Harbor Freight Oring Kits

[Ole_Red]

Please do not buy these.

We have had two customers come in in the last 2 weeks with kits purchased at HF and every oring was undersized.

Sizes that should measure out to 0.070" cross section actually measure 0.050". Ones that should have a cross section of 0.210" measured in at 0.187" unbelievable.

As someone who sells orings for a living, I was completely shocked at the pisspoor quality and sizing. Just another case of, "you get what you pay for" I guess. /rant off

 

[Falcon67]

I keep one around for quick and dirty use. If it's important, I get a real Viton unit from somewhere.

 

[Lhorn]

Oh O-ring! You wrote it plain enough but for some reason I couldn't figure out what "oring" was (like it was a process or something) and had to google it. Brain fart.

 

[brownbagg]

yea but they are only 3 dollars, what do you expect for 3 dollars

 

[danfromsyr]

Do you sell $3 kits of O-rings in yoru shop?
I wouldn't be so shocked.. it is harbor disaster afterall. and yes I own 2 o-ring kits from them

Please do not buy these.

We have had two customers come in in the last 2 weeks with kits purchased at HF and every oring was undersized.

Sizes that should measure out to 0.070" cross section actually measure 0.050". Ones that should have a cross section of 0.210" measured in at 0.187" unbelievable.

As someone who sells orings for a living, I was completely shocked at the pisspoor quality and sizing. Just another case of, "you get what you pay for" I guess. /rant off

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

Oh O-ring! You wrote it plain enough but for some reason I couldn't figure out what "oring" was (like it was a process or something) and had to google it. Brain fart.

I thought Harbor Freight was now selling Onion Rings!

...now I'm hungry!



I too have a cheap HF O-ring set and yes they are all missmarked but they work for the junk I'm repairing around my house.

 

[chris142]

I needed an O-Ring one time so I wandered into our local Napa. The counter clown pulled out that HF O-ring kit! I said never mind and went to a place that specializes in O-Rings and such.

 

[cheechi]

I needed an O-Ring one time so I wandered into our local Napa. The counter clown pulled out that HF O-ring kit! I said never mind and went to a place that specializes in O-Rings and such.

The last kit we got from either advance or az (they're across the corner from each other hard to keep track) was basically identical to the HF set. Same with cotter pins, snap rings, etc. they may not be as poorly labeled/matched to size, but they're the same parts essentially.

 

[ZRX61]

Horrible Fright kits get used when it's not critical (like the bathroom sink plug etc)

Parker kits get used the rest of the time.

 

[lateracer]

Same with cotter pins, snap rings, etc. they may not be as poorly labeled/matched to size, but they're the same parts essentially.

I'm noticing more and more stuff @ big and medium sized stores (Lowe's, Autozone, etc.) is the same **** but with a slightly higher price. The HF stuff is considerably better and cheaper than their stuff in some cases.

Would be nice if there was some kind of DIY supply store that was like Target (better than Wal Mart, not as good as Williams Sonoma)...not that I have any complaints about visiting McMaster Carr in person.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I bought a kit a few months ago for 1 simple reason. It's to keep me from running to town in the middle of something for an emergency repair. One o-ring used and the kit will have paid for itself.

 

[bobscogin]

No matter how many sizes of o-rings you have, you never have the one you need, so the sizes don't really matter.

Bob

 

[goodspeed]

I bought the metric kit and have used one for a thermostat housing on one of my sportbikes.

Worked great, and, for the 3 bucks or whatever it was, it saved my ***.

 

[fivespdcat]

So, any suggestions on a good kit? I would love to have something around in a pinch.

 

[01ssreda4]

Horrible Fright kits get used when it's not critical (like the bathroom sink plug etc)

Exactly, be realistic about what you're buying.

 

[rlitman]

No matter how many sizes of o-rings you have, you never have the one you need, so the sizes don't really matter.

That's because you don't have the metric kit too.

 

[DekeT]

I'm noticing more and more stuff @ big and medium sized stores (Lowe's, Autozone, etc.) is the same **** but with a slightly higher price. The HF stuff is considerably better and cheaper than their stuff in some cases.

Would be nice if there was some kind of DIY supply store that was like Target (better than Wal Mart, not as good as Williams Sonoma)...not that I have any complaints about visiting McMaster Carr in person.

In the old days we called these hardware stores.

 

[STANIMAL]

I have never had a problem with their O-rings , but then again , important issues get OE or equivalent.

 

[Ole_Red]

Sorry for my above rant. I was just really frustrated by what I was seeing as of late.

If you have the ability to go to an actual O-ring House or Hydraulic Seals House, that is who I would trust. These guys specialize in these products and most likely(SHOULD) know where their product is coming from. I can't say the same for HF, AZ, Napa, etc.

 

[c_mccann]

Ole Red- Does your outfit sell a good quality oring kit? It would be a nice thing to have... I have a general one and it has paid for itelf over and over in the years- enough to buy a good quality one.

 

[oldtools808]

HF O-rings work, just need to compare size & not depend on the label.
But I don't think they are BUNA-N rated... so be careful on the use, may desolve in brake fluid or other chemicals, heat, etc...

 

[Ole_Red]

Ole Red- Does your outfit sell a good quality oring kit? It would be a nice thing to have... I have a general one and it has paid for itelf over and over in the years- enough to buy a good quality one.

What we sell looks almost identical to the HF Kit. Blue Hard Plastic case. As cheesy as it sounds, the difference is in the quality. I know where ours comes from. I know that the sizing is correct. I know ours is from an American based company. Each kit is checked upon arrival to make sure that everything is in order. Our standard kit? $25 ($20 for board members). Not sure if I am allowed to put pricing on here since I am not a registered Vendor.

They test the following physical properties of every batch of compound to make sure that they meet standards:
Shore A hardness
Tensile strength
Ultimate elongation
Modulus at 50 and 100% elongation
Specific gravity.
If a batch does not meet these standards then it is tossed.

HF O-rings work, just need to compare size & not depend on the label.
But I don't think they are BUNA-N rated... so be careful on the use, may desolve in brake fluid or other chemicals, heat, etc...

That right there is what would make me nervous to use them.

EPDM is the recommended material for Brake Fluid and most hardware stores do not carry this material, just general "rubber."

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

When I need an O ring, I ignore the sizes printed or labeled. I don't want an O ring that is labeled as 7/16". I want an O ring that *fits* what I need it for. That may be a size slightly smaller and stretched, or one that is a bit larger. I'd rather have the variety of sizes and find one that fits my needs at the time than trying to guess by labels.