To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Harbor Freight strut spring compressor

W

WVBrady

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2005
Messages
1,679
Location
WV
Hi! I purchase a spring compressor from Harbor Freight:


STRUT SPRING COMPRESSOR
Repair Macpherson struts on or off the vehicle. Works on struts with springs up to 7'' diameter. Perfect for body shops, specialty shops, tire shops, dealerships, independent garages and service stations.
Maximum opening: 8''
Lead screw torque: 15 ft. lbs.



ITEM 43753-4VGA


My question is how to use the oval shaped piece that is shown separately from the compressor. I couldn't figure it out from the description. Has anyone actually used one?

Just curious. I didn't assemble mine until I had it for a while and found that both of the cylindrical pieces were threaded, so that it doesn't tighten up where you turn the bolt. Was anyone else's like that?

TIA, Brady
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
R

RAYJAY

Well-known member
Joined
May 29, 2006
Messages
2,638
Location
UNION DALE PA
just forget the Hf Haters if it had a snap on decal on it it would be gold .........


ok for the rant

the steel ring (its called a strut ring ) is if you have a short strut you put it over the bottom of the strut(below the spring perch and clamp one end of the compressor on it and the other end on the spring

jeff
 
OP
W

WVBrady

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2005
Messages
1,679
Location
WV
Sorry about the link. I don't know why it didn't work; I just copied and pasted. I included the complete description and item number if anyone wanted to look it up.
 
OP
W

WVBrady

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2005
Messages
1,679
Location
WV
RAYJAY said:
just forget the Hf Haters if it had a snap on decal on it it would be gold .........


ok for the rant

the steel ring (its called a strut ring ) is if you have a short strut you put it over the bottom of the strut(below the spring perch and clamp one end of the compressor on it and the other end on the spring

jeff
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. In other words, most of the time you would not need it? I thought it was some sort of safety catch, but I couldn't figure out how that would work. I bought it while it was on sale and someone had mentioned it as a safer alternative to the "suicide sticks", although I have used them a few times without a problem. I was always a little "juberous" about using them though (one of my dads words). (juberous (verb) : being uncertain, unsure of something
Submitted by: Anonymous on Dec. 11, 2007 14:09 )
 
Last edited:
W

wrenchr

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 29, 2007
Messages
11,603
Location
Michigan
This is refered to the widow maker, and all of the tool companies make a version of it. And for the record I would not use any brand of these.
 
P

philw

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
724
Location
Ohio
I think you have a defective compressor. I checked mine and it has only 1 threaded crossbar. If you have 2 then you are correct that the compressor will not tighten. I would call HF and see if they would swap it for you.
I have only used mine once and it worked fine. It's seems more secure than the individual compressors. Ok for someone who does struts occasionally. It is bulky to work with though. I wouldn't recommend it for a shop, it's time consuming and you would be better of spending money for a wall mount unit. The wall mounts are awesome. They are expensive but the time savings between the two would pay for itself in no time.
http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/BRA-7400.html

On another HF strut thread someone recommended the HF hydraulic strut compressor and said it worked well. I believe it was in the $150 range.
 
P

philw

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
724
Location
Ohio
wrenchr--I used to use the OTC version and used it many, many times when I worked for a small shop. Never heard of any problems with the style. Give us the scoop on what the design problem is and what you would recommend.
The only thing I notice with this style of compressor is because of all of the weight on the side it wants to move around a little on the spring until it's tightened. It's not something you want to be in a rush using.
 
U

Uncle Buck

Banned
Joined
Mar 7, 2005
Messages
9,120
Location
Kansas
WVBrady said:
I was always a little "juberous" about using them though (one of my dads words). (juberous (verb) : being uncertain, unsure of something
Submitted by: Anonymous on Dec. 11, 2007 14:09 )
Click to expand...

OMG! JUBEROUS! It must be an old guy thing this is the only reference to this word that I have ever seen anyone other than my 80yr old pop use. I have been hearing him use that term on a regular basis as long as I can remember! Juberous, Great Stuff, Keep the Faith! :beer:
 
I

ImportTuner

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 9, 2007
Messages
5,855
Location
SF Bay Area
wrenchr said:
This is refered to the widow maker, and all of the tool companies make a version of it. And for the record I would not use any brand of these.
Click to expand...

Why is this strut spring compressor referred to as the widow maker? I though it was alot stronger than the two bolt w/clamp type ...
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
D

Danglerb

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 6, 2007
Messages
9,736
Location
SoCal
Compressed springs are dangerous, treating them otherwise regardless of the tool used is how people get hurt. I think if the directions are followed with the 43753 HF tool there shouldn't be any problems. If either of the mechanics that work on my cars have a "real" hydraulic unit then I wouldn't be thinking of using anything else. I don't think I am willing to try my luck with the two big bolts with hooks tool under any circumstances.
.
 

Attachments

  • 03980.gif
    03980.gif
    9.6 KB · Views: 414
OP
W

WVBrady

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2005
Messages
1,679
Location
WV
Danglerb said:
This would be what I would use, or borrow free from autozone etc.

The owners manual can be down loaded from HF too.
http://www.harborfreight.com/manuals/43000-43999/43753.PDF
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. For some reason it wouldn't let me cut and paste from the manual, but it appears the manual was written by a committee. It says to put the safety loop around the Adjustment Screw. Then in describing how to use the compressor, it says to put the loop around the two hooks. You can't do this if it is already around the adjustment screw. Also, it says that this is to keep the jaws from springing open if the strut should break loose, but the jaws won't spring loose because they are held by the screw! It seems to me that the loop should go around the strut to help prevent the spring from flying loose if the hook(s) should slip off of the spring.

