Snapon vs posi lock pullers

[Grant Gunderson]

I need a new puller set. I’m over using my import style. Just lining up the 3 jaw is a clusterfu(k.

What are your guys thoughts about this Snapon set Vs getting a set of Posi Locks.
Will be used mostly for restoring old machinery tools and occasional use on my various vehicles (wife’s SUV, my ¾ ton diesel.

 

[shawhite]

I have something similar to this without the case. It does everything I need it to. I have also used SKF pullers with good success. My experience with positive lock is they are nice if you can fit them in where you are working. Proto also makes nice pullers.

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

 

[anndel]

The Snap-on set looks very nice but all I've used were Posi-Locks after disappointing usage of chinesium made pullers.

 

[zmotorsports]

I have both. This older Snap-on set which works well.

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

I also have a full compliment of Posi-Lock pullers and they are awesome. The Snap-on set I've had for over 25 years doesn't get used nearly as much in the past 10 years I've had the Posi-Locks. My vote would be Posi-Lock pullers hands down.

 

[Steve_P]

I have posi-lock, proto, OTC, HF... pullers. The posi-lock are awesome but have very thin jaw heights. This is great for access but will break much easier. Because of that, I only use them when necessary. I have not broken one but I am careful to use them only when necessary. I may be being over cautious, but they are expensive.... OTC makes nice stuff, mostly Taiwan but still top quality, so you might want some of each like I have.

 

[Walkers]

Just libeling up the 3 jaw is a clusterfu(k.

I'm pretty sure you don't need to tell a bunch of lies about the imported puller just to use it. Now I'm pretty sure foul language is required while using it, but that just comes naturally.

 

[Speed-Racer]

The Snap-on pullers cj series are some of the finest ones made. Actually made by Snap-on, never get the attention they deserve. The older snap-on catalogs give you a clearer idea of how interchangeable they are. I have been able to be creative and avoid buying special pullers by combining pieces from different sets.

 

[leadfoot415]

I have 104, 106, and 108 Posi Lock pullers and they are great. Picked the 104 up back in the day for an absurdly low price from sears, the other 2 came from Zoro.

 

[Sportsman762]

The Snap On CJ2400 is a 27 piece 2.5 ton cone puller set with short and long jaws, 2 and 3 jaw holders, and a slide hammer with a list of $805.
The closest Posi Lock cage puller equivalent would be the the TB-1045 set, it has 3 jaw internal, and a 3 jaw external puller, with short and long jaws for the internal puller, and is 5 ton rated. On zoro it is $459.

The snap on has more flexibility than the Posi Lock as it can do two jaw pulling. However three jaw is preferable unless your working in situations where your limited. If you need to do two jaw exterior pulling the Posi Lock 204 is a 2 ton puller on zoro for $110, and uses the same jaws as the kit for the TB1045 or step up to the 206 that is a 6 ton two jaw puller and currently selling for $150 on zoro.

Posi Lock Caged Jaw Puller, 2 t, 2 Jaw 204 | Zoro

Order Posi Lock Caged Jaw Puller, 2 t, 2 Jaw, 204 at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.

www.zoro.com

Posi Lock Manual Caged Jaw Puller, 2 Jaws, 6 tons Capacity, 6" Reach 206 | Zoro

Order Posi Lock Manual Caged Jaw Puller, 2 Jaws, 6 tons Capacity, 6" Reach, 206 at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.

www.zoro.com

The jaws for the Posi Lock are thinner allowing you to pull smaller diameter when doing internal pulling. Also for the external puller in the TB1045 kit you can order special thin lip jaws 10454T that are called "transmission jaws" these thin jaws allow you to grap snap ring grooves and pull off of them.

Posi Lock Puller, Tranmission Jaw 10454T | Zoro

Order Posi Lock Puller, Tranmission Jaw, 10454T at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.

www.zoro.com

I find using a cage puller is easier as there is no flopping of the jaws. A cone puller the jaws can still flop the direction you are pulling. (external pullers jaws flow outwards) I think cage pullers put more clamping force on the jaws than a cone type puller due to how the force is applied down closer to the end of the jaws, vs on a lever on the top.

If you want a set that is closer to the CJ2400 OTC still offers the Silver ******* 1179 kit that sells for around $200.

