Advice On A Few Tools I'm Looking At

[kyepan 291]

Hi there,

 

I'm looking at a few tools to add to my collection, usually i'm very fussy but just need to cover the bases in this instance.

 

Need a breaker bar long enough to help my weak arms undo hub nuts

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-pro230-1-2-drive-breaker-bar

 

Small torque wrench for bits

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/040210674

 

Larger torque wrench for suspension components and hub nuts.

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cht141-1-2in-drive-torque-wrench

 

What do you guys think?

My issue is, delivery to my home / work address is a mare, or i would go online, but i have a local machine mart that i can go to. I would usually go for something like this http://www.primetools.co.uk/product/109286

 

but am a bit stuck.

 

Cheers

J

[chipstick 382 1 Cars]

I'd be interested to hear the feedback regarding the torque wrenches at that price. I always assumed that a cheap wrench would lose it's calibration quite quickly. But if it would be sufficient for the average DIY'er I am all ears. I personally had my eye on one of the Halfords torque wrenches as they aren't badly priced on trade. More expensive, and you can also obviously collect from Halfords. Around £60 I think they are, but could be worth the extra.

[Ryan 99]

The 1/2 torque wrench covers an odd range. Normally they're 40-200 lb.ft (-ish). 154 lb.ft is the max on the one you posted, which isn't high enough for things like the hub nuts.

[welshpug 1,657]

most torque wrenches wont cover a range wide enough to do hub nuts tbh, the cheap ones I would avoid as they don't last very long, get something like the more expensive item linked to that can be re-calibrated, MAC, Snapon, sykes etc, the halfords Pro torque wrenches are decent.

 

breaker bar is a good idea, I have one that length too.

[Alan_M 66 1 Cars]

Do Halfords still offer lifetime warranty on their Proffessional range? If so, then that's a good reason to buy their stuff.

[welshpug 1,657]

they do indeed, and it looks like this one goes just high enough for hub nuts http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_178621_langId_-1_categoryId_165469

 

and this will cover anything lower http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_178843_langId_-1_categoryId_165469

[niagra 3]

I have a 3 foot scaffold bar that does the job as a breaker bar!

 

If you're buying Clarke tools from Machine Mart, wait for one of their regular VAT off promotions that they do on Clarke products.

[kyepan 291]

the halfords ones look like re-branded sykes ones! and unfortunately I need a breaker bar this week!

 

Cheers

J

[Anthony 1,003]

Given how many of them I've broken over the years, I wouldn't consider buying a Halfords breaker bar.

 

Yes, they get replaced (although they've started getting funny about it without receipts again) but that's not really the point as it's still a massive inconveience it breaking in the first place, usually halfway through a job that means the car isn't driveable.

 

Most of the rest of their Professional range tools I think highly of though.

[MiniGibbo 142]

Ive got a clarke 1/4" torque wrench for spark plugs as i didnt see the point in buying a britool one (which i have in 1/2") and its ok...

[Mad Scientist 106]

I've got one of those breaker bars. I've had a 6 foot scaffold bar on it and hung my whole body weight off the end. It's still in one piece!

 

Torque wrench wise, a cheapo like that is fine for suspension parts IMO. Having said that, if you flag down a snap on van you might be surprised at the deal you can get on decent tools. I've done it a few times and got cracking deals.

[niagra 3]

Machine Mart are having one of their VAT free Clarke tools sale until July 16th.

[Darrens205GTI 10]

I've had one of the Clarke 1/2" Breaker bar's for a few years now and it has not let me down yet, it flexes a bit but has coped well with both my Saab 9-5 and Kit Car (Sierra) Hub bolts with no worries, I had to get my mate to stand on the end of it and bounce for the Saab. It's also handy for wheel nuts when the Neanderthals at the tyre fitters have gunned the wheel nut's on when I haven't been looking.

[MiniGibbo 142]

even though i have a compressor and windy gun i really want one of the clarke 12v guns for wheel swops as theyre meant to be great and its such a ballache to set up the compressor.

[ALEX 98 1 Cars]

The home mechanic is just showing off with expensive tools like Snap-on IMO

Nice to have, but it's a bit like buying a petol driven lawn mower to cut a 5 foot square peice of grass.

 

The calibration of those Clarke ones will last as long as an expensive one so don't worry about that, The ratchet heads might feel cheep and notchy though.

 

I got my torque wrenches from Amazon

Draper seems to be a good value.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-34570-88-5-708-Inch-Pounds-Ratchet/dp/B0001K9T2O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1341739374&sr=8-2.

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-30357-Micrometer-Adjustment-Torque/dp/B0001K9S52/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1341739374&sr=8-3

Edited July 8, 2012 by ALEX

[welshpug 1,657]

The home mechanic is just showing off with expensive tools like Snap-on IMO

 

not at all, things like torque wrenches don't last long at all if they're cheap, the past 5 years I have had a few £30 ones stop working properly, a second hand MAC tools for me from now on, they don't cost that much more.