Broke my 24" breaker bar

[M K]

Broke my snap on 24" breaker bar the other day. It's been over 12 years since I've done business with my old snap on dealer and now I live in a different area.

 

[rider9195]

What were you trying to get off?

 

[rshadd]

Man they're hard to break too.

 

[M K]

What were you trying to get off?

Spider lock nut on a snowmobile clutch. Taken many apart with it for years. Bought new clutch tools in 3/4 drive. Not going to use 1/2" drive on these jobs anymore.

Man they're hard to break too.

I was leaning on it pretty good when it broke.

 

[BD1]

Wow ! Should have bought a Harbor Freight one.

 

[FiendFX]

Wow ! Should have bought a Harbor Freight one.

^This. Mines still sturdy

 

[theoldwizard1]

Did you have a cheater on it or was that all your muscle ?

 

[M K]

No cheater. Just muscle/body weight. With as much as I've used it I never thought it would break.

 

[Burtonrider10022]

Wow ! Should have bought a Harbor Freight one.

Good point! I've yet to see a thread about breaking a 24" HF breaker bar!

 

[zakmartin]

Typical over-priced Snap-On garbage!

(snicker)

 

[Hiball]

Broke my snap on 24" breaker bar the other day. It's been over 12 years since I've done business with my old snap on dealer and now I live in a different area.

12 Years is a Pretty Good Run for a 24" Breaker Bar.. Especially one that has been Used. Id check with the local Dealer first, If for some Reason he balks.. Call Snap on or your Old Dealer and let them know the Predicament. Im sure they take care of you, Its only like a $10 dollar piece for a New Drive end.

 

[yost69]

Its only like a $10 dollar piece for a New Drive end.

My dealer told me they don't repair the pin style any longer. He handed me a new SN24C. They have a screw instead of the pin.

 

[Hiball]

My dealer told me they don't repair the pin style any longer. He handed me a new SN24C. They have a screw instead of the pin.

Even Better i suppose... Im not a fan of the Press Pin style, Especially if there is "any" spread in the Fork area, Which is completely feasible with a 24" Bar.

 

[Wakefield]

I would think that the fact that the handle didn't break speaks better of the tool than one where the handle or the fork/head of the handle fails before the drive square. Half inch thick steel can only be made so strong-I guess they need the same technology as the drive on the strongest airguns.

 

[Altec]

Amazing failure! Using a length of DOM I've gone as far as starting to lift a jeep up off the lift on a bolt using a 24" Snap-on bar! Thats a pinned style like yours.

Good point! I've yet to see a thread about breaking a 24" HF breaker bar!

You haven't looked then. Because of the reversed style of the head, one of the sides blows out.

 

[Hiball]

Good point! I've yet to see a thread about breaking a 24" HF breaker bar!

All tools Break.. Im fairly certain the OEM of the HF has no "Special" Properties that prevent Carnage. I suspect the Reason you dont see many HF broken tool threads is because as much as a Shitstorm a Broken Snap on tool brings, It would be Suicidal to show one. Ive been in the HF stores enough to see Broken tools, The average guy just goes and warrants it, Regardless of Brand. Its what a tool does.. Its destiny is complete a task or Die trying.

 

[Burtonrider10022]

You haven't looked then. Because of the reversed style of the head, one of the sides blows out.

 

[bsaint]

Good point! I've yet to see a thread about breaking a 24" HF breaker bar!

This site hasn't been around 12 years.

 

[mvptrukin]

SO doesn't show the repair kit ( pin style) available for the 24" breaker bar but shows it for the 18". I wonder if it will work on the 24". Also does anyone know if the screw style kit works on the older pin style breaker bars. BTW I have the regular 24" and the one with the 45° offset ( both pin style) and have abused them almost daily at work for 25+ years with no failures!

 

[03protege]

This site hasn't been around 12 years.

Will this site have to be around for 12 years before someone can post about a HF breaker bar breaking?

Also say Harbor Freight Breaker Bar Breaking five times as fast as you can.

 

[fordbroncodave]

yes as said above, the old pin style is no longer in production and instead replaced with a new breaker bar with a torx pin that you can tighten or loosen for slack.

nothing wrong with getting a new tool right?

 

[PT Doc]

No cheater. Just muscle/body weight. With as much as I've used it I never thought it would break.

