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sbman

sbman

Supporting Vendor
Joined
Apr 19, 2015
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Julian, CA
A unicorn?

So I'm rebuilding my engine and had it out. Before i put all the other stuff in, radiator, shroud, battery tray, etc.. I want to change the power steering high pressure hose. I can't find a decent flare nut wrench locally. Bought the only thing I could find locally (a chinese POS from autozone), a double ended 17mm/18mm flare wrench and it promptly spread it's soft, crappy, pot-metal 'forged steel' jaws. To borrow someone else's line, I'm at my wits end here.

So I decided what I really needed was a crows foot style flare nut wrench made of high quality forged steel. Seems reasonable. Ordered a U.S. made 4130 forged steel set from Amazon because well, there are no other alternatives. I tried finding a snap-on truck, but evidently I'm not worthy and my money isn't good enough to talk to the tool gods at snap on. Same with cornwell. Just not worthy since I'm not a pro, I can order from websites and wait. Amazon guaranteed delivery today. Still hasn't shipped.

Any ideas? I just want to change the power steering hose and have a decent tool to do it with. I refuse to buy any more chinese POS tools with 'lifetime warranty'. I want a great tool with a crappy warranty, not a great warranty and a crappy tool. Warranties don't get the job done. I'll stop ranting now. My whole project held up by one stupid little ridiculously tight flare nut.

Any ideas where I might try looking?
 
in little villages in Pakistan, they make perfect copies of Broomhandles with a chunk of steel and a hand file... :idea:
 
mac or matco, search around for your local dealers and give em a call?

maybe you have an SK truck in your area?

Also maybe see about MSC or Grainger?
 
So amazon delivered on time. However, the tool prominently features 'USA' on the pictures but when received, no 'USA' marking and clearly made in taiwan (slight improvement over ROC). I'll try it out in the morning.

I'll try mac/matco/sk tomorrow and see if I can find a truck guy. It's so frustrating not to be able to buy good tools. Money isn't the issue, I'll pay the price, but the attitude seems to be that if you aren't a professional mechanic, you are beneath the real tool sales people. Sears sold out and the last few purchases I've made there are typical cheap crap that bends or breaks the first time you use it. The snap on website actually says that if you aren't a professional, you need to buy online. The superiority complex is astounding. I know I'm preaching to the choir. /rantover
 
maxamillion2345 said:
mac or matco, search around for your local dealers and give em a call?

maybe you have an SK truck in your area?

Also maybe see about MSC or Grainger?
Click to expand...

Good ideas. I searched Matco for a 'distributor' via their website and either there are none in san diego county (hard to believe) or since I didn't click the "I'm a professional" checkbox, they want me to order online only. MAC doesn't have a truck/dealer locator online for Mac/SK/etc... I'm in a reasonably large metropolitan area but can't find anyone willing to sell tools. Why should I pay tool truck prices to an online store? If I'm going to pay tool truck prices, I expect tool truck service. I'd love to have a go-to solution for the next tool I want to get quick and pricey, I'll keep looking.
 
Well... I don't have a ton of experience with different owners but from what I've seen and my own experiences, tool truck service varies wildly. Some dudes are happy to have anyone call and need a tool, some guys are assholes to everyone - pro or not. Sorry man, wish I could track you down a tool truck, that's pretty lame.

If you see one out and about they usually have their phone numbers on the side is all I can say.
 
When local sources fail I get stuff from McMaster-Carr. They have a sweet deal with UPS and I rarely have to wait more than 36 hours.
That's shipping NJ to VA.
 
They're used for reaching around obstacles
ImageUploadedByIH8MUD Forum1440042780.813362.webp
 
Go to a small mechanic or autobody shop and ask when their tool truck comes. My Podunk town of 60,000 has snap man/mat man stop a couple times a month at a friends autobody shop.
 
sbman said:
Bought the only thing I could find locally (a chinese POS from autozone), a double ended 17mm/18mm flare wrench and it promptly spread it's soft, crappy, pot-metal 'forged steel' jaws. To borrow someone else's line, I'm at my wits end here.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you've gotten this done but I have used cheap flare wrenches that would just spread apart. To get the job done I use a vise grip pliers to squeeze the end and give it a good rap with a hammer to break the flare nut loose. If I can get a vise grip pliers on the flare nut it hasn't failed me yet.
 
Various tools sites on the web to include snap-on, and many others. As noted ...if you want to buy local drive by local car dealer and see when the tool guy comes by....mac or snap-on. Otherwise the world is right on the internet...craftsman, sk, various others. Tool topia...etc Some specialty tools are hard to find and the tool truck may not have them on board.

Or like many others...put rear end in car and drive to nearest larger city...and buy a boatload of crap at one time...

Not many options where I live. I either buy crap on line or its 50miles to somewhere that might have it. I will get something from lowes or homedepot if they have what works and I'm in a hurry....not that great of quality in the mechanics stuff.
 
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