Acceptable and Unacceptable Harbor Freight Tools

[brianao34]

Word, I'll have a look. Also checked Amazon and they have some cheaper with good reviews.

How about any of the vacuum pumps on HF? I'm looking to get into this shit for my fleet. Shit gets 'spensive with 5 cars running around.

I would just get this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/air-vac...ors-96677.html


It's cheap, there are no moving parts, and it works great as long as you have a decent air compressor.

[slammin.e28]

I bought that once and returned it later, I remember something about the barb that's supposed to pierce the r-134a can wasn't long/sharp enough to puncture the can.

But for that I'd go to a local pawn shop and see what they have, there's always 3-4 manifold sets here.

Word, I'll have a look. Also checked Amazon and they have some cheaper with good reviews.

How about any of the vacuum pumps on HF? I'm looking to get into this shit for my fleet. Shit gets 'spensive with 5 cars running around.

[brianao34]

Anyone have experience with the AC gauges?

HF A/C Manifold Gauge Set

Got good reviews, but anyone with personal experience?

I bought that once and returned it later, I remember something about the barb that's supposed to pierce the r-134a can wasn't long/sharp enough to puncture the can.

But for that I'd go to a local pawn shop and see what they have, there's always 3-4 manifold sets here.

[slammin.e28]

Anyone have experience with the AC gauges?

HF A/C Manifold Gauge Set

Got good reviews, but anyone with personal experience?

[Eddie Haskell]

Locking ratchet extensions are iffy. The socket locking gizmo shits the bed and renders the extension unable to jam a socket on the extension. 3/8 and 1/2 species both crap out this way. Also the HF Strut Spring Compressor should have a Disclaimer in Bold Lettering Stateing. "If you use this impliment of bodily maiming you should never have children. There are enough dumbass's walking the Earth at present."

[AnimalE30]

Be Careful:

First time I used it, it worked great. The second time, a 1in section of the lower clamp part broke off. Sounded like a shot gun blast. I was lucky the chunk didn't hit me anywhere.

[chance]

I started a thread like this on another forum. Theres 20 pages of reviews there incase anyone wants to look through it.

I ALWAYS look up reviews of any HF tool before I buy it. Some of their stuff is awesome, some of it is total shit.

http://www.customfighters.com/forums/showthread.php?p=736755#post736755

[TimbyMaTombo]

I heeded the recommendation of the ball joint separator mentioned earlier and it worked very nicely for both CAs and Tie Rods. I didn't have a problem tightening the screw until it popped out, but that made it impossible to tell when it will happen and the loud pop startled me every time.... 

[brianao34]

Good:
Front Wheel Bearing Adapters

Added to Wishlist thanks.

[dougie30]

Torque wrench???

[jaywood]

Bump...

[karmatose]

Good:



The Front Wheel Bearing Adapters make doing the rear wheel bearings on the E30 a quick and painless job. The threaded rod that comes with it is a bit sketchy, but I had a machine shop turn down a new one for me. If your rear trailing arms are rusted to shit, I wouldn't even bother trying with the rod that it comes with because it will probably strip off.

Anyway, I think I got this thing for like $90 shipped with a 20% off coupon.

[brianao34]

That low profile ratchet looks awesome, I might go pick one up.

[mrsleeve]

^

I have found one use for that POS speed square for my line of work. Its a good way to double check a set up on a out of position/difficult position stand off, off set radiograph. The only part I use is the blade and the bisected 90* slid all the way to one end so it self centers on a piping butt weld, its not perfect but it will get you close enough to be with in the margins of error to get the exposure right 99% of the time.

Other than that the only other thing I have found to be of decent use from H/F is the basic hand tools.

[AndrewBird]

GOOD:

Nice and compact when folded up, but plenty big enough to reach into the back of the engine bay,


Combine this guy with the above and you will have a killer package. I did drill out the holes in the ends that the rod passes through though. With weight on it, it was rubbing there a bit and making things very hard to turn. I also welded a nut on the end on the handle side so I could use an electric drill to turn it.


This little guy is great. Super thin for a ratchet and multipurpose with both 3/8" and 1/4" drive.


Bought a 12" pair of these for cutting some stainless steel aircraft cable. Worked great.


Haven't really used this yet, but I got it on sale for a good price, so I figured what the heck. Used it to measure the different speeds on a drill press and small lathe I have. Seems to work fine.


BAD:
DO NOT buy this piece of crap. Absolute garbage.


Got one of these thinking it would be fine for home use. Not even close. Thing is junk.