Learned Something New About Harbor Frieght

[Tractor Seabee]

Always room to learn. I have an old HF 16 speed bench model drill press. This was made back when HF was "Central Purchasing Inc". Even have the instruction manual from then, no date. As HF does not put their address on their web site not sure of their location. Back then it was in Camarillo CA.

I was having problems adjusting the belts (still the originals); the manual was hopelessly short on tech info. Decided to look at the current model HF sells and downloaded that manual. Lo and behold the current model is identical to the one I have. All the parts appear the same. That manual gave me all the info i needed and 10 min later back in operation.

Goes to show when you have a winner don't change horses in the middle of the stream just to be doing it.

Ron

 

[Alan W.]

Seems like every time I have a need for parts they tell me that model is no longer manufactured and all parts are obsolete. Maybe I just have old crap. Glad it worked out for ya.

 

[crazyal]

To be honest their winners are actually someone else's winners they copied. Usually they only change the design when it looks like they can save money. For example they use to sell a 10" tile saw that was a direct copy of the MK. A number of years ago they changed the design. It had an electric motor that drove the saw blade with a belt. It was all metal construction. The current version has what looks like a circular saw mounted on an arm. Lots of plastic.

 

[birdsnest]

I can only say"Ride em cowboy". You are speaking of a learned experience. Age and wisdom.

 

[TractorGuy]

I had an old Speedway metal band saw sold by Homier that chewed up the brass spur gear. I looked at the parts for the HF saw and it looked the same so I ordered the gear from them. It was almost the same but had an extended boss. I carefully cut the boss down with my reciprocal saw and it worked. HF didn't have the gear box seal so I found one by size on eBay.

In other news I just got a reply from HF on my email inquiry. I asked if I could get fewer emails from them but continue to get coupons. I told them I didn't need all the spam and reminders for the same sale event. I seem to get 4 to 8 emails a week from them. Their answer was NO. No way to limit.

 

[crazyal]

I had an old Speedway metal band saw sold by Homier that chewed up the brass spur gear. I looked at the parts for the HF saw and it looked the same so I ordered the gear from them. It was almost the same but had an extended boss. I carefully cut the boss down with my reciprocal saw and it worked. HF didn't have the gear box seal so I found one by size on eBay.

In other news I just got a reply from HF on my email inquiry. I asked if I could get fewer emails from them but continue to get coupons. I told them I didn't need all the spam and reminders for the same sale event. I seem to get 4 to 8 emails a week from them. Their answer was NO. No way to limit.

My Gmail account just sends them to the promotions tab. I almost never read them. If they have an unusual coupon then that'll be in the title so I'll know about it without having to open up the email. The real thing that bothers me is that it's always the same stuff on sale.

 

[MossRoad]

Anytime I'm in line at HF I pull up my cell phone and call up harbor freight free coupons and show them the coupon for a free flashlight or screwdriver and give then to my kids, or throw one in a glovebox, toolbox, junk drawer, car trunk, ice fishing bucket, tackle bucket, boat, etc... i bet i have a dozen of them at least. :laughing: