I wasn't aware the ratchet mechanism isn't covered by the warranty.
I'm guessing my local branch wasn't either, as they swapped mine no questions and didn't even ask for the receipt, which I had just in case.
- Thread starter winchman
- Start date
I'm guessing my local branch wasn't either, as they swapped mine no questions and didn't even ask for the receipt, which I had just in case.
It used to be that moving parts were excluded. It may be different for the "Advanced" (and I can't see any mention of them being excluded on the website looking now) but this was before they brought out/rebranded to Advanced (for a ratchet that was 10-15 years old being part of a set I received in '93).
Remind me to never get into a fight with any of you lot. You’re brutal 
I’ve had my3 foot snapon breaker bar for years and it’s as good as new.
In fact, the only tool I’ve ever broken was a snapon semi deep 13mm socket which had a 1/2” to 3/8” converter and the aforementioned breaker bar. Socket cracked. Snapon man replaced it without quibble.
I do like the Halfords professional tools though. Mrs DomDom bought me the big set back in 2002 and I still have all the pieces. Seen some service in 20 years. And their new 100 tooth ratchets are lovely, better than my snapon ones. They are such good value as well.
I’ve had my3 foot snapon breaker bar for years and it’s as good as new.
In fact, the only tool I’ve ever broken was a snapon semi deep 13mm socket which had a 1/2” to 3/8” converter and the aforementioned breaker bar. Socket cracked. Snapon man replaced it without quibble.
I do like the Halfords professional tools though. Mrs DomDom bought me the big set back in 2002 and I still have all the pieces. Seen some service in 20 years. And their new 100 tooth ratchets are lovely, better than my snapon ones. They are such good value as well.
snap on have replaced my 3/8" breaker bar twice, both times the handle broke where the pivot screw is, although they definitely don't cover as much as their prices would suggest.
Lets see, the aforementioned ratchet (that I *utterly* abused), 17mm spanner (broken by a friend at Uni[1]), 3/8->1/4 adaptor (while I was using it to get a whole heap more leverage and giving it some welly there it was only an M6 bolt ffs) and a couple of torx bits.
Not too bad really in ~30 years.
[1] Don't know how he did it but he bought me a replacement rather than just get it swapped... So now I have 2 of them!
Not too bad really in ~30 years.
[1] Don't know how he did it but he bought me a replacement rather than just get it swapped... So now I have 2 of them!
winchman
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But they have none to replace it with?
Melvyn Best
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Back in the late 70s a workmate brought ( or is that bought?) a new Snap On 1/2” breaker bar , the first nut it was used on it broke, the dealers van was still in the car park. Around the same time I brought a 3/8 drive long handled swivel headed ratchet, about 6 years ago I complained to our dealer the pivot was warn only to be told wear was not covered but breakages were. 2 minutes later it was broken and a new one supplied . Nearly 40 years old so can’t complain
Edward Teach
pre-moderated
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My 24" Snap On Breaker bar has been replaced twice, by Snap On over the 30 years I have owned it.
First replacement had a re-designed swivel end iirc, the end spread, due to only being a pin, not a screw,
The second twisted the 1/2" end off
, but they replaced the whole thing 
edit: I have a cheapie 3/4" drive to abuse now, with the larger 3/4" drive sockets
One thing you can say about Snap On,
They do stand by their word for broken kit.
.
AVI_8
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I bought the Halfords professional set after watching the guy at a local wheel alignment centre hanging his body weight off of a half inch ratchet, he said he’d been unable to break it, they’ve come a long way from the chocolate stuff they used to sell.
I need a couple of torque wrenches and the Halfords ones came out very highly on a comparison review I read recently.
I need a couple of torque wrenches and the Halfords ones came out very highly on a comparison review I read recently.
not done it yet
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Obvious to me. When the tool dies, the warranty ends.
It’s dead so ‘lifetime’ has ended!
Too many use ratchets to tighten and loosen fixings - it’s not what they are designed for, so they are very often abused, not used. Using a ratchet instead of a breaker bar is moronic, IMO - apart from my 1” Britool ratchet (without a piece of pipe on it) which will defeat me quite easily.
I’ve ‘spiralled’ 1/2” extension bars before now. But never a Britool one.
It’s dead so ‘lifetime’ has ended!Too many use ratchets to tighten and loosen fixings - it’s not what they are designed for, so they are very often abused, not used. Using a ratchet instead of a breaker bar is moronic, IMO - apart from my 1” Britool ratchet (without a piece of pipe on it) which will defeat me quite easily.
I’ve ‘spiralled’ 1/2” extension bars before now. But never a Britool one.
Kayos
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Snap on flat refused to swap or fix my very expensive 1/4 drive ratchet, never abused or used on anything except small fasteners
Did a post mortem and I believe the ratchet assembly was poor quality from the start, it never felt as good as other ratchets tbh
The 1/2" Halfords Pro ratchet, that is over 20 years old, has been abused and abused, you can see where it has been used as a hammer many times has never needed repairing or replacing
Did a post mortem and I believe the ratchet assembly was poor quality from the start, it never felt as good as other ratchets tbh
The 1/2" Halfords Pro ratchet, that is over 20 years old, has been abused and abused, you can see where it has been used as a hammer many times has never needed repairing or replacing
AVI_8
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I’ve never heard of them until you mentioned them.
I see they do torque multipliers also, another tool on my want list
Melvyn Best
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Mine has been replaced, not because it broke but one of my customers were some sort of forensic /insurance investigators ,they asked if I had a specific part number Snap On breaker bar that they could have if they replaced mine with the latest offering from Snap On . The weren’t allowed to talk about any of their cases
Farside
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That, in spades.
mtt.tr
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Obvious to me. When the tool dies, the warranty ends.
Too many use ratchets to tighten and loosen fixings - it’s not what they are designed for, so they are very often abused, not used. Using a ratchet instead of a breaker bar is moronic, IMO - apart from my 1” Britool ratchet (without a piece of pipe on it) which will defeat me quite easily.
I’ve ‘spiralled’ 1/2” extension bars before now. But never a Britool one.
Erm, yes and no.
They designed to take the load a normal 200lbs gorilla can exert.
A 24" 1/2" ratchet will with no complaint take the full force at the handle of an average ape.
What it wont take is excessive force,the notion they are not fit for tightening and loosening is utter nonsense.
Torque wrenches are not to be used for loosening/ exerting beyond the click as it can damage / ruin it's calibration
James1979
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This.
