Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

ronjhall · Jun 7, 2019

rlgustafson said:
Ron, I think the charger will give you red blinking light if battery is hot from use. Just leave them on the charger and charger will start automatically after battery cools a bit.

I have the Lynxx 40volt blower, the 40volt pole saw, and the 40volt chain saw.

My original chain saw leaked oil all over the place. I took it back for an exchange, with receipt, and the nice lady at the register told me to just keep my original battery and charger. So, I've got got 3 tools and 4 batteries and 4 chargers.

Battery was not warm/hot. You are right though. If I leave in on charger it will eventually charge. But not the normal quick charge. Lithium batteries do not like the cold. I use chainsaw, pole saw and blower in below freezing temperatures. Blower gets about half the use that I normally get when temperatures are above 40°. With the saws my projects are small. So length of use does not matter. With 5 batteries there is always a extra one to use.

Diggin It · Jun 7, 2019

Quite a few years back, I bought the (then) new LED trailer light kit, something they had just started carrying. I had seen the recall notices posted in store, but mine were working and I rarely used the trailer, so I ignored it. Just in the last couple of weeks, I became aware of it again. Decided to go look at mine to see if they were eligible. That's when I noticed some of the LEDs were dark, no longer working. Took the picture the claim form requested to verify eligibility and submitted the form, not even sure if it was still active. Form says you'll get a postcard in the mail with further instructions on how to get 'replacement parts that will only fit the unit you have'. Couple of days ago, I got a ship notice from FedEx which I wasn't expecting since I hadn't ordered anything. The package arrived today. Brand new bubble packed retail set, main lights, markers, wiring harness, the whole enchilada.

Like, OK .... Cool.

Oaktree · Jun 7, 2019

Threepoint said:
It's almost time to sharpen the chain, and same with the 14" chain saw, both for the first time! Even though the Oregon chains are micro-chisel for safety and narrow gauge to reduce cutting resistance, I'm pretty impressed with them.

Instead of buying the spare battery, which never goes on sale, what I recommend to folks is to wait for a Lynxx sale coupon, then buy a second tool. With five batteries and chargers, you could literally run all day if necessary.

Last fall there was a 20 or 25% off coupon with no restrictions. I asked the clerk if it was good for the Lynx batteries and was told that it was. So I got a spare for my pole saw. Nothing else in that series I really need, though someday when I have $150 with nothing better to do with I might pick up the 14" chain saw.

Do you know what size file is needed for this chain? Nothing in the manual.

LD48750 · Jun 7, 2019

Oaktree said:
Do you know what size file is needed for this chain? Nothing in the manual.

For the 14" Oregon 90 chain, 5/32" file.

Oaktree · Jun 8, 2019

Well, I'd like to update my review of the Lynx 40v pole saw from "pretty good" to "kinda sucks". Worked great the first few times I used it, only a few branches each time.
Today our snowmobile club had a trail maintenance day...trimming back branches that were growing into the trails. Again, worked great for the first 45 min or so (intermittent use, not continuous), then acted like some internal clutch was slipping under load. Got so bad as to be completely unusable. Maybe a total of 4 hours on it.

According to the website the warranty is only for 90 days, I've had it 6-8 months so I guess I'm screwed. $150 (plus a 2nd battery) thrown away.

So much for HF upping their game. :fiery:

Threepoint · Jun 8, 2019

Oaktree said:
Well, I'd like to update my review of the Lynx 40v pole saw from "pretty good" to "kinda sucks". Worked great the first few times I used it, only a few branches each time.
Today our snowmobile club had a trail maintenance day...trimming back branches that were growing into the trails. Again, worked great for the first 45 min or so (intermittent use, not continuous), then acted like some internal clutch was slipping under load. Got so bad as to be completely unusable. Maybe a total of 4 hours on it.

According to the website the warranty is only for 90 days, I've had it 6-8 months so I guess I'm screwed. $150 (plus a 2nd battery) thrown away.

So much for HF upping their game. :fiery:

Hmm. Even though it's out of warranty, I'd call HF tech support and see if they've heard of the issue before.

Your symptoms don't sound like it's the problem, but have you checked to make sure the 10 mm circlip that secures the chain sprocket on the motor shaft is still in place? My neighbor's came off a couple of years ago, and he replaced it with a better circlip from Fastenal. Gave me a couple of the clips for spares, so I went ahead and changed mine out for good measure.

Coincidentally, I used the Lynxx pole saw again today to limb up a 30 ft blue spruce that is gradually dying from the airborne fungus that's killing all of them in this area. It zipped through the 2" spruce limbs (the biggest I needed to trim today). I've been using it for two years, and I still haven't had to sharpen the chain. :shocked:

lostcreekranch · Jun 8, 2019

Threepoint said:
Hmm. Even though it's out of warranty, I'd call HF tech support and see if they've heard of the issue before.