Comments?
 
OP
W

WVBrady

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2005
Messages
1,679
Location
WV
hholmberg said:
OMG! JUBEROUS! It must be an old guy thing this is the only reference to this word that I have ever seen anyone other than my 80yr old pop use. I have been hearing him use that term on a regular basis as long as I can remember! Juberous, Great Stuff, Keep the Faith! :beer:
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was surprised to find it in the dictionary!
 
D

Danglerb

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 6, 2007
Messages
9,736
Location
SoCal
Maybe the safety loop is more obvious in its use when you actually are using it?

I was guessing you put the thing on the spring, clamp etc., screw it down to compress it, then put the loop on someplace to keep it from boinging if the compressor breaks.
 
R

RAYJAY

Well-known member
Joined
May 29, 2006
Messages
2,638
Location
UNION DALE PA
Danglerb said:
Maybe the safety loop is more obvious in its use when you actually are using it?

I was guessing you put the thing on the spring, clamp etc., screw it down to compress it, then put the loop on someplace to keep it from boinging if the compressor breaks.
Click to expand...

Ok everyone read the otc pdf I posted that ring(called a strut ring) is option accessory on the otc model look at page 2 of the otc pdf.

Jeff


and the OTC operating manual make more sense
 
OP
W

WVBrady

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2005
Messages
1,679
Location
WV
Danglerb said:
Maybe the safety loop is more obvious in its use when you actually are using it?

I was guessing you put the thing on the spring, clamp etc., screw it down to compress it, then put the loop on someplace to keep it from boinging if the compressor breaks.
Click to expand...

Upon further examination, the loop is not long enough to connect as I had postulated. It is also not long enough to slip over the back end of the arms. The only place that I can see that it would fit is in the front, over the hooks and one side of each arm. As I said before, I don't see what good that would do. The most likely scenario for problems is if the hooks slipped off of the coil spring and the loop wouldn't have any effect in that case. Also, there are pins through the base of the hooks that are supposed to take care of that. :confused:

Also upon further examination, it turns out that item 13 (the plain axle) is not threaded. It's just a tight fit. That, and the stiff hinges fooled me into thinking that it was threaded. I just need to do a little "fluff and buff" on those parts.

Can anyone think of what else I can do with the safety block? (Nothing vulgar, please :) )

Thanks again, Brady
 
J

jay50

Banned
Joined
Oct 28, 2007
Messages
3,894
WVBrady said:
Thanks for the link. For some reason it wouldn't let me cut and paste from the manual, but it appears the manual was written by a committee. It says to put the safety loop around the Adjustment Screw. Then in describing how to use the compressor, it says to put the loop around the two hooks. You can't do this if it is already around the adjustment screw. Also, it says that this is to keep the jaws from springing open if the strut should break loose, but the jaws won't spring loose because they are held by the screw! It seems to me that the loop should go around the strut to help prevent the spring from flying loose if the hook(s) should slip off of the spring.

Comments?
Click to expand...

Heck, if the owners manual is so screwed up; just think about what a POS the tool is. No way I would use that junk:spit:
 
D

Danglerb

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 6, 2007
Messages
9,736
Location
SoCal
jay50 said:
Heck, if the owners manual is so screwed up; just think about what a POS the tool is. No way I would use that junk:spit:
Click to expand...

It makes perfect sense in the original Chinese.

OTOH I am still trying to figure how the impact tool you hit with a hammer is supposed to work. Nothing I have tried so far results in any twisting motion when struck. Hate to think I wasted $5.
 
OP
W

WVBrady

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2005
Messages
1,679
Location
WV
Danglerb said:
It makes perfect sense in the original Chinese.

OTOH I am still trying to figure how the impact tool you hit with a hammer is supposed to work. Nothing I have tried so far results in any twisting motion when struck. Hate to think I wasted $5.
Click to expand...

I have an old one that is not HF. To set it up, you hold the bottom from turning and twist the top the opposite of which way you want it to twist (turn it clockwise to loosen a right hand screw). Mine works well on anything solid (not sheet metal). You can actually reform the head of a phillips head screw.

HTH, Brady
 
S

smugaim

New member
Joined
Jan 19, 2011
Messages
2
RAYJAY is to be congratulated for his work on this topic.

I bought the HF 43753 today and couldn't figure out the "Safety Ring" with no illustration of it in-use. I Googled and found this thread, right on top.

The OTC manual at http://www.otctools.com/newcatalog/products/107300.pdf shows exactly how it is used on struts.

In the pre-Internet days, the OTC tool would have been worth the premium, just for the info!

Thanks to RAYJAY!

Peter
 
S

skulldrinker

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 25, 2011
Messages
1,171
Location
Bolingbrook, IL
If the top bearing does not to be inspected-

or it can be used on the top bearing plate so the bearing and spring will stay together in place then just insert the new strut.
 
OP
W

WVBrady

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2005
Messages
1,679
Location
WV
Below is a link to a thread showing a picture of how the "span link" is used (at the bottom of the page).

Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 3 Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

43753 heavy duty spring compressor. Worked great to compress the front springs on my 2004 Jaguar XK8. They are a conical spring with variable pitch so the lower claws couldn't fit in the coils. That's what the "span link" is for. Placed it under the lower spring perch and engaged the claws in it. Worked perfectly. I did buy two hardened washers to put under the actuating bolt head, but I'm not sure they were really necessary. Just keep the threads well greased and you can operate it with a 1/2 drive ratchet.
Attached Thumbnails


http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27192&page=275
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom