Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[CNC Dan]

Cable ties not very good. Made with a brittle plastic. Broke a few with my hands just tightening them.

Were they the black ones, or the off white ones.
I have had good luck so far with the black ones.

 

[sixdogs]

I have found quality varies on the plastic ties with the 11" black being the best and most reliable from a strength as well as sunlight degrading issue. Avoid the ones that are one size shorter. Even for smaller things I use the 11" and just cut the end off.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

11" black ones. I'd hate to see the other ones. I just need them to hold christmas lights for a couple weeks.

 

[IslandTractor]

I've also been happy with the black ones.

 

[5030]

Can't remember if I posted this, but the thread is so long, it's getting tedious to read.....lol

The Predator Engines are a deal. I remaned the engine on my little Troy Bilt cultivator tiller, it had a worn, oil burning Tecumseh 3 horse horizontal shaft engine that worked but kept the 'skeeters' away too. A pint of oil to a tank if gas.... It had to go and it did,

Replaced it with a Predator 3 horse horizontal shaft engine for 99 bucks. I didn't expect much for 99 bucks, but it's the 'little engine that can'.... Took about an hour to fit it up and install the guards back on the tiller. Starts typically with 3 pulls and runs like a champ. Don't burn a drop of oil and is miserly on gas too. It's a good buy for 99 bucks, would be good at twice that price IMO.

My little tiller is good for another 20 years.....

Additionally, I bought a HF 2500 PSI gas driven pressure washer (also with a Predator Engine). Comes with a powder coated roll about cart, 4 different spray nozzles and a 25 foot (too short) hose. Been going strong for 2 years now washing tractors, cars, campers, houses, decks and driveways and shows no sign of quitting.

I bought a spare pump from Northern for it just in case, but I change the engine oil and pump oil at the same time (twice yearly) and I stays in a heated shop in the winter. I think the biggest failure in pressure washers is people letting the water freeze in the pump. Not an issue here.

The only downside is the hose that comes with the unit is wimpy and too short. You have to be careful not to kink it, if you do, it's shot.

Was 299 bucks another great buy IMO.

Neither suck at all.

 

[crazyal]

Can't remember if I posted this, but the thread is so long, it's getting tedious to read.....lol

The Predator Engines are a deal. I remaned the engine on my little Troy Bilt cultivator tiller, it had a worn, oil burning Tecumseh 3 horse horizontal shaft engine that worked but kept the 'skeeters' away too. A pint of oil to a tank if gas.... It had to go and it did,

Replaced it with a Predator 3 horse horizontal shaft engine for 99 bucks. I didn't expect much for 99 bucks, but it's the 'little engine that can'.... Took about an hour to fit it up and install the guards back on the tiller. Starts typically with 3 pulls and runs like a champ. Don't burn a drop of oil and is miserly on gas too. It's a good buy for 99 bucks, would be good at twice that price IMO.

My little tiller is good for another 20 years.....

Additionally, I bought a HF 2500 PSI gas driven pressure washer (also with a Predator Engine). Comes with a powder coated roll about cart, 4 different spray nozzles and a 25 foot (too short) hose. Been going strong for 2 years now washing tractors, cars, campers, houses, decks and driveways and shows no sign of quitting.

I bought a spare pump from Northern for it just in case, but I change the engine oil and pump oil at the same time (twice yearly) and I stays in a heated shop in the winter. I think the biggest failure in pressure washers is people letting the water freeze in the pump. Not an issue here.

The only downside is the hose that comes with the unit is wimpy and too short. You have to be careful not to kink it, if you do, it's shot.

Was 299 bucks another great buy IMO.

Neither suck at all.

I had a Briggs on a rider that did the same thing. I drained the oil and used gear oil, maybe 80w90. It didn't burn a drop of oil after that but it sure made some funny cracks and pops like aluminum expanding. Ran for several more years until I sold it for real cheap (did tell the guy buying it) in a garage sale. If you don't care about the engine you can experiment. I'm kind of surprised that they don't make a 20hp Predator vertical shaft engine for riders.

 

[5030]

H.F is ok but to buy something for lifting overhead even jack stands I would have to re weld it before I used it for peace of mind.Other things like sockets are ok to buy.

I have a set of HF jackstands and a set of jackstands from Autozone and both sets (except the paint color) are identical right down to the casting number on the adjustable cast steel foot. Big difference was price. The HF set was 25 bucks less that the 'Zone set.

I put my one ton Ford Pickup up on those 4 stands all the time.... No issues.

 

[California]

Re the jackstands - 'trust but verify'. Check before you leave the store that the inner stem can't be pulled up beyond its top ratchet tooth. I returned one when I discovered on first use that the stem was resting on an internal shoulder, not on a ratchet tooth, quite a ways from vertical. There's a tab that should prevent pulling the stem up that far but the tab wasn't manufactured to the right dimension.

If I had bumped the vehicle the stem could have shifted across a considerable angle before it got to vertical then it would have fallen an inch or so before it got to the top ratchet tooth. Conceivably the misalignment could have jackknifed the stand if it were loaded to maximum weight, or kicked it out.

I looked at a few jackstands in the store before choosing a replacement and didn't see this flaw on any others.

 

[sixdogs]

I have a set of HF jackstands and a set of jackstands from Autozone and both sets (except the paint color) are identical right down to the casting number on the adjustable cast steel foot. Big difference was price. The HF set was 25 bucks less that the 'Zone set.

I put my one ton Ford Pickup up on those 4 stands all the time.... No issues.

I often use four jack stands but try to use the next size up (6 ton?) whenever possible. Also, I stick one extra jack near where I will be working just in case. Remember, we're talking China here.

 

[sixdogs]

I have a set of HF jackstands and a set of jackstands from Autozone and both sets (except the paint color) are identical right down to the casting number on the adjustable cast steel foot. Big difference was price. The HF set was 25 bucks less that the 'Zone set.

I put my one ton Ford Pickup up on those 4 stands all the time.... No issues.

I often use four jack stands but try to use the next size up (6 ton?) whenever possible. Also, I stick one extra jack near where I will be working just in case. Remember, we're talking China here.