Why tool warranties are great.

[pfhWJ]

View media item 38872
A co worker managed to break 3- 1/4 ratchets today all on the same car. 2 Matco and one Snap on. Snap on Ratchet didnt even make it a week, but tool trucks come tomorrow.

 

[cotjocky]

Sounds like he should have bumped up to 3/8 drive!

 

[JVB]

What job was he performing? Are they your tools?

 

[2oolhound]

Reminds of the time I brought 5 brand new 9/16th chokers to the job. Next time I went back some ******* had bust all 5 of them trying to pull a log out of the bottom of a deck. I always thought "if he'd had to buy them he only would have broken one or maybe 3 because he doubled them up next try" and no, there was no warranty for stupidity, cable safe working loads are 1/5th the breaking strength.

 

[unashamedlaborer]

Impressive that both designs have strong enough gear mechanisms that they broke the drive off before stripping the gear. I have a long handle locking flex comfort grip Matco 88 in 3/8" drive and it had been a trouper. Seriously impressive strength. I have snap on ratchets too but IMO they should hold up at least as well if not better considering how much more bulky they are.

 

[ADSR]

Sounds like he should have bumped up to 3/8 drive!

+1

 

[pfhWJ]

What job was he performing? Are they your tools?

Not my tools his wanted to take a picture of the carnage, I think he had to loosen a motor mount bolt but the 3/8 was a bit fat, not entirely sure though.

 

[jakemac]

I'm guessing that your co-worker's knuckles drag the ground.


(My best friend looks like the kind of guy who cuts plywood by putting the wood on the ground, grabbing the table saw, flipping it upside down, and rubbing the saw back and forth until the wood splits from the shear terror of the experience)

 

[cotjocky]

Impressive that both designs have strong enough gear mechanisms that they broke the drive off before stripping the gear. I have a long handle locking flex comfort grip Matco 88 in 3/8" drive and it had been a trouper. Seriously impressive strength. I have snap on ratchets too but IMO they should hold up at least as well if not better considering how much more bulky they are.

That seems to be the norm with good quality 1/4 ratchets. Air and manual. The drive end seems to snap off before the gearing goes out.

 

[methomas70]

You guys really should use a 1/2in impact next time you take lug nuts off!

 

[rtole]

I for one am impressed with snap on 1/4 in ratchet strength. I could bust any 1/4 in ratchet easy. They cant take much just due to size. 15 mm on a brake caliper bracket.........no problem. I would think most guys could. I dont see that as a big deal.

 

[IROC-Z28]

Not my tools his wanted to take a picture of the carnage, I think he had to loosen a motor mount bolt but the 3/8 was a bit fat, not entirely sure though.

All that matters is he got the job done

 

[ihateminimumwage]

...I think he had to loosen a motor mount bolt but the 3/8 was a bit fat, not entirely sure though.

There is a good reason why wrenches still exist...

 

[unashamedlaborer]

there is a good reason why wrenches still exist...

lmfao!!!

 

[3baygarage]

1/4 drive on motor mounts- that's stretching it a bit.

 

[MN4x4]

1/4 drive on motor mounts- that's stretching it a bit.

Not for a Prius!!!!

 

[Ruger_556]

1/4 drive on motor mounts- that's stretching it a bit.

You think? Heck, 1/2 drive is undersized for me... If you can't get the impact on it you're in for a trip.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

wondering what your co-worker does for a living??

 

[pfhWJ]

Ill ask him tomorrow but I think it was a lower motor mount on a 4 banger very little working room unless you take get a bunch of things out of the way, time is money.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Ill ask him tomorrow but I think it was a lower motor mount on a 4 banger very little working room unless you take get a bunch of things out of the way, time is money.

If he could fit a comfort grip non-flex ratchet in there, he could have just used a combination wrench.

Three broken ratchets is a far bigger waste of time (and money) than just using the right tool for the job, or removing a couple of things to make it easier.

 

[unashamedlaborer]

Ill ask him tomorrow but I think it was a lower motor mount on a 4 banger very little working room unless you take get a bunch of things out of the way, time is money.

