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The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...

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RAYJAY

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May 29, 2006
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2,638
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UNION DALE PA

if you look at lowes its the same helmet that they sell, i have this one from HF did not buy the first one from them got it on line some place ???? welding helmets in my garage get killed fast, the skull one it held up really good

http://www.harborfreight.com/grey-and-red-skull-welding-helmet-66177.html

image_1711.jpg
 

scott37300

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May 5, 2010
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Wisconsin
Has anyone tried item 39178 the 450 Lb transmission jack? Does it have tilt adjustments?

I just bought the 800 pound jack last week and it is a major pass, although I have only used it once. It looks a LOT sturdier than that 450 scissor jack. Something about that scissor jack setup just scares me! The 800 pound jack was on sale for 130 bucks. It made life so much easier than man handling the trans into place. The 800 pound one has tilt forward and back. Also it is very sturdy, we had the trans hanging off the front of the jack so the weight wasn't centered and the jack was still very sturdy.

I haven't used the 450 pound one but in my opinion the extra 50 bucks seems worth it for the nicer 800 pound jack.
 

subarub4

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Feb 21, 2010
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Connecticut
I just bought the 800 pound jack last week and it is a major pass, although I have only used it once. It looks a LOT sturdier than that 450 scissor jack. Something about that scissor jack setup just scares me! The 800 pound jack was on sale for 130 bucks. It made life so much easier than man handling the trans into place. The 800 pound one has tilt forward and back. Also it is very sturdy, we had the trans hanging off the front of the jack so the weight wasn't centered and the jack was still very sturdy.

I haven't used the 450 pound one but in my opinion the extra 50 bucks seems worth it for the nicer 800 pound jack.

well I might be removing the transmission in my subaru and the transmission weight is about 150 Lb's or so.
 

scott37300

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Wisconsin
well I might be removing the transmission in my subaru and the transmission weight is about 150 Lb's or so.

This was the first time I used a ****** jack. The other times I wrestled it up in there or just used a floor jack. The tilt adjustments are super nice. Just strap the ****** to the jack and adjust it and slide it in, if the 450 doesn't have tilt I would bother buying it, might as well just use a floor jack and wrestle around with the ******. Also even though your ****** is only 150 pounds you still will be pushing it around to by the ****** when it's jacked up to get it in place, the scissor jack one looks like if you push from the ****** it might tip or lean, maybe not but when I looked at them both the 800 pound one is well worth the extra 50 bucks for the tilt and sturdyness of it.
 

scott37300

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I'm going to give it a try.. is HF still doing the 20% off?

I've heard mixed results with these. I think you would have to argue that it isn't technically a floor jack, it's a transmission jack. I think I read a couple guys said the cashier said no and then they got the manager and told them it isn't a floor jack and the manager ok'd the discount. Probably varies by store. I didn't even try the 20% off coupon, just wanted to get it and get the trans in and I felt it was worth the 130 I paid.
 

Grogan14

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Sep 6, 2009
Messages
197
I think you would have to argue that it isn't technically a floor jack, it's a transmission jack.

I was prepared to make that argument the other day when I bought one, but they took the coupon with no questions asked.
 

Tom2

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Joined
Dec 19, 2008
Messages
2,209
image_9254.jpg

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-half-inch-electric-impact-wrench-45252.html

PASS. :thumbup: Made my life so much easier, I am not sure how well this would work on heavy rusted lugs, but it works great for me.


I reviewed this a couple pages back as well and wanted to update. I used it over the weekend to bust loose a harmonic balancer nut along with flywheel bolts on a Ford 3.0. Worked perfectly. Made life so much easier.

Easily one of my favorite HF buys so far. I thought any electric impact would ****, but it's definitely proved it's worth so far.
 
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Kelvin

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Mar 24, 2011
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pass----metal and rubber squeegy worked well for drying concrete floor prior to epoxy seems well made however more expensive than lowes

fail------stupid extendable screw in metal broom handle. kept collapsing and the head snapped halfway through the job
 

SuperSocket

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Nov 2, 2010
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Michigan
Does anyone know how Harbor Freight will honor a warranty when it comes to their trailers? I have had my trailer for two weeks now about and it has worked out nice, BUT.... last night I loaded the heavy duty trailer with approximately 1,500 lbs of lumber, cruised at around 55 MAX and blew a tire.

