So I've broken two 3/4" drive breaker bars now. It may be time to go the 1" drive.

I don't have any receipts for these, what do you think my chances are of getting the local Sidchrome dealer to replace these under warranty? I fear that they may say that the tools have been misused, but how can you mistreat 3/4" drive gear? It's pretty big stuff.

Unless they can prove you were using them wrong they have a lifetime warranty. Take them to Repco.

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remo81 said..




So I've broken two 3/4" drive breaker bars now. It may be time to go the 1" drive.

I don't have any receipts for these, what do you think my chances are of getting the local Sidchrome dealer to replace these under warranty? I fear that they may say that the tools have been misused, but how can you mistreat 3/4" drive gear? It's pretty big stuff.

Post a photo showing the breakage, particularly the both sides of the broken pieces. Can tell you if its crook by what this looks like

Yep . They are covered by lifetime warranty , had plenty of sidchrome tools break and all have been replaced , even my 3/4" drive ratchet that had 5 foot of pipe on the handle when it broke.

Mineral here you go.

Top left has had an issue before it broke by the looks.

They have both broken where there is a sharp change in section. All students of engineering should see this as an example that a radius is important.

I was looking at the contamination in the break.

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remo81 said..
They have both broken where there is a sharp change in section. All students of engineering should see this as an example that a radius is important.

In the late 80's, a mechanical engineering friend of mine at uni broke a ford 9-inch diff. He sent them a detailed finite-element analysis of the design saying why he thought it was flawed, and that he therefore thought they should send him a free replacement. Two weeks later he received a job offer in the mail.

That's oil from when it fell, got into the grain structure. It does look like impurities from the pic though.

I stripped a socket using a 1 metre lever on the straight bar and Repco replaced it no questions asked. I was back half an hour later after stripping the new socket and they just gave me another one. Sidchrome has a solid warranty.

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remo81 said..
That's oil from when it fell, got into the grain structure. It does look like impurities from the pic though.

Should get warranty then.

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remo81 said..
They have both broken where there is a sharp change in section. All students of engineering should see this as an example that a radius is important.

Hi Remo

Do you mean the internal radius where the centre section has been ground/machined out?

If they left a bit more material there by leaving a bit bigger radius would that have helped?

Kinda makes sense,

Not taking the piss, I'm interested in your opinion

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remo81 said..
They have both broken where there is a sharp change in section. All students of engineering should see this as an example that a radius is important.

I would hazard guess that you may have a point with the radius, the two extremity points on each radius broke same place yes? looks real sharp. Any bump on those, would place a stress riser and crack is the next result.

Dunno why anyone buys Sidchrome or Snap-on(application of pressure) when Repco is the same gear and also has unlimited lifetime warranty.
I took 19mm ring/opens back 3x in one day when doing stupid sh!t with it, and they replaced it each time. Never broken anything else of theirs.


However, last I looked all of them exclude breakage if they have been extended with a bit of pipe or hammered upon.
They will look for a telltale ring / crescent mark halfway up the shaft, especially on breaker bars, caused from pipe slipped over the end. Jeff2, you are very lucky if you told them that and still got warranty.
Lesson is use a bar with chamfered inside and a rubber mallet

anyway Chris, yup both broke in same place they definitely need to come to the party I reckon. Engineers above know their stuff

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Harrow said..

In the late 80's, a mechanical engineering friend of mine at uni broke a ford 9-inch diff. He sent them a detailed finite-element analysis of the design saying why he thought it was flawed, and that he therefore thought they should send him a free replacement. Two weeks later he received a job offer in the mail.

Best thing I've read all day

Did he take the job?

I once snapped the tip off a large flat screwdriver and was told at ripco that "yes it does have a lifetime warranty but the tools life was over when the tip snapped off" I called sidcrome the next day and had a full set delivered that afternoon with a message saying that the ripco manager is on his way to the dole office!

Hi Shoodbegood,

You can see where there is a sharp change in section is where the crack started. However I don't think that putting a nice radius on it would have helped. We had a 4 foot piece of pipe on the end of the bar. The pipe had a lifting lug welded to it and a 1 ton chain block connected to it pulled up with about 700kg on it. We then proceeded to hit the bar with a sledge hammer to try and shock the bolt loose. It worked for 3 bolts then broke on the fourth.

The other one broke much easier. Two blokes swinging off 2m of pipe. I was rather disappointed in this second one.

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remo81 said..





Hi Shoodbegood,

You can see where there is a sharp change in section is where the crack started. However I don't think that putting a nice radius on it would have helped. We had a 4 foot piece of pipe on the end of the bar. The pipe had a lifting lug welded to it and a 1 ton chain block connected to it pulled up with about 700kg on it. We then proceeded to hit the bar with a sledge hammer to try and shock the bolt loose. It worked for 3 bolts then broke on the fourth.

The other one broke much easier. Two blokes swinging off 2m of pipe. I was rather disappointed in this second one.

