Tool Review: OTC Heavy Duty Extendable Indexing Pry Bar
The OTC Heavy Duty Extendable Indexing Pry Bar, No. 7177, is designed for heavy duty uses such as positioning/re-positioning engines or equipment, aligning heavy steel plates or panels, and prying large heavy objects. The combination extendable reach and 180-degree indexing head permit access to many areas where traditional pry bars may be limited. The prying head is 13/16” wide and can be extended from 34” to 53” using 31 preset positions set in 5/8” increments. The design of the 7177 can provide 1500 lbs to 2200 lbs of “persuasion” for many service and maintenance needs.
The Review
Finding just the right pry bar for a specific job can be a dilemma in any shop, leading to wasted time and increased expenses due to stocking multiple bars, and the trial and error methods used when attempting to complete a task with a range of bars to choose from. Jeff Buckley, owner and master technician at My Father’s Shop in Midlothian, Texas, provided a review of the OTC Heavy Duty Extendable Indexing Pry Bar, No. 7177, and said the tool solved this dilemma, eliminating the need for multiple bars.
“The biggest advantage is that because it is indexable, you can change the angle on the head; you don’t have to dig through all your different pry bars to find the one that has the right angle for the job," Buckley says. "And because it’s extendable, you can adjust it out to the length that you need. It’s twice the length of normal pry bars … and because it extends and is longer, it gives you more leverage. Most of the time with other pry bars, we grab a piece of pipe and stick it on the end of the bar, trying to make it longer. This tool gives you the leverage without having to use a bunch of force. You’re not pushing as hard and you’re not straining as much.”
There is no setup required; the 7177 is ready to go to work right out of the box. There was no accompanying manual needed either, as Buckley attested to the tool’s ease of use.
“It’s not just a matter of how easy it is to use, but how useful that tool is," Buckley says. "It’s extremely useful."
The tool’s extendibility utilizes a push-button system. Buckley mentions there was no concern that the push button would hang in the way or that the tool would become crooked when extended. The indexable head on the 7177 was one of Buckley’s favorite features.
“Most [pry bars] have a set angle," Buckley says. "I’ve seen a couple smaller ones that are adjustable, but they have plastic gears and teeth. [The 7177] has metal gears and teeth, so I’m not really worried about prying with it and that angle breaking loose.”
“It’s a really well-made tool; they thought about it,” Buckley adds. “It’s well manufactured.”
The master technician says that the tool’s weight is exactly what it needs to be, noting that it shouldn’t be any lighter because it would begin to flex when prying. He says that there is no flex or give in the bar, even when fully extended.
“When you extend it out and you grab it in the middle, it’s not like you’re trying to lift a heavy tool, even though it is a heavy pry bar," Buckley says. "You’re not struggling to control or balance it.”
My Father’s Shop used the 7177 for a myriad of jobs, such as checking ball joints, moving lower A-Frames, and suspension and alignment work.
“There’s another tool I have that will do lower A-Frames; it’s just a long bar with hooks that will grab the frame," Buckley says. "But then that tool has to go over in the corner because it won’t go in the toolbox. And it is designed for one thing, whereas [the OTC Heavy Duty Extendable Indexing Pry Bar] is a versatile tool that can be used in many different instances and it collapses down, so it fits right in the toolbox.”
“[There is] really nothing I didn’t like about it," Buckley says. "It’s just extremely useful and handy.”
This shop owner gave the OTC Extendable Pry Bar a high rating due to its versatility, design, and construction. Buckley affirmed the review, stating, “This one’s going in my toolbox.”
To view Buckley's video review of this product, visit: VehicleServicePros.com/21088016.
