HF 3/4" socket set

[kossetx]

Anyone ever use a HF 3/4" socket set? I don't need anything that big very often, usually only with the bolts on a shreader. With 15% off it is only 34.00, but will it last past the first heavy use?

 

[JRobyn]

Got one in SAE and one in metric; no complaints. I do NOT expect them to be snap-on quality or tough. I recently used it to remove my bushhog blades. Put a 7ft long piece of pipe on the breaker bar/extension/socket and both wife and I pulled for about all we were worth. I fully expected something to break. First nut came off fine, second one broke the socket end of the extension. Used the shorter extension and it came off OK. I figure the local store will replace the extension for me once I get time to get back there.

 

[RobJ]

I think the set is fine but it didn't have a 1 11/16" that I needed for my BH blades. 1 3/4 probably ok but I passed at $50. Probably not have passed with your coupon.

 

[roxynoodle]

I haven't bought it, but I asked about it not long ago and several people said they use it and have no complaints. I, too, wouldn't need a set that big very often but at $34, I'd buy it.

 

[hans2]

I tried to use the 1 1/4" socket from the 3/4" Harbor Freight set to remove the tail wheels from a Ferguson hay rake but the socket slipped on the nut. I switched over to a 1 1/4" socket from a 1/2" Harbor Freight impact set and the nut came off. I was only using about a 12" bar.

 

[Soundguy]

I have a hf sae / metric set.. I've had a 4' cheater pipe ont he breaker bar.. I ran out of arm long before they even got well worked over. I simply can't imagine breaking the bar or a socket with my puny arms.

soundguy

 

[Deerlope]

Don't plan on the racthet lasting very long. After 10 uses mine now slips.

 

[Dargo]

Oh, oh, get this, I have a set from there that is clearly stamped "China", but I haven't been able to break any by hand. I bought a 3/4 set and 1" set from HF back when I had a dozer and a backhoe. I'm a fairly stout guy and can rather easily break 1/2" tools by hand if I don't watch it. However, it must take a real animal to break a 3/4" socket or ratchet. I don't use any cheater bar. If I do, I'm sure I'd be asking for trouble. I still have a Craftsman 1/2" ratchet with the 1/2" nub part broken right off at the head from when I used it to try to take some lug nuts off of an old VW Karmann Ghia I had. Using a good 6 pt. impact socket with the Craftsman ratchet I was actually picking the rear wheel of the Ghia off the ground trying to break the bolts loose that were on the wheel.

So, in all fairness, I have to admit that I am pleased with the 3/4" and 1" sockets and ratchets I bought there. If I had to use them every day for a living, I may buy more expensive and better ones, but for my needs they work fine.

Dang that hurts; twice in one week I talk about being satisfied with something from HF....

*edit*
I have used a cheater bar in the past. I was using a 2" breaker bar that was about 4' long to try to take off a 6" nut. It wasn't happening. I used a 6' cheater bar and two other guys to break them loose. Ever seen a 6" nut? I can post a pic of one. I kept one that came off that dragline. I use it as an anvil when I don't want to chance breaking my Peter Wright anvil.

 

[kennyd]

Dang that hurts; twice in one week I talk about being satisfied with something from HF....

You better be careful...or you may find yourself in HF to buy some chains

 

[Dargo]

You better be careful...or you may find yourself in HF to buy some chains

Ouch! Man, that is a low blow! I'd better crawl off and hide before you guys get me on their mailing list...

 

[TBDonnelly]

Ouch! Man, that is a low blow! I'd better crawl off and hide before you guys get me on their mailing list...

I think they already have your number.

Don

 

[markct]

i have found that with chinese tools its sorta one of those go with your gut feeling things, weather its harbor freight or homier etc. i have a set of impact sockets from homier that are as nice as most any usa brand, and have held up well to alot of severe use, you couldnt tell there chinese if they wernt stamped, last time they came to town a friend of mine bought the same set, same price same part number, they are junk, dont fit nuts well, look like they were finished to size with a belt sander and he already has split one trying to take some bolts outa the cutting edge on his dozer. i realy think that with chinese tools ya gota look them over each one, thats why i dont like mail ordering chinese stuff, ya never know what ya will get

 

[Brad_Blazer]

I have the metric set. So far it has removed 2 sets of bush hog blades among other odd jobs. I used a 3' cheater on the ratchet - the breaker was too tedious. No problems yet. Can't comment too much on fit but the metrics were a good fit on the SAE bush hog nuts. The ratchet originally didn't ratchet well - it would catch on the return. I took it apart and couldn't find anything obvious. It seems to be getting better with use. Those Pittsburgh tools have a liftime warranty from HF - has anybody returned one with good results?

