Buying used breaker bar
- Thread starter bchee
- Start date
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Yep. Snap-on ones last forever. 
chammyman
Well-known member
it'll be fine, chacked theres no cracks etc on it, if its got an allen bolt make sure its tight at the head or if its a pin make sure its not walking out.
kf4zht
Well-known member
It's fairly easy to tell when used tools have been abused. I have a used version of just about any type of tool and have never had an issue unless I bought it needing repairs.
I suppose there could be a hairline crack that might shatter on you, I would just look for signs that it was beat with a hammer or that a cheaterbar was used.
I suppose there could be a hairline crack that might shatter on you, I would just look for signs that it was beat with a hammer or that a cheaterbar was used.
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Come to think of it, two of my three breaker bars are used. Along with ~90% of my Snap-on stuff. Nothing wrong with used tools, so long as they're not abused. 
Uncle Buck
Banned
I have bought several used through the years from 1/4-3/4 drive and have never gotten a bad one yet.
paramudduck
Well-known member
I have yet to have a problem with a preowned breaker bar. As long as it's a well made brand they seem to last forever.
(Unless you place it on the end loader bucket and lift to break a bolt loose on the dozer you are working on.)
(Unless you place it on the end loader bucket and lift to break a bolt loose on the dozer you are working on.)
Man, you sound like you've had some interesting experiences to say the least. I wish I had more cool stories to tell.
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
I've had good luck with most of my eBay stuff. Pic an auction with good pictures, or i can PM you when i come across them from sellers i've bought form with good results.
My favourite is bracing the bar against the ground and rocking a car back and forth gently to break wheel bolts and hub nuts loose. I've seen it go wrong a few times too!
paramudduck
Well-known member
Thirty years of working with a lot of idiots. I went to get a part and the "boss" on the job decided to try and rush.
I came back to a loader with half of a Snap on breaker bar through it. We never did figure where the other half disappeared to.
I worked 3 12's as a nurse then moonlighted in construction and farm equipment repairs.
I came back to a loader with half of a Snap on breaker bar through it. We never did figure where the other half disappeared to.
I worked 3 12's as a nurse then moonlighted in construction and farm equipment repairs.
billymade
Well-known member
Get a good deal on a Snapon and it will be the last one you buy; unless you lose it! I don't recommend the Craftsman breaker bars.... they "break" too easily!
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I've had good luck with most of my eBay stuff. Pic an auction with good pictures, or i can PM you when i come across them from sellers i've bought form with good results.
Thanks. I've been finding some decent stuff on ebay so far.
What's a good size, should i buy a 24" bar, or save some money and get the 15" bar and cheater pipe.
I already have 1/2" ratchets in 15" and 18".
Well, I have a 24" SO breaker only because I got it for $20. IMO, if I were you I would just get the 15" and use a cheater when necessary.
paramudduck
Well-known member
Go with the 24. Unless you work on Caravans or Lotus's
How did you manage that deal?
I don't know, I was at one of my usual pawn shops and I saw it behind the counter (it did not have the usual price label on it). I asked how much just for kicks, since I figured it was out of my budget. Anyway, the manager said "give me 20 bucks for it". I played it cool and said "ok, that sounds fair".
Jbullfrog
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Breaker bars only have 1 moving part, so there really isn't much to go wrong. As for what size, get the biggest one you can find for the least amount of money.
Blacknwhitepit
Well-known member
I have an 18" MAC I'll sell for $20 Plus S&H
-BWP
-BWP
eschoendorff
Well-known member
Not a MAC fan, but that's still a real nice breaker bar for $20!
Everybody hates on MAC stuff, but my 18" with the red hard handle has been awesome. I bought it new for 90 bucks but it was well worth it. I think MAC has the toughest out there but most will disagree and continue to swing from Snap-on's nuts.
I hope the speared breaker bar was related to the farm job and not the medical one...
paramudduck
Well-known member
It was a construction company. They managed to clog an injector on a dozer. Had one bolt we couldn't get out of a shield they had installed.
I sprayed it and went in for a new injector. (Call out was it wouldn't turn over)
Came back to a mess called the office on the radio and told them to send some one else out. Then had to convince them I wasn't kidding.
The one guy swore the half we couldn't find went by his ear sounding like a bullet.
Wilbilt I won't even start into the stories from the squads and ER's I don't think you guys would believe a 1/4 of the idiot stuff we saw.
Merkava is straight laced compared to a lot of these nuts!
I sprayed it and went in for a new injector. (Call out was it wouldn't turn over)
Came back to a mess called the office on the radio and told them to send some one else out. Then had to convince them I wasn't kidding.
The one guy swore the half we couldn't find went by his ear sounding like a bullet.
Wilbilt I won't even start into the stories from the squads and ER's I don't think you guys would believe a 1/4 of the idiot stuff we saw.
Merkava is straight laced compared to a lot of these nuts!
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eschoendorff
Well-known member
Yeah... maybe the ER stories are better left untold... 
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
speed bump
Well-known member
I want to hear!
Well, comparatively..
Trust me you don't want to hear those stories moose and if you do here them you will wish you could rip your eyes out and forget.