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There is a great deal at Canadian Tire right now. Mastercraft impact wrench: 7.5 Amp, 240ft lbs max torque, 2200/2700 BPM. Reg $179.99 sale $59.99
I wonder if this tool is strong enough to handle the lug nuts on a car for wheel changes? I do own a compressor and was going to buy an air one but wonder if this enough? I torque my lugs to 110 lbs and this is rated to 240 so should be more than enough I would think?
I have not used this exact wrench but used another brand similar specs and it worked good. I am not a fan of using a impact to install lug nuts unless your just spinning them tight then use a torque wrench to set them.
At that price I would say it's a deal hard to pass up if you can use it
Yep! Nothing worse than some kid at CT torