Tools, Halfords Advanced general tools

[DarrenSV650S]

I have the 150 piece halfords set. One ratchet spanner broke pretty much the first time I used it. Got it replaced, but I don't think I was meant to because their lifetime warranty doesn't cover moving parts. I don't really find much use for them to be honest

The 3/8 socket mechanism broke too. They sold me a repair kit, which didn't fit the one I had... so ended up buying a new one.

One of the allen key socket bits also snapped when I was using it (cue lots of swearing). Got that replaced as it is solid metal, at least it was until it broke...

I wouldn't recommend the kit

my halfrauds pro stuff has been fine for the time i have had it

dont buy any thing made by teng tools they are utter sh*te nuff sead really apart from i do get a 40% discount

[TamSV]

Got a set of the ratchet spanners today and have used one already to fit my Acewell speedo sensor up under the front mudguard.

[Bibio]

never had a problem with the hulfuds pro range, but i dont buy sets i just buy what i need when i need from the nice shiny glass cabinets. their torque wrenches are the mutz nutz for the price. i seem to recall that the pro tools are made by britool but i could be wrong.

[Viney]

I love my ratchet spanners. I find them good if you are at full stretch and the wieght of a socket hinders your movement. Mine are Sealy btw. I have 1 item of Hal;fords toolage, and it broke about 3 months in, and that was a Huge Torque wrench, bought for doing up car wheels bearings. Even 3 months in, (this was a few years ago) Halfords didnt want to replace it as it was the ratchet that went. All manner of greif ensued. I still have it and the ratchet part doesnt work. Theys aid i had put too much pressure on the ratchet! Its a 300ft/lb torque wrenc ffs...thats me jumping up and down on it and then some! Idiots. Id never buy tools from them to be honest. I prefer a mixture. I have all manner of stuff, Clarke Pro, Sealy, Snap-off, Draper pro etc etc

[andrewsmith]

the halfrauds stuff I've got is spot on.
Put Viney you've confirmed what I thought about the torque wrenches (crap!!).
Drapers tools are good, just a bit expensive for some of the gear.

[MrMessy]

Just picked up a set of the flexi-head ratchet spanners. Daughters going to buy them for my birthday Thanks for the heads up on this offer.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by barwel1992

dont buy any thing made by teng tools they are utter sh*te nuff sead really apart from i do get a 40% discount

What's your experience with teng stuff? Why sh*te?

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by squirrel_hunter

I've not used the ratchet spanners with the flexible heads that TFA has bought but have used the other ratchet spanners that they do and found them very useful for getting in spaces that a socket cannot find.

As for jumping up and down on them, for tightening things not a problem, but you are of course restrained by the length of the tool which is I find proportional to the torque that you can and often should apply. The need for jumping on them however suggests to me undoing a highly torqued bolt, which I would then argue that a ratchet spanner is not the best application and a breaker bar would be far more useful.

Or a ring spanner if you don't have room for socket.

Ratchet spanners are meant to make jobs a bit quicker, they're not for beasting as they'll break (even good ones)

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

What's your experience with teng stuff? Why sh*te?

using them on formula renault car, they snap, rust even when oil'd bend, some of the sockets shatter.

and we were told not to buy them by the mechanics at my collage (f1,wrc,BTCC,WTCC head mechanics, lots of experiance so know what they are on about)