Poor Harbor Freight

[anndel]

No HF in Hawaii when I had a chance to visit a store in Brunswick, Georgia last yeat, I bought the 1/2-in 25in long Pittsburgh Breaker Bar which was on sale for $14.99 (reg. $19.99). I believe they compare it to Snap-on's version in the ads. I never had a chance to use it until last weekend trying to remove a bolt holding a pittman arm torqued to 130 ft-lbf. At the first chance to unloosen the bolt, the head sheared right off. It's cheap for a reason and you get what you paid for. I used my Snap-on 1/2-in bent handle flex head and the bolt came right off.

I really wanted to like it but....NOT.

 

[Skin]

That's just the torque overload protection feature.

 

[zendriver]

They're magically stronger, if you use the 20% off coupon.

To be fair, Harbor freight only compares it to snap on by price, not performance.


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[michelin]

Weld it back on. Job done

 

[MushCreek]

Snap On, Snap Off.

 

[Tonyuk]

For the number they'll be made in its unavoidable to have a few defects.

 

[ex-x-fire]

The other style is stronger and bulkier.

 

[jgromada]

So how many HF 25" breaker bars can I buy for the cost of ONE Snap On breaker bar??

 

[Notgrownup]

They last longer when you have a store 15 minutes away.

 

[kctyphoon]

Eh, one of their most popular buys - with a strong following and good reputation. When 100,000 super cheap tools are sold compared to every 1,000 of a premium brand, of course you’re more likely to see one break here and there. Not the end of the world..

If you had a store nearby, you’d experience one of the easiest exchange policies on earth.

There’s NO WAY under normal circumstances that breaker would break from a trying to loosen a bolt at 130ftlbs. Something is obviously defective here.

 

[gungatim]

*****, but there is a warranty. I have 4 of them, 2 that style, 2 of the other style. never broke one and i've used them on way more than 130 ft. lbs...

why 4 you ask? keep one in the truck and suv with a flip socket instead of a 4-way, one in the shop, one in the junkyard bag...

 

[NUTTSGT]

You get what you pay for and granted, some have better luck than others. I'm very leery of what I buy at HF.

I suppose it would be time to contact customer service and see what they can do for you ?

https://www.harborfreight.com/customer-service.html

 

[xin]

No HF in Hawaii when I had a chance to visit a store in Brunswick, Georgia last yeat, I bought the 1/2-in 25in long Pittsburgh Breaker Bar which was on sale for $14.99 (reg. $19.99). I believe they compare it to Snap-on's version in the ads. I never had a chance to use it until last weekend trying to remove a bolt holding a pittman arm torqued to 130 ft-lbf. At the first chance to unloosen the bolt, the head sheared right off. It's cheap for a reason and you get what you paid for. I used my Snap-on 1/2-in bent handle flex head and the bolt came right off.

I really wanted to like it but....NOT.

You are very LUCKY you were not hurt with it breaking. Hence the reason was told long time ago about cheap tools.

 

[dogdog]

Eh, one of their most popular buys - with a strong following and good reputation. When 100,000 super cheap tools are sold compared to every 1,000 of a premium brand, of course you’re more likely to see one break here and there. Not the end of the world..

If you had a store nearby, you’d experience one of the easiest exchange policies on earth.

There’s NO WAY under normal circumstances that breaker would break from a trying to loosen a bolt at 130ftlbs. Something is obviously defective here.

Not sure individual cases...I have used mine on a really stuck wheel lugs at best it was just flexing really bad... and I don't think that wheel lug is 100ft-lb when stuck.. but hey $10... not worry.. a bit different from OP's situation from having no store around to get warranty..

I remember the post about that 20Ton press that went lob sided with the OP having 20T HF air hydraulic added to that press... picture posted of the upper beam was twisted like a stick and OP claiming he was lucky he didn't got hurt... that was horrifying to even look at the mess.... every one was shocked.and afraid of the HF 20Ton press .... and no one suspect the monkey at play....

 

[Sevenhills1952]

Why do they call it Pittsburgh when it be Beijing? In the picture it looks like it got your thumb. Super glue with tape and it will be good for 4-5 inch pounds.

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[finn]

Mine broke just like that one.

Band saw cut through the shaft like butter when I repurposed it to make an extension handle for the tailgate on my dump truck.

The replacement hasn’t broken yet, but I don’t use it for anything serious.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Dime store tools sell for dime store prices for a reason. You luck out on some of their tools some of the time, but, as long as You keep in mind that they are dime store tools, your pocketbook and expectations will suffer little damage when there is a failure.

 

[LXCam]

Pittsburgh Breaker Bar .

I don't understand the problem. It did exactly as the name implied.

 

[JSGAuto]

How did you know that is 130ft/lbs?

Or is that the brand new, assembled, it didn't live on an island near the sea its entire life?

I am not a HF fan, but that is a lot of material to move with 130ft/lbs

 

[Joe_K]

No HF in Hawaii when I had a chance to visit a store in Brunswick, Georgia last yeat, I bought the 1/2-in 25in long Pittsburgh Breaker Bar which was on sale for $14.99 (reg. $19.99). I believe they compare it to Snap-on's version in the ads. I never had a chance to use it until last weekend trying to remove a bolt holding a pittman arm torqued to 130 ft-lbf. At the first chance to unloosen the bolt, the head sheared right off. It's cheap for a reason and you get what you paid for. I used my Snap-on 1/2-in bent handle flex head and the bolt came right off.

