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Spudland_Dave

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Mar 12, 2010
Messages
3,025
Location
Maine
mtd240 said:
HF sells a dang good 1/2" breaker bar
Click to expand...

Same can be said of the 3/4" HF....

I've got a C-Man which I've bent a couple of times. So I bought a 3/4" HF one time when I went to see my brother (No HF stores here in ME). With the sole thought of "this will be my dedicated abuse bar...I've abused that HF Bar more then I care to admit...both the bar & Drive reducer/adapter set I got have suprised me. When/if it breaks, I wont cry, I'll buy another just like it.
 
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goodysgotacuda

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Jun 13, 2012
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668
Location
DFW
I own that Snap On one, have flat out abused it torquing a crush sleeve on an axle and using a floor jack against it..no problems.
 
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RickP330

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Apr 12, 2007
Messages
831
Location
Middle Island, NY
Hey guys,
Thanks for all the quick responses! I've had pleanty of C-man breaker bars and quite frankly I am tired of busting them, although I work alot less with them these days. I can't imagine HF being any better. It seems to me the Snap on version is only $25 or so more then others - I'll try a search for some threads here, thanks! Please keep the suggestions coming!
RP

BTW, I need a new set of 1/2" drive metric sockets. I would like a nice set also rather than HF sets. Any Ideas?
 
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bobcatdan

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Jan 4, 2011
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Location
Kaukauna,WI
SO would be my number one, but I have warmed up to matco also. I have a 24" matco that I have owned for years. It's drive is identical to a craftsman and has proven very weak to me. I have broke it a good number of time. Last time I broke it, I flagged down a matco truck to get it repaired. While on the truck, I notice the new 30" 1/2" breaker bar with a redeisgned head. Being a sucker for big tools, I bought and so far have been very impress with it's strenght and so far give it a :thumbup:
 
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mtd240

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Aug 6, 2012
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181
Location
Olney, MD
You could buy TEN of the HF bars for the snap-on price..and I bet 9 of them would never see use :p
 
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Steevo

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Aug 18, 2009
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43.49600, -112.04300
I have a good one that I bought at a Pep Boys auto store. Nowadays, I keep it in my truck with a socket that fits my lug nuts.
I will be buying a HF unit to put in the tool box.
I could not imagine spending over $100 for a simple 1/2" breaker bar.
 
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03protege

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Sep 13, 2012
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3,104
Location
Louisiana
I never trusted the HF while using it as directed, but the other day I used a 6ft cheater pipe on it and it held up fine. Still wish I would have spent a little extra on something better though. That 24" Proto posted above looks like the ticket.
 
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bcradio

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Jan 30, 2012
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Location
New Mexico
03protege said:
I never trusted the HF while using it as directed, but the other day I used a 6ft cheater pipe on it and it held up fine. Still wish I would have spent a little extra on something better though. That 24" Proto posted above looks like the ticket.
Click to expand...

c'mon it's only 9 bucks. get the other one if you want and have 2. I love my HF and have had zero problems with it. I see no need to get another except the 40" 3/4 drive breaker.
 
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Mickey O

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Oct 25, 2009
Messages
6,153
Location
Chicago, IL
Yeah, get the Harbor Freight one, just make sure you live close to the store. Pick up a few adapters while you're there they work as well as the break-er bars.


hf-breaker.jpg
 
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reyna14

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2010
Messages
136
Never had a problem any of the three HF breaker bars I own. Trying to break loose an axle nut on a Subaru, 24" HF bar with a handle from a jack on it and bouncing with all my weight on the end, no problem.
 
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Hobbit

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May 23, 2011
Messages
1,853
Location
Bama
I use an old yard sale Craftsman 1/2" Torque wrench as a breaker and it hasn't failed me in 30+ years.
 
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Dave.R

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Joined
Aug 31, 2011
Messages
383
Location
Grand Rapids MI
Sorry I didn't say, I don't like to seem like I'm brand pushing, just responding to your comment. Tekton. And this is the bar I'm talking about

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NPT5IK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I really like how the head wraps the bar, and I don't see many issues with them that aren't straight up abuse.

I'm not the warranty guy, but should you have a problem you can contact me on the GJ or [email protected]
 
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bcradio

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Jan 30, 2012
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New Mexico
Its also a good thing you can completely ignore the comment from Micky above. They don't even make that kind of breaker anymore.

He's showing his age, but he's good on google images. ;)
 
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thesilverone

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Jan 25, 2008
Messages
3,805
Location
Taxachusetts
Dave.R said:
Sorry I didn't say, I don't like to seem like I'm brand pushing, just responding to your comment. Tekton. And this is the bar I'm talking about

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NPT5IK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I really like how the head wraps the bar, and I don't see many issues with them that aren't straight up abuse.

I'm not the warranty guy, but should you have a problem you can contact me on the GJ or [email protected]
Click to expand...

That is the exact same as the HF bar, except over double the price.
 
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RickP330

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Apr 12, 2007
Messages
831
Location
Middle Island, NY
Oh man, great comments. I guess the HF wrench would get me out an immediate bind, but I would just like to have one good one and forget about it. I had a few C-man bars but when the last broke I gave up...
 
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bob15

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Dec 8, 2011
Messages
6,863
Location
Northeasten, CT
I have that same Snappy breaker bar. I've had it 15 years and never had any issue with it. Mine also wasn't treated nicely, working on farm equipment.

Skip the HF junk....seen them break too many times.....

bob
 
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camarotoolman

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Mar 12, 2011
Messages
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Location
cocoa Fl.
I'd buy a used 3/4" usa made ratchet. I sell em in the $50 to 60 range. Or take a good (I used a Wright or SK) usa 1/2 b. bar, cut off the handle where it gets thick, slide it in a3/4 pipe, weld in place. $5-10 for old BB.
 
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tjmonsen5

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Oct 14, 2009
Messages
1,341
Location
Crystal Lake IL
Ive honestly been using an ACE breaker bar 1/2 drive for over 8 years, never had a problem with it.
Ive bought a 24 inch soft handled snapon because the Ace was only 18 inches and I found i needed more leverage quite often. I dont like putting cheater pipes on my tools.
 
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bobcatdan

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Jan 4, 2011
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9,948
Location
Kaukauna,WI
The toughest "breaker" bar I ever saw was an old no name Japaness 1/2" ratchet welded tight. We used to break loose an Oliver OC 3 that was tight. We had filled the cyclinders with oil and let sit 2 weeks. Couldn't fit a 3/4" drive in there. Took the ratchet and 6' pipe and the three of us hung on it. Figured it break loose or kills us trying. The engine broke loose. Bent the handel 20 or so degrees, but the drive never snapped.
 
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