Matco Tools fail

Kinja'd!!! by "RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
Published 02/18/2017 at 23:52

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STARS: 3


The tool truck came around this week with this little gem in the latest flyer...

Kinja'd!!!

A “parasitic draw test switch”. For the low low price of $71 FUCKING DOLLARS (save $23!!). Come on, guys, you show this stuff to techs! We all know this is a $10 battery cutoff switch at any auto parts store. How does this even reach print? Not to mention the fact that it’s completely unnecessary!! If used, it adds a step to a very simple process, and necessitates disconnecting the battery to install, which you generally try to avoid unless absolutely necessary, especially during electrical diagnostics. This is beyond stupid, but I’m sure some slick tool guy who has never wrenched will sell them to rookies. Bugs the shit out of me.


Replies (10)

Kinja'd!!! "Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
02/19/2017 at 00:13, STARS: 0

LOL that price.

To be fair, these are not just normal cutoff switches, in that they include little studs for your multimeter’s alligator clips to hook on to. Neat, but I’m still not seeing justification for that pricing.

Besides, who in the field uses these for amp-draw testing anyway? Aren’t induction-type clamp meters all the rage now? You don’t even have to remove the battery cable.

Kinja'd!!! "RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
02/19/2017 at 00:36, STARS: 1

The price, and the gall. I’ve found my Fluke meters to be more consistent than amp clamps, especially for small draws. You can use alligators just fine on battery terminals as long as you’re careful, without ever opening the circuit

Kinja'd!!! "Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
02/19/2017 at 00:43, STARS: 3

Yes but the snap-on version is probably $153.

Kinja'd!!! "RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
02/19/2017 at 00:47, STARS: 0

It would be, if snap-on was a shitty tool company. Matco doesn’t even make good wrenches.

Kinja'd!!! "GUYMANDUDE" (guymandudebro)
02/19/2017 at 01:00, STARS: 0

I totally need that. I’m glad if on sale. 71$ is reasonable. Plus I can tell my wife I saved big time on this one

Kinja'd!!! "AMGtech - now with more recalls!" (amgtech)
02/19/2017 at 03:23, STARS: 1

I’ll take ten!

Kinja'd!!! "RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
02/19/2017 at 03:43, STARS: 2

Joke’s on you, I already bought them all!

Kinja'd!!! "Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
02/19/2017 at 09:26, STARS: 0

The few snap-on wrenches I have, I have had for >20 years.

Kinja'd!!! "CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
02/20/2017 at 16:48, STARS: 0

This is stupid. That is basically a battery shut off switch which you could get at that new Harbor Freight for next to nothing or on the interwebs.

Kinja'd!!! "The Stig's former college room mate" (das-stig)
02/21/2017 at 07:48, STARS: 0

i thought the same thing when I saw it! Then I saw who made it and it all made sense. OTC, also known as “Overpriced Tool Company”