It looks like the fenders (the arm that holds the tire fender covers on), struck the tire and caused it to fail... the one fender is bent where it hit the tire and the other one rubbed so much that it removed a thin layer of rubber from the other tire.


When I built the trailer the arm bracket looked very close and they bounce a ton... I was wondering if this would be an issue but it did not look like it could really strike... little did I know that if you add a good weight on the trailer it pushes just enough to strike when it shakes.


Not looking to return the trailer, just want the tires replaced since they are destroyed. IMO it's a flaw in their design. I will probably have to make my own brackets because I can not trust those from HF.


With that said, I will give the trailer a FAIL due to the flaw in design.
 
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LEVE

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Jun 23, 2008
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On the Willapa
Driveway Alert: PASS



I have the transmitter on a fence post 250' away from the receiver, which is mounted in the kitchen. I'm using an old wall-hanger transformer to power the receiver.

It works great, I'm alerted to EVERYTHING that moves across it's path. I'm surprised there's so much critter activity in the driveway!
 

fatboyf150

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Oct 14, 2010
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Myrtle Beach, SC
Does anyone know how Harbor Freight will honor a warranty when it comes to their trailers? I have had my trailer for two weeks now about and it has worked out nice, BUT.... last night I loaded the heavy duty trailer with approximately 1,500 lbs of lumber, cruised at around 55 MAX and blew a tire.

It looks like the fenders (the arm that holds the tire fender covers on), struck the tire and caused it to fail... the one fender is bent where it hit the tire and the other one rubbed so much that it removed a thin layer of rubber from the other tire.


When I built the trailer the arm bracket looked very close and they bounce a ton... I was wondering if this would be an issue but it did not look like it could really strike... little did I know that if you add a good weight on the trailer it pushes just enough to strike when it shakes.


Not looking to return the trailer, just want the tires replaced since they are destroyed. IMO it's a flaw in their design. I will probably have to make my own brackets because I can not trust those from HF.


With that said, I will give the trailer a FAIL due to the flaw in design.

You have a 30 day customer satisfaction and 90 warranty exchange on any item we sell as long as you have your receipt. Most stores want the whole thing back when there is a problem. Call your local store and ask what you need to do. IMHO, take the trailer back and get your money. Sounds like you are unsatisfied and still will be later on.
 

SuperSocket

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You have a 30 day customer satisfaction and 90 warranty exchange on any item we sell as long as you have your receipt. Most stores want the whole thing back when there is a problem. Call your local store and ask what you need to do. IMHO, take the trailer back and get your money. Sounds like you are unsatisfied and still will be later on.

I talked to the manager and he said just to bring the wheels back and they will replace both of them :rocker: He offered to do the whole trailer but in general I am happy with my purchase. I will bend the fender brackets this time so that they stay far away from those wheels and keep an eye on them and would recommend anyone else with this trailer to do the same.

I took some pictures just in case questions comes up and am planning on buying a spare just in-case.


All in all it's good, but now my pizza oven project is going to cost me $160 more than anticipated :lol_hitti
 

bchee

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Aug 20, 2007
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Texas
I talked to the manager and he said just to bring the wheels back and they will replace both of them :rocker: He offered to do the whole trailer but in general I am happy with my purchase.
 
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greasemonkey44

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Mar 30, 2011
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memphis
big pass on this impact gun you find them on sale for 20$ all the time. i use it for removing lugs from vehicles for tire changes rotations. most of the time i leave it in reverse and use another gun with a calibrated torque stick to run them back in
 

Muffduster

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Mar 21, 2010
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549
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Arkansas
Driveway Alert: PASS



I have the transmitter on a fence post 250' away from the receiver, which is mounted in the kitchen. I'm using an old wall-hanger transformer to power the receiver.

It works great, I'm alerted to EVERYTHING that moves across it's path. I'm surprised there's so much critter activity in the driveway!
This was a MAJOR FAIL for me.......and at about half the distance of yours. Also don't like the white color of these.
 

TheGrooveking

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An alternate reality in a parallel universe.
The ones I found on the shelf had been used by somebody and they returned them. The crack sales team at HF just threw the failed tools back on the shelf for sale. This was definitely not a manufacturing error, these failed while in use[/QUOTE

Someone was probably replacing a clutch on a BMW.

