. But those adapters have let me down when I really needed them. I'd only use them now if I couldn't buy a breaker bar to match my socket, or a socket to match my breaker bar. The reducers just don't have enough strength.
 

rjvjeepster

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Aug 18, 2016
Messages
115
I wonder if the reducers are made to be weaker in general so its like a fuse for the system. I'd rather break a reducer than the breaker bar or socket.
 

Dirty Diesels

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Dec 27, 2013
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Nottingham, Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands o
I'm in favor of using a breaker bar instead of abusing your ratchet. But those adapters have let me down when I really needed them. I'd only use them now if I couldn't buy a breaker bar to match my socket, or a socket to match my breaker bar. The reducers just don't have enough strength.

Impact grade Cr-Mo reducers are a lot stronger than Cr-Van 1's!
 
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Dirty Diesels

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Dec 27, 2013
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but a breaker bar broken in the shaft portion can actually be quite dangerous right? Especially if you're learning on it and it snaps in half and goes flying. Broken steel is pretty sharp I believe.

They normally crack and break, not shatter like glass! But yes the broken ends can become sharp.
 

davethorik

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Sep 14, 2013
Messages
4,992
Location
Norka, Ohio
Thats why I like my Mac 24" 1/2 breaker bar, it is actually longer than my Wright 3/4 breaker. SK makes a 30" and Snap-on makes a 36" in 1/2, if you need longer.
 

Super Sport

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Joined
Jun 30, 2011
Messages
4,081
Location
West Michigan
It sounds more like you need a longer 1/2" drive breaker bar, say 24" or 30". I've broken 1/2-3/8 reducers before, enough to know not to use them unless I have to.

For a 3/4" breaker bar, I have a nice long 40" Tekton that works for my DIY uses. I have a full set of 3/4" sockets to pair with it.
 

Pipe

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Joined
Feb 22, 2016
Messages
315
To avoid using adapters you can get a tekton or cheaper brand shallow basic 3/4 socket set. Or a snap on adaptor for warranty reasons.

Sent from my 0PJA2 using Tapatalk
 
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