Gearwrench...quality tool or junk?

[243]

The price is pretty good, but will they take the torque of a normal human sans a cheater pipe or hammer?

[illegalFSJ]

There are two types of tools -
Those that you can use everyday for 8 hours plus and rely on to work.
And those that are good occaisionally for a hobby or a little weekend wrenching.
From what I've seen, Gearwrench falls into the latter category.

[2ndtimearround]

Hmmm...I have a set of very good quality (pro) gear wrenches (I am assuming we are speaking of the spanner with an integral ratchet assembly)? and not a brand name.

They have come in handy for various jobs. First time I used one was when I dropped the fuel tank skid plate on the GW -- great for that long bolt holding the strap/plate to the body near the drive shaft...I find I reach for them for other tasks now -- usually before the normal spanners.

They stand up to normal human torque fine.
I would not use them with any sort of "cheater." But then again, I would not use any sort of spanner with a cheater. I tend to use my 3/4" cheater bar and spockets for that purpose.

They are a speciality tool designed for a specific task -- which they do very well. I disagree with illegalFSJ, these are everyday tools -- at least the quality that I have. The quality that mine are could make the difference....but I long ago learned not to buy cheap tools and to use the right tool for the job.

Lawrence

[ September 24, 2003, 08:02 PM: Message edited by: 2ndtimearround ]

[illegalFSJ]

Hey that's cool - I didn't know they had a "pro" variety. To be fair, my experience was based on only a couple folks I know. A guy I worked next to broke two of his set. The internal ratcheting mechanisms just sorta fell apart. Granted, he used 'em everyday all day. And then a buddy stopped using them when one rachet kept slipping. It would work for a few turns, but then suddenly the rachet would slip when pressure was applied, resulting in some bloody knuckles.

[nxcj]

I have a set that I won at a wheeling event. I love 'em for tight spots where a ratchet won't fit and you only have an 1/8 of a turn to work with. They definately aren't going to hold up forever, but they're nice in a pinch. I usually use them for specific tasks so they don't get worn out. That said, I used the 3/4" to tighten U-bolts as hard as I could pull on it and it didn't break. I also have a 1/2" that worked twice with low torque and now doesn't catch at all....go figure.

[Stolen76]

in a working environment they don't hold up. I have stripped out the gearwrench brand and craftsmen, and then gave in and bought blue-point off the snapon truck. the blue-points are awesome, I was told they were made by the gearwrench people but I have yet to strip one out even when double wrenching.
I do this for a living and I haven't figured out how I lived without them. For a weekender, I think the gearwrenches would be ok.

[MACKCOOK]

I LIKE THEM, they have lifetime warranty by the way they work well in tight places and are good in repiticious places where you can't get a ratchet, i break bolts loose with something else then use the gearwrench, i have two sets of snap on wrenches, two sets of cornwells,two sets of craftsmans, tools are tools your gonna break one now and then whomever builds it.

[RustyJeep]

I love them, also. I have a set of BluePoint gearwrenches...(Snap-on). I use them about every day, and they let you keep your cool when you have a tight spot to get to. If one breaks, turn it into the Snap On guy, get a new one smile.gif

[Allen78J20]

I want a set, but when they make the everyday sets s.a.e. AND metric, not separate.

[racer32]

i have both sets and i really like them. the only drawback is they are a little too thin/sharp in the middle. other than that, i love em....

[paddyp]

I have a set, and I love them. I am not a full-time mechanic, just working on my Jeep and my wife's car, but they appear to be made well. I don't know if they would hold up under a heavy duty shop environment.

[Shake N Bake]

I use the Bluepoint Gear Wrenches (From the SnapOn truck) every day for work too. The one NICE thing about them - is that they have a lifetime warranty smile.gif I'm waiting to stumble across the truck right now - I've got a 7/16 and a 1/2 that need exchange.

For you canadians - the crappy tire maximum ones suck shiznit. Don't waste your money, the Pro series are better - just expect to be using the exchange policy semi regularly.

For the non ratcheting wrenches, sears and crappy tire sell a funky 'ratcheting' wrench that's got a funky looking open end. They're called accelerators - knuckle busters. You can't use the open end to break anything - finger tight is too much for those open ends, makes em pretty useless.

Andy

[J4GRAND]

I have a set of Gearwrench brand wrenches and have used some pretty high torque on them without a problem. I have to agree with some of the others though; a breaker bar is called that for a reason. Once the bolt is loose, the gearwrench can do its job.

[Merc69]

I bought a set and love them. I don't wrench for a living but they are nice. If I have to break something loos I use a 6 point box end and then switch to the gear wrench to speed things on their way.

[jimmy hat]

i have had gearwrench brand for almost 2 years and i think they are great. the 3/4 siezed up on my once, pulling on it as hard as i could. but somehow i free'd it up and its been working ever since. the only tools i carry in the fsj in fact. i have abused them and mine have held up.

[Serious Johnson]

Someone please refresh my memory. I was wrenching on a friend's racecar and he had two sets -- don't recall the brand of either. One used a reversing switch like a ratchet, and the other required flipping over to change directions. This one seemed much stronger than the one with a switch, but of course there was no offset.

:-

[243]

The Gearwrench brand is offered in both styles. I looked at them last night at Lowes. I noticed that the largest set of both SAE and Metric "non-reversing" are advertised on Ebay for the buy it now price of 129.00 +/-, they are 49.00 at Lowes.

[The Anti-Chrysler]

I just bought the craftsman ones instead, since they were angled and had the reversing lever. Gearwrench you can buy at Sears seems to be in line with Craftsman, from ones I've used owned by other's I've used.

[The Anti-Chrysler]

Originally posted by 243:
The Gearwrench brand is offered in both styles. I looked at them last night at Lowes. I noticed that the largest set of both SAE and Metric "non-reversing" are advertised on Ebay for the buy it now price of 129.00 +/-, they are 49.00 at Lowes.It's amazing, isn't it - sometimes you can get great tools really cheap (I got a NEW IN BOX Craftsman cordless sawzall for $80 ($200 new), and a Craftsman cordless impact for $150 ($300 new) - and then there's people like that, who try to rip people off. Gotta know what you're looking for, I guess, and what it's worth.. :rolleyes:

[Gwamp]

I have been abusing my set of gearwrenches that I got from Napa for almost 2 years. They are great for almost every task that I use them for, but I would not apply tons of excess torque ie: double wrenching or some such to them. They are not designed for that and would break under the strain. Do not buy the cheap knock-offs as they are crap.

[Kaiserjeeps]

I have had them for two years and use them frequently. They have been great. The only thing that sucks about them is when you can't find the size you need because its up on the fender and your under the rig...