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  • ozymax
    ozymax
    12 years ago
    Tools
     
    What brand of Allen Keys and Torx actually don't snap?
     
    Sick of buying crap gear. Had an Allen Key snap like a carrot yesterday working on my son's bike. Pissed me right off.
    Any way with the anticipated arrival of a new bike I had intended to get some more gear Torx in particular. Another member suggested he was also having problems with these snapping.
     
    So what brand of Allen Key and Torx should I buy?
     
    What brand does the HD work shops use?
     
    I could use hex drives for the allen keys but they can be a bit bulky at times and with a 1/2" ratchet on the end of them over tightening is on the cards.
  • 666
    666
    12 years ago

     yep i too have snapped a few torx went and bought a high tensile genius+  brand  T45 $16.50 a pop but will be replaced if broken lifetime warranty from nut and bolt shop good luck

  • ozymax
    ozymax
    12 years ago
    Thanks guys I will have a look at that stuff

    when I was building we had a rule with tools.
    buy the best you can and buy it just once
    I still have spanner and socket sets from 38 years ago but these allen and torx sets just seem to so brittle.
  • Damage
    Damage
    12 years ago

    Broke a Blue point torx T45 yesterday removing rear disk bolts on my 07. There I was stuck, Saturday arvo,with bike bike apart, no reputable shops open, so had to buy what I could from a Supercheap shop,

    Torx key set was made of cheese, whole set now resides in the bin along side the other 4 removed brake rotor bolts. 

    Ended up drilling and easy outing the rogue bolt. I have never srewed a torx bolt back into one of my HD's except if they are machined bolts like the rear brake pins etc

    Generally replace he torx with cap heads.

  • allde
    allde
    12 years ago

     You have expensive tastes Rider,  20 hours to go US $182.50 + $15.00 Postage...Must be Gold Plated

  • rider
    rider
    12 years ago

     

    Absolute bargain,,, last time I checked they retailed for about AU$650.00 from the local Snap-On dealer in OZ !!! 

  • russ4570
    russ4570
    12 years ago

    If the screw/torx head is tight enough to snap the tools then you need to shock the item loose first. This is how to shock the item loose.

    use a brass punch of healthy diameter say 1/2 inch min. Firmly hold onto the head of the srew or bolt then give it a FIRM whack with a hammer (the punch not your thumb). The brass wont damage or mar the head of the screw bolt and I guarantee that it will be easier to undo. If you have the ability to strike the srew or bolt directly (if they are to be replaced) then this will work even better.

    Dont be afraid to apply a decent amount of force with the hammer and brass punch. IT WILL HELP.

    Regards

    P.S. I've been a fitter for over 20 yrs, this works.

  • ozymax
    ozymax
    12 years ago
    ah now I remember the old belt the thing into life trick. Just breaks that binding of the threads together.

    Well as luck would have it I was at the HD dealers today and hanging on the wall was a set of X Tech torx. How much for these mate,$13.45 he says. Guess I will break them like all the rest. Well I dont thinks so but if you do just bring them back for replacement.
    No idea where they are made not the slightest hint on the pack or distributors web site.
    Most stuff like this I just chuck in the bin and move on. But the HD shop is a place I dont mind dropping into so I got a set. See how they go I guess. Cant be any worse than the others I have tried.
  • killerchef
    killerchef
    12 years ago
    ive got a set of kinchrome ones. got a rubber type grip on them. they are great. ive felt them flex a bit before. bit of WB40 and wait 10 mins seems to fix it.
  • wayco
    wayco
    12 years ago
    Quote ReplyAlert
    If the screw/torx head is tight enough to snap the tools then you need to shock the item loose first. This is how to shock the item loose.
    use a brass punch of healthy diameter say 1/2 inch min. Firmly hold onto the head of the srew or bolt then give it a FIRM whack with a hammer (the punch not your thumb). The brass wont damage or mar the head of the screw bolt and I guarantee that it will be easier to undo. If you have the ability to strike the srew or bolt directly (if they are to be replaced) then this will work even better.
    Dont be afraid to apply a decent amount of force with the hammer and brass punch. IT WILL HELP.
    Regards
    P.S. I've been a fitter for over 20 yrs, this works.
    Russ is 100% correct- you can buy an "impact driver" which holds the bit or socket & applies a shock effect -basically you do do the two steps -in one action-haven't seen them around for a while -had mine for 35 years.
    Cheers wayco
  • kend
    kend
    12 years ago

    I  use torx bits a lot, snap on is the only one to buy if u dont want problems .

  • ozymax
    ozymax
    12 years ago
    well between last night and this afternoon I had the adventure of using the $13.45 Torx tools I got in the HD shop. I gave them a fair old working over and you beauty not a single slip.
    Socket types would be good but a number of places they wouldn't fit in so these cheap ass ones will do me just fine.......... until these slip or break I guess
  • rockyrob
    rockyrob
    12 years ago

    Snapped 2 Kinchrome  Allens trying to remove rear disc.( had a cheater bar on them and could feel them flexing so lot of pressure applied) . Ended up buying a manual impact driver to un freeze them.They just dont make em like they used to i guess. Have a half inch drive sidchrome socket set that i have had for 30 years ,cant seem to break it , new sidchrome breaks when it rolls off the work bench for me:)

  • TheBigT
    TheBigT
    12 years ago
    I've still got most of my old Daniel Forge kit, a few sockets cracked after years of use and on wheels but most of em I still have(replaced with Sidchrome). The torx bits are the only thing is didn't come with and I've been looking for a good set since.
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