is the Craftsman 10 in. Breaker Bar Good? 3/8in drive

how about the Craftsman 6 in. Breaker Bar Good? 1/4 in drive

 

QUick question........

When I need a BREAKER BAR....... I REALLY NEED IT!

So why use a 1/4 or 3/8 breaker? 10 years ago I purchased a 1/2 drive craftsman breaker and at times have added a 3 ft' piece of pipe to that! LOL! GREAT breaker BAR!

Unless you need the smaller size for a tight location I wouldn't think about the smaller size.

Matter a fact, last week I just bought a 1" breaker for the FUN of it!

You could technically add a reducer fitting (1/2 to 3/8) to use smaller socket sizes.

 

Same here, I have a 1/2 drive breaker bar that has not failed me yet, but if it does I will be in the market for 1" bad boy. Sometimes bigger is better. Cheers!!

 

1/2'' breaker bar is the way to go.i have a 24'' long 1/2'' cornwell breaker bar that get's the job done.

 

Yes, I have both the 3/8 and 1/4 Craftsman breaker bars.

I use them where a rachet won't fit, or where I need to break a fitting loose with a crows foot. Bigger is not always better. I would suggest a slide bar for 1/4" work as it fits your hand to twist fasteners out with your wrist.

 

Last week I broke a 3/4 in extension trying to break lose the lugs on my drive axle of my 94 Pete. Needless to say, they were not that tight after I changed the tires on that side. Had a 6 ft piece of pipe on end of the wrachet and put a slight curve in a snap on 3/4 drive wrachet and broke the sk extension. Took a blue wrench to loosen lugs to get them off!!!

mr dave

 

well, latelly, weve broke 2 dif 1/2 inch braker bars, a craftsman and a snapon. the craftsman twisted the head off, and the snapon, broke the swivel pin. both on a hub nut on a ford probe. still stuck on the car too. at work, ive seen 1" breaker bars, "break". it all depends on how your gonna use it if you think its any good.

 

Interesting, I broke 2 different 1/2 breaker bars taking the front hub nut off a ford probe!.. sears replaced them no problem, and I bought a 1 in drive breaker and a 1 in drive socket for the hub nut, and with the jack handle as extra handle length the nut finally came off..

In both cases the 1/2 drive head twisted off.

Sam

 

I have a 1/4" drive breaker (I think it is an S/K), a 3/8" and 1/3" drive Craftsman and a 3/4" slide bar Cornell. It is better to use the breaker bar that works with whatever size socket you are using rather than adapting down the larger bar to work with the smaller socket. I've broken a number of 3/8" universals and sockets using a larger bar with the smaller sockets. A 1/4" drive breaker will find alot of use in a vehicle, especially in the interior of the car trying to break small fastners found in the dash free.

 

I have both Craftsman bars. Rarely do I use the 3/8 but the 1/4 comes in handy when clearance is a problem and you don't want a ratcheting action. Most of the time when a breakerbar is required i resort to my 24"Snap-on 1/2 drive with plastic grip or the 3/4 drive ratchet. Rarely do I adapt down to the socket.
Tip: to avoid the impact on your hands when breaking a large bolt/nut and it "chatters" put one of those foam bicycle grips on the handle, works like the gel in the mechanics gloves.

 

> taking the front hub nut off a ford probe

FWIW: I believe there is a detent you have to pound out with a chiesel that locks the nut to the axle. The nut is only put on at less then 200 ft pounds and comes off easily with an impact gun.

A 1/2 breaker bar with 24 inches is good for about 250-300 pounds. If you need more torque you should move up to 1" if you need four feet or more of handle.

re:short breaker bar

Can't speak for the Craftsman, but, I have other short breaker bars and they are pretty much useless and I hardly ever use them. What is very handy is a sliding T bar in 3/8 and 1/2 sizes. I get much more use out of those and you can use them as a breaker bar (light use) if you choose.

 

yeah, on the probe issue, not sure wat was up with that, we got the tab pounded out before we even started. had to use a one inch socket and ratchet. sucker was tight

 

Craftsman has a lifetime warranty, so even if it does break, you can get it replaced for free.