3/8" breaker bar?

[Dimitri]

So I'm in the market for a 3/8" breaker bar (I don't own one at all), and I was wondering what would you recommend?

Also, how big is too big before the torque load you can apply can ruin a good socket?

Thank you in advance.

Dimitri

 

[Automatic Slim]

I like the older v craftsman, the metal seems stronger 5$. Use a napa USA cuz I like the handle. Da flange on the bb will give b4 socket IMO usu. I,be broken the flange on so, Marco, late craftsman, etc. I,ve got a 3/4 wms ww2 era that is a tank. But too freakin lazy to crank 3/4 any mo.
The rare occasion that older is beta, Bethlehem steel. May god bless the usa

 

[shampoop]

I've surprisingly had great luck with my craftsman one. Super cheap and it's held up well with a giant cheater bar on it.

 

[basspro]

I use a 3/8" breaker alot, almost as much as a ratchet! I break the nut loose and spin it quick like a screw driver, I have learned to be pretty fluid and efficient with it. I have a Masterforce, same thing as the Allen brand, very similar to Armstrong. I like the chrome and knurled handle, it balances well, and the length (about 11 inches) is just right, not too long or short. I've had a 2 foot cheater pipe on mine and it took it, but I wouldnt do that everyday. A good breaker in 3/8" can be had for under $20.

 

[skruft]

I have never broken or bent a breaker bar so suspect any good brand is fairly strong. I'd say, go to flea market and choose a known maker.

 

[zkling]

I like the rounded handle of the Snap on's, but my wallet doesn't
I have a few 1/2" breaker bars as that is all I seem to find used, never seen a 3/8" at a garage sale or the like.

Ended up picking up a 10" craftsman breaker bar (they call it a flex head) for $8 on clearance a few weeks back. Real nice, it has a square handle and positive detentes at different angles. I am happy with it.

You may want to check out the harborfreight 17" 3/8" breaker. To my knowledge they make the longest 3/8" breaker bar out there. However their genious design team decided to use a screw as the pivot point

My vote, Craftsman or Snap on.

 

[bry@n]

I have a snap on chrome handle. I bought it years ago and its still going strong.

 

[signcrafter]

I have a snap on one that I had to use yesterday to get into a hard to reach spot and put a 2 foot cheater on it. I was scared it was going to break at the pivot point but it did it's job just fine. You can pick them up on ebay for fairly cheap. Most people aren't looking for a 3/8" breaker bar since you don't use them often. I was just looking at ebay yesterday to see if there was a longer one then my 10" and there were a bunch of the snappy 10" bars on there.

 

[#1SomeGuy]

I've never actually used my 3/8" breaker bar yet ... not sure how useful they are. I guess though when you have an 18" flex head ratchet it's not that important.

 

[signcrafter]

I've never actually used my 3/8" breaker bar yet ... not sure how useful they are. I guess though when you have an 18" flex head ratchet it's not that important.

I have a snap on 13" flex head I was using on a rusted bolt and I could see the joint starting to spread when I was really cranking on it. I stopped since it's my favorite ratchet and went and got my 3/8" breaker bar. I really should have been using 1/2" drive stuff but there wasn't the clearance. Put a 2' cheater pipe on the 10" breaker bar and cranked away and got the bolt off. The joint on a flex head ratchet will give before the joint on a breaker bar.

 

[AV tinker er]

I did bend my 3/8 craftsman breaker bar, but I was using it with my floor jack handle on it... so maybe it was quite designed for that.

 

[Fireball027]

I have a 15" Matco breaker bar that I use almost daily. It's a bit pricey but takes the abuse well and the added length is a bonus.

I have the B15FH

 

[blacK20]

I don't think you can ruin a socket with a big breaker bar. Besides if the socket is any good at all, it'll have warranty

 

[devilsnight]

I have a 10" Blue point, Its pleny strong and cheap, but at that length its pretty much useless. rarely use it

 

[Armstrong1720]

I bought a snap on 3/8 breaker cheap cheap cheap cheap on ebay. Thats where i would go !!!

 

[Murphy4570]

I've never actually used my 3/8" breaker bar yet ... not sure how useful they are. I guess though when you have an 18" flex head ratchet it's not that important.

I mostly use mine when I want to control the fastener in both ways of movement at the same time. Turning camshafts on OHC engines comes to mind. Valvesprings will cause the thing to violently turn in one direction, then the other, often with little warning.

 

[slip knot]

I've got a Snappy 3/8 that I dont think I've ever used. too easy to grab the 1/2 to break loose a bolt.

 

[jrlp]

I love sliding T-bars. I just find lots of uses for them somehow. They're my go-to for sensitive things like breaking loose banjo bolts, zerks, and using crowsfeet.. things like that.

