I keep breaking 1/2 ratchets on my lug nuts.

[Hay Dude]

 

[Too many Kubotas]

One thing many fall for is bypassing a stubborn nut, loosening all but that one.

Well, if it was hard to turn before, now it really is when the two next to it aren't helping push the wheel center in.

 

[mllud]

View attachment 3228191

I'm Guilty

 

[redleg105]

harbor freight and craftsman have broken on me getting lug nuts loose. I am rough with them using a 6 ft pipe.

I do have a impact driver maybe that will work better.

Sounds crazy but might be left hand thread

 

[stuckmotor]

The only American made Craftsman socket I remember breaking was on a lug nut, with a breaker bar. I think they were called flex handles back then. I never broke an American made Craftsman ratchet.

 

[Bentrim]

Back in the early 70's I got tired of trying to chase down the shops 3/4 drive. The Snap on found a sucker because I bought a 3/4 drive set. Glad it was then and not now.$$$$$$
Had a fellow bring in a tire/wheel with the lug holes wallowed out and wanted a new wheel and the tire changed. The drive tire on a combine "only" 10 ply -- awfully stiff. Well a week later he was back for the same thing. Asked him what he was using to tighten the bolts and he pulled out a 1/2 ratchet. Told him that was not enough, he said any tighter and the bolts would twist off. Took my 3/4 ratchet with the long handle (about 4 foot) and demonstarted it with a machine on the lot. Then I told him I would lend him my ratchet and to tighten the lugs that I really did not want to change those tires anymore. Yes the ratchet came back and no more tires to change. The ratchet handle now has a slight bow from all the years use.
Had a tractor with 1" bolts in the drawbar so I bought a torque multiplyer 250 ft lb 1/2 drive in 1000 ft lb3/4 drive out. Just needed a good prop for the reaction bar.

 

[Cycledude]

Never broke a ratchet of any brand but I have never attempted to use a 6 foot cheater bar on a ratchet, seems like doing something like that is simply asking for trouble.

 

[boblamp]

harbor freight and craftsman have broken on me getting lug nuts loose. I am rough with them using a 6 ft pipe.

I do have a impact driver maybe that will work better.

Wrong tool for the job. Ratchets are never intended to break loose nuts and bolts. You should be using a a breaker bar, a LUG NUT WRENCH or an impact driver. Also, if you use an impact driver, it should NEVER be used to tighten the lug nuts. Your manual will specify the torque specs, you should be using a torque wrench to secure the lug nuts.

 

[WinterDeere]

Wrong tool for the job. Ratchets are never intended to break loose nuts and bolts. You should be using a a breaker bar, a LUG NUT WRENCH or an impact driver. Also, if you use an impact driver, it should NEVER be used to tighten the lug nuts. Your manual will specify the torque specs, you should be using a torque wrench to secure the lug nuts.

If only someone had said that, somewhere in the 18 preceeding pages!

 

[90cummins]

Dry rusty fasteners can be very difficult to install & remove. A dry fastener will often not torque up smoothly often resisting torque then snapping loose as more torque is applied which can be painful and break tools.
I always clean & lubricate my lug nuts or screws before assembly.
I always use a torque wrench when installing wheels.
Torque specs are generally for clean dry fasteners so I reduce the torque setting to avoid over torquing.
90cummins