Bent my Snappy Breaker-Bar....darn

[littletoes]

Doing suspension work can be hard on tools....

Here's the question guys, how much bend would you tolerate in a tool before you warranty it???

I put a slight bend in my 24" Snappy bar.....and it's driving me crazy. It wants to "flip" slightly when I use it now, and it's not that much of a bend.

I've never put a "cheater" on it, nor any of my wrenches....just something I won't do. If it's too hard, I'll "up" to my 3/4" breaker bar and try that next, and if it still won't go, I'll borrow my friends 1" with the four foot arm.

Here's another question (for any dealers out there!!!)!

Would you think the Dealer would mind pro-rating this bar, and allowing me to up-grade to the Snappy 36" bar??? 1/2" drive of course.

I'd like a little more "umph!".

Thanks Guys!!

 

[tbaggz]

Warranty it but keep it and buy the 36".both have legit uses.I upgraded and then needed my trusty 24
and had to rebuy it.

 

[Zeke]

Would you think the Dealer would mind pro-rating this bar, and allowing me to up-grade to the Snappy 36" bar??? 1/2" drive of course.

Why, so you can bend it 33% easier? Jeez, man, you must be some kind of gorilla. Bend it back!

 

[littletoes]

Actually, I'm a "smallish" kind of guy....5'10" 175....was surprised I bent it. Of course, I feel small 'cause I work with a bunch of Norwegian's!

There are some true GIANTS out there! Couple of the boiler guys I work with/around are getting very close to 7 feet tall....and the size of their dang feet....was just telling one of 'em "Hey....I think I saw your foot-prints in the woods once! Why'd you take your shoes off....??"

 

[racer-john]

I broke a Snap-On extension, and the dealer looked at me kind of funny, but replaced it.

 

[warmpancakes]

if its bent warranty it, the 36 was just on 119 special 2 weeks ago

 

[basspro]

Honestly, you auto guys use your breaker bars much differently than us machine guys do. I understand what you are doing with it, but I would jump to the next drive size. I tried a HF 24" bar for a couple of days at work and it was way too long and cumbersome for how I use it, granted I use them as speeders on a machine, much faster than a ratchet 90% of the time, especially when you are making quick adjustments, hard to explain and I know your needs are different than mine. I would just get a 2 footer in 3/4 drive, then you wont be bending anything in you drive tool, just snapping bolts, lol. Just trying to point in the right direction here. Id get an 18" 1/2 drive bar, I doubt you will bend that without a pipe.

 

[Flivver250]

It bent, have it replaced. You paid the premium price for that warranty. I used 3/8th and 1/2 inch all of my short career as a wrench. Added 3/4 a couple years ago. Never bent my Snap-On and I leaned into it plenty of times, no cheater. Keep it and get bigger. There is a place for every tool.

 

[redwrench60]

Put it in a press and straighten it.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I sure wish Armstrong made a 24" breaker. I would even break down and buy a Craftsman BB if it was 24" !

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

It bent, have it replaced. You paid the premium price for that warranty.

Exaclty, that's why you paid so much for the Snap On name.

 

[bart1]

Get it replaced. At least it didn't snap and injure you.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Like others have said, warranty it. You pay for Snap-On for just that reason. If I bent one of my ancient Plomb or Proto breakers, they'd be going into a press though

 

[littletoes]

Pics or it didn't happen.

Really??? You don't believe me??? sheesh.....why would a guy make something like that up?

 

[bobcatdan]

Put it in a press and straighten it.

No! SO will replace it no questions asked. It failed, it is warranty.

 

[devoncoolman]

Turn it in. Get a replacement. Simple as that.

 

[mechan]

No! SO will replace it no questions asked. It failed, it is warranty.

After you get the stink eye and a stern talking to about cheater bars! hehe

 

[tweedlestan]

At least it didn't Snap off.

 

[devoncoolman]

My dealer wouldnt even ask. But mainly because he knows i have bigger tools so if it bent i did it with my hand not a pipe.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Really??? You don't believe me??? sheesh.....why would a guy make something like that up?

I was just messing with you. I wouldn't mind seeing pics of the damage.

 

[humber2]

Put it in a press and straighten it.

Take it to a Uri Geller show.

 

[Jon Bon]

Take it to a Uri Geller show.

Fantastic!

 

[littletoes]

I was just messing with you. I wouldn't mind seeing pics of the damage.

I get it! And even more! I understand it!!

I should have taken a pic....but I have the new 36" one (since I already have an 18"), I wanted something with a bit more turning power.

Had to break off some 5/8" bolts that wouldn't move.....didn't have either bar with me, I was in the field, and my bent 24 was awaiting the arrival of my Dealer back at the shop.

Glad I had my 24" ratchet, 1/2" drive (PROTO).

By the way, that 36 is a Beast! Love it!