I think the the more you use it the more likely it is to break.

 

[rmsg0040]

I would think that the fact that the handle didn't break speaks better of the tool than one where the handle or the fork/head of the handle fails before the drive square. Half inch thick steel can only be made so strong-I guess they need the same technology as the drive on the strongest airguns.

^^ this, plus 12 years

 

[warmpancakes]

Ive never broke one did bend one, on a hub bolt

 

[bimmerZ5]

well, hopefully no one got hurt right?

 

[bsaint]

Will this site have to be around for 12 years before someone can post about a HF breaker bar breaking?

Also say Harbor Freight Breaker Bar Breaking five times as fast as you can.

That's not my point. Just go back and really think about what I was getting at.

 

[M K]

Didn't mean to start a shitstorm over a broken snap on tool. I have a lot of different brands of tools and I've broken my fair share. I was just surprised it broke since it's served me quite well for over 15 years.

I suppose a new tool is a good thing. Now I just need to find a dealer in my area.

well, hopefully no one got hurt right?

Not hurt, the workbench stopped me when it broke

 

[diggerrick]

Wow ! Should have bought a Harbor Freight one.

LOL!

I have a 24" HF breaker bar, and while I have leaned on it pretty hard a few times without breaking, it's only a matter of time the way it flexes, but for less than $10 I won't complain. It's not nearly as beefy as the S-O bar the OP posted, and I'm sure it's not a superior alloy to the S-O.

 

[BD1]

LOL!

I have a 24" HF breaker bar, and while I have leaned on it pretty hard a few times without breaking, it's only a matter of time the way it flexes, but for less than $10 I won't complain. It's not nearly as beefy as the S-O bar the OP posted, and I'm sure it's not a superior alloy to the S-O.

It's a breaker bar, it's suppose to BREAK.

 

[theoldwizard1]

12 Years is a Pretty Good Run for a 24" Breaker Bar..

I got my Dad's Craftsman 1/2" breaker bar. Has to be over 60 years old. Been used with cheaters too. One of the few tools I got after he passed as the rest were picked through by neighbors.

Sometimes I wish there was a 36" Craftsman breaker bar.

 

[cheechi]

It's a breaker bar, it's suppose to BREAK.

So because it's a Snap-on, is it also supposed to Snap-off?

 

[Jarhead0408]

Also say Harbor Freight Breaker Bar Breaking five times as fast as you can.

Damn You! Tried it, didn't get too far!

To the OP,
Ever think maybe you've gained weight in 12 years??? (ducking!)
Just joking man!

Some tools you just HATE to break. Something solid like that leaves a hole in your heart when it goes.

 

[CWP1616L]

I seen a guy do that and clobbered himself in the face when the bar let go. The guy had a black eye and looked like he'd been in a fight. The breaker bar was a MAC.

 

[Steve_P]

I've bent the newer style 24" HF breaker bar and broken an older one. I'm sure plenty of others have also. I doubt you'll see too many threads about $10 tools failing, but it has been discussed here before.

 

[goodysgotacuda]

I figured mine would have broke yesterday. I have the same Snap On 1/2 breaker. I was crushing a crush sleeve on a differential, ~400-500ft/lb required and ended up having the breaker pegged against the ground and my floor jack turning my pinion holder. Did that several times, it's going to kill it..but damn it held up to flat out abuse yesterday.

 

[DoubleA]

I've broke my 24" SO breaker bar the same way. Mine is the newer screw style. It took me about five years of professional use before it let go. No big deal, a free repair kit and it's good to go again.

 

[fourtythree]

I got my Dad's Craftsman 1/2" breaker bar. Has to be over 60 years old. Been used with cheaters too. One of the few tools I got after he passed as the rest were picked through by neighbors.

Sometimes I wish there was a 36" Craftsman breaker bar.

The old Craftsman breaker bars are tough. I have one of my dads thats probably 30-40 years old. I've never seen a breaker bar that's as beefy as this thing.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I have a 1/2 Bonney breaker at work. its only 9" or so, I might weld a cheater on it and make it a 30".

 

[thightower]

Also broke my 24" snap on bar. Couldn't complain much though, it was roughly 20 years old. Its one of my tools that I feel naked without.

 

[Motor-Mechanic]

My 24" snap-on bar has seen 25 years of professional use so far without issue.