I really wanted to like it but....NOT.

I have one and abused the **** out of it. If it breaks I'll buy another, cause it's cheap.

 

[Sine Swept]

I paid $20 CDN for my 1/2" Snap On breaker bar in a pawn shop. Other than the time I pinched myself with it, it has given more abuse and taken none.

 

[sweet victory]

So how many HF 25" breaker bars can I buy for the cost of ONE Snap On breaker bar??

How many knuckles you got to spare?

 

[mmb617]

Snap On, Snap Off.

We really need a like button on this forum.

 

[Snakebyt]

I have abused mine, havent had a problem at all with it

 

[notlob]

In order to free a frozen lug nut, I had my entire 200lb+ weight on the end of my older, non-soft grip style 25" HF breaker bar, and bounced on it. Although the bar flexed a lot more than I expected, it survived with no damage.

 

[xin]

One injury from that breaking and your hand/wrist will never be the same.

I got Snap-On/MAC and some old Craftsman USA - sure $20 then it will cost you when it turns lose and you owe thousands in medical bills. But you saved money right???

There are plenty of Made in USA options even the old Craftsman off EBAY is aa way better solution than that pot metal.

 

[Tonyuk]

Tools made in Taiwan can easily be as strong or stronger than those made in the US or Europe.

I'm willing to bet if you looked through their stock you'll find a few duds in ever tool manufacturers warehouses.

 

[Rabid Badger]

The way both sides of the fork just snapped with no significant deformation of the surrounding metal suggests a bad heat treatment. Looking at Harbor Freight's site it seems like they got a bad batch or two; there are multiple recent reviews reporting similar failures.

 

[ChrisLS8]

There are always defects even for truck brands. I've put both of mine through hell and neither have flinched

 

[dogdog]

The way both sides of the fork just snapped with no significant deformation of the surrounding metal suggests a bad heat treatment. Looking at Harbor Freight's site it seems like they got a bad batch or two; there are multiple recent reviews reporting similar failures.

Probably true... whats ***** for the OP is that there are no HF around for him to claim his life time warranty of $14... which *****. postage would have cost more to send it back for warranty... sort of like my experience with Channel Lock. or that other oxygen sensor socket from a different company........

field day for the HF lovers come out come out come out where ever you are.... I mean haters .

 

[jd_1138]

That's the fancier version with the fancy handle. I have the basic version (all of $10) of the 25 inch 1/2 inch breaker bar. I've beat on it, and it hasn't broken yet.

I used it yesterday for a flat tire. I barely leaned on it and broke the 4 lugs on my Ford Focus, then I let my 1/4 Makita impact driver zoom them off in 10 seconds. Easy. I keep a 3/4 impact socket on it, and I keep it in my trunk.

 

[Sevenhills1952]

Hard to beat for $10...but I was thinking about this one Pittsburgh Professional- Item#98270
3/4" drive, use 1/2" adapter. I bet that would be hard to break, and it has a locking quick release.

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[Rabid Badger]

Probably true... whats ***** for the OP is that there are no HF around for him to claim his life time warranty of $14... which *****. postage would have cost more to send it back for warranty...

Yeah, the OP would be better off buying Tekton when it comes to affordable tools. Easy to buy on Amazon and all you need for a warranty claim is a picture of the broken tool.

Hard to beat for $10...but I was thinking about this one Pittsburgh Professional- Item#98270
3/4" drive, use 1/2" adapter. I bet that would be hard to break, and it has a locking quick release.

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The bar would indeed be hard to break, but adapters aren't made to stand up to breaker bar duty.

 

[Jordanj]

I’m 195 and have bounce on it. I’d say it was a good buy.

 

[Kev442]

In order to free a frozen lug nut, I had my entire 200lb+ weight on the end of my older, non-soft grip style 25" HF breaker bar, and bounced on it. Although the bar flexed a lot more than I expected, it survived with no damage.

It's like they are made of old leaf springs they flex so far. I've run out of room in the engine compartment because they flexed 3-4" without popping the bolt loose.
Strictly for lugnuts now.

 

[Tynee]

I just bought one of these. Have yet to out a socket on it yet hope it’s not one of the bad batch theorized above.

 

[Farmall450]

The other style is stronger and bulkier.

Yeah, I've had one of those in my truck. Used a loader tractor on it a few times, it's fine.

OP, I imagine you got a blem. A 3/8 ratchet should be able to handle that.

 

[Niteman9]

I just broke a craftsman 3/8 ratchet and can mot get anyone to honor the warranty.

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[anndel]

So how many HF 25" breaker bars can I buy for the cost of ONE Snap On breaker bar??

Maybe 10

 

[anndel]

You are very LUCKY you were not hurt with it breaking. Hence the reason was told long time ago about cheap tools.

Thanks, I was wearing a safety glasses, face shield and covering the head portion with my gloved free hand.

Ask me if I would try the other version like some posted, yes when I'm stateside again maybe next year.