Sears Craftsman ratchet/sockets

[Guy Miner]

After 30 years of use, yesterday I managed to twist and break a 3/8" drive extension while trying to break a stubborn lug nut free on my son's Subaru. Couldn't get any oil to the threads.

Never managed that before! I was so incredulous, I put my only remaining 3/8" drive extension on and tried that nut again. Twisted that drive extension to the breaking point too!

Two drives dead in 10 minutes after 30 years of using the same socket set. Wow. :shock:

I remembered that back in the 1970's and 1980's I heard that Sears Craftsman tools had a lifetime warranty. Decided to put that to the test and headed to Sears with my twisted & broken extension.

The gentleman at the hardware department said "Why yes sir, of course this piece is still covered with our lifetime warranty." I was pleased. We then walked over to the socket & ratchet display and I picked out the replacement, which still has the exact same part number, 30 years later. Amazing. :grin:

A big plus one for Sears Craftsman!

Oh, the other twisted/broken extension? It wasn't a Sears Craftsman tool, so I'll have to buy a replacement for it. Phooey. I'll replace it with a Sears Craftsman extension. Not that I ever expect to twist and break an extension again, but I didn't expect to do it in the first place.

Got back home and finished the job with my 1/2" drive breaker bar and a new 19mm deep socket. That worked.

My 21 year old son who watched the whole process had three observations:

Sears Craftsman tools can break, but they replace 'em for free, with no questions.

He isn't happy with the guys who used the air tool to put his wheels back on after balancing the tires.

Ol' Dad is pretty strong when he latches onto something and applies some grunt power. :mrgreen:

Guy

 

[BK]

I managed to break two Craftsman 1/2" drive ratchets when I had to replace the U-bolt plate/shock mount on my first CJ (79 CJ5) before I wised up and bought a breaker bar. (I should have bought an impact wrench, but it took me another 20 years to learn that!)

You broke two extensions? Remind me never to give you a hard time...

 

[FOTIS]

They are awesome tools.

 

[cloverleaf]

Guy- My Dad looks to be about your size.... In our family we have an expression for somthing my Dad puts together. We refer to it as "Paw tight". Anything I cant get apart is still referred to as "Paw tight". Incientally, we have put the Craftsman waranty to the tset a time or two. Same results. However, they did tell me, "no, sir Im sorry, we dont lifetime warranty our power tools, the company would be broke in a year". I still bought another Craftsman dremel tool. The first one lasted 15 plus years.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have a 30+ year old set of Craftsman sockets etc. I have never broken anything except one 3/8's socket (cracked) and Sears replaced it, no questions asked. I have a Craftstman Dremel and a Craftman small electric screwdriver. I have had them about 30 years and they are still going. Can't beat Sears for tools.

 

[BK]

I'm going to be the dissenter. The new (well, maybe five years ago) Craftsman ratchets I bought for my dad were pretty poorly assembled. I pretty much have moved to Snap On or S&K, but I still use my 15-20 year old 1/2" drive stuff.

 

[Guy Miner]

I've heard that about the newer Sears ratchets. Too bad. The old ones held up pretty well.

Good tools make most jobs go so much easier!

Guy

 

[JD338]

All I have is Craftsman. Free replacement is tough to beat.

JD338

 

[SJB358]

Same here, full set of Craftsmen tools. Haven't broke much, but what I have broken (usually working on my old 77 CJ5) was replaced. Great tools for a guys that doesn't turn wrenches for a living.

 

[BK]

Funny how old CJs are tool breakers...

Just
Empty
Every
Pocket

 

[SJB358]

Funny how old CJs are tool breakers...

Just
Empty
Every
Pocket

You aren't kidding Kurt. I could have a Supergrade 300 and 375, PRE64 for what I dumped into that old rig over the years. Makes me sick sometimes.

 

[Oldtrader3]

The 4WD that kept me poor was a 1986, 350CID, GMC. That sucker went through tires fast and wheel bearings even faster. Plus it ate 2 sets of (5) universal joints in the 3 years that I owned it. I actually used it to hunt and I do not think that it was designed with that in mind. I think it was designed for road warrior, city folk who would dress the Jimmy up like a jeep with brush guards, hijackers, light bars and all but never one take it offroad! That way they would not break it as I did mine every year.

To add insult to injury, I turned around and bought an S-10 Blazer which I broke the front tie bar in every year, usually in the mountains, 40 miles from a garage. You know the tie bar that also controls front wheel camber! This was in the Escalante mountains in southern Utah with roads that are really sheep trails (full of rocks) going up over 10,000 feet. Have you ever tried to drive 40 miles to the garage with no front wheel camber?

Finally I got real and bought a 4WD Ford, twin I-beam, V-6, 4.1 liter, Single OVH cam, 1999 Explorer which I beat the crap out of for several years but ever broke it! It is easy on tires. It runs no matter what and is a real truck! Plus it taught me that an auto trannie is better than four-on-the-floor in the mountains, snow and all.[

 

[Hegland]

Never has Sears given me grief about replacing hand tools. I only hope the company hangs around to keep living up to the promise.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

I've broken 5 or 6 sockets of various flavors and have had no issues returning them for replacement. Also some ez-outs and punches. Agreed that the older ratchets are sturdier in build.

Recently I've returned two leaf rakes and was told to keep the exchange receipt. It will be required if I want to replace the new rakes. Not sure if that is a lawn and garden tool policy or not. I was kinda put back by this and never thought to ask.The salesman said that if the tool is newer than 2012, it would need a receipt for them to honor the warranty. :?

 

[Elkman]

My dad was a mechanic so I have both Craftsman and Proto, several sets of each, up to "1" drive socket sets. I have had issues the last few years, with the longevity of some of the Craftsman tools, particularly the 1/4 drive ratchet. Perhaps they are not made to use for changing tires ? Have replaced two of them.

I also have a very old set of SK, 1/2 inch, sockets and ratchet that has lasted well.

 

[HTDUCK]

Great tools for a guys that doesn't turn wrenches for a living.

Exactly.
I do have some though. Problem is, if I break something and walk into a store w a shirt on that has company logo on it they will not replace it for free. Seems they are not warranted for commercial use......
Answer, send the wife :mrgreen:

 

[DrMike]

Great tools for a guys that doesn't turn wrenches for a living.

Exactly.
I do have some though. Problem is, if I break something and walk into a store w a shirt on that has company logo on it they will not replace it for free. Seems they are not warranted for commercial use......
Answer, send the wife :mrgreen:

Makes sense to me. :grin:

 

[35 Whelen]

Sad part of this story is that there are quite a few jerks, out there that find great pleasure with a 200lb air compressor to turn the impact gun all the way up, and wind the lug nuts on so tight there is NO WAY you can ever get them off in the field........................ I had a horses as* do that to my F150 a few years back and lucky I never had a flat as when it came time to put the summer tires back on [I have extra set of rims] we had to use a 3/4 drive breaker bar and socket with a junk of pipe to get them off !!!!!
His day is coming, trust me. :x

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have a pretty complete set of Craftsmen wrenches and sockets. I was looking at them the other day and realized that most of the socket set and hand wrenches were bought at the same time I bought my first reloading dies, or about 1964. Took a licking, still ticking.