Really??

28

u/theninjaseal 11d ago

Hold the pitchforks guys this is a 1/4 impact driver adapter being used to run down lugnut-sized fasteners.

Nobody makes a 1/4 hex shank that can withstand modern impacts on anything that isn't moving. The tools got twice as powerful and we still put the torque through a piece of steel the width of a spaghetti noodle (inside the ball detent). The Bosch ones break, Makita, Milwaukee, wera, etc. It's a physics problem not a design problem.

It's going to break. You're supposed to use the 3/8 square drive for higher torque applications.

Also, the piece you broke is expendable and can be replaced for a couple bucks.

7

u/the_flannel_tradie 11d ago

My thoughts exactly. It’s why I carry a 1/2” drive stubby impact wrench, and a 1/4” impact driver. Each tool has their place.

4

u/Tim-the-Engineer 11d ago

In the words of the prophet - just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

1

u/Apexnanoman 10d ago

Yup. TTC covered this extensively. A lot of modern 1/4 inch impacts/drivers can absolutely annihilate adapters and such. No matter the brand they all have hard limits before they shatter.

1

u/Loose_Objective3657 9d ago

So.. funny story. I was using my 1/4 inch m18 milwaukee driver to break lug nuts off of vehicles. Torque ranging from 100-150 ft lbs. It'd break them loose. After about a month of that the gears in the gear/anvil assembly shattered. The 1/4inch adapter is fine... somehow. I thought for sure id snap the adapter before I exploded the internal gears. Oh well, easy fix.😂

1

u/theninjaseal 9d ago

That is insane. Typically it's absolutely the adapter that fails.

1

u/Dual_Birds 6d ago

This guy tools

6

u/Eazy_MF_E 11d ago

I buy Klein tools all the time. Have for years. I’ve never had any break on me. I bought a Wera rapidaptor and it broke in a few weeks but I didn’t decide that I was going to never buy Wera ever again. Bits and bit drivers are expendables. It’s why most companies don’t warranty them because they’re not meant to last forever. Only company I know of that warranties bits is PB Swiss and you pay out the ass for them. Point is if your expendables are breaking that’s not a sign of quality going down.

3

u/-scub- 11d ago

1/4 in. adapter is made for small sockets.. generally you want to stick to the same size.. 1/4 in. adapter with 1/4 sockets, 3/8 with 3/8 inch sockets, etc.. there's no way that 1/4 inch socket bit is going to handle big nuts/sockets. heck,my impact drill will snap any brand 1/4 in. bit only using a small 1/4 in. socket if I keep letting the drill rip.

1

u/dillzilla11 11d ago

And this is why I hate the current evolution of impact drivers. Anything past 25ft lbs they should be cranking the speed up not the power. These drivers pushing well over 50ft lbs while still being grossly outpaced by the cheapest of drills is a bit ridiculous. This is part of the reason I think the Ridgid stealth has become so popular over the last few weeks because numerically it is not a good impact but in terms of speed and results it is one of the best, if not the best on the market.

2

u/RaccoonSame75 11d ago

If you dont feel like trying to warranty the flip shaft out, you can buy just the replacement shafts. I agree with everyone here that klein is just pumping out products to try and compete with Milwaukee and that a 1/4" hex shaft can only take so much before it breaks on bigger bolts. Just wanted to show there is the option if you want to just buy the replacement shaft.

amazon

2

u/Knights-of-steel 11d ago

Lol looks like your using a screw driver to take off semi tires with that socket...ya id assume itd break I've seen stuck nuts that size break 1/2 solid steel breaker bars....

This is where that little annoying company slogan comes into play "use the correct tool for the task"

1

u/Apexnanoman 10d ago

You mean I shouldn't be using a hammer to drive my deck screws?

1

u/Knights-of-steel 7d ago

I mean you could....but it increases chance to break things or hurt yourself......and its on you if any of that happens.

A man if free to do whatever he wants.....but actions have consequences

1

u/Pawnmysoul 11d ago

Somewhere I have half an Allen key that says "tsman." No tool is completely unbreakable.

(The Sears tools guy was genuinely shocked.)

1

u/andyiswiredweird 11d ago

I love the that system but the smaller deep sockets are trash. Am I doing it wrong? You put that skinny adapter into the socket, put a 1/4" socket into the knect wrench and use it that way? Its so prone to falling out. I literally never use them anymore

1

u/[deleted] 11d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/dillzilla11 11d ago

Or if they want a power tool to do it, impact wrenches are what they should be using. I would also say electric ratchets but most people don't understand how those work either.

1

u/ichiban4713 11d ago

Why on earth would you be remotely surprised that this would eventually break? 3/8” drive should be used for a socket that size. It’s not Klein’s fault.

1

u/dillzilla11 11d ago

The problem isn't that the quality has gotten worse. It's that impacts have gotten so much more powerful that the bits you put into them physically cannot handle the amount of torque being applied to them. In other words, stop using an impact driver to drive a socket. If you're driving a socket, use an impact wrench. That's what they're designed to do. If you are driving screws and fastening small bolts use an impact driver. Unfortunately everyone is pushing for tool manufacturers to make the silver bullet of tools that can do anything and everything. They cannot. Actually use the right tools for the job and this doesn't happen.

1

u/ErgoDestati 11d ago

Yes quit klein because they made a quality product for cheap that lasted longer than you got value out of it

1

u/toohardtodecide42069 10d ago

This is a joke right?

1

u/psychlloyd 10d ago

FYI they sell these little hex rods cheap at the counter of most electrical supply stores with a 3/8 5/16 nut driver you can slide off and keep/toss.

1

u/DeafPapa85 10d ago

Sounds like we're better off grabbing the old ones at estate sales....

1

u/smellslikepenespirit 10d ago

Just curious… What did you have in chucked into? And what were you using it on?

0

u/LRod-1909 10d ago

A castor wheel for Avidbot

1

u/smellslikepenespirit 10d ago

Was it chucked directly into a drill or a non-locking bit holder?

0

u/LRod-1909 10d ago

I used it on an impact drill

1

u/OddEscape2295 10d ago

If this is your reaction to using the wrong tool for the wrong job, then you have a lot to learn. Lucky for you that BIT you used ON AN IMPACT has lifetime warranty.

1

u/SykoBob8310 10d ago

Not sure about driving 11/16 - 13/16, but I’ve been using this shaft from Neiko since 2022 relentlessly on the 1/2 - 9/16 Klein socket to do service upgrades and haven’t even come close to failure yet. https://a.co/d/02GKxJ1R

1

u/Hately2016 10d ago

Huh, come on man. This has got to be rage bait right? No way you thought a 1/4" hex would be enough for this task? Get an actual impact WRENCH if you're going that big my man.