Gear Puller Recommendation

[mike93lx]

I am looking to pickup a gear puller for general projects and maintenance around the house. Not special need, it just seems like a need for one comes up every once and a while and I make due with a hammer or prybar.

I am thinking about this tekton 3 piece set: TEKTON 5696 Gear Puller Set, 3-Piece

Any other recommendations around that price point ($20-40)? I don't want to deal with estate sales/craigslist, so I want something I can order online or buy at a local store (Advance Auto, Napa, Autozone, etc).

Thanks

 

[flushcut]

I have had good luck with Tractor Supply pullers what ever their brand is. I broke several of the Napa bought ones pulling the drive sprocket off of my skidsteer.

 

[B_Bimmer]

Buy used otc off ebay, a decent puller is worth it if you use it once. Cheap junk pullers bend and flex and will hurt you if used for anything other than tool box drawer art.

 

[md21722]

You can rent them free at the part stores.

 

[turfgnome]

Snap on and proto, after you try those everything else feels like a toy.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

I would check out used on eBay I scored a nice USA made NAPA branded puller in the case for less then $30 a while back. I have an OEM brand one, that was given to me, and it is pretty marginal.

 

[MJD1]

The OTC ratcheting pullers are nice. The best I have used are posi-lock pullers, but way over your budget. That style the OP posted is basically the same as HF , and are basically junk.I would look for used OTC, proto , craftsman or other used USA brands.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

Just found these pics of mine.



I also have this set from HF, and while is works, it's not that great. I assume the 3 jaw pullers are of similar "quality".

 

[mike93lx]

Thanks for the recommendations. I know i can borrow one at the auto parts store, but i don't want to go that route for a relatively inexpensive tool. I'll spend some time on ebay seeing what is out there.

 

[joecon]

OTC is the benchmark for pullers. They make them for a lot of other brands.
I have a proto 3 ton, 3 leg puller that is great.

 

[anndel]

I have OTC and Snap On. I've seen HF bend and break when my neighbor was working on his car. I ran home and loaned him my Snap On pullers and he ended up buying a set.

 

[Major Ramifications]

Posi Lock. WAY out of your price range, but cheap pullers ****.

 

[mlum6969]

you get what you pay for. get a better brand and it won't bend or break.

 

[M6erfan]

Does snap on make their own pullers, I thought they were rebranded OTC (or something)?

 

[Jeeper]

Does snap on make their own pullers, I thought they were rebranded OTC (or something)?

I think they make their own. They look much different than OTC. OTC does make the Matco ones. Few years ago I purchased an otc puller that was missing the screw. Ordered one from the Matco guy.

 

[Skin]

Does snap on make their own pullers, I thought they were rebranded OTC (or something)?

Im not exactly sure what the conditions of the contract are but they've been made exclusively for them by family owned Hydramec in NY for decades. You can get overstock direct on ebay every once in awhile but they're not discounted much comparative to SO list. Very good pullers but at that price range its also worth looking at posi-lock first. The cage presses the jaws in place so all you have to do is run the screw down without worrying about the jaws walking off.

Both are way better than anything OTC offers these days but its reflected in the price too.

 

[captaindiode]

I have a Craftsman 2 / 3 jaw puller that I really like. Model 46906. It has worked well restoring old tractors.

 

[M6erfan]

Im not exactly sure what the conditions of the contract are but they've been made exclusively for them by family owned Hydramec in NY for decades. You can get overstock direct on ebay every once in awhile but they're not discounted much comparative to SO list. Very good pullers but at that price range its also worth looking at posi-lock first. The cage presses the jaws in place so all you have to do is run the screw down without worrying about the jaws walking off.

Both are way better than anything OTC offers these days but its reflected in the price too.

Thanks for the info Skin, I musta been thinking OTC/Matco...

 

[disston]

I have Snap On and OTC pullers. Not trying to sound like I have a whole lot of pullers but I do have a variety of different sizes. Snap On is often bigger, either the thread or the arms, heavier duty. OTC is great but Snap On is just better. For what you need stick with OTC.

At this point stick with either one and don't get both. Puller parts are interchangeable so if you have Snap On pullers you are fine when you want to use a different screw or different arm on another puller. Same if you have OTC. But if you have a Snap On puller and want to put the OTC screw on it it won't fit.

Each company has pullers of different sizes and tonnage. the bigger the tons the larger the screw, the heavier the arms, ets. You can't mix most parts between sizes or tons and you can mix even less between different companies.

Part of it is done on purpose but they also have advantages sometimes. Really antique pullers can be fun but they usually have really big coarse threads to them and are less efficient than modern pullers with finer threads.

