Discovered why not to buy cheap tools...

[Philbo]

Howdy All,

Have you had an experience like this;

Im currently converting the ol' ute from a floor to a column shift, i found a column shift column and steering gear from a wreckers the other day, even included a steering wheel! Anyways, i had to get the steering wheel off the new column and i tried the normal methods of tuggin and sideways movement.. nothing happened... i thought fine, ill go to super cheap and get a steering wheel puller... just get a cheap one, as ill never be doin this again... Ha

Got back and set it all up, and the bar that goes across the top of the tool bloody bent on the first attempt of removal. To be honest it didn't suprise me much considering it was made in Taiwan, but that goes to show that there's no substitute for quality.

So in frustration, anger, and well you know that feeling you get... I got out the ol trusty hacksaw and set to! Ended up cutting the wheel off, and also the top part of the main steering shaft (i didn't need them anyway), so now i just have to remove the column and install... hopefully.

So todays lesson folks... buy the best you can afford... and don't buy cheap Taiwanese or Chinese Cr@p. I know i never will again.

Cheers Philbo.

[Falchoon]

Just for future reference, to get the steering wheel of without a puller (or hacksaw!), undo the nut so it is flush with the top of the thread on the steering column thread and get a small block of wood and place over the nut and belt the crap out of it with a hammer while supporting the back of the steering wheel with your knees. Don't go too ballistic with the hammer because if you slip you could do yourself some serious damage that woud make you an ideal candidate for the Vienna Boys Choir or a Bee Gees tribute band...

[KR1STO]

Originally Posted by Falchoon

Just for future reference, to get the steering wheel of without a puller (or hacksaw!), undo the nut so it is flush with the top of the thread on the steering column thread and get a small block of wood and place over the nut and belt the crap out of it with a hammer while supporting the back of the steering wheel with your knees. Don't go too ballistic with the hammer because if you slip you could do yourself some serious damage that woud make you an ideal candidate for the Vienna Boys Choir or a Bee Gees tribute band...

Ive seen steering columns colapse after doin this...not a good idea if its your own car...big no no....

[AU2PWR]

i Snapped a Genuine Sidchrome Socket and Bit in half .. so The $$$ ones are not that much better.

[RIPGMH]

Originally Posted by AU2PWR

i Snapped a Genuine Sidchrome Socket and Bit in half .. so The $$$ ones are not that much better.

By socket and bit are you referring to an inhex allen key style socket or a screw driver bit?

[AU2PWR]

No , 15' Socket and Breaker Bar .. Got Pics too , hang on !

[prydey]

yeah but at least with the good gear it is unconditionally garaunteed so you'll get free replacement of any broken bits, no questions asked.

[Monkey]

as long as you dont tell them about the 6ft pipe you were using for more leverage

actually cheap spanners are handy when you need to cut or grind one down to fit.

[schnoods]

Remember

"Good not cheap, Cheap not good!!"

[Falcon Freak]

Originally Posted by Philbo

So todays lesson folks... buy the best you can afford... and don't buy cheap Taiwanese or Chinese Cr@p. I know i never will again.

That is why I call them "SuperCheap & Nasty Auto". It is fitting that they sponsor Greg Murphy's car.

On a serious note, not everything out of SE Asia is cheap and nasty. Electronic products (such as this notebook I am using) are usually very good quality. It is just the mechanical products which are dodgy.

FF

[RIPGMH]

Lets just hope China doesn't resolve their quality control issues or we're in trouble

[56L]

Originally Posted by AU2PWR

i Snapped a Genuine Sidchrome Socket and Bit in half .. so The $$$ ones are not that much better.

if it was a newish sidchrome tool i wouldnt be suprised they are crap now,if it was 30years old i would be suprised

[RIPGMH]

I've run a 30mm sidchrome 1/2 drive" non-impact socket on an 1 1/2" impact gun and it didn't snap, I would expect there would have had to be an event like putting it in a vice or striking it with a hammer for it to break in half.

[superpursuit83]

Originally Posted by Monkey Boy

as long as you dont tell them about the 6ft pipe you were using for more leverage

actually cheap spanners are handy when you need to cut or grind one down to fit.

Haha, Snap on Tools guy told me to make sure you use a rag or something when you put a 6ft pipe on that breaker bar. Reckons its easier to replace if there are no pipe marks on the broken tools.

[xr8edute]

Originally Posted by superpursuit83

Haha, Snap on Tools guy told me to make sure you use a rag or something when you put a 6ft pipe on that breaker bar. Reckons its easier to replace if there are no pipe marks on the broken tools.

Can vouch for that. ha ha. Thats Snap-on for ya.

Was told "yes we will replace it this time no questions asked, next time we will ask questions and the third time we see the same ratchet with pipe marks we will not even look at it".

Fair enough i thought. Ha ha.

Cheers

[Ringo]

Gees at least your Snap-on bloke gave you advice and was helpful.

When I was on the the tools our guy used to look at and just say 'no - not covered' but he was a ***** for that reason and a few others.

He was your best mate until you stopped buying tools or oweing him money, then he would barely acknowledge you. I heard he got ripped off once by some people shoplifting out his truck...karma baby karma.

An apprentice I worked with bought a set of cheap no name brand tools only to have the stuff break on him after 6 months of use when he working on brake caliper bolts - he smacked himself in the face and gave himself a black eye and a fractured cheekbone. The problem is how the metal has been heat treated and the quality control around that process - cold stresses etc.

[Blue Oval Mopar Man]

Originally Posted by rollin_on_20's

Ive seen steering columns colapse after doin this...not a good idea if its your own car...big no no....

Ive done this at least a hundres times , and never had a column colapse on me !

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Falcon Freak

That is why I call them "SuperCheap & Nasty Auto". It is fitting that they sponsor Greg Murphy's car.

On a serious note, not everything out of SE Asia is cheap and nasty. Electronic products (such as this notebook I am using) are usually very good quality. It is just the mechanical products which are dodgy.

FF

sorry to go off topic but handbag drives for tasman this year, not supercheap.

[Vdouw]

LOL been there done that. I learnt through my dad that cheap is nasty when it comes to tools. Save up and get the best.

[Falchoon]

Originally Posted by Blue Oval Mopar Man

Ive done this at least a hundres times , and never had a column colapse on me !

Yeh me too. I used to work at a wrecker and did it nearly every day. Some wheels need more "persausion" than others but I've never stuffed a column.

[AUXRVIII]

We had a customer loctite his steering wheel to the shaft. It was a Momo, we destroyed it getting it off, he paid.

[Jeld-Wen Falcon]

Originally Posted by Falcon Freak

That is why I call them "SuperCheap & Nasty Auto". It is fitting that they sponsor Greg Murphy's car.
FF

Not anymore.

[Zed7fiddy]

Ahhh cheap tools - those on the QLD street ford cruise will notice what i did to my 15 buck supercheap breaker bar!