Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[hutchman]

Anybody have experience with the little disc/belt combo sander? Worth $60 when similar units at Home Depot, such as Ryobi etc, costs twice that?

I have it and like it. I mostly use it to shape/sharpen HSS bits for my lathe.

 

[farmer2009]

Anybody have experience with the little disc/belt combo sander? Worth $60 when similar units at Home Depot, such as Ryobi etc, costs twice that?

Another vote for it.

 

[ArTrvlr]

I put one on my Yanmar a few years ago. It seems ok. My problem is that my box blade, a no-name cheapie, does not work well with it. I have to move the top hook when I put the box blade on.

I made a couple of bushings because the pins on my mower and box blade are significantly smaller than the hooks on the hitch.

Changing attachments is quicker than before.

I have the HF QH. After adding bushings and bracing some of the lower pins on some of my equipment it works great. The heaver the item is, the better. I have a light weight landscape rake that moves around a lot if not lined up just right. Still easier. Also had to do some trimming on one item around the top pin to clear the bolts on the HF hitch top hook. To me, well worth the one time modifications to make hook up easier/faster.

Bought a King Kutter box blade that was designed for a QH and it fits just as is.

 

[aeblank]

If you look at that You-tube comparison HF / I-Match, be sure to look at some of the other vids too. That vid favors the Deere version but I think for a lower-hp tractor, the HF one at a third the price is a better buy. Update - I looked at several of those vids, didn't find one that I would recommend. Don't bother.

I found the HF QH criticisms to be "outdated". As in, most (all?) of the complaints didn't seem to apply to my HF QH.
I got mine several years after the youtube videos. I can only surmise / hope that the design/manufacture was improved and the problems gone.
I use one, and yeah, at 1/3 the price of name brand ones. I'm at 40HP and not doing anything hardcore. No issues. If it were $300, I'm not sure if I'd have one yet.

 

[Wa11banger]

I've thought of looking at there cat 1 quick hitches. Anyone have one?

I have one and love it.. With that being said, I was quite frustrated day 1.. Being a new to tractors guy I had no idea nothing and I mean nothing is standard even when staying within the same manufacturer.. Depending on year and apparently what someone felt like that day, the implements will vary..

So I buy it and get home, put it on the tractor and whalla I pick up my bushhog in like seconds.. I then moved over to my box blade no joy.. Matter of fact no other implement fit it.. Well crap.. Broke out the measure stick and they were all different.. A grinder, a welder, and a few measurements later.. They are all the same and it works beautifully.. Like one poster said I had to severely modify the box blade but everything else was just tab cut and moves. What a time saver and I also use it to mock up tool builds.

Lesson learned I made blocks for everything to sit on because some things were so low I couldnt clear the locking dogs everytime.. Now they all sit high enough no problems.

 

[PILOON]

Anybody have experience with the little disc/belt combo sander? Worth $60 when similar units at Home Depot, such as Ryobi etc, costs twice that?

Had one like that sold as Sears.
Working it hard melted the belt drive and pulley, otherwise OK for light wood work.
(I was grinding metal with it and using excessive pressure)

 

[Threepoint]

I've thought of looking at there cat 1 quick hitches. Anyone have one?

I have two, and they are just fine, especially with a 20% coupon that brings them down to $80 when they're on sale. The oldest one is 8 - 10 yrs old, IIRC, and the lower hooks are too small for the very handy QH bushings that Northern Equipment, TSC and others sell: NorTrac Quick-Hitch Bushing Set Fits Category 1 Hitches | 3-Point Hitch Adapters| Northern Tool + Equipment HF's vendor has since redesigned them, though, so their newer Cat. 1 QHs work great with them.

Depending upon the implements you use, you may need to modify the way the QH's top hook is retained in it's bracket. It comes with a through bolt, and the bolt head and nut protruding from either side of the bracket may bind on some implements. Easy fix is to cut the head off the bolt and trim the shank so that it is flush with the outer walls of the bracket. Bore a hole in the shank for a small hitch pin to between the side of the hook and the inner wall of the bracket. See pic below. I got this mod from another TBN member, Bullitt94, and it's worked perfectly. :thumbsup:

 

[California]

Had [disc/belt combo sander] like that sold as Sears. Working it hard melted the belt drive and pulley

That's why I'm cautious. I found a solid-looking Delta version for $15 at a yard sale. Then discovered the plastic(!) upper pulley heats up and slips on its shaft, when I went to clean the face of a tractor hub. Pulley at left corner of this photo. A cogged belt is pointless when the pulley slips on its shaft! Anybody have an idea if this is repairable?

I'm thinking just buy the HF version and get on with life.

 

[Garandman]

1720 lb. Capacity 48 in. x 96 in. Super Duty Trailer

Anyone build this trailer? How does it come packaged? I want to pick it up with a Subaru station wagon.

 

[IslandTractor]

1720 lb. Capacity 48 in. x 96 in. Super Duty Trailer Anyone build this trailer? How does it come packaged? I want to pick it up with a Subaru station wagon.

I built the folding version which is just a tad smaller. I don't think you'll have any trouble getting it into an Outback or Forester with middle seats folded. It comes in several boxes. Longest dimension as I recall was about four feet.