That looks like someone used it on a smaller bolt than that size socket, its only rounded the inner lobes, which makes me think it is human error, not bad manufacturing.

TheGrooveking
 

TexomaEV

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Apr 17, 2011
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Item# 42211 - Car Garage:Great looking portable garage. Supposed to be UV protected, yet just after a year the tarp covering has become brittle and tearing, along with just six months of being setup the thread holding in the door zipper started to unravel. Being that I purchased two of these and assembled them as one long garage, with both failing in the above manner lets me think others will have issues as well.

FAIL

I have used other brands of these portable garages and most last at the minimum of 4 years before the tarps needed to be replaced.

NOTE: If they don't ask you to buy an extended warranty on a product, be leary of the product.......this might mean they had so many claims, they no longer offer extended warranty, just trying to read between the lines.
 

fatboyf150

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Oct 14, 2010
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336
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Myrtle Beach, SC
Item# 42211 - Car Garage:Great looking portable garage. Supposed to be UV protected, yet just after a year the tarp covering has become brittle and tearing, along with just six months of being setup the thread holding in the door zipper started to unravel. Being that I purchased two of these and assembled them as one long garage, with both failing in the above manner lets me think others will have issues as well.

FAIL

I have used other brands of these portable garages and most last at the minimum of 4 years before the tarps needed to be replaced.

NOTE: If they don't ask you to buy an extended warranty on a product, be leary of the product.......this might mean they had so many claims, they no longer offer extended warranty, just trying to read between the lines.

Everything doesn't have an ESP, that's why you were not asked to get one on that cover.
 

Sticks

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Apr 18, 2011
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47
Location
Pondwater CO
95% of what I own and use every day is HF.

I've honestly have to say that in the last 6 years of full time heavy duty equip repairs, the HF stuff is great. I have had to replace a whopping 8 tools in all that time from breakage. 1 socket, 3 wrenches (all broke on the same day after 6 years of use...odd), 2 - 3/8" wobble/u-joint impact adapters (pin sheared), 3/8" ratchet (lost the fwd/rev lever - found it a week later) and a 1/4 drive air ratchet (lost the socket retainer ball).

There are some items that I would call fail, just because I had to modify them, like the strap wrenches, replaced the strap with a serpentine belt.

I swear by them.

Harbor Freight, pawn shops and E-bay are your friend.
 

rapyoke

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Feb 22, 2011
Messages
50
Location
Northern Virginia
I will add my input on some products hopefully in exchange for feedback on some I am looking to buy:

Ratcheting wrenches - PASS
Extendable ratchets - PASS
high visibility deep and shallow metric/SAE sockets - PASS
1/2 drive 18" ratcheting breaker bar - FAIL (the ratcheting mechanism has locked up two times now)

What do you guys think of these? I am doing a little remodeling at home and if I can make it for $50 vs $140 I certainly wouldn't mind. But if they're both disposable **** then I will pay more. :)

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-amp-reciprocating-saw-with-rotating-handle-65570.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-inch-random-orbital-palm-sander-93431.html
 

SQ is the SQUAD

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Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
192
Location
Boston MA
1500lb tire dollies http://www.harborfreight.com/automo...e-1500-lb-capacity-vehicle-dollies-67338.html

fail. while spinning my landcruiser (body/frame/axles/tires only, no powertrain), the tires slid off the dollys twice, then hit a crack and one of the casters folded the corner of the tray

i used these today to move my car what has no front suspension freom one side of the gartage to the other. they moved fine. i got what i extected from casters. i give it a pass. go a cipuon out of the back of a car mag, they where $39

image_2049.jpg
 

subarub4

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Feb 21, 2010
Messages
1,188
Location
Connecticut
This is not really a fail but item 8884 3-in-1 Jump-Start/Air Compressor the black one the air compressor finally failed on me..

I gotta say I really gave that air compressor a work out when I picked it up 6 months ago I used the air compressor I'd say at least close to 50 times because when going on a road trip I had a slow leak.. it's fixable.. the top part over the piston blew open so the air can't compress..

and it's still worth it as i had to jump start a dead battery on a car I picked up 4 times before it had enough power to start on it's own.
 
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