Next time heat the bolts or the item if possible beforehand & soak with WD40 for a day

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Harrow said..

remo81 said..
They have both broken where there is a sharp change in section. All students of engineering should see this as an example that a radius is important.

In the late 80's, a mechanical engineering friend of mine at uni broke a ford 9-inch diff. He sent them a detailed finite-element analysis of the design saying why he thought it was flawed, and that he therefore thought they should send him a free replacement. Two weeks later he received a job offer in the mail.

From a Law firm as a lawyer

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AUS 808 said..

remo81 said..





Hi Shoodbegood,

You can see where there is a sharp change in section is where the crack started. However I don't think that putting a nice radius on it would have helped. We had a 4 foot piece of pipe on the end of the bar. The pipe had a lifting lug welded to it and a 1 ton chain block connected to it pulled up with about 700kg on it. We then proceeded to hit the bar with a sledge hammer to try and shock the bolt loose. It worked for 3 bolts then broke on the fourth.

The other one broke much easier. Two blokes swinging off 2m of pipe. I was rather disappointed in this second one.

Next time heat the bolts or the item if possible beforehand & soak with WD40 for a day

The bolts weren't seized. They were done up to 2500Nm. Due to the nature of the coupling we could only put a minimal amount of heat into it. This is some pretty big gear were playing with. We ended up getting rid of the 3/4" drive 24mm allen and finding a 24mm allen key. Putting some sched 80 pipe over the end with a 1 ton chain block and a sledge hammer. Some times brute force and ignorance is the only way to go.

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remo81 said..





Hi Shoodbegood,

You can see where there is a sharp change in section is where the crack started. However I don't think that putting a nice radius on it would have helped. We had a 4 foot piece of pipe on the end of the bar. The pipe had a lifting lug welded to it and a 1 ton chain block connected to it pulled up with about 700kg on it. We then proceeded to hit the bar with a sledge hammer to try and shock the bolt loose. It worked for 3 bolts then broke on the fourth.

The other one broke much easier. Two blokes swinging off 2m of pipe. I was rather disappointed in this second one.

Gee Remo, it really sounds like "you broke it" and it did well to last as long as it did. I wouldn't imagine Sidchrome warranty would cover this type of use (abuse).

The reason the bar is made a certain length is to limit the forces exerted on the tool. If you extend it with a section of pipe, then you are using it outside of it's designed limits. We all do it, but when it all goes pear shaped, we know where the problem is and it not with the tool.

Hi Remo

Sounds like most tools, use and abuse!

Did you know any tool can also be a hammer?

Snap on wouldn't of broke :-)

I don't think I know of a brand that has a better warranty than sidchrome. I've only ever heard "full replacement no questions asked."
My grandfather used to scout garage sales and the like for damaged sidchrome tools, buy them for next to nothing and then get them replaced for new.

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Crusoe said..

remo81 said..





Hi Shoodbegood,

You can see where there is a sharp change in section is where the crack started. However I don't think that putting a nice radius on it would have helped. We had a 4 foot piece of pipe on the end of the bar. The pipe had a lifting lug welded to it and a 1 ton chain block connected to it pulled up with about 700kg on it. We then proceeded to hit the bar with a sledge hammer to try and shock the bolt loose. It worked for 3 bolts then broke on the fourth.

The other one broke much easier. Two blokes swinging off 2m of pipe. I was rather disappointed in this second one.

Gee Remo, it really sounds like "you broke it" and it did well to last as long as it did. I wouldn't imagine Sidchrome warranty would cover this type of use (abuse).

The reason the bar is made a certain length is to limit the forces exerted on the tool. If you extend it with a section of pipe, then you are using it outside of it's designed limits. We all do it, but when it all goes pear shaped, we know where the problem is and it not with the tool.

Actually the length of the bar is for functionality reasons, tight spaces etc. You can buy bars of the same drive in different lengths, the actual drive part of the tool will be the same built/size. Tool manufacturers are quite aware that people will put their foot on a bar, or even a reasonable amount of pipe. Or even two or more men yanking on the bar. Using a chain block is not a normal technique.

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THE PIN PULLER said..
Snap on wouldn't of broke :-)

You are correct. Snapon don't snap, they bend. They also bruise very easy when struck with a hammer.

AFAIK all exclude putting a bar on it - else you could use 20ft of bar and 3 blokes and they'd have to replace it. Some pretty silly stuff here i think...

I have toledo they had a lifetime warranty after 20years my ratchet broke i went to shop that was toledo outlet only to be told they are now out of business and my lifetime warranty was the lifetime of the company .
I bought a sidchrome replacement .

^^ same problem with West
I bought a West wettie because it was local and lifetime warranty. They would fix any split seam forever.
Until, it seems, a dopey chick running a bikini company bought it, ran both companies into the ground, then a USA mob buy out both to deliberately fold them so they have no competition. Now no warranty. Pricks