You are really only beginning in the search for the proper puller. Not only are there different companies, sizes and tons but the are different kinds of pullers. Will you need a screw puller or a slide hammer puller? A bolt puller, three arm or two arm?

I'm sorry but I can't come up with anything in your price range. When I think of pullers I can only think in hundreds, and hundreds, of dollars.

 

[disston]

....

 

[B_Bimmer]

Then there are hydraulic pullers... OTC has 17.5, 30, and 50 ton sets. Then instead of hundreds you're talking thousands, but the awesomeness increases by a comparable margin.

 

[doogdoog]

Aloha,
There are all kinds of pullers and brands and I have Proto, OTC, and Blackhawk. Since you are inquiring about ordinary pullers, I would get a 3 jaw and also a 2 jaw puller. Now it becomes what size puller and that depends on what you are going to do. You would probably have to get a bearing separator if you want to pull bearings. One thing that you have to remember is that pullers comes in all shapes and sizes and there is not one that fits all.

 

[WittHay]

OTC is a good brand to start with. It all depends on what your are doing. Sometimes the cheap discount puller will work. Other times you need a heating torch and the $500 Snap-on puller.

The other advantage to Snap-on is that parts are available for the pullers. The jaws can get worn or the pressure screw can get damaged

 

[BDT/NWMN]

If You buy that cheap set and attempt to use them in the manner that most of Us seasoned Professional Wrenchers have used pullers; You will learn first hand why SnapOn, ProTo, Posi-Lock, and good old OTC are among the ones We value...

Cheapo stuff may work for a lighter job or two. Other than that; I have found it to be good for tool box filler.. I have tried some of the bargain junk on specific jobs such a pulley removal puller sets, bearing separators, and two and three jaw pullers. Some of this junk was mine, and some belonged to host shops... I make it a point to try avoid using junk pullers at all. I have the good ones for most applications, and will continue to buy the good ones because I like stuff that lasts.... Lots of My money has been invested in quality pulling equipment; but the only money I wasted was on cheapo junk pullers similar to what You showed in Your OP.

 

[anurag1990]

begaspecialtools

https://static.begaspecialtools.com/images/Betex52.jpg

SKF pullers

Kukko

http://www.kukko.com/v_mediando_images/Konvertierungen/online-normal/13-hp-100_normal.png

 

[mike93lx]

Thanks everyone. I'll see if i can find a good deal on an OTC.

 

[MilwaukeeFish]

Just to throw this into the mix...

Hydramec also makes the pullers for Williams too. Most of the part numbers are even a direct cross reference to the Snap-On numbers. It's been some time since I priced them out, but I recall them being at least a third cheaper, to half the price of Snap-On. So that means one could mix and match between the two depending on the deals you can find on new and used for both.

--

 

[48548]

Proto....

 

[Dingleburry]

Posi Lock. WAY out of your price range, but cheap pullers ****.

I second posi lock.
Grab them 10/10 times. And something else only if those dont fit.

 

[willjogervais]

Not sure if this was stated already. Stay away with anything that doesn't have a fine thread. I have that set of tektons and I would give them to you. But I need a heavy duty set, not home use. Repeat, get something with a fine pitch thread. Fyi, i realize its out of the price range you wanted to spend, but my pullers of choice are snap on and otc. Maybe find something used? My .02

 

[crguy]

Posi Lock. WAY out of your price range, but cheap pullers ****.

Posi Lock pullers are the best. The cage prevents them from slipping off. All other pullers Will slip off.

 

[cja245]

we use posi lock at work. If I needed one at home, I would buy one those. 100% worth the price.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I have snap on pullers and also craftsman pullers.

 

[B_Bimmer]

Posi Lock pullers are the best. The cage prevents them from slipping off. All other pullers Will slip off.

Posi lock are indeed nice, but others do have mechanisms to prevent the puller from slipping off. Proto uses a cone which is simple, quick and less bulky, as well as easily switchable between two and three jaw as required. Snap on are sprung or have a screw depending on the size. If you have needed pullers at all you quickly learn that no one puller is the "best". Different ones work better than others all the time.

 

[pawnworld007]

Posi Lock. WAY out of your price range, but cheap pullers ****.

Can't believe I had to scroll through 8 posts to find the first Posi Lock. As Major said, expensive, but damn once I used one, I'll never use anything else.

 

[leadfoot415]

Posi Lock pullers are the best. The cage prevents them from slipping off. All other pullers Will slip off.

I agree. I have a model 104 that I scored on closeout from sears for like 40 bucks, and a model 108 for the extra big jobs. Looking to pick up a 106 sometime soon. Cant go wrong with a posi-lock.

 

[rnscustom]

Had good luck with the craftsman , they are fine thread , have put some serious pressure on them and havnt failed or twisted