The Snap-on 1/2" Drive 36" Breaker Bar, No. SHN36, provides 33 percent increased torque with less effort for a variety of applications, according to the company. The SHN36 offers a soft-grip handle for added control and comfort. The strengthened head and square drive double the fatigue life of the tool.
The review
Both Eric Moore, co-owner of DeMary Truck in Columbus, Ohio, and Ken Elzinga, owner of Hilltop Auto Service in Byron Center, Mich., found the Snap-on 1/2” Drive 36” Breaker Bar to be useful around their shops.
“In those situations where you need a breaker bar of this length, it worked great,” Elzinga says.
“Not having to resort to using a smaller breaker bar with a cheater pipe on the end meant at least one less trip to the toolbox,” Moore adds. While using an extension of some kind over a smaller breaker bar can be effective, Moore warns it can be dangerous if the extension slips off.
“It can also result in the breaker bar coming apart – most likely at the ears for the square drive,” he says. “The overall length, weight and proportions of the Snap-on 1/2” Drive 36” Breaker Bar make a lot of those actions unnecessary.”
Both Moore and Elzinga used the Snap-on 1/2” Drive 36” Breaker Bar to service the crankshaft bolt on Honda jobs. Both noted that this can be a particularly difficult task, and Moore says it often takes several rounds with an impact gun to knock it loose.
However, Elzinga says, “This long breaker bar was just the ticket to get this bolt loose. When you get a 200-lb tech leaning on a 3’ breaker bar, you can make some serious torque.”
Both techs used the breaking bar to loosening lug nuts, and Moore also found it did well holding cranks to keep them from turning.
The tool requires no set up, other than selecting the 1/2” socket need for the task. No accessories or manual comes included. Moore says the tool is simple to use and notes it is made very well with much thicker stock than some other smaller length breaker bars.
“The mounting ears are really thick – this seems to be the failure point of most breaker bars. The additional leverage afforded by the extend length made it so much more effective,” Moore says. “Nice thick mounting ears, long weighty handle and cushioned grip make it so easy to use and get results.”
Because of its size, Elzinga says the tool is a little cumbersome. But he notes, “It works great when you need a tool with this kind of leverage.”
“It helps you break loose stubborn bolts that you have no other way of getting loose,” Elzinga says.
