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Longer 3/8? breaker bar

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OP
2

2ndGearRubber

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Mar 24, 2014
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Location
Pittsburgh
Well, lets hope this question/discussion is for "the next time". No paying customer wants to wait a couple days for the perfect tool to be obtained to finish the job. I figured you were a home gamer, since most pros should have more than one breaker bar to choose from.

By the way, I'm not sure using a cheater pipe is an improvise. No tool company makes a five foot 1" drive breaker bar to my knowledge. I'm going to call using a cheater pipe a "high torque application".

Sigh.

20230918_171310.jpg

I have literally 20 different 3/8 drive tools that could have done this job. I was simply looking for options, as I'm now planning to buy 2 additional length breaker bars in 3/8. It's not always about "perfect" it's about having options.

A piece of pipe on an 8" long 3/8 drive breaker bar is a **** tool to use. I welded a nut to the bolt the last guy snapped off flush, got the base of the knuckle glowing orange as I wiggled 10 degrees at a time in either direction pushing through 20 years of rust. No, I don't want a pipe for that. I need to feel what I'm doing. I don't even own 1" ID pipe to use. I'll just buy a few options so I'm ready for whatever. The job is done, but the car isn't done. I still have to get it through emissions.

EDIT: Changed the hyperbolic 50, to 20, which is what I have sitting in my box, not my cart.
 

65k10

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Jul 25, 2016
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Location
somewhere
Well, lets hope this question/discussion is for "the next time". No paying customer wants to wait a couple days for the perfect tool to be obtained to finish the job. I figured you were a home gamer, since most pros should have more than one breaker bar to choose from.

By the way, I'm not sure using a cheater pipe is an improvise. No tool company makes a five foot 1" drive breaker bar to my knowledge. I'm going to call using a cheater pipe a "high torque application".
Getting a bit off topic here, but Snap-On does make a handle set for their 1" drive tools that gives you a ratchet that is a little over 5' long. The following pic isn't mine although I am working to have that setup. I just need to get excited enough to buy the handle extension.
 

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Steve_P

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Sep 15, 2010
Messages
5,186
.....A piece of pipe on an 8" long 3/8 drive breaker bar is a **** tool to use. I welded a nut to the bolt the last guy snapped off flush, got the base of the knuckle glowing orange as I wiggled 10 degrees at a time in either direction pushing through 20 years of rust. No, I don't want a pipe for that. I need to feel what I'm doing. I don't even own 1" ID pipe to use. .....

You are missing the obvious solution to your issue- you need to buy some 1" pipe :ROFLMAO:

Seriously though, I hear you; this is Garage Journal, not Caveman Journal. Like you, I don't want to make tools, or come up with hack solutions unless 100% necessary.

I have a longer SK 3/8 breaker bar that I bought 5-10 years ago and it's fine. If I was buying today, I'd probably get the Koken.
 
OP
2

2ndGearRubber

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Joined
Mar 24, 2014
Messages
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Location
Pittsburgh
You are missing the obvious solution to your issue- you need to buy some 1" pipe :ROFLMAO:

Seriously though, I hear you; this is Garage Journal, not Caveman Journal. Like you, I don't want to make tools, or come up with hack solutions unless 100% necessary.

I have a longer SK 3/8 breaker bar that I bought 5-10 years ago and it's fine. If I was buying today, I'd probably get the Koken.

Why work hard? Buy the tools to make the $$$.

Right now I'm leaning towards the ICON and another slightly longer option. I've been sick for the tail end of this week, so I'm doing minimal research currently.
 

f121

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Joined
Dec 8, 2018
Messages
2,080
Location
UK
Getting a bit off topic here, but Snap-On does make a handle set for their 1" drive tools that gives you a ratchet that is a little over 5' long. The following pic isn't mine although I am working to have that setup. I just need to get excited enough to buy the handle extension.

I don’t know what I need a 5’ ratchet for, but I’m going to price that up next time I’m on the van
 

Ricky Joe

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Sep 15, 2013
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Location
Roanoke, Va.
Ouch, sorry to hear
Not my worst experience. One Christmas I was in Newark, New Jersey and was putting a power divider in for another truck driver. With both hands full, in between the frame rails, I was robbed at gunpoint. I had to brace the power divider with my body to get my wallet out to give to the guy. Snowy, slushy, cold, and now broke, over the holidays. I don’t know what caliber it was, but it looked huge.
 
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Dakotadadv8

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May 30, 2021
Messages
1,495
OP good question I never used a 3/8 drive breaker bar but I am not a Pro. Always able to use 1/2 drive breaker bar 18 and 24 inch. The SO breaker bars is a beast. May buy a 3/8 drive breaker bar as well, Snap On.
 

Gordon84

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Joined
May 22, 2018
Messages
52
Location
USA
SK has been getting a lot of hate on here lately, but I have a 15" from the Ideal days that has worked well, but admittedly, I don't use it very often. I can't tell you if this is US made or not. No more than breaker bars get used these days, this is probably a left over.

I have 2 of the SK-45155 15" 3/8" drive breaker bars (NOS USA made ones). It is perfect for changing the belt in my 2005 Accord.
 

Gordon84

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Joined
May 22, 2018
Messages
52
Location
USA
Proto J5266 3/8" breaker is 12" Long, SK 45155 3/8" breaker is 15" Long., I have and like both. ... Matco also makes 15" 3/8" breaker(B15FH).
 

CHI_Tool&Die

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Jul 20, 2021
Messages
1,391
Location
Chicago, IL
I use the Proto breaker bar all the time at work and it’s stout. My only beef with it is that when under a heavy load I can hear the drive end clanking against the fork.
 
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