Check out this Snap-on ratchet spanner failure

[hautpot]

Not my picture, but look at how thin the spanner. is.

 

[General Geoff]

Some might say that breaking a stuck bolt loose with a ratcheting box wrench is tool abuse.

I'm not one of them, but you pays your money, and you takes your chances.

 

[MattVette89]

Any idea what caused it?

Does anyone have a first hand comparison of the old style vs the new style?

 

[hautpot]

I have both versions. The old versions I hear the failure is usually the switch. You see lots of busted ones on the switch. I rarely use either of them so I can't speak of long term durability, but I break bolts loose all the time with my ratcheting wrenches.

 

[SuperCat]

Possible causes of failure:
1. Pipe
2. Defective tool
3. Gorilla/Yeti
4. UFO/Space Aliens
5. Wafer thin mint
Not Safe For Work or mealtime:

 

[L.Cheapo]

Looks about the same thickness as the walls of a comparably sized socket? Plus it would have a ring inside.

With enough determination, you can break anything.

 

[Wamsutta]

Any idea what caused it?

cheater pipe

 

[Strouty]

I am willing to.bet any Snap On driver would be proud to warranty that. I actually just bought those and they feel great, they are also very thin, so I can see how it could happen.

 

[Fedwrench]

But it's only a 12 mm

I wouldn't be that surprised if it was like 18 mm but, 12 mm? there's no telling what people do with & to their tools though. I wonder if the screw creates a weak spot in the wrench.

 

[wrenchr]

But it's only a 12 mm

I wouldn't be that surprised if it was like 18 mm but, 12 mm? there's no telling what people do with & to their tools though. I wonder if the screw creates a weak spot in the wrench.

I wondered the same thing. 12 mm has me scratching my head.

 

[Teenager with old tools]

I wondered the same thing. 12 mm has me scratching my head.

Seized up exhaust bolts? But wouldn't those strip first?

Sent from my P027 using Tapatalk

 

[2oolhound]

Maybe the fastener was in a vise and this is part of a test. Without knowing the whole story it's a guessing game.

It stands to reason they made the 12 proportionately thinner for expected torque loads as an 18 so it shouldn't matter what size it is. They are thin for clearance.

 

[larry_g]

Got a stuck 14mm SHCS and the tool is slipped over the 12mm hex key for additional leverage? Tightening torque on a 14mm can exceed 100 ft/lb.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[dkroth]

Without knowing the whole story it's a guessing game.

Good for about 330 posts on GJ!



.

 

[dkroth]

Any idea what caused it?

Human error.




.

 

[Strouty]

The mechanism could have broken internally and become stuck, then they could have pushed the limits to see what it would take. Honestly, the way I use ratchet wrenches, I don't think I would ever have that problem.

 

[WittHay]

Probably a 12 point fastener on the driveline of a truck. The impact socket in the picture is 1/2 drive by 1/2" 12 point.

Now instead of using the socket, put the ratchet wrench on the bolt, and then double wrench with a strong guy pulling

The pictures are for a semi, but even a Ford F-150 uses a 12mm 12-point on the yoke

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Probably a 12 point fastener on the driveline of a truck. The impact socket in the picture is 1/2 drive by 1/2" 12 point.

Now instead of using the socket, put the ratchet wrench on the bolt, and then double wrench with a strong guy pulling

Even some of the rear wheel drive cars used the same driveline bolts, and spec was something like 80-90+ft/lbs (IIRC). Watched my bosses' teenage kid split his 3/8" SK socket with a cheater trying to get them loose on a 90s Mustang. I think he finally double wrenched it since 1/2" doesn't fit.

 

[Strouty]

On bolts like those I usually use a combo wrench and a soft faced dead blow hammer, that initial hit is usually enough to get them going.

 

[bobcatdan]

Bet it was a Ford driveshaft bolt. 12 point 12mm. Often in too tight of a spot for a socket so a box end wrench is the go to tool my 12mm Mac standard combo wrench is slightly bent from that job.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Bet it was a Ford driveshaft bolt. 12 point 12mm. Often in too tight of a spot for a socket so a box end wrench is the go to tool my 12mm Mac standard combo wrench is slightly bent from that job.

Get one of these

 

[bobcatdan]

Get one of these

Just pulled a t case on a F550 two days ago, that would never have fit.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Just pulled a t case on a F550 two days ago, that would never have fit.

If fits 95% of the time. If not I’ll use a chrome socket and a chrome swivel on an impact for clearance. The trick is to rotate the driveshaft until you have clearance

 

[Skin]

But it's only a 12 mm

I wouldn't be that surprised if it was like 18 mm but, 12 mm? there's no telling what people do with & to their tools though. I wonder if the screw creates a weak spot in the wrench.

Throw in some galvanic corrosion, rust, and maybe some galling for good measure. Many broken 12mm bolts just from doing brakes. If I were determined enough to use a ratcheting wrench in those scenarios I'm sure I could snap one. I've seen many extra long versions with either the inner or outer ring cracked in the Matco warranty pile too.

Great tool but the clearance of such a low profile has to come at a price.

 

[kb1982]

12 pt driveshaft bolts have killed a a few USA made Craftsman wrenches of mine. Those suckers can be tight.

Sent from my Z962BL using Tapatalk

 

[4x4gearhead]

I agree with a ford driveline bolt. I have broken more sockets on those, the 7/16 12 pts and especially the little 8/5/16 12 point bolts on fords and gms. When they are rusted in like they are in new england commonly. I think the bolts are just so hard that the socket is scared of them. Plenty of the sockets were snap on, and other high end brands.

 

[T45]

But it's only a 12 mm

The only SO ratcheting wrench I ever busted was a 12mm.

But i was using it to pursuade a heat-cycled pipe plug w/ 12mm internal hex (allen key/bit). This was a field-work situation and was working with limited set of tools (weight/space constrained).

BTW, Warranty was no problem.