Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[IslandTractor]

I've noticed that with a lot of their products, two different SKU numbers for what appears to be the same product. Anyone know why that is?

Not sure but I thing dragoneggs is correct...different supplier. Sometimes there are very small differences in plastics or finish.

 

[sixdogs]

I've noticed that with a lot of their products, two different SKU numbers for what appears to be the same product. Anyone know why that is?

Different makers or very slight product variation. Some things have more than two numbers.

 

[Travelover]

I've noticed that with a lot of their products, two different SKU numbers for what appears to be the same product. Anyone know why that is?

Manufactured in a different prison.

 

[PJSprog]

Manufactured in a different prison.

Gentlemen, we have a winner. :laughing:

 

[PILOON]

I would rather believe the different SKU's relate to actual purchase orders or even to two different shipments.
Head office orders and offers to branches and underestimate volume so a second order gets placed.
Another possibility is handling at reception whereby an entire order is overwhelming so purchasing places the second order for a later date.
Still another is cash flow related. One big order is one big invoice to be paid on one day while 2 invoices delays the outlay.

LOL, then perhaps the were awaiting shipments of crushed cars to recycle the steel.

 

[PJSprog]

I would rather believe the different SKU's relate to actual purchase orders or even to two different shipments.
Head office orders and offers to branches and underestimate volume so a second order gets placed.
Another possibility is handling at reception whereby an entire order is overwhelming so purchasing places the second order for a later date.
Still another is cash flow related. One big order is one big invoice to be paid on one day while 2 invoices delays the outlay.

LOL, then perhaps the were awaiting shipments of crushed cars to recycle the steel.

I'd like to think that a company as big as HF would know how to use blanket POs to eliminate that kind of confusion. I could be wrong.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Help me out... where /what do you pack?

On any HF grinders, remove the 4 screws holding the grinder head (that is the part where you install the grinder disc), lift straight up, remove the beeswax type of grease from the inside and replace with a generous amount of any type of grease that you have on hand. I just use the Mystic Red from my grease gun. Caution: don't put too much grease in because it will rob power from the motor AND cause the head to overheat due to excess friction.

NOTE: The grease blob that comes in these grinders don't even touch the gears and is so hard that it would never melt down enough to lube the gears.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Indeed I think it said $10 million of the $20 million settlement for the lawyers.

Regarding pricing, my neighbor recently showed me a sale paper from HF that had 3 different prices for a motorcycle lift in the same paper. They started at $479 and low was $199, quite a difference. I wonder what price would ring up at the store for this item? At least one of the prices was a "with coupon" price.

 

[Garandman]

One thing you absolutely have to do is add grease on their wheels. I have a number of their rolling wheels such as caster or those with bearings in them and couldn't figure out why they were hard rolling. I disassembled the wheel, added a little simple tractor chassis type grease and wow, what a difference. Prior to that, the bearings weren't rolling but just sliding in place.

Beware that a LOT of their equipment - like trailers - are shipped with preservative, not grease. The trailer bearings are shipped in what looks like grease, but it is a much lighter preservative, more like Vaseline, that does not stand up to operating loads and heat.

 

[sodamo]

69°F and .96 inches rain last 24 hours

Looks to be another wet day.
Drew, with my battery problems last year I didn't rent the cottage much.

I wash out my shop vac filters.

Be safe a great day.