Finally Broke a Snap-On Tool

[Turbo_Prop]

Broke this a couple nights ago. The piece is a harley lower rocker box that I just picked up from the powder coating shop. Was chasing the threads in the various threaded. WD40 was used to lube the tool and I was using a short 1/4" drive ratchet. Very little resistance was felt at the ratchet when it broke.

Getting it out was allot fun. I could probably still run it the way it is but some of the threads near the top of the hole are sort of loose. Going to put a Time-Sert in it, just because I have the tooling a some inserts left over from a previous event.

Local Snap-On dealer has already ordered me a replacement under warranty. I understand this tool is made by another company and is re-labeled for several companies and sold for much less. My brief internet search last night came up short for a source for a single thread chaser, except for Snap-On.

Anyways, I have an engine to build.

Turboprop

 

[joel63]

What is the part number?

 

[bobcatdan]

That took effort to break a rethreader.

 

[tjmonsen5]

Yea im surprised, you are not normally putting much torque on those at all, probably not even 1 foot pound. Must be a manufacturing defect.

 

[kiatech]

Remember kids, this is why you don't buy cheap tools

 

[Tarheelgarage]

I guess that Chinese pot metal isn't working like snappy expected....

 

[cassidy]

I have broken as many snap on tools as any other brands I have used.

 

[Hiball]

I understand this tool is made by another company and is re-labeled for several companies and sold for much less. My brief internet search last night came up short for a source for a single thread chaser, except for Snap-On.

I guess your fortunate that it was Sold by Snap on, The OEM is Kastar who is a subsidiary of Lang. I say fortunate as I don't think they are warrantable items "Currently" when you buy the Craftsman set or the Kastar set, which is the one I have.

 

[fatfillup]

Don't know that it would have made a difference in this case, but you should use cutting oil when threading and chasing threads. Right tool for the job so to speak.

Glad you got the old one out. That can be a bear for sure.

 

[jmm]

I guess your fortunate that it was Sold by Snap on, The OEM is Kastar who is a subsidiary of Lang. I say fortunate as I don't think they are warrantable items "Currently" when you buy the Craftsman set or the Kastar set, which is the one I have.

Hiball, when did you buy yours? My 48 pc set, only a few years old, has the 'Guaranteed Forever' icon stamped on the label. Unless they changed policy, the Craftsman/Kastar rethreaders are covered.

 

[ffjosh]

Those are easy to break no matter what brand...normally its user error

 

[Steinmetz]

Next time, avoid applying flexural stresses to the tool while you are applying a torque.

 

[scaron]

contrary to popular belief, WD-40 is _not_ a very good lubricant. the product is intended to be used as a water disperser and degreaser. perhaps using a cutting oil instead may have helped?

 

[zkling]

Next time, avoid applying flexural stresses to the tool while you are applying a torque.

Did you quote Shigley on that? I totally agree. I usually use a tap handle or the like for these, much more balanced.

contrary to popular belief, WD-40 is _not_ a very good lubricant. the product is intended to be used as a water disperser and degreaser. perhaps using a cutting oil instead may have helped?

It actually works really well as a cutting fluid for aluminum. One of its very few helpful uses. Now the lubricant part I agree with you on.

 

[warmpancakes]

It actually works really well as a cutting fluid for aluminum. One of its very few helpful uses. Now the lubricant part I agree with you on.

retreaders are the only thing I use speed wrenches for

 

[zkling]

retreaders are the only thing I use speed wrenches for

I'm sorry, I don't follow.

 

[CudaChick1968]

That *****! Reminds me of those old cartoons "You don't know your own strength!!!"

But from a totally professional standpoint, you should choose a powder coater who uses silicone plugs and protects the threads in the first place so you wouldn't HAVE to chase them with a rethreader. My guys take their stuff out of the box, drool over it for a couple minutes and then install it without issue. I'd love an opportunity to earn your business next time.

 

[Hiball]

Hiball, when did you buy yours? My 48 pc set, only a few years old, has the 'Guaranteed Forever' icon stamped on the label. Unless they changed policy, the Craftsman/Kastar rethreaders are covered.

I believe there is a thread floating around here showing that the New sears branded sets are no longer warranted. I'll see if I can find it later as I'm elbow deep in removing a 6.9 Diesel engine.

 

[zkling]

But from a totally professional standpoint, you should choose a powder coater who uses silicone plugs and protects the threads in the first place so you wouldn't HAVE to chase them with a rethreader.

Woa hold on, that is a wild idea. Holding others to your standards is probably a real eye opener for you?

Back at school we got our FSAE chassis power coated. It had some precision ground rods and precise bores for needle bearings for the suspension components. They were blind press fits and a royal PITA to remove so we thought it wouldn't be a problem to leave them in there. I asked should we mask and plug or will the coater take care of that? O no problem that is the coaters responsibility I was told. Well guess what? Everything came back frosted, mostly coated. They blasted, masked and plugged THEN coated. So all the nice ground rods and bores were of blasted finish.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Did you quote Shigley on that? I totally agree. I usually use a tap handle or the like for these, much more balanced.








yep, tee bar or tap handle

 

[Fordman7795]

Hiball, when did you buy yours? My 48 pc set, only a few years old, has the 'Guaranteed Forever' icon stamped on the label. Unless they changed policy, the Craftsman/Kastar rethreaders are covered.

I dont have the craftsman one but I did look it over once. The outside of the case says guaranteed forever. The inside has a piece of paper that says taps and the such are not covered. I ended up getting the snapon set from my guy when I showed interest and he put it on sale for me. Plus him showing me he had a full stock of individual replacements swayed me.

 

[Steinmetz]

Did you quote Shigley on that? I totally agree. I usually use a tap handle or the like for these, much more balanced.



It actually works really well as a cutting fluid for aluminum. One of its very few helpful uses. Now the lubricant part I agree with you on.

What I neglected to mention is that the tool fractured on a 45 deg. plane in accordance with failure theory. One of my old bosses was a fellow professor of Joe Shigley.

 

[CJKaz]

http://classes.mst.edu/ide120/lessons/torsion/fracture/index.html

 

[devoncoolman]

Apears to be broken because it was pushed on. Probably by accident. In my experience buy these from the tool trucks because they stand behind them. Where as the oem kastar does not.

 

[Turbo_Prop]

That *****! Reminds me of those old cartoons "You don't know your own strength!!!"

But from a totally professional standpoint, you should choose a powder coater who uses silicone plugs and protects the threads in the first place so you wouldn't HAVE to chase them with a rethreader. My guys take their stuff out of the box, drool over it for a couple minutes and then install it without issue. I'd love an opportunity to earn your business next time.

Thanks for the offer. The shop I use it right here in town and does really good work, even stays late for me to get over to his shop after work. I am pretty sure he uses silicone plugs for the paint portion. I think in this case it was soda left over in the threads from the prep process.

TP

 

[Turbo_Prop]

Not wanting to turn this into a lube debate. It was a chaser. The parts were chased prior to handing over to the powder coater. The chaser screwed into most of the holes with just my fingers. This one was just a couple of tight spots. Was really surprised it broke. The Snap On guy ordered another one for free, and turned around and offered me a deal on some cabinets. Go figure.

TP

 

[zkling]

What I neglected to mention is that the tool fractured on a 45 deg. plane in accordance with failure theory.

I would add to that... for brittle materials. It just caught me off guard. Here I was sitting back eating my lunch, thought I would read some relaxing GJ. Then boom, Steinmetz has to pull out the technical terms. I just glanced over at my copy of shingles and roark's and had to chuckle.

 

[Hootbro]

Hiball, when did you buy yours? My 48 pc set, only a few years old, has the 'Guaranteed Forever' icon stamped on the label. Unless they changed policy, the Craftsman/Kastar rethreaders are covered.

The one I bought about 8 months ago, had a paper slip inside saying the warranty was not lifetime anymore.

Since Craftsman does not sell single pieces, I suspect when you go to warranty yours and show your box cover with the "Forever" icon, they will probably courtesy warranty your set with a new set and they you are stuck with no more forever warranty.

 

[CudaChick1968]

Woa hold on, that is a wild idea. Holding others to your standards is probably a real eye opener for you?

Back at school we got our FSAE chassis power coated. It had some precision ground rods and precise bores for needle bearings for the suspension components. They were blind press fits and a royal PITA to remove so we thought it wouldn't be a problem to leave them in there. I asked should we mask and plug or will the coater take care of that? O no problem that is the coaters responsibility I was told. Well guess what? Everything came back frosted, mostly coated. They blasted, masked and plugged THEN coated. So all the nice ground rods and bores were of blasted finish.

I've heard many, many horror stories like yours and Turbo's over the years and every one of them truly pisses me off to no end. If the hundreds of start-ups adhered to my standards (as you put it lol), most of them might even still be in business. Too many people enter the industry clueless, have little or no knowledge of mechanics and how things work together, and practice on their customers' parts hoping to get it right. Or, even more likely, hoping the customers are less knowledgeable than they are and expecting they'll never notice the screw ups.

Thanks for the offer. The shop I use it right here in town and does really good work, even stays late for me to get over to his shop after work. I am pretty sure he uses silicone plugs for the paint portion. I think in this case it was soda left over in the threads from the prep process.

TP

As long as you're happy with the work and it stands the test of time, that's the thing that matters the most. But please keep in mind too that any powder coating job is only as good as the prep ... and if there's leftover media dust in your threads, it can also be assumed that the part wasn't cleaned well enough after it was blasted so there's leftovers underneath your cured powder too.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Hiball, when did you buy yours? My 48 pc set, only a few years old, has the 'Guaranteed Forever' icon stamped on the label. Unless they changed policy, the Craftsman/Kastar rethreaders are covered.