May be just me but I go full retard trying to use a ratchet, bunch of extensions, universal or two, on a flarenut crowsfoot. T-bar makes those jobs easy. I recently upgraded and got a great deal on an industrial finish snap on 3/8" t-bar that replaced my old one.

Also is great for using bits with the adapter. Set it in the middle, and can put weight on both sides of the bar to break loose a stubborn screw without stripping it. Also makes nutdriving with deep sockets fun..

 

[bob08]

This has been discussed:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=121719

As an update to my thread, I actually wound up buying both. The Proto is a bit longer, but basically they're identical in terms of functionality. Not really much to them as a tool. Both work well.

 

[Dave455]

I'd opt for one with an all steel handle! The soft ones get scuffed too easily. You can't go wrong with Snap On if you can run to the cost! They offer a choice of 10 inch or 12 inch as well (get the 12).

Failing that, get one from the same maker as your sockets and extensions. It should all fit together well.

Ko Ken make a good selection too, up to 15 inch in 3/8 drive and the quality is good.

 

[mofo62]

.


Please buy..made in Usa


V!

 

[Dimitri]

Thank you for the suggestions everyone.

bob08,

I was not around then, and people's opinions change after a couple of years. They end up breaking something, they realize it's not much better then what they had even though initial impression was very good etc.

Always good to get a fresh opinion.

Dave,

I have a SK socket set in 3/8". But the ratchet and the breaker bar are nearly the same size (10"), and I'd have thought that more torque would be better for a breaker bar over a ratchet, which is why I decided to ask for some advice.

Dimitri

 

[Dimitri]

Please buy..made in Usa

Heh,

I'm in the back of my mind keep looking at a Snap On FHBB12 just because it's one of the longer ones in case I need more torque over say SK's 10 inch one.

Dimitri

 

[bob08]

Thank you for the suggestions everyone.

bob08,

I was not around then, and people's opinions change after a couple of years. They end up breaking something, they realize it's not much better then what they had even though initial impression was very good etc.

Always good to get a fresh opinion.

Dimitri

Absolutely, hope that thread and the discussion helps you.

If you have any questions about the two breaker bars I have, I'd be happy to offer my input.

 

[Dimitri]

Absolutely, hope that thread and the discussion helps you.

Well I searched here and other forums for breaker bar discussions, and it seems like many people just do not use 3/8" breaker bars too often. Just like many in your thread.

Everyone keeps saying "get a flex head ratchet". And I'm sure modern ratchets can keep up with the torque, but I'm still young (relatively speaking at 25) and believe the whole "use the right tool for the job". Hence looking for a longer breaker bar over a ratchet.

Undoing the cylinder head bolts of a Fiat 1.4L engine this past week, made me decide I need a way to break them loose properly. I can do 100+ ftlb's for wheel nuts etc with a torque wrench no problem but getting those loosened off was a mission and a half.

Dimitri

 

[bob08]

Well I searched here and other forums for breaker bar discussions, and it seems like many people just do not use 3/8" breaker bars too often. Just like many in your thread.

Everyone keeps saying "get a flex head ratchet". And I'm sure modern ratchets can keep up with the torque, but I'm still young (relatively speaking at 25) and believe the whole "use the right tool for the job". Hence looking for a longer breaker bar over a ratchet.

Undoing the cylinder head bolts of a Fiat 1.4L engine this past week, made me decide I need a way to break them loose properly. I can do 100+ ftlb's for wheel nuts etc with a torque wrench no problem but getting those loosened off was a mission and a half.

Dimitri

I find that every tool has it's uses; sometimes you'll use a 3/8" breaker bar, and sometimes you'll use something else given the application (a flex head 3/8" ratchet, a 1/2" breaker bar, etc.). Nonetheless, I find a 3/8" breaker bar is a nice thing to have on hand. Breaking loose brake caliper bolts where there's not allot of room to maneuver a flex head ratchet comes to mind.

As for breaking sockets, I've broken a 3/8" Craftsman socket here and there, but that was likely more on me than it was the tool. If I run into a situation where a 3/8" bar won't cut it, I move up to a 1/2" drive bar and socket.

Best of luck with whichever breaker bar you choose.

 

[richfinn]

I tried to cheap out on my 3/8 breaker bar, the Snap On is just the best way to go as the head dimensions are slightly smaller and more compact and give more access when working on front wheel drive cars, in this case it's worth the money if you work on cars IMHO.

