Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[5030]

I see HF is starting to offer replacement parts too. About time.

 

[aczlan]

When you get accustomed to it, you going to upgrade the pump? Heck the engine will probably outlast you. I have 3 Preds, one on my industrial pressure washer that I wash down farm equipment with. That engine is always run hard as in wide open all the time. 5 years and still on the original plug. Amazing motors.

Realistically speaking, an engine that is always run hard (but not hard to the point or it is overheating) should last better than one that is lightly loaded and has a chance to carbon up on the inside of the cylinder.

Aaron Z

 

[5030]

5030, with one of the 25% coupons, the 5-ton 3-jaw puller is just $60, no? Or are you referring to a different puller?

Yes, it is. Keep hoping it shows up on the Inside Track club flyer for even less. If you don't have one and have even a remote need, get one, they rock. Mine sits in the case most of the time but when I need it. it's there. The 12 ton is stupid wicked but it is heavy. I get my wife to be my extra set of hands usually.

 

[5030]

Realistically speaking, an engine that is always run hard (but not hard to the point or it is overheating) should last better than one that is lightly loaded and has a chance to carbon up on the inside of the cylinder.

Aaron Z

Wish that would have applied to the Honda that was on it before the Pred. The Honda lasted about a year and tossed the con rod through the side of the block. Took it to the local Honda mower shop and was denied warranty. Told me I 'abused' it. I don't run the Pred any different, WOT (governed of course), change the oil every 3 months and clean the foam air filter. No more Honda's for me. Got 3 now, Honda to Pred (pressure washer), Tecumseh to Pred (tiller) and Briggs to Pred (log splitter).

 

[Imold]

When you get accustomed to it, you going to upgrade the pump? Heck the engine will probably outlast you. I have 3 Preds, one on my industrial pressure washer that I wash down farm equipment with. That engine is always run hard as in wide open all the time. 5 years and still on the original plug. Amazing motors.

Yes I will upgrade the pump, Mason Dynamics has one but I need to call them the unit comes with a 2.7 gpm pump and the one listed thru YouTube videos is 4.1 but after the guy used it for awhile with the 13 hp motor the lines got hot and after talking more with the pump supplier they came up with a 3.8 gpm pump that worked perfect but said that 20% more flow over stock would probably still run two controls, I am going to see what they have for a 3.5 gpm pump, here is the part number for the 4.1 pump, 614470242 or this is the same pump 1.6PF4.1D-R080SO then there are two fittings needed. I might upgrade to the 13hp predator motor because it has electric start and goes on sale at HF for around 300.00.

 

[John_Mc]

True that- I have oft been the happy recipient of HF, TSC, and other tool store gift cards, knives, machetes, and even clothes like socks, and t-shirts, that my SWMBO knew would fit my worldview [e.g., more beer, guns, tools, and duct tape], whereas, she has explicitly told me [repeatedly] don't buy me clothes, dishes, or household appliances for any occasion.

OTOH, she is happy with pretty much anything schmaltzy/sappy/kitschy [misspelled that and had to trust Chrome's spell checker for correction] [then I misspelled misspelled :confused3:], and she was very happy when I bought her a thumbhole/pistol grip stock for her rifle- this is one of the main differences I have found between spousal units #1 and this one [#2 and final].

Current [and final] SWMBO is fairly straight forward in her communication of wants/needs and the opposite, whereas #1 was arbitrary and whimsical- and not in any good way...

I'm currently waiting for a good coupon to use for their 12-volt air compressor/tire inflator [either- 12V 1 PSI High Volume Air Inflator or 12V 15 PSI Compact Air Compressor] does anyone have anything good or bad to say about either of them?

I'm leaning toward the 150# model despite the ^ cost, because of the possibility of needing to use it for the F-350's tires some day.

I just saw the 25% off coupon for this weekend, so I'll probably use that- if it's not excluded- I'd like to get 2 of them, so I'll either have to cycle back into the store, or have SWMBO come in with me for one of them.

I looked at the HF portable 12V compressors and was not all that impressed. They just did not seem well-made.

I ended up ordering two Viair portable 12V compressors. I found decent deals at Summit Racing, Northern Tool, and Home Depot (though the last two don't seem to have all of the models in stock). I ordered the Viair 88P (120 PSI, 1.47 CFM, connects directly to battery) for about $60 for use with my 1951 M37 Truck (11.00x16 tires).

I ordered the Viair 75P (50 PSI, 1.43 CFM, cigarette lighter plug) for about $40 for my wife's vehicle. The 75P comes in a "can" - basically a metal storage case inside a fabric cover. The compressor stays in the case even when operating. A lid zips closed when not in use. There is room in the case for the cigarette lighter cable and air hose, which makes for nice storage: no cords or hoses flopping around getting tangled or damaged when a seat gets folded shut on them. However, my main reason for buying this model was that it was the highest volume compressor that would run off a 10 Amp cigarette lighter circuit. I gave up higher pressure for the high volume at low amps, but my wife doesn't need for than 50 PSI anyway, and doesn't want to mess with connecting to the battery. They do make cigarette lighter plug-powered compressor with higher pressure, but they require a 15 amp circuit, something that a lot of compact cars do not have.

Viair makes some higher-end portables that run up around $300. I figured they were overkill for my needs.

One thing to keep in mind when shopping Viair compressors: Make sure you get what you are looking for in terms of electrical and air hose connections: lighter plug on smaller compressors, Battery connect on larger ones (and some smaller models); the air hoses come in two flavors: "quick connect/flip lever" and screw on. Different models have different connections.

BTW, PhysAssist, do your really need 150 PSI for an F350 tire? I don't own an F350, but that seems REALLY high. The ability to go to higher pressures does not necessarily mean it will fill faster if you are only going to 30/60/90 PSI. You need CFM for faster fills. Often, a compressor will trade CFM for PSI to get the high PSI without going to high on the amp draw.

 

[LouNY]

Without a full actual cubic feet to pressure chart and curve you a pretty much shooting in the dark as to how fast a compressor will actually work.

 

[John_Mc]

Without a full actual cubic feet to pressure chart and curve you a pretty much shooting in the dark as to how fast a compressor will actually work.

Viair provides some of that information (unlike many other manufacturers). Click on the model of Viair portable compressor, and scroll down for the tables.

 

[Oaktree]

Ditto. Coupons are off the lowest price, even if a sale.

Must be at the discretion of the store. I've been told as recently as a couple months ago that I can't use a coupon on an item that's on sale.

 

[crazyal]

I ended up getting the Bauer jigsaw. It didn't say on the box (or I missed it) that it only takes the T style blades. I have a bunch of the standard ones that I'll throw in a drawer for when this one dies. At least blades are cheap. Over all it works as expected. The variable speed is done with a wheel above the trigger. I'm use to a variable speed trigger but the knob works just fine. The laser is interesting. You turn it ona nd off by pushing a button. So it's extremely easy to leave it on thinking it'll shut off when you stop cutting. Maybe it's on a timer but i didn't wait that long to shut it off. Because it's a jigsaw you set it on it's side when done cutting and there's nothing for the laser to light up it's easy to forget to turn it off until you happen to see something red and wonder what it is.

I got this 25% off coupon good until Sunday. I'm not going to be around a HF for some time but maybe someone can use it.
25% off Coupon