Had my first Gearwrench failure yesterday

[marcusicp]

I was using a Gearwrench 81119 1/4" drive wobble extension with a Gearwrench 81224 1/4 drive Roto Ratchet with a 10mm Snap-On shallow socket to remove two EGR valve bolts. As I applied torque to the ratchet it felt like the bolt head was about to twist off. It turns out it was the tip of the wobble extension twisting. This was the first time I have used this extension! I ended up borrowing a Snap-On wobble from a co-worker so I could remove the bolts and finish the job.

The tip isn't completely broken just twisted enough so that a socket won't go on smoothly and it won't allow a socket to wobble any longer. Instead a socket is now held very poorly at a crooked angle. The retaining ball is also pinched by the sides of the hole and has seized in the extension.

I received this 4 piece set of 1/4" drive wobble extensions from my girlfriend as part of my birthday gifts just days ago. I am sure they will warranty it for me but will the new one fail as well? I have bought a lot of Gearwrench stuff in the last few months and this is the first item I have been unhappy with but, I must say, it has me a little worried that it might be the first sign that I should have stuck with Snap-On.

 

[Mickey O]

Nothing new, I've read about a lot of GearWrench stuff breaking (just here alone), especially when you need it, luckily you had a coworker that was wise and bought quality USA made Snap-On so he could let you use it to complete your task. Hopefully you have learned a valuable lesson.

 

[mrholeshot]

EGR bolts are ususally very tight and the heads smaller than the normal bolt size bolt of it size due to clearance. Any tool will break so I wouldn't be really concerned. I've twisted the ends off some 3/8 Snap-On extentions. Wobble and regular

 

[mrholeshot]

Nothing new, I've read about a lot of GearWrench stuff breaking (just here alone), especially when you need it, luckily you had a coworker that was wise and bought quality USA made Snap-On so he could let you use it to complete your task. Hopefully you have learned a valuable lesson.

I have a set of S-K locking extentions I've owned since they came out around 94. They have been used to death and not a single failure. I've broken a good many Snap-On extentions and a truckload of Craftsman. Freind of mine has a set of Sunnex wobble extentions. made in Japan and tough, tough,tough.

 

[fatfillup]

Wobble extensions are weaker than their nonwobble cousins due to design. A little less metal is what allows the socket to wobble. I wouldn't condemn all GW due to one failure but If you are making a living with your tools, chose wisely those that will get stressed the most.

 

[MattT]

I am sure they will warranty it for me but will the new one fail as well? I have bought a lot of Gearwrench stuff in the last few months and this is the first item I have been unhappy with but, I must say, it has me a little worried that it might be the first sign that I should have stuck with Snap-On.

Sounds like it missed heat treatment. Test the other 3 and if they're OK get the bad one warrantied. If they fail go for a refund and buy SO.

 

[Fedwrench]

I have broken 1/4 drive wobble extensions from Snap on to SK. I think it's an issue of the design and how much torque you apply. I don't think it's an issue or a reflection of Gearwrench's quality. I've pretty much stopped using 1/4 drive wobble extensions because of it. Call their customer service number on Monday and a replacement will be on its way to you.

 

[plinker]

IMO, wobble extensions are not something to be used for any amount of torque unless theres no other option. I'd rather break it loose using an impact swivel and then use the extension to finish the job.

FWIW,
My wobbles are closeout S-O from ebay and a Craftsman branded S-K

 

[BWright]

I have a set of 3/8ths gearwrench wobble extensions and they ****. I haven't had any problem with them not being strong enough or anything structural, but the design *****. They don't engage any of my sockets well and the amount of wobble is pathetic compared to my SK wobble extensions. I'd venture to say it is less than 10 degrees.

 

[TireTracks]

Nothing new, I've read about a lot of GearWrench stuff breaking (just here alone), especially when you need it, luckily you had a coworker that was wise and bought quality USA made Snap-On so he could let you use it to complete your task. Hopefully you have learned a valuable lesson.

Uhhh, I've never seen many, if any other threads about gearwrench breaking.

 

[ATTappman]

I have a set of 3/8ths gearwrench wobble extensions and they ****. I haven't had any problem with them not being strong enough or anything structural, but the design *****. They don't engage any of my sockets well and the amount of wobble is pathetic compared to my SK wobble extensions. I'd venture to say it is less than 10 degrees.

+1. I don't think the wobble is even 5 degrees. It's indistinguishable from a loose fit.

I recently bought some Genius extensions that I like a lot better.

 

[jethro29]

why in the heck would you use a 1/4" ratchet and accessories for a job like that? no wonder it broke!

 

[Kev442]

Uhhh, I've never seen many, if any other threads about gearwrench breaking.

Although his comment sounds like something a troll would say, there have been several GW failure threads. GW is supposed to be equal or superior to Craftsman, so 1/4" failure does not surprise me. I too have bent a 3/8ths Craftsman to point of unusable. I doubt I would use 1/4" on an EGR, 3/8ths wobble would be tried first if tight.

 

[skeletonizer]

why in the heck would you use a 1/4" ratchet and accessories for a job like that? no wonder it broke!

X2? Ten characters

 

[Merkava_4]

I'm left wondering why a wobble extension was used and why in 1/4" drive?

 

[marcusicp]

It was in a VERY tight area! The only 10mm socket that would work was a 1/4 drive because of how close the valve was to the bolt heads. I wish I would have taken a picture but I didn't. Trust me it was a last resort thing and I tried 3/8" drive and even a standard 1/4" drive extension before I used the wobble.

 

[foul_ball]

I'm getting good usage out of my grey pneumatic 1/4 wobble extensions

 

[barney rubble]

I'm not busting your balls about the 1/4 drive choice as much as I think you where probably about to the limit of the drive size so failure does not really surprise me. With all the heat cycle changes that are involved with a EGR valve those thing as tight lots of times. JMO.

 

[Merkava_4]

It was in a VERY tight area! The only 10mm socket that would work was a 1/4 drive because of how close the valve was to the bolt heads. I wish I would have taken a picture but I didn't. Trust me it was a last resort thing and I tried 3/8" drive and even a standard 1/4" drive extension before I used the wobble.

In tight situations, I like to use long regular extensions and universal sockets; that usually always gets me in there.

 

[marcusicp]

In tight situations, I like to use long regular extensions and universal sockets; that usually always gets me in there.

There was no room for a universal. I tried that too in 1/4" drive. The valve was so large that the bolt heads were slightly covered by the valve and the universal socket was too long to fit. It's tough to explain but the only socket that I could get on it was a 1/4" drive and the only way I could turn it was with a wobble extension. I didn't have room to swing a wrench (even a stubby) but that would have been best.

Looking back I could have removed the intake manifold and removed the EGR valve with a wrench but that would have made a 1.8 hour job take me about 3 hours and I would have needed gaskets. Doing it the way I did took me about 1 hour and is what All Data said is the proper procedure.

 

[marcusicp]

I'm getting good usage out of my grey pneumatic 1/4 wobble extensions

I have some Gray Pneumatic impact sockets that I have beat the **** out of and haven't had a failure yet. Maybe I should give them a try.

 

[marcusicp]

Well, I called Gearwrench today and they are sending me a new one. If this one fails as easy as the first I am going to buy a set of Snap-On's to replace these and use these at home.