 

[Stooge]

I bought 2 craftsmans, a 3/8 and a 1/2 probably about 10yrs ago. The 3/8 might as well still be in the packaging, the 1/2 on the other hand is used all the time, takes all the abuse and is still my go to for lugnuts when im not at a shop for an impact gun, honestly other than a few 3/8 chrome sockets, the only craftsman in my regular use.
When my fll80 gets delivered, the i guess that will be my new "breaker bar"

 

[signcrafter]

Well I searched here and other forums for breaker bar discussions, and it seems like many people just do not use 3/8" breaker bars too often. Just like many in your thread.

Everyone keeps saying "get a flex head ratchet". And I'm sure modern ratchets can keep up with the torque, but I'm still young (relatively speaking at 25) and believe the whole "use the right tool for the job". Hence looking for a longer breaker bar over a ratchet.

Undoing the cylinder head bolts of a Fiat 1.4L engine this past week, made me decide I need a way to break them loose properly. I can do 100+ ftlb's for wheel nuts etc with a torque wrench no problem but getting those loosened off was a mission and a half.

Dimitri

A 3/8" flex head ratchet will spread before a breaker bar. Like I said above I was using my snap on flex head ratchet the other day and I could see it was starting to be to much for it so I stopped and went and got my snap on breaker bar. Put a 2ft cheater on it and broke the nut loose. It doesn't get used much but when it does it's a life saver. I should have used 1/2" drive tools but there wasn't the clearance to get a 1/2" ratchet or breaker bar in there.

Have you checked ebay? That's where I got my snap on breaker bar for fairly cheap. The 1/2" bars go for good money but since not a lot of people use the 3/8" breaker bars they are fairly cheap.

 

[Dimitri]

Have you checked ebay? That's where I got my snap on breaker bar for fairly cheap.

I'm currently a student doing a co-op apprenticeship at a college. So I hear we get good discounts (50% IIRC), so for a $50 tool paying $25 or so means I'd just be paying shipping using ebay.

Dimitri

 

[Coach James]

I have a 8" King Tony that I got at Agri-Supply. Used it many times and no problems.

Coach

 

[signcrafter]

I'm currently a student doing a co-op apprenticeship at a college. So I hear we get good discounts (50% IIRC), so for a $50 tool paying $25 or so means I'd just be paying shipping using ebay.

Dimitri

Now I'm really confused. You can get a snap on breaker bar for 25 dollars and you are questioning which one to get? If you get 1/2 off snap on just get the snap on, one of the best and great warranty. Snap on full price is questionable sometimes but half off snap on isn't even worth asking yourself. Like I said, I put a 2ft cheater bar on my 10" snap on 3/8" breaker bar yesterday and it held up just fine.

 

[Super Sport]

I hunted for a USA-made long-handle 3/8" breaker for quite some time. The only one anybody knew of was the 15" Matco posted already.

Harbor Freight has one that is 17" long, and costs around $9 before coupons. It's imported (one of the few imported hand tools in my box), but it has become one of my favorites. Since most of what I use is 3/8 stuff, it was easiest for me to use a 3/8 breaker too. I broke a few 1/2-3/8 adapters using 1/2 breakers, and didn't want to keep doing that.

Here's the link for the HF: http://www.harborfreight.com/38-drive-17-breaker-bar-67931.html

 

[Dimitri]

Now I'm really confused.

Cheapest isn't always better. Nor is the most expensive one always better. Price rarely determines how good something is on its own. Hence still needing to ask for advice.

Dimitri

 

[signcrafter]

I hunted for a USA-made long-handle 3/8" breaker for quite some time. The only one anybody knew of was the 15" Matco posted already.

Matco was the only USA made breaker bar you could find? There are a handful of US made breaker bars out there.

Cheapest isn't always better. Nor is the most expensive one always better. Price rarely determines how good something is on its own. Hence still needing to ask for advice.

Dimitri

I agree with you totally. I never buy anything based off price only. But I can say the snap on is great, 2ft cheater bar on it great, and when you can get it for half off it's really great!

 

[kapster]

I bought a snap on years ago and have used it maybe 5 times. Only when there isn't enough room for a ratchet or when turning a motorcycle over to put it on tdc, so it doesn't roll past. When you have a flex head ratchet that's way longer and you can use as a speeder, the breaker isn't very appealing.

It's something everyone should probably have but I wouldn't spend a lot on one like i did. Just my opinion

 

[Super Sport]

Matco was the only USA made breaker bar you could find? There are a handful of US made breaker bars out there.

You missed the long-handled part.

 

[MPOWERD]

I have a newer Craftsman USA made and a Duratest from Chief's Autoparts that I bought in 1997. Surprisingly it has held up very well and does the job with no issues.

 

[ChevyEFI]

So I'm in the market for a 3/8" breaker bar (I don't own one at all), and I was wondering what would you recommend>

Skip the 10" or 11" ones and go 15" or longer.

 

[BB70]

I'm with Murphy on what I use mine for, 90% of the time for controlling camshafts. John