Your symptoms don't sound like it's the problem, but have you checked to make sure the 10 mm circlip that secures the chain sprocket on the motor shaft is still in place? My neighbor's came off a couple of years ago, and he replaced it with a better circlip from Fastenal. Gave me a couple of the clips for spares, so I went ahead and changed mine out for good measure.

Coincidentally, I used the Lynxx pole saw again today to limb up a 30 ft blue spruce that is gradually dying from the airborne fungus that's killing all of them in this area. It zipped through the 2" spruce limbs (the biggest I needed to trim today). I've been using it for two years, and I still haven't had to sharpen the chain. :shocked:

Mine works fine but, do you have information on the Fastenal circlips? Probably same one used on the Lynxx chain saw?

Thanks!

Threepoint · Jun 9, 2019

rlgustafson said:
Mine works fine but, do you have information on the Fastenal circlips? Probably same one used on the Lynxx chain saw?

Thanks!

Rick, sorry, I don't know specifically which Fastenal product number my neighbor ordered. This was two years ago, a couple of weeks before I saw him using the Lynxx pole saw and asked him about it. I think he said he bought a package of 15 back then.

I just checked the Fastenal site, and from a quick search this looks like the circlips he gave me.
M1 Spring Steel Phosphate DIN 471 External Retaining Ring
| Fastenal

I also just checked Zoro, Inc (Grainger's online retail subsidiary), and they show what seems to be the same thing for $6.39 for a pack of 100:
Zoro Select Retain Ring, Ext, Dia 1mm, PK1 DSH-1ST PA | Zoro.com

I haven't checked my 14" Lynxx chain saw to see if it uses the same type and size clip.

lostcreekranch · Jun 9, 2019

Threepoint said:
Rick, sorry, I don't know specifically which Fastenal product number my neighbor ordered. This was two years ago, a couple of weeks before I saw him using the Lynxx pole saw and asked him about it. I think he said he bought a package of 15 back then.

I just checked the Fastenal site, and from a quick search this looks like the circlips he gave me.
M1 Spring Steel Phosphate DIN 471 External Retaining Ring
| Fastenal

I also just checked Zoro, Inc (Grainger's online retail subsidiary), and they show what seems to be the same thing for $6.39 for a pack of 100:
Zoro Select Retain Ring, Ext, Dia 1mm, PK1 DSH-1ST PA | Zoro.com

I haven't checked my 14" Lynxx chain saw to see if it uses the same type and size clip.

Thanks much. Appreciate you info.

dragoneggs · Jun 9, 2019

I know the 30in 5 drawer Mechanic's Carts have been talked about a fair amount here but time for me to weigh in. I ushered my wife yesterday about 35 miles to our granddaughter's 'fashion' show. My wife knowing that I was only another 10min to the HF store gave me a pass since I have been on the road for the last 2 weeks straight with no seat time, shop time, gun time, no nothing. So... I dropped her at the event and proceeded to have a little me time.

It was their frequent 'Huge Parking Lot' sale. Walking in the door after checking out the stuff in the tent in the parking lot, I overhead Julie, the store manager talking to one of her employees about a tool chest and walked over hearing 50% off the 'marked' price. Looked at the ad, saw $229.99 reg., and $194.99 three days only. I asked what the deal was and she told me it was a return because the customer complained about water damage on the bottom of the box. The box had a fair amount of smashed corners and such like most HF boxes but no puncture wounds. She thought everything was fine with it, and told me that I had 5 days to return it if any issue. I couldn't refuse because it was marked at $175! I walked out of of there paying $87.50.

Well got it home and started assembling it late last night. Appeared that it had never been taken out of the box but I was skeptical. Was pretty tired and thought something must be missing but nope... all there. Instructions good. Not a scratch or dent! So I got started with something to sip on while I was it at!
:cool2:

A few tips... use a wobble drive and short extension on your impact driver. Makes it so much easier and faster to assemble. Tap the carriage bolts in with a soft mallet as it is tough to press them in with your fingers. Finger tighten all of the leg and lateral support bolts/nuts until after you set the box on the stand.

Got as far as I could on it (until I needed help lifting the box in place) so went to bed unfinished. Darn it. Then had to patiently wait for the wife to get home this afternoon so I could employ her. Was a bit of a lift for her but we successfully lifted and lowered on stand. Finished the assembly of the handles and tightened up all the bolts/nuts. Only a few extras (and yes I didn't forget any holes). Nice details... heavy casters (but wish all four swiveled instead of two), independent drawer latches and a key that locks the top and drawers, and drawer and shelf liners for all bottoms. Actually four keys... not sure why I would need that many but okay!

All put together! Went blue as you can see... but since it was a one of special deal I had no choice. Actually I really like the blue, black or red. Happy it wasn't lime green, orange, or yellow! Would have been a tougher call even at $87.50. :laughing: