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Breaker bar?

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bcradio

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Jan 30, 2012
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6,017
Location
New Mexico
jd_1138 said:
The HF ones are cheap and good. Buy some for your trunk too with a 19mm socket for your lug nuts. Way, way easier to break lugnuts with a 24" breaker bar than to use the crummy factory-provided tire tool.
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Who uses 19mm for their lugnuts? :headscrat

None of my 3 cars.
 
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Farmall450

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Dec 23, 2011
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13,356
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Marengo, Illinois
Wakefield said:
Any testimonials for the newer S*K breaker bars? I think the older pin style ones with plenty of metal below the ears had a good reputation,the newer ones have the axle bolt but less metal behind the ears (tapers down to handle diameter in less distance)

might check Farmall 450's thread on the harbor freight bar
www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=258973 if I got it right
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Dead on Wakefield.
If you're busy OP the consensus was
  • Taiwan > China in terms of flex
  • With the coupon it's a screaming deal
  • They're nearly unbreakable. You can throw a 6ft pipe on there and unless you're ripped, you probably aren't going to break it.
  • Should you break it HF has a hassle-free warranty.
 
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Bigblue&Goldie

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Mar 12, 2009
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AZ
owenst7 said:
I bought that proto bar from zoro. Not impressed with the quality. The holes in the handle for the hinge are egg shaped. The pin moves under load. The tool works fine and I'm not concerned about function, but that is sloppy craftsmanship and I expect more from Proto. I'd have been happy to pay more for it, had it turned out to be the quality I expect from them.
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I just went and checked mine, it's the exact same way. Out of curiosity, I checked my 18" Craftsman USA (new) and 18" double ended Wright USA (like new) and they were all the exact same. I don't think that's a manufacturing flaw as they all have the same properties.
 
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TonyCH

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Dec 12, 2011
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Finland
Bigblue&Goldie said:
I just went and checked mine, it's the exact same way. Out of curiosity, I checked my 18" Craftsman USA (new) and 18" double ended Wright USA (like new) and they were all the exact same. I don't think that's a manufacturing flaw as they all have the same properties.
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I just looked at my Williams hinged sockets and the hinge holes are also visibly like that and the pin moves under load. I also tried my S-O sockets of the same kind, their hinges are covered but they have the same free play the Williams do. Finally my brand new S-O 24" breaker bar: when I grip the 1/2" bit firmly and move it in-out it moves a fraction of a mm just like the sockets I mentioned above. There is no sideways play though.

So, I guess the tool designers know something we don't. ;)
 
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Bigblue&Goldie

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wjamyers said:
Why would you want to pay triple for something that does the exact same thing?
Sale: $12.99
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-drive-25-in-breaker-bar-67933.html

I bought this just in case. Haven't had to use it yet. Still looks brand new, which is pretty damn nice looking for "cheap chinese junk".
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Because when a breaker bar lets go there is usually a good probability for bodily harm. I got lucky when my HF broke, but it hurt my shoulder which has a torn rotator cuff. The $23 difference isn't missed and I look at it as cheap insurance. I don't cheap out when the difference in cost is less than a 30 pack. Everyone has a different view on premium vs cheap tools.
 
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BDT/NWMN

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Jan 22, 2012
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Erskine, Mn
wild cowboy said:
you need my 40" Persuador - then you will be Superman :lol:
(hope you bought the big monitor! - lol)

51nd1GwdTSL._SL1416_.jpg
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Very Tempting :drool:
 
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BDT/NWMN

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Jan 22, 2012
Messages
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Erskine, Mn
Bigblue&Goldie said:
I just went and checked mine, it's the exact same way. Out of curiosity, I checked my 18" Craftsman USA (new) and 18" double ended Wright USA (like new) and they were all the exact same. I don't think that's a manufacturing flaw as they all have the same properties.
Click to expand...



Just checked three new ProTo breaker bars,,,, same way.... Looks like a design intended to transfer the torque load to the main hinge components rather than over stress the pin..
 
OP
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yfz 450

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Dec 6, 2011
Messages
118
Location
N.Y.
I am not a mechanic but my buddy owned a shop and that was were I got most of my Matco tools from, his driver. I have since moved and don't know of any drivers in my area. I know it can be done online or over the phone but I just always liked doing it in person. I just figured on getting a breaker bar rather than breaking a ratchet I will have to wait for a while to be replaced. But it is sounding like the hf one is not a bad deal I will prob go check it out this weekend
 
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Ruger_556

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Dec 8, 2013
Messages
4,005
They're not oval on the Proto, look a bit closer... I have 2 of them, the fork is machined slightly larger than the pin diameter. What the reasoning is behind this I don't know. Maybe the difference between rotating on the pin and in the fork.
 
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1950mercury

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Mar 26, 2013
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metro detroit
I just broke a harbor frieght 1\2 bar taking a trailer hitch ball off. I had a 6ft pipe on it. It flexed real bad and snapped. So i than used 3/4 wright rachet with the same pipe it didnt flex at all and took i off easy. That flexing *****
 
L

Leadberry

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Apr 8, 2013
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Akron, OH
bcradio said:
Who uses 19mm for their lugnuts? :headscrat

None of my 3 cars.
Click to expand...

Almost all new American, Japanese, and Korean passenger cars use 19mm lugnuts. Toyota is the glaring exception.

Edit: I spent five years in a tire shop and the majority of cars that came through that place had 19mm lugnuts. Euro's had 17mm and Toyotas had 21mm. Domestic pickups are 22mm or 7/8". So yes, I would say most imports use 19mm. You can't really refute that based off of your 3 individual cars running a different size...
 
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wjamyers

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May 7, 2013
Messages
361
Location
Falls Church, VA, USA
Bigblue&Goldie said:
I got lucky when my HF broke, but it hurt my shoulder which has a torn rotator cuff. The $23 difference isn't missed and I look at it as cheap insurance. I don't cheap out when the difference in cost is less than a 30 pack. Everyone has a different view on premium vs cheap tools.
Click to expand...

1950mercury said:
I just broke a harbor frieght 1\2 bar taking a trailer hitch ball off. I had a 6ft pipe on it. It flexed real bad and snapped. So i than used 3/4 wright rachet with the same pipe it didnt flex at all and took i off easy. That flexing *****
Click to expand...



:eyecrazy:

dang... did you guys update the Pass/Fail thread? If you had, maybe I wouldn'ta bought mine. :sad:
 
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Mohawk Dave

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Oct 7, 2012
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SoCal
I didn't read all this ********, but I have a bunch of the HF 25" 1/2" Breaker bars and they are great. They flex but work.

So, I came across a Snap On 24" 1/2" Breaker Bar and I got that sucker to flex a whole lot on loosening (actually tightening a reverse thread...oops) 11/16" bolt on HK Porter #5 bolt cutters. (The HF was flexin all the same.)

So, then I came across a Snap On 3/4" drive 36" Handle, the breaker bar swivel, and the ratchet head. It does not flex. But it is a heavy SOB.

That being said, I still want to get the Titan/Tekton whatever it is 40" 3/4" breaker bar for $50 on Amazon....
 
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OutsideMachinist

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Apr 5, 2014
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Norfolk, VA
Yep I use the HF ones just fine. I wanna try the 40'' 3/4 ones I think Northen Tools is a Titan not sure. That said they arent as good quality as proto.
 
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Formula

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Oct 17, 2014
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824
I wanted a second 24" breaker bar to have at home and found a used snap on from ebay for $60 shipped.
 
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