 

[mikeselky85]

I have snap ons longest 12 drive flex head comfort grip ratchet. I use it allthe time o get stubborn bolts loose, I looked at it the other day and its starting to bend on the shaft a few degrees. I figure no biggie

 

[zkling]

One comment on the cheater pipe use, it can actually prevent the bar from bending, just make sure you slide it all the way up the handle so as much of the torque is transferred to the head as possible. Now you may brake the drive square or yoke, but at least you won't bend the handle. I keep a 6' section of pipe handy for those stubborn things like honda crank bolts. Exploded a few extensions, but have yet to bend the breaker bar

I sure wish Armstrong made a 24" breaker. I would even break down and buy a Craftsman BB if it was 24" !

Cough, there is always the HF 24"er, cough.

 

[tweedlestan]

Cough, there is always the HF 24"er, cough.

I have the Ampro version (two, in fact) and it will take a beating.

 

[zkling]

I have the Ampro version (two, in fact) and it will take a beating.

I'm no HF fan boy, but you just can't deny the deal factor on that one. I just wish it was knurled, but eh, at that price can't complain.

 

[Aquaticbob]

I keep a 6' section of pipe handy

The cheater bar is always the way to go in my opinion. Need that extra torque? Get the pipe. I've used a 7 foot section of pipe to work on mustang heads ranging from 1968-1996. Most recent was a 68 289 which has never had the heads taken off (130k miles on this sucker). The pipe was essential at the time for taking the head bolts out as I didn't have air tools at my disposal

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I'm no HF fan boy, but you just can't deny the deal factor on that one. I just wish it was knurled, but eh, at that price can't complain.

I'll never own a HF breaker bar or pry bar.......I broke a 1/2" 18" breaker with very little effort.

 

[zkling]

I'll never own a HF breaker bar or pry bar.......I broke a 1/2" 18" breaker with very little effort.

How?

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

How?

By hand trying to loosen a 17mm lug nut on my VW powered buggy.........I couldn't believe it. I think it might have been a fluke, but you can get a U.S. made Craftsman for $18 on ebay and not have to worry about it (FWIW, I'm not a Craftsman guy either).

As far as pry bars go; I don't trust Chinese steel or heat treating when I'm putting that much strain on something.

 

[tweedlestan]

As far as pry bars go; I don't trust Chinese steel or heat treating when I'm putting that much strain on something.

American steel can fail too.

 

[mechan]

American steel can fail too.

Lies! Blasphemy!

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

American steel can fail too.

True, but when a manufacturer and retailer can both make a profit on a 4 piece pry bar set for $9.99, I don't put a lot of faith in their quality.

 

[zkling]

By hand trying to loosen a 17mm lug nut on my VW powered buggy.........I couldn't believe it. I think it might have been a fluke, but you can get a U.S. made Craftsman for $18 on ebay and not have to worry about it (FWIW, I'm not a Craftsman guy either).

As far as pry bars go; I don't trust Chinese steel or heat treating when I'm putting that much strain on something.

How did it "break" as in what part failed, did the drive square shear off, did the handle fracture?

 

[jeremy v]

You could always put the breaker bar on Ebay and list it as a "rare half-moon breaker bar for hard to access areas" and then ask double the purchase price for it. Once it sells, go ahead and buy both the breaker bars you want brand new.

As a side note, I bought 2 of the 18" harbor freight breaker bars for about $8-9 each on sale around 2 years ago and they are still going strong after tire rotations and general use. I have 3/4" drive stuff that I use when needed, but the Harbor Freight breaker bars don't seem to me to be any weaker than other 1/2" breaker bars I have used (Plomb, Williams USA, Craftsman, Proto, etc). The handles do have more flex than some other bars I have used, but I prefer that because you can feel by hand when the springiness of the bar is about done and you are entering into the realm of actually permanently bending the bar if you pull any harder. Something like the Craftsman bars I have used do not have that. They are tempered very hard, so there is not much feel or flex to the bar. It makes me a little nervous when pulling really hard on something like a Craftsman bar, because I am never quite sure how close I am to the snapping point. That being said, I have never broken or bent any breaker bars.

 

[blair15951]

Sk sells a beefy 24" 1/2 drive.... knurled handle and all... American made...

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

How did it "break" as in what part failed, did the drive square shear off, did the handle fracture?

Yes, the square drive snapped, not the pin or handle.

Is the breaker bar you're claiming to have broken a HF model? It's not clear, because you say "you'll never own a HF breaker bar," but then you claim to have broken a breaker bar in response to someone recommending the HF unit.

The HF breaker bars are made in Taiwan, not China. They have generally quite good reviews.

I'm no HF lover or hater, but I realize they have some good items. If you broke a different brand of breaker bar, that's not really a justification for condemning the HF unit.

I have owned the HF unit and it seemed pretty decent for the price. My main breaker bar is an older Proto, but I don't use it that much. I generally use an impact instead of a breaker bar.

Yes, it was a HF.

Must have been a lemon. Decent breaker bars can be had for $20, which isn't a big investment in the scheme of life........ I spent $5 on a cup of coffee for the woman this morning to make her day.

 

[BajaBound]

I busted the heads off two 24" HF breaker bars but I was standing on them and I am 210. Warranty that sucker!