Anyone regularly use a 1/4" breaker bar?

[Joelfke]

What are they used for? Usually bolts that you would need 1/4" sockets for are in the interior of a car and aren't rusted up or anything, nor do they have a high torque. So what would you need it for, that you couldn't up the socket size to 3/8?

 

[Uncle Buck]

I have several and I have never used one, not even once that I can ever recall.

 

[stevejh82]

I use them to break loose carburetor intake bolts on small engines (briggs, kohler, tecumseh, etc.), there is not much room for a larger extention size and/or adaptor.

 

[GreyOwl]

I have two and keep the correct sockets for my brake bleeder screws on them. That is all I use them for.

Charles

 

[-B-]

Under the dash of a Chrysler 300 h that is the last time 1989.

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

I used one the other day. We have some of the DOT high way paint trucks in getting new arrow boards on them, the wiring harnesses have to be ran into the turret were the guy spraying the paint nests. Every thing is little machine screws and they put them in with an air gun at the factory i think, 3/8 BB is to long around all the circuit boards so 1/4 is nice and short. You can out more beef on then then a ratchet and not worry if you are pushing to hard on your 80 tooth

Moral of this, to keep it sort i like them for that little extra meat in small areas.

 

[walrus]

I use them in the top of a 1/4 nut driver for extra leverage.

 

[bchee]

I wonder the same thing. I don't have one.

 

[Joelfke]

i saw a snapon one at a recent swap meet and i was going to get it, but i couldnt figure out why id need it

 

[48548]

I have a few snap on, proto's, but never used with one, as I like my swivel head, snap on ratchet which is longer or my snap on 1/4 speeder.

 

[Uncle Buck]

i saw a snapon one at a recent swap meet and i was going to get it, but i couldnt figure out why id need it

I don't know, how much was it? That can sometimes be the deciding factor. One thing is for sure, you never will know if the tool you pass on might have been usefull down the road unless you buy it. If you never had it you might not miss it, then again it could set in your box for years and then one day turn out to be the one tool that saves your ***! If the tool is priced where you think you could trade it or sell it for the initial amount you paid for it then go for it. That way you always have a plan B.

It is rare that any tool I ever buy gets sold or traded, even the duplicates.

 

[Joelfke]

I don't know, how much was it? That can sometimes be the deciding factor. One thing is for sure, you never will know if the tool you pass on might have been usefull down the road unless you buy it. If you never had it you might not miss it, then again it could set in your box for years and then one day turn out to be the one tool that saves your ***! If the tool is priced where you think you could trade it or sell it for the initial amount you paid for it then go for it. That way you always have a plan B.

It is rare that any tool I ever buy gets sold or traded, even the duplicates.

$25 was the price...he wanted 35...

 

[jjkrjh]

I use one for removing the retaining bolt for the center pin on GM 10 bolt diffs.

 

[Uncle Buck]

$25 was the price...he wanted 35...

To damned high. I never paid more than 2-5 dollars for any 1/4" break bar I ever bought. I think I gave $2 for my shiny Snap-on one at a garage sale. When you spend less than $5 and more like $3 you won't care if you ever use it will you? That is why I don't care if I ever use mine.

 

[Joelfke]

To damned high. I never paid more than 2-5 dollars for any 1/4" break bar I ever bought. I think I gave $2 for my shiny Snap-on one at a garage sale. When you spend less than $5 and more like $3 you won't care if you ever use it will you? That is why I don't care if I ever use mine.

i thought it was a bit high haha...if i saw a snapon ANYTHING for $2-5 its getting purchased whether i need it or not haha

 

[Stuey]

Nope, don't have one. I couldn't see any application in which I couldn't just choke up on a 3/8" breaker.

 

[Chris Adams]

I would like to have a 1/4 breaker bar, don't recall seeing one for sale, swap meet, or anywhere else. I'm sure the trucks sell them.
I have a sliding t-handle 1/4 inch that I use as a breaker bar sometimes but I would rather have the bar.

Why use it? Sometimes in electronics and small car bolts you really want total tactile sensation on breaking loose a bolt. My sliding t-handle bar lets me get torque that is very controllable.

 

[vjquan]

Craftsman has one for about $9. Don't really see a need for one though as it doesn't seem to offer any advantage over a 1/4" ratchet.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Craftsman has one for about $9. Don't really see a need for one though as it doesn't seem to offer any advantage over a 1/4" ratchet.

True, wait for a cheap used one for 2-3 bucks and buy that, then it will not matter if you ever use it!

 

[fourfeathers]

I actually have a nice long "*** toy handle" Kobalt that I put a Proto 1/4 drive ratcheting adapter on, and I use it occasionally.

 

[mkdive]

I actually have a nice long "*** toy handle" Kobalt

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

 

[LoneStarSA]

I use one all the time where I am dealing with small hardware (1/4" or less) where its a through bolt/screw and I can't get a wrench on the other side (counter bored hole). I use the breaker bar on one side with my 1/4" ratchet on the other. This is mainly done on assembly type of work.

 

[RRmech]

1/4" breaker bar?
I never even owned 1/4" drive tools at all, until very recently.
My 3/8" drive socket set went down to 5/16".
Anything smaller, my nut drivers could deal with.

Steve

 

[LoneStarSA]

1/4" breaker bar?
I never even owned 1/4" drive tools at all, until very recently.
My 3/8" drive socket set went down to 5/16".
Anything smaller, my nut drivers could deal with.

Steve

Sometimes the OD of the 3/8 sockets will not allow you to get to some fasteners. I primarily use 3/8" drive but there are just some hard to reach spots that require 1/4" drive socket clearance

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

A minor advantage of the breaker bar is that you can use it at 90 degrees for easy break away (or breakage...), then swing it upright and so easily and smoothly transition to using it as a nutdriver axially aligned with fastener to spin it off.

 

[HandyManny]

What are they used for? Usually bolts that you would need 1/4" sockets for are in the interior of a car and aren't rusted up or anything, nor do they have a high torque. So what would you need it for, that you couldn't up the socket size to 3/8?

Anything that is small enough for a 1/4 drive is usually small enough to use a nutdriver on. Usually! Exceptions do apply.

 

[Skyline]

Whenever I have to hold a bolt on one side of something and tighten a nut on the the other side, (or the reverse), a breaker bar is a good thing to use on one side. Very often it does make a difference if you tighten the bolt or the nut. For example, let's say you have a bolt that goes though sheet metal, and is tapped. You may have to hold the bolt head from turning, but you don't really want to torque down on it, you want the torque on the nut on the other side. A breaker bar is perfect. Sure, you can use a box wrench for the same purpose, but sometimes you can't get a wrench on something that a socket could work on. There is NO reason to use a 1/4" breaker bar for the added torque. I'm sure you can snap just about any bolt that a 1/4 ratchet would be used on with just a ratchet. The 1/4" breaker bar is just handy to have, and I've used mine occasionally.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I actually have a nice long "*** toy handle" Kobalt that I put a Proto 1/4 drive ratcheting adapter on, and I use it occasionally.

TMI man, TMI!

 

[Elroy]

Actually Elroy was under the strict impression that collection of matched sets was a mandatory goal:

Truth be known, Elroy has probably used his 1/4" breaker the most and the 3/8" the least.