I can't say that time isn't money, I turn a wrench for a living too, but at a certain point you have to assess the situation right? Let's see; I have four 1/4" ratchets and three have long handles. Sooooo after I break one if I'm feeling strong and I think it was just time maybe I'll try again, after I break two you better bet your *** I'm not going to go a day let alone a week without one waiting for the truck to come around. Right?!?

 

[zkling]

Wow

wondering what your co-worker does for a living??

Sound like tool stress testing.

 

[woodstockva]

Is the moral of this story that your coworker is stronger than three 1/4" ratchets or weaker than a Prius? hahaha

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

What a *****. People wonder why Snap On tools cost so much...........they have to factor in warranty claims from mouth breathers like this.

 

[Boiler]

Tool warranties are great. I can abuse multiple tools and break them without concern because someone else will pay for it. That's awesome.

Just because you can get money out of a business doesn't mean you should.

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

What a *****. People wonder why Snap On tools cost so much...........they have to factor in warranty claims from mouth breathers like this.

Where do you breathe out of?

What car was this guy working on? 4 banger or not. motor mounts are usually pretty snug. Was he trying to get the through bolt or loosen the bolts securing the mount to the engine or frame? Either way, most motor mounts I have seen have been in the 14mm range but most commonly 17mm. So 1/4 drive??? Was he using an adapter too?

 

[gungatim]

Tool warranties are great. I can abuse multiple tools and break them without concern because someone else will pay for it. That's awesome.

Just because you can get money out of a business doesn't mean you should.

How do you figure that's getting money out of a business? he paid for the lifetime warranty when he bought the tool...Do you not use your warranty on a new car when you buy one and it breaks down?

 

[Antique Engine]

What a *****. People wonder why Snap On tools cost so much...........they have to factor in warranty claims from mouth breathers like this.

Well said.

And why some tool dealers are difficult and grumpy to deal with. I'm sure a fair percentage of guys on their routes do this kind of stuff and expect happy, cheerful service when getting it warrantied.

 

[Antique Engine]

How do you figure that's getting money out of a business? he paid for the lifetime warranty when he bought the tool...Do you not use your warranty on a new car when you buy one and it breaks down?

When you break three ratchets in a row, it's the users fault not the tools fault. That's abuse.

If you took your wife's Honda Civic off roading and tore up the suspension it wouldn't be a legit warranty claim. You used it beyond what it was intended to be used. Same deal here.

 

[gungatim]

When you break three ratchets in a row, it's the users fault not the tools fault. That's abuse.

If you took your wife's Honda Civic off roading and tore up the suspension it wouldn't be a legit warranty claim. You used it beyond what it was intended to be used. Same deal here.

Not really, Honda has exclusions on their warranty, I haven't seen those exclusions on tools, ie. "Warranty excludes using ratchet on bolts larget than **"

I agree, he should not expect smiling service and may be an idiot, or could have been in a bind and did the best with what he had...either way, you pay extra for tool truck brands, you expect the warranty to be honored if it breaks. It's not like he accidently melted it with a torch or drove over it with a steam roller. It failed in its intended use, unscrewing a bolt with a socket designed to fit.

 

[Antique Engine]

Its a judgement call for sure. We all know you could adapt a 1/4" ratchet up to some large size and break it in seconds. Who knows what the original guy did exactly. I'd imagine the tool route men have formed an opinion about the guy's working habits. They know the guys who use tools properly and guys who expect warranty coverage on misused stuff.

Both manufacturers have a clause in their warranty against misused tools...

http://www1.snapon.com/display/termsofsale.nws

http://www.matcotools.com/CustomerCare/warranty.jsp

In my opinion, unless I was a real heavy hitter with my purchase volume on the man's truck, I'd expect a warranty in this case, but I'd imagine he'd be a bit more hesitant the next time.

 

[FriendOfYours]

That is abuse, pure and simple.

Three? THREE?