 

[Soundguy]

*edit*
I have used a cheater bar in the past. I was using a 2" breaker bar that was about 4' long to try to take off a 6" nut. It wasn't happening. I used a 6' cheater bar and two other guys to break them loose. Ever seen a 6" nut? I can post a pic of one. I kept one that came off that dragline. I use it as an anvil when I don't want to chance breaking my Peter Wright anvil.

I've got some 4" nuts in the shop that we used a harbor freight 3/4" breaker bar on, and used a special socket to remove. Used a section of cheater pipe and 2 men hanging on it to break them suckers loose. Have done the same with 3" and various 2+" hyd cyl gland nuts... ( probably the hardest to remove I've seen.. )

Soundguy

 

[patrick_g]

I too have a history of breaking things when I really "get into it" and rarely use a cheater. I was taught that I should use the right tool and not a piece of pipe on a small tool. I rarely use a cheater. I have had the 3/4 drive set marked CHINA for about 10 years and although it may be possible to strip a socket I haven't had any problem. Sometimes the detent doesn't hold a socket securely enough or can be hard to pop it off but this is a minor nuisence. After you wield the ratchet for a while you realize what the difference is between cheap tools and expensive tools.... weight! If you use a high strength alloy you don't have to make the tool so heavy. These tools are strong by virtue of using enough material. I recommend them for their price and function but if I were trying to make a living with tools to fit these sizes I'd be buying lighter ones made of more expensive stronger alloy Again, I have had absolutely no problem with mine in 10 years except messing up one of the catches on the red box they came in. Patrick

 

[Dargo]

I've got some 4" nuts in the shop that we used a harbor freight 3/4" breaker bar on, and used a special socket to remove. Used a section of cheater pipe and 2 men hanging on it to break them suckers loose. Have done the same with 3" and various 2+" hyd cyl gland nuts... ( probably the hardest to remove I've seen.. )

Soundguy

Just for the record, here is a pic of a 6" grade 8 nut. How many of you guys have 6" nuts? I forgot what the torque setting was for proper tightness. In the second pic, although I've shrunk some with age, you'll see that 17" biceps on a 6' cheater bar will not break this nut!

As I said, I can break a lot of things, but not a 2" drive set or 6" nuts! As I also said, I have never used a cheater bar, but without one I have not managed to break the 3/4" drive HF cheapo set. However, there's no way in you know where that a 1" HF drive set would break loose 6" nuts torqued down to thousands of pounds!

 

[Soundguy]

I think you may be missing some of the point. Just because a person used a cheater pip on a breaker bar does not automatically mean he is using the wrong tool, or he is using too small of tools.

The rear axle nuts on a ford 8n take 450ft# to torque properly. Seings as how i weight a tad less than 200 #.. It would be folly to think the standard 18" breaker bar + my arm will equal 450#. Thus about a 4' cheater pipe comes out, and then a good grunt which almost lifts me off the ground is pretty close.

I wouldn't subject a 1/2" drive set to that.. however the 3/4 set takes it in stride.

Soundguy

I too have a history of breaking things when I really "get into it" and rarely use a cheater. I was taught that I should use the right tool and not a piece of pipe on a small tool. I rarely use a cheater. I have had the 3/4 drive set marked CHINA for about 10 years and although it may be possible to strip a socket I haven't had any problem. Sometimes the detent doesn't hold a socket securely enough or can be hard to pop it off but this is a minor nuisence. After you wield the ratchet for a while you realize what the difference is between cheap tools and expensive tools.... weight! If you use a high strength alloy you don't have to make the tool so heavy. These tools are strong by virtue of using enough material. I recommend them for their price and function but if I were trying to make a living with tools to fit these sizes I'd be buying lighter ones made of more expensive stronger alloy Again, I have had absolutely no problem with mine in 10 years except messing up one of the catches on the red box they came in. Patrick

 

[Dargo]

What Chris...no comment about my 6" nuts?

 

[flusher]

I think they already have your number.

Don

I have the HF 1/2" socket set that I use on my Kubota B7510HST to remove the large HST screen filter. No problem using a 2-ft cheater pipe on the ratchet.

Used the 1/2" drive and a 15/16" socket to remove the fenders from the 1966 MF-135 that I recently bought and am now servicing and getting ready to paint. A little PB Blaster, a 3-ft cheater pipe and the job was done.

I really should use a 1/2" drive breaker bar instead of the ratchet for this kind of stuff. HF has a 25" long bar for 15 bucks

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

 

[IslandTractor]

What Chris...no comment about my 6" nuts?

I dunno Dargo but most people with holes in their nuts wouldn't be seeking public commentary on their misfortune . Besides, Soundguy's four foot cheater is more likely to inspire shock and awe if not envy.