Official Harbor Freight tools for your rig thread

[HAAANK]

broke it on my '02 540i/6
the same night i also broke a HF 1/2" to 3/8" "impact rated" adapter, twisted it clean off with my big milwaulkee impact, the CRAFTSMAN (old type) non-impact rated socket i was beating it it with held up fine...

same thing happened here with their 1/2" to 3/8" adapter, I got a few wheels and diff plugs off first though...

 

[93yotasr5]

Man, I use a ton of the HF stuff pretty regularly with great success.
I use the 3/8" and 1/2" torque wrenches. One broke on me but they swapped it out no questions asked.
The one thing that I have broke quite a few of is the wobble joints. but since they swap em out every time its all good.
Jackstands work great, the free sets of screwdrivers are in a tool bag in the truck, my car and an extra in the garage.
the race and bearing set posted previously is awesome especially when you get it on super special for like $25!
and of course my 12,000lb Badlands winch has not let me down!!
I also keep 2 different sets of wrenches in my trail bag ( rigid and ratcheting)
all in all Id say the newer HF products are better quality than any of my newer Crapsman stuff!

 

[e9999]

has anybody mentioned the surprisingly accurate -although sometimes in need of a minor tweak- *free* multimeters yet?

 

[NLXTACY]

My stupid HF calipers boned me HARD when I was making my extinguisher mounts. Accurate til about 1" then creeped out. Finally got my FAR betterer Mitutoyo.

 

[NLXTACY]

Alright alright I'll admit that their spot welder doesn't suck.

 

[tacosupreme]

The aluminum floor jack is ok. It lasted almost three years before puking it's guts out.
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton-aluminum-racing-floor-jack-with-rapidpump-68052.html

 

[NLXTACY]

The aluminum floor jack is ok. It lasted almost three years before puking it's guts out.
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton-aluminum-racing-floor-jack-with-rapidpump-68052.html

How funny, @Qball gave me this same jack. Worked fine for a friend's 911 tire change. I guess its better than the cheap Craftsman jack I have so

 

[Sherlocker]

So, none of you have had any problems with warranty on hand tools or electric tools? You just bring in said broken tool and they hand you a new one? No receipt necessary?

 

[93yotasr5]

has anybody mentioned the surprisingly accurate -although sometimes in need of a minor tweak- *free* multimeters yet?

dude these work better than my name brand meters!!!! i have like 5 of them

So, none of you have had any problems with warranty on hand tools or electric tools? You just bring in said broken tool and they hand you a new one? No receipt necessary?

Ive never brought in a receipt for a hand tool. as far as the electric tools go i am not sure.

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

Their really long (25"?) non-ratcheting breaker bar is a good buy even w/o coupon.

Indeed. The ratcheting one comes in handy too, and when i break the ratchet they just give me a new one. Lifetime warranty.

I also get a lot of mileage out of the HF locking extensions, and wobble extensions.

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

So, none of you have had any problems with warranty on hand tools or electric tools? You just bring in said broken tool and they hand you a new one? No receipt necessary?

Hand tools you just bring in the broken one and they give you a new one.

Power tools, you will need a receipt.

 

[Sherlocker]

OK, thanks for the clarification. Is there a certain line of their tools that are lifetime warranty or is everything on their shelves covered?

 

[goshenite]

Their 6" dual action polisher was recommended to me by a professional detailer as a Porter Cable alternative. It has been awesome. Much higher quality than what I'm used to getting from HF historically.

View attachment 1095222

^x2


...via IH8MUD app

 

[Dragos80]

Got a Pittsburgh torque wrench a while back off ebay when there was no HF around where I live. An expandable ratchet wrench, extensions (different sizes), wheel chocks for $6 each, 3-ton floor jack (regular non-aluminum).
I don't have any idea how accurate the torque wrench is. I never compared it to any other brand as I don't have any other one. Better than nothing.

I really don't think you can get specific tools for the TLC80 from HF. Metric tools will work just fine, but they will also work on a 60 or any European car. Probably the only 80 specific tool would be the 54mm socket. I really have no idea if any other LC uses it as never had any other model prior to my 80. Unfortunately HF does not carry the 54mm one.

Forgot to mention a creeper from HF which I tested already and it works a lot better than any blanket or piece of cardboard I have inside the garage.

 

[Dragos80]

I never warmed up to the design of their breaker bars. To me it looks like all the torque is resting on the pic that holds the swiveling head. It seems very loose and the U-shaped driver does not even come into contact with the shaft.
It just does not inspire confidence with me.

I like the Craftsman design better, where the shaft is U-shaped and the 1/2" driver fit snugly inside the "shaft ears".
Craftsman design

HF design. Plus the shaft tends to taper a lot at the end, where I think the sheering force is at the greatest point.

 

[DARKNESS]

For the most part, my philosophy is to buy things that have almost no moving parts from Harbor Freight. Breaker bars, some sockets, jack stands, ramps, race drivers, drifts, welding magnets, etc. Simple stuff like gear pullers are fine too.

I do have their 3/4" torque wrench because I couldn't justify buying a good one. Also got a timing light there.

For pretty much anything with a motor I shop at Toolking.com. They sell name brand refurb stuff at awesome prices. They had an outlet by my house and I shopped there almost exclusively until they went online only. That was a very sad day in my life.

 

[DARKNESS]

The universal Seal and bearing installation kit. Item 95853. $34.99

This is hands down my favorite HF tool.

 

[e9999]

I bought the 12 tons stands from them and no complaint but the thought of lying underneath some HF stuff-supported load does not make me want to come anywhere close to 12 tons of load... So I figured the truck is 3 tons so 1.5 tons on each end, 12 tons a la HF should be OK... Would not cut HF stands too close so to speak...

Also got a big travel jump battery box affair that has worked great the (few) times I used it. Now like 6 years old or so and still holding fine (I do desulfate it regularly though).

 

[Funner]

HF Impact Sockets are cheap and great. Their polished wrenches are dirt cheap and good enough to leave a whole set in truck. I just picked up the 3/4 Breaker bar and socket set to do the Crankshaft Bolt. Going to rope the bar to frame, say a prayer, and touch the starter. Should be exciting.

I did, less the prayer, and it worked fine.

 

[Mr Cimarron]

I've been collection wrenches, sockets, etc as they go on sale to leave in the truck. Their slim air hose has been great for airing up tires with the OBA compressor. Been eyeballing their snatch block waiting for it to go on sale.