Otc Puller Set, 11 Pieces, Slide Hammer 1179 | Zoro

Order Otc Puller Set, 11 Pieces, Slide Hammer, 1179 at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.

www.zoro.com

My recommendation is to get the Posi Lock TB-1045 set for $450. Depending on your needs you might add a 2 jaw puller or transmission jaws. If you find a situation that the Posi Lock TB-1045 does not work for you then you can buy another puller to fill that need and still be money ahead. Folks will say that the Snap On guy will warranty the puller for life, and that is true, but how many dealers carry the parts you need on their truck? It will be a minimum of a week to get the parts if not longer. Its not like a socket or ratchet where you can get immediate replacement or repair. With a Posi Lock you have to pay for parts, but you have the option of ordering them off of Amazon for the great 2 day delivery or paying for expedited delivery from zoro.

Posi Lock Puller Set, Combination TB-1045 | Zoro

Order Posi Lock Puller Set, Combination, TB-1045 at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.

www.zoro.com

I used zoro as a site to compare prices on, however I would encourage looking on amazon and other sites to see if you can find a better deal.

With all that being said, the options OP is looking at are great, and you will not go wrong with either Posi Lock or Snap On.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

I'm pretty sure you don't need to tell a bunch of lies about the imported puller just to use it. Now I'm pretty sure foul language is required while using it, but that just comes naturally.

******* auto correct. Ha!

 

[B_Bimmer]

The proto j4290b set is usually my pick for those sizes, only about $450. The posi lock pullers are great but I generally find them to be more limited in application.

 

[tyyost]

I have several OTC US made pullers and some PosiLock and while they are not Snap On, I think the PosiLock would be my go to starting over and then fill in with OTC, Proto, or Snap on for specific needs.
My problem is getting a quality puller to do a job when it comes up takes a lot longer than if I had one in the box ready to go.

 

[zmotorsports]

While working last night I needed to use a puller so I thought I'd snap a couple pictures of my puller drawers.


The larger pullers. Posi-Lock in both 2 and 3 jaw configurations as well as my old OTC bar style (bottom right in picture) and my Snap-on Pitman Arm puller (also lower right in picture). In the middle of the drawer a few odds and ends KD pullers.


This drawer contains a few of my OTC pitman arm pullers and brake component pullers for heavy truck as well as some light duty ones. The smaller sized 2 and 3 jaw Posi-Lock pullers as well as my old tried and true Snap-on puller set that I have had for 25+ years now. The Snap-on set with its several configurations has been able to do most of everything I've thrown at it over most of my career but about 10 years ago I got an excellent deal on the set of Posi-Locks and I couldn't pass it up. They work better in some situations and are now my "go-to" pullers but overall the Snap-on set did a really good job for the 15+ years prior to obtaining the Posi-Locks.


A 3-jaw Posi-Lock puller being used last night removing a pinion yoke.

 

[Steve_P]

One negative about the Posi-Lock is that they deliberately use some weird proprietary thread sizes- so that you can't always adapt them and use a 5/8-18 slide hammer, etc. I have 6-7 total of their two and three jaw pullers, and I also have the slide hammer set, which is really a pleasure to use. IIRC the slide hammer uses a proprietary thread.
I have the OTC copies of the Snap On bar pullers shown in the RH of Zmotorsports pic above and they work very well. If I was starting over tomorrow, think I would probably buy that to start and go from there as $ allowed.

 

[VRStrickland]

I started my shop with a pretty full set of the Posi-lock puller‘s. However after buying the full Snap On CJ set I never use them anymore. I would put it like this. The Snap On set can do anything the Posi-Lock set can do but the reverse cannot be said. The Snap-On set provides a much greater level of flexibility.

 

[Snaparxon]

The CJ series are OK but the majority of the time I use the older Blue Point CG series. Just as versatile and spring pressure holds the jaws in place.

No experience with Posi-Loc

 

[Speed-Racer]

Example of the snap-on set being used to pull and install subframe bushings. The cups are from a HF wheel bearing puller. This setup made easy work without the factory tool.

 

[Ign]

If size counts for anything (my wife seems to avoid the topic.....????) I win

I do agree the CJ Snap On stuff seems incredibly interchangeable. It seems any jaw will fit any puller body