Date:         Sun, 13 Jun 2010 07:06:27 -0500
Reply-To:     Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Subject:      Re: Big tools for your big nuts; was RE: Why my rear axle nuts
              got loose
Comments: To: Rob <becida@COMCAST.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2010061221535146@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

I guess one advantage of the 12 point socket in this case is that
with a 6 point socket, you will only have 6 positions in which to set
the initial angle of the breaker bar for loading; ie one every 60
degrees.  With a 12 point, you would have 12 positions(one every 30
degrees) in which to obtain the desired horizontal loading of the
breaker bar and cheater pipe.  I prefer the flex handle 3/4" drive as
it allows me to angle the tool out away from the fender and a simple
shroud of pvc pipe will protect the body paint from chafing.  Using a
3/4" extension with a non-mobile breaker bar I guess would work too,
but I'd worry about leverage issues, not to mention the added cost of
the extension.

I don't have Harbor Phobia when it comes to buying tools, as a
majority of my traveling tool kit that is stuffed into a 50 cal. Army
ammo box came from Harbor Freight and it was cheap to put together
and will cover 90 percent of what I'd need to do on the road.  I
personally have found farm auctions to be a great source of US made
tools for not a lot of money if Ebay bidding gets too rich for your blood.

YMMV

DM&FS

At 08:41 PM 6/12/2010, Rob wrote:
>Big sockets from Sears with the Craftsman guarantee
>http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00974503000P?keyword=46mm+socket&prdNo=7&blockNo=7&blockType=G7
>46mm 1" drive $48
>http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00974467000P?keyword=46mm+socket&prdNo=8&blockNo=8&blockType=G8
>46mm 3/5 drive $51
>
>I buy tools from Harbor Freight (the store, not the catalog) and
>usually find nothing wrong with them, my breaker bars for the lug
>nuts are from HF and the sockets from Sears (a new Craftsman 19mm
>socket was the same price as one from the local pawn shop), I was not
>able to get the single correct socket (6pt) from HF.
>  I generally buy the best tool I can afford when I need it & I don't
>fear HF tools.
>
>Rob
>becida@comcast.net
>
>
>At 6/12/2010 11:48 AM, Thomas Buese wrote:
>>On Jun 12, 2010, at 12:30 PM, neil n wrote:
>>
>>>On Sat, Jun 12, 2010 at 8:52 AM, Robert Fisher <garciasghostvw@gmail.com
>>> > wrote:
>>>>--snip--
>>>>This is one set of tools that I would NOT buy at Harbor Freight.
>>>>--snip--
>>>>
>>>>That's probably exactly what I _would_ do, given the price, the
>>>>lifetime
>>>>warranty and the fact that I would rarely use these things. This
>>>>Harbor
>>>>Freight set
>>>>
>>>>http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/sockets-accessories/21-piece-metric-
>>>>3-4-quarter-inch-heavy-duty-socket-set-5494.html
>>>>
>>>>is $50. A 46mm socket alone from Snap On or Craftsman is $60. I'm
>>>>not paying
>>>>that kind of money for a single-application use-twice-in-lifetime
>>>>tool.
>>
>>Really, I have a Crapsman, I mean Craftsman 46 mm & I don't remember
>>paying anywhere near $60 for it?  I'll treat it w/ more respect now if
>>I did!
>>
>>YMMV,