Lisle tools

[StinkyBunny]

I started doing the rear brakes on the Duramax Friday only to find out that I need a T55 Torx bit which I didn't have. So off to SEARS I go hoping to find one and I did. It WAS, that being the operative word, a Lisle. What a sorry assed POS of a tool. I snapped 2 of them in EXACTLY the same place. If you can, avoid them AT ALL COSTS!! If you do use one be damn sure you're wearing eye protection because you WILL need it!! on Lisle tools

 

[scott37300]

Lisle torx bits are junk. I have a set of the black ones and they are only good for lite work. It has been discussed many times on here also.

Just take them back. For the most part I really like lisle tools, but the torx are one of their bad products.

 

[Muffduster]

I like Lisle. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed using my Lisle harmonic balancer puller today. USA of course.

 

[tonydanzah]

i dont thick how been lucky enough to have one hard enough to snap. Most of mine just twist around 270 degrees.

 

[nw2571]

My Lisle pickle fork set works great!

 

[BajaBound]

Wow that is a serious post! Did you hit the bolts with any penetrating oil? I have had excellent luck with lisle tools. Bummer on the busted up parts!

 

[ibedayank]

when living in rust belt always use a penatrating oil makes life so much easier.
Sears quit selling the Craftsman tourqe bits? Had some in the store here in town last week ago and i just have a catalog store.

 

[Old Donn]

I started doing the rear brakes on the Duramax Friday only to find out that I need a T55 Torx bit which I didn't have. So off to SEARS I go hoping to find one and I did. It WAS, that being the operative word, a Lisle. What a sorry assed POS of a tool. I snapped 2 of them in EXACTLY the same place. If you can, avoid them AT ALL COSTS!! If you do use one be damn sure you're wearing eye protection because you WILL need it!! on Lisle tools

Learned the same hard lesson doing the fronts on my Sierra. Snapped two Lisle T-55's like pretzels. Went to the Advance store on the corner, got a GearWrench T-55, broke all the fasteners loose and reinstalled without incident. Pains me to say it, the Lisles were USA, GW is Taiwan.

 

[thesilverone]

Lisle is great, except for the torx bits

 

[DrkMtnDew]

i have a wide assortment of Lisle tools and like them a lot. they are usually what i buy when i need a specialty tool that will see a fair amount of use. however i do not have the torx bits so i'll have to take your word for it.

 

[american lockpicker]

I like the automatic center punch Lisle makes, its the best I've seen and US made.

 

[rapyoke]

Funny you guys mention that, I snapped the Lisle Torx bit doing the second caliper torx bolt for brakes on my dad's Audi. The HF torx bit took all 8 off with no problem.

 

[HandyManny]

I like several of Lisle tools. Been using them for a long time. But I have distorted a few of their Torx bits before. Get the chromed ones with the bit inserted, they are more duarable than the one piece all black ones.

 

[gluckmysock]

I broke a t27 torx and contacted lisle and they sent me a new one. woot woot

 

[billymade]

Classic Lisle fail: stay away from their torx and hex bits; they just don't hold up well. Most of their other tools are good, however; as always each brand has its strong and weak points....

 

[expatriated]

Torx seems like one of those things that are worth paying top dollar for. In the other thread, torx was one of the most broken tools. Makes me wonder why they are becoming more and more popular? Are they cheaper to make?

I haven't broken one of my Hazet torx but I don't have anything huge to take apart.

 

[Berserker]

I have a couple sets, cause they have T27, which you need for Harleys. I have heard complaints. But so far so good.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

china dolls

 

[Fedwrench]

Torx seems like one of those things that are worth paying top dollar for. In the other thread, torx was one of the most broken tools. Makes me wonder why they are becoming more and more popular? Are they cheaper to make?

I think it's an issue of automated component assembly. Robots and machines love torx more than say, phillips. Less slip and errors.

Overall, lisle makes some decent specialty tools that are rebadged by many tool trucks but, their black one piece torx bits **** and are to be avoided.

 

[BajaBound]

when living in rust belt always use a penatrating oil makes life so much easier.
Sears quit selling the Craftsman tourqe bits? Had some in the store here in town last week ago and i just have a catalog store.

I looked at sears today and they do not seem to have t50 or higher in their sets or their loose stock.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

I've never had very good luck with Lisle Torx stuff either. As much as I hate to admit it, the absolute best Torx set I've ever purchased was a "Crewline" set from Checker Auto probably 20 years ago.

I've shredded Lisle, Craftsman, Snapon, Mac and SK Torx sockets, but never a Taiwanese Checker Auto cheapo.

 

[Berserker]

I think it's an issue of automated component assembly. Robots and machines love torx more than say, phillips. Less slip and errors.