I'm hard on my tools but that is just retarded. It's almost like he broke one, said F it and broke the third for fun because he could. I have the AFR88T and it is a stout ratchet. I really hope he gets charged for the rebuild kits

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

So what tool did he use to finish the job?

 

[gungatim]

Its a judgement call for sure. We all know you could adapt a 1/4" ratchet up to some large size and break it in seconds. Who knows what the original guy did exactly. I'd imagine the tool route men have formed an opinion about the guy's working habits. They know the guys who use tools properly and guys who expect warranty coverage on misused stuff.

Both manufacturers have a clause in their warranty against misused tools...

http://www1.snapon.com/display/termsofsale.nws

http://www.matcotools.com/CustomerCare/warranty.jsp

In my opinion, unless I was a real heavy hitter with my purchase volume on the man's truck, I'd expect a warranty in this case, but I'd imagine he'd be a bit more hesitant the next time.

I stand corrected, seems like they can pretty much get out of any claim with ambiguitous language such as Abnormal, unreasonable, misuse, and overloaded...maybe he deserves one replacement and gets stuck with the other two...


"Abnormal use" includes misuse, accident, modification, unreasonable use, abuse, neglect, lack of maintenance, use in product-related service, or use after the product is significantly worn. Abnormal use of tool storage units also includes, without limitation, situations when a unit is pulled using a mechanical vehicle, rolled over large drops, used in a highly corrosive environment, used as a step stool, modified with non-Snap-on parts, overloaded or modified in any way.

seems like they can pretty much get out of any claim with ambiguitous language such as unreasonable misuse, and overloaded...

 

[sberry]

Three broken ratchets is a far bigger waste of time (and money) than just using the right tool for the job, or removing a couple of things to make it easier

This is simply put. 1 semi routine bolt, 3 tools and time between several people. The user is back where he started, still got to get the bolt out.

I have a but that travels for some work. Got a Cadillac and drives like a bat out of hell. Makes 40 an hour before takes, they pay milage, always timing it door to door to see if its 8 hrs or 8'20, I tell him, slow down 5 add 20 or 30 minutes and save 5 gallons, maybe more of fuel. Not to mention wear on the brakes from rushing up on everyone they gonna accelerate to pass. Cash money in the pocket.

 

[signcrafter]

How do you figure that's getting money out of a business? he paid for the lifetime warranty when he bought the tool...Do you not use your warranty on a new car when you buy one and it breaks down?

I do use my warranty on a new car, but I also don't abuse the piss out of it and expect someone else to warranty it. He broke THREE ratchets. At what point do you stop and say "maybe this tool isn't going to work and I need to figure out something else?" The tool he was using obviously wasn't the right one and he pushed it past it's limits, three times. That would be the same as redlining a brand new car in 1st gear and trashing it. Then grabbing another car and doing the same, then another. Then taking all three to the dealer and saying "fix it under warranty, even though it was my dumb *** that broke it." Good luck with that. Car manufacturers have had to build in rev limiters and other features to "idiot proof" cars because people pushed them past their limits and wanted them fixed, same as the OP is doing.

But ya warranties are great for guys that just want to break stuff for fun.

 

[joedodge]

I paid for a tool.....a lot for that tool and use and abuse them daily as a pro........I'll do anything I damn well please with them. I love the weekend warrior collectors criticizing his own choice of what to use

 

[mp23]

So what tool did he use to finish the job?

Im guessing a harbor freight 1/4 ratchet

 

[isr2kba]

I paid for a tool.....a lot for that tool and use and abuse them daily as a pro........I'll do anything I damn well please with them. I love the weekend warrior collectors criticizing his own choice of what to use

Amen.

That said, my wallet appreciates the viewpoint. Those folks who consistently, stubbornly refuse to push the limits of the tools they paid top dollar for have a depressive effect on the warranty claims figure. This lowers the cost of the tool on the truck.

Personally I would be embarrassed to present three broken 1/4 ratchets at once for warranty even if it serves the manufacturers right. In the old days of a 5 inch handle, they hardly ever failed.

 

[joedodge]

I agree stop at breaking one lol! I was just making a point lol