Impact wrenches - need imput

[RCW]

I got to give him the should have listened to the old man look.

I'm young enough to remember that look from my father, and old enough that I've almost perfected it with my son!!

Of course, I've gotten to practice it a lot with him!

 

[Bulldog]

I'm young enough to remember that look from my father, and old enough that I've almost perfected it with my son!!

Of course, I've gotten to practice it a lot with him!

Glad to hear I'm not alone with that one.

 

[RCW]

Glad to hear I'm not alone with that one.

My co-worker's son has been buddies with my son since kindergarten.

According to his group of friends, I'm scary.

I'm okay with that......

 

[ipz2222]

rcw,,, especially if you have a daughter.

 

[RCW]

rcw,,, especially if you have a daughter.

Twin girls now 23 - the boy is the much younger brother.

That's why I'm okay with that - good practice.

They are probably right.

 

[JackJ]

Changing the topic here slightly--hope that's ok. I'm a new BX owner, and in checking my tractor over I'm realizing my biggest torque wrench doesn't go up to the torque needed for things I'm supposed to check: wheel lugs, loader mounts, etc.

So I'm looking for a bigger torque wrench. But I'm wondering if impact wrenches can be "good enough" for getting the torque right. For example, when I'm at the tire shop, they're certainly not using a torque wrench when they put wheels back on.

Do impact wrenches allow you to verify that you're "close enough" on the big, important fasteners?

 

[William1]

Jack, it depends on the quality of the gun you use and the air pressure you set your regulator to and in some cases, the CFM that is available at the gun (not just at the compressor, hoses lower the CFM).

If you 'know your tools' you can trust an impact gun to be within a range. For example, with my Snap-On 1/2, set to its lowest setting, on tightening, it is just about 50 ft-lbs. So I'll use that for initial bolt/wheel tightening.
If the bolts you are removing are clean and unmolested/rusted, slowly dialing up the setting on the gun or air pressure can get a good gun to just barely loosen and then left to the same setting, can tighten pretty closely. But you have to know your tools.
Mostly, I use a tiny Bosch 1/4" cordless impact gun to run the bolt/nut in then follow up with the appropriate torque wrench if precision is called for or I use my 'inner ninja' for non-critical ones. After spinning wrenches for 40 years, I am pretty accurate by hand. But I do not risk 'by hand' on alloy wheels or cylinder head bolts.
Always be sure threads are cleaned and use anti-seize/loctite/oil/dry as called for.
My general rule is a lost bolt is better than a stripped or broken one.

 

[Bulldog]

JackJ, might be worth looking at something like this http://www.tooltopia.com/astro-pneu...scplp6808597&gclid=CNuR8ZqSvcwCFQQEaQodtVcJbA

 

[Tooljunkie]

Many impact wrenches have variable settings, my small one lowest setting is roughly 95 foot pounds. I have a variety of torque wrenches, which i require in my line of work. If you decide to buy a larger one, i suggest you shop around, look for a name brand, craftsman proto gray s-k mac snap on to name a few.
They all have to meet a standard for accuracy, some just stay accurate longer.
1 foot pound=1 pound on a one foot bar,so 100 lbs on a one foot bar or 50 lbs on a two foot bar. Its not difficult to roughly torque something if you are willing to do some calculating.

No offence to bulldog, but i never had good results with torque bars. Have had cars (alloy wheels) come in after visiting a tire shop and wheels loosened. Its more a matter of corrosion on mounting surface. I hand torque every wheel. No exceptions.

 

[Bulldog]

No offence to bulldog, but i never had good results with torque bars. Have had cars (alloy wheels) come in after visiting a tire shop and wheels loosened. Its more a matter of corrosion on mounting surface. I hand torque every wheel. No exceptions.

None taken, I have only seen them and don't have any actual knowledge of how they perform. I only thru that option out because of the whole torque with impact thing going on.

When I ran into the same situation with my first new Kubota I took mine back to the dealer and had them check it for me. Simple fact, I didn't have the correct tool for the job. Since then I ran down a Snap-on truck and bought one that would handle the job.

I guess my real advise would be don't monkey around and try to guess what the proper torque might be. Either take it and have it done or buy a torque wrench that will handle the job.

 

[Daren Todd]

I use the torque sticks, but just to get me close to where I need to be. I always finish off with a torque wrench. I've always found that a torque stick either puts too much torque, or not quite enough. So I usually choose the torque stick that's under what I need

 

[thedevilyoulove]

Not everything from harbor freight is good - but just wanted to give you another option. I'm a member on a few mechanics boards - and this is a gem for 1/2" drives

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-professional-air-impact-wrench-68424.html

I was skeptical at first - but so many mechanics are using them on the boards I frequent I decided to give it a try. 20% coupon for even more off.


I usually use IR, but even IR will go bye bye after so much use. This earth quake has been holding up very well for 1+ years so far of some heavy commercial use. And when it goes just like the IR and other brands will - it costs less to replace.


For the price - the aircat will be a good buy though also.

Just wanted to give you a sub $100 option also

Thanks for this, I have a fiddy dolla HF gift card I need to use, it will knock the heck out of the cost of this, especially with a coupon.

 

[thedevilyoulove]

Not everything from harbor freight is good - but just wanted to give you another option. I'm a member on a few mechanics boards - and this is a gem for 1/2" drives

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-professional-air-impact-wrench-68424.html

I was skeptical at first - but so many mechanics are using them on the boards I frequent I decided to give it a try. 20% coupon for even more off.


I usually use IR, but even IR will go bye bye after so much use. This earth quake has been holding up very well for 1+ years so far of some heavy commercial use. And when it goes just like the IR and other brands will - it costs less to replace.


For the price - the aircat will be a good buy though also.

Just wanted to give you a sub $100 option also

Harbor Freight just sent some coupons and these Earthquakes are on sale for $77.77. I had a fiddy dolla gift card to use so I jumped on one. Thanks for the tip!!