Overall, lisle makes some decent specialty tools that are rebadged by many tool tr

I think that true. But there is more surface area to grab in a torx then a philips or allen. Hell an allen is 75% on the way to strpped.

I have heard some people talk about torx plus. They claim the Harley ones are plus, which they say is not flat in the bottom but has ******.

I haven't tried a set of pluses yet.

 

[MoToys]

It's the lisle initiation. You have to own and break the torxs before you get to the good stuff.

I like the automatic center punch Lisle makes, its the best I've seen and US made.

Agreed. Great for marking templates onto material.
If your like me I use it Most to quickly mark for deadbolts.

 

[dede2897234]

I like several of Lisle tools. Been using them for a long time. But I have distorted a few of their Torx bits before. Get the chromed ones with the bit inserted, they are more duarable than the one piece all black ones.

I agree with "HandyManny". I owned a set of the Lisle one piece, Torx bit sockets. After reading many threads on GJ about durability issues, I sold the set. I now own two piece Torx bit sockets (where the Torx bit is made separately from the socket body) from OTC, Snap-on (gold colored), and Eight Brand (Japanese). It is better to be safe than sorry with Torx bit sockets.


Dave

 

[wheats71]

try this give the caliper a couple of good hits with a ball peen hammer where the threads of the pin are or the head of the pin being careful not to hit the bit recess on the head for the pin
thbis will usually free the threads and save a pile of torx bits
i used to snap them all the time myself
this has saved many sockets and time

 

[Old Donn]

Classic Lisle fail: stay away from their torx and hex bits; they just don't hold up well. Most of their other tools are good, however; as always each brand has its strong and weak points....

Hafta disagree about Lisle hex bits. Had a set for years, they never let me down. Might be the exception to the rule, but till they fail me, I'm OK with them.

 

[HandyManny]

I've never had very good luck with Lisle Torx stuff either. As much as I hate to admit it, the absolute best Torx set I've ever purchased was a "Crewline" set from Checker Auto probably 20 years ago.

I've shredded Lisle, Craftsman, Snapon, Mac and SK Torx sockets, but never a Taiwanese Checker Auto cheapo.

Too bad that was 20 years ago. They just don't make em like they used to

 

[anthony73]

My T55 broke too,taking out a seatbelt .POS, I have to get a new one.

 

[melliott28]

Yesterday I was changing the brake pads on my wife's Volvo XC90 and found out it requires a T55 Torx bit also. I only had Torx screwdrivers, and I didn't want to spend a lot, so I went to Harbor Freight and bought their 9 piece 1/2" drive set which was on sale for $10. Did the job with no issue. If you don't have a lot of money to spend and you don't mind that they are made in Taiwan, I would recommend the Harbor Freight set.

 

[znowaczyk]

best lisle tool I own is the tap sockets. genius idea!

 

[shampoop]

Don't have any of their torx bits, but everything i've bought from them is very high quality.

 

[cashishift]

I just bought a Lisle Impact Screwdriver.. hope it works good!

 

[usdemt]

Lisle makes many good products too, but I am alway cautious as to what I get in there name, sure its US made, but the Torx Sockets ****.

I was on top of a firetruck drilling down to run an antenna wire, my partner was pulling off the rear seatbelt pivot. I told him to be careful as he was using a steel handled ratchet, well the bit snapped and sent the bottom of the handle straight into the rear window of a Chevy Kodiak. I just about $hit myself but by the grace of god the window didnt shatter. We could have done the same thing 100 times and 99 times it would have. No more crappy torx bits for me after that.

 

[williaty]

I have heard some people talk about torx plus. They claim the Harley ones are plus, which they say is not flat in the bottom but has ******.

I haven't tried a set of pluses yet.

Nope, that's not a Torx Plus. What you're referring to (****** in the center of the fastener) is the Tamper Resistant version of Torx. Torx Plus is an alteration of the basic Torx profile to increase loading surface area and reduce the likelyhood of rounding out the fastener when tightened to higher torque levels.

Note that you can kina use a Torx bit to turn a Torx Plus fastener but the likelyhood of rounding out the fastener is GREATLY increased. You can't use a Torx Plus tool to turn a Torx fastener, though. Additionally, even when sticking a TX tool into a TP fastener, it always seems like it's a crapshoot what size TX bit you'll need (i.e. a TX40 bit won't consistently fit a TP40 fastener).

 

[durallymax]

rounded 2 lisles and snapped a NAPA one recently doing a brake job. Done many before but this one was really tough apparently. Called the Snap-on guy and bought a set of his and donated the remainder of my Lisle Torx to the shop. also hate how their smaller ones have the dome on the bottom and dont seat all the way in the fastener. Their tap sockets are nice.

The thing I kind of like about the Allen heads is that every time ive stripped on I just tap the bit deeper into the fastener and always end up getting it out (small 5mm bit)

Torx-Plus is becoming more and more popular.