Mine is supposedly guaranteed forever according to the literature as well.

 

[Monkey Milk]

The one I bought about 8 months ago, had a paper slip inside saying the warranty was not lifetime anymore.

Since Craftsman does not sell single pieces, I suspect when you go to warranty yours and show your box cover with the "Forever" icon, they will probably courtesy warranty your set with a new set and they you are stuck with no more forever warranty.

Mine is two years old and had that paper inside, kinda threw me for a loop.

 

[Neverfly]

I've never broken a Snap On Tool- I've seen it done many times, though. Sometimes, it was obvious user error. Often enough, it wasn't.

Snap On is a lot like Kirby Vacuums. Independent dealers that are barely controlled. Touted as being rose flavored sewer water and price gouging you each way up from sideways. It's absurd. It's Bad Business. I've seen many broken Snap On tools; I've never in my life seen a broken Bonney.
Not that my anecdote is worth much as evidence... It is still the basis of my LOW opinion of Snap On.

The first time a dealer weaseled his way out of covering a warrantied ratchet of mine, I stopped buying from Snap On. As I walked off his little Tonka Truck, I could almost hear the gears in his head saying, "Oh well. Plenty of other suckers, out there."
Oh, I'll pick Snap On up at garage sales and the like, I'll use them til they no longer work. But I won't buy new. I do not trust them. Anymore than I trust Stanley.

Or Kirby.

 

[Fedwrench]

I would say you still haven't broken a snap on tool, since the rethreader isn't actually made by snap on.

Personally, I think taps, rethreaders, and drill bits are consumables but, that's just me.

Those kastar/Lang rethreader kits are sold by many as sets but, few stock the individual pieces.

Snap on tools do break and wear out. I remember several years back, I kept cracking 1/4 drive 8mm sockets when doing upper intakes. Must have been a bad batch as they stopped breaking after like 5 were replaced. Anyway, tools break and wear out regardless of whose name is on it.

 

[Hiball]

Hiball, when did you buy yours? My 48 pc set, only a few years old, has the 'Guaranteed Forever' icon stamped on the label. Unless they changed policy, the Craftsman/Kastar rethreaders are covered.

As others have stated, I believe Craftsman is Now considering these consumables and thus per there warranty statement and the Piece of paper they Include in the "Newer" sets. (see below) Its gonna be difficult to get them warranted, especially in cases where they don't carry Open stock, And to be honest I don't recall ever seeing open stock in any Sears store ive been in. I actually have the Kastar set, Not the Craftsman set, so I cant verify whats stamped but I recall reading that they had that stamp at one time, Whether that gives you any Rights to warranty.. Dunno.

 

[BlksnshN]

^So, does that case say "guaranteed forever" on the outside? If so, that's quite shady.

 

[Turbo_Prop]

I would say you still haven't broken a snap on tool, since the rethreader isn't actually made by snap on.

Personally, I think taps, rethreaders, and drill bits are consumables but, that's just me.

Those kastar/Lang rethreader kits are sold by many as sets but, few stock the individual pieces.

Snap on tools do break and wear out. I remember several years back, I kept cracking 1/4 drive 8mm sockets when doing upper intakes. Must have been a bad batch as they stopped breaking after like 5 were replaced. Anyway, tools break and wear out regardless of whose name is on it.

Well, I bought these off the Snap-On truck, the case says Snap-On all over it, and the local dealer has already replaced the tool. Will add that I didnt ask him to warranty it, I asked to buy a replacement. His response was absolutely not as they were under warranty.

Will also add that I was not in any rush when this happened and everything is surgically clean as I am building this bike inside my pool house. I am pretty meticulous, everything gets mocked up several times, fitted, ARP hardware. Typical session is maybe an hour or so. Think building a ship in a bottle.

 

[joel63]

I would say you still haven't broken a snap on tool, since the rethreader isn't actually made by snap on.

Personally, I think taps, rethreaders, and drill bits are consumables but, that's just me.

Those kastar/Lang rethreader kits are sold by many as sets but, few stock the individual pieces.

Snap on tools do break and wear out. I remember several years back, I kept cracking 1/4 drive 8mm sockets when doing upper intakes. Must have been a bad batch as they stopped breaking after like 5 were replaced. Anyway, tools break and wear out regardless of whose name is on it.

It couldn't be said any better.

 

[czgunner]

So in Sears' infinite wisdom, you break one, they don't carry open stock... where do they get a new one to sell you?

 

[Fedwrench]

So in Sears' infinite wisdom, you break one, they don't carry open stock... where do they get a new one to sell you?

they don't. you buy one from a snap on dealer.

 

[czgunner]

they don't. you buy one from a snap on dealer.

I thought as much.
Mine says Cornwell, and they warranty them w/out issue.