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Jan 1 2014 calling all cheapskate mechanics Harbor Frt

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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loub
Posts: 91
Joined: 21 September 2006
Year and Model: 94,95,96 850,98S70
Location: elmhurst IL

Re: Jan 1 2014 calling all cheapskate mechanics Harbor Frt

Post by loub »

Thanks jreed for the hilarious best laugh of the new year!

falconbrother
Posts: 90
Joined: 29 March 2010
Year and Model: V70, 2000
Location: NC

Post by falconbrother »

I'm going there now. I want the 80 amp stick welder.
2000 V70
1992 940
1989 740
1979 242GT

Ben850
Posts: 1613
Joined: 8 September 2011
Year and Model: 1996 850 R Wagon
Location: Michigan
Been thanked: 7 times

Post by Ben850 »

I have no problem with Harbor Freight.
I have an aluminum floor jack, two sets of spring compressors, a multitude of hand tools that I carry in the junk yards.

I do have a history with Bosch cordless tools and would buy none other. They are indeed expensive but no other compare.

I do not care for DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee, etc...

In this one photo I could find dozens of Harbor Freight items.
Aluminum Floor Jack. Spring Compressors. Jack Stands...
Aluminum Floor Jack. Spring Compressors. Jack Stands...
One of the Bosch Lithium-Ion group I own. I also have the high torque, 500 ft. lb. version.
The hammer drill, Angle grinder and even the worksite radio that also charges the batteries or can run from them.
Bosch light impact 1/2" Drive.
Bosch light impact 1/2" Drive.
1993 850 GLT , You wouldn't know it.
1996 850 Turbo Wagon White.
1995 T-5R Black. New work in progress.
1998 V70 XC Cross Country White.
1994 850 N/A Wagon Black.
1997 850 Sedan Black.
1996 850R Wagon White.
1997 850 Sedan Red ( not white or black!)

JimBee
Posts: 1915
Joined: 9 December 2008
Year and Model: 93 and 2 96 850's
Location: Minneapolis
Has thanked: 25 times
Been thanked: 42 times

Post by JimBee »

This $1.99 bit set is a real curse-reducer when changing the idler roller:

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-to ... 91255.html

I looked for something similar at all the automotive supply stores then while performing one of my more risky financial indulgences—browsing at HF—came across it. What a find.

They also carry a straight bit set (of 3 I think), not pictured on their site right now. It has a short 5/16 hex shank. You can put that in a 5/16 socket on a 1/4" extension and get a straight shot down past the side of your cylinder head to the almost hidden torx screw on the T-stat housing.

joe_pinehill
Posts: 208
Joined: 30 September 2013
Year and Model: 850 1996
Location: United States

Post by joe_pinehill »

Ben850 wrote:

One of the Bosch Lithium-Ion group I own. I also have the high torque, 500 ft. lb. version.
The hammer drill, Angle grinder and even the worksite radio that also charges the batteries or can run from them.

How do you like the impact wrench from Bosch, ? can you remove wheel nuts?
96 850 GLT
RIP '90 240 DL, 285K, someone ran a stop sign in front of me
RIP '89 760 Wagon, 200K
RIP '83 240 Wagon, rusted out

Ben850
Posts: 1613
Joined: 8 September 2011
Year and Model: 1996 850 R Wagon
Location: Michigan
Been thanked: 7 times

Post by Ben850 »

joe_pinehill wrote:
Ben850 wrote:

One of the Bosch Lithium-Ion group I own. I also have the high torque, 500 ft. lb. version.
The hammer drill, Angle grinder and even the worksite radio that also charges the batteries or can run from them.

How do you like the impact wrench from Bosch, ? can you remove wheel nuts?
I can easily remove truck lug nuts with this one that I had picked up recently. It is capable of 500 Ft. pounds of torque using the same battery.
The latest addition.
The latest addition.
1993 850 GLT , You wouldn't know it.
1996 850 Turbo Wagon White.
1995 T-5R Black. New work in progress.
1998 V70 XC Cross Country White.
1994 850 N/A Wagon Black.
1997 850 Sedan Black.
1996 850R Wagon White.
1997 850 Sedan Red ( not white or black!)

User avatar
abscate
MVS Moderator
Posts: 35283
Joined: 17 February 2013
Year and Model: 99: V70s S70s,05 V70
Location: Port Jefferson Long Island NY
Has thanked: 1502 times
Been thanked: 3813 times

Post by abscate »

I've been looking for the right line of cordless tools for awhile and always wondered if the Bosch line commanded a price premium for real reasons or...

I do have two corded Bosch drills and jigsaw ....the quality is top shelf.

As a part time mechanic, I've always worried the batteries won't live during the occasional use cycle.

Ben, you are talking me into a new regime of tool richness and financial poverty...
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
Link to Maintenance record thread

joe_pinehill
Posts: 208
Joined: 30 September 2013
Year and Model: 850 1996
Location: United States

Post by joe_pinehill »

I have a lot of Milwaukee's M12 tools and love them. They are so good, you wonder how you did anything with older generation tool.

I'm thinking about a cordless 1/2 driver, trading the Milwaukee M18 vs the Bosch.

The reviews for the Harbor Freight 18V are mixed, thats one I'll pass on.
96 850 GLT
RIP '90 240 DL, 285K, someone ran a stop sign in front of me
RIP '89 760 Wagon, 200K
RIP '83 240 Wagon, rusted out

rmmagow
Posts: 2023
Joined: 11 March 2006
Year and Model: V70 1998
Location: Rhode Island USA
Been thanked: 2 times

Post by rmmagow »

I have the Milwaukee 18V impact and it works very well for my limited uses, lug nuts, shock bolts, running the spring compressor etc. Came with two batteries and recharges pretty quickly. I also have an HF corded impact wrench that although really noisy always did what I needed it to do. The cordless is a big help cruising through junk yards though. The 500 ft lb rating of the Bosch is pretty attractive. I am buying an HF 2x gallon compressor, one that uses oil and will probably get an air powered impact wrench for that. The compressor will be used initially to paint a car. I've got craftsman, matco, snap-on, kobalt and hf hand tools. The hf holds up pretty well and at a price point that you don't feel so bad when one gets away to the bowels of the engine compartment. Kobalts are pretty good too, lowes I think.
1998 V70 AWD 228K - Daily Driver
1985 Mercedes Benz 300D - 197K Off Road For Now Brakes Failed
1998 S70 135K - FOR SALE
2003 GMC Sonoma - 114K - POS
1958 Mercedes Benz 220S 66K Original and never to be restored.
2006 Saturn ION 5-Speed - 150K Son's weird little easy to fix car

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erikv11
Posts: 11800
Joined: 25 July 2009
Year and Model: 850, V70, S60R, XC70
Location: Iowa
Has thanked: 292 times
Been thanked: 765 times

Post by erikv11 »

I should have clicked this one earlier, the parody ad from jreed is great!
'95 854 T-5R, Motronic 4.4, 185k
'98 V70, T5 tune-injectors-turbo, LPT engine, 304k, daily driver
'06 S60 R, 197k
'07 XC70, black, 205k
'07 XC70, willow green, 212k
'99 Camry V6 :shock: 153k
gone: '96 NA 850 210k, '98 NA V70 182k, '98 S70 NA 225k, '96 855 NA 169k

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