HF 3/8" locking extensions - check your set screws!

[Squankum]

http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-38-drive-uick-release-extension-bar-set-67976.html

Harbor Freight 3/8" drive locking extensions, 67976.

I have sung their praises before in other threads. I quickly got spoiled and wondered how I lived all these years with non-locking extensions. I also wondered how a little bit of knurling could be so nice, too. These are one of the higher quality, Taiwanese HF products.

Well, now a warning: there's a wee set screw in the collars. I caught one backing out, well on its way to falling out. That would have sucked, as they're miniscule, good luck finding it.

2mm Allen/hex key is what it took to firm mine up. Check yours if you have 'em.

My cheap Chinese 2mm T-handle Allen tool didn't fit them very well; my Facom L-key did.

 

[FiendFX]

Mines weren't that loose. But thanks for the warning

 

[foreverfalcon40]

I am in the market for locking extensions, how are these holding up with the exception of the screws backing out (MY SO Ratchets...all of the screws back out!)

 

[Squankum]

They're perfectly fine otherwise. Truck brands might be nicer somehow, but I can't imagine spending the extra amount, unless we're talking impact tools. I don't forsee these ever having issues.

Taiwan's price/value ratio can be shocking.

 

[mister_two]

Thanks for the heads up, I have the same set, I'll take a look. I haven't use them a lot, I got them mostly for changing sparkplugs and they worked perfectly for that. I have so many 3/8 extensions that I only use the locking ones when I need them to lock.

 

[jjjrmx5]

They're perfectly fine otherwise. Truck brands might be nicer somehow, but I can't imagine spending the extra amount,

Truck brands are nicer and more expensive because they use a more complex and for the most part better locking system than the C'man and HF locking extensions.

The system HF is using is adequate and teh extensions themselves hearty and rugged, but not the same design as the higher end stuff.

 

[thebeekeeper1]

Is there any reason not to use Lok-Tite on them?

 

[Squankum]

Truck brands are nicer and more expensive because they use a more complex and for the most part better locking system than the C'man and HF locking extensions.

The system HF is using is adequate and teh extensions themselves hearty and rugged, but not the same design as the higher end stuff.

Yeah, I snagged some Snap On 1/2" impact extensions and yeah, they're quite impressive, but in practice, I've got no complaints about my HF's. The Kobalt and others (CMan?) with the sliding plastic collar looked pretty poopy to me, that's why I tried the HF.

I use mine for spark plugs, of course, but I just got spoiled really quick. I felt like I'd been having sockets pop off/fall off for 25 years, and now, they are of a piece when I start working on things.
I can't see why not to use Loctite. Haven't tried it yet.

 

[FiendFX]

Thanks for the heads up, I have the same set, I'll take a look. I haven't use them a lot, I got them mostly for changing sparkplugs and they worked perfectly for that. I have so many 3/8 extensions that I only use the locking ones when I need them to lock.

These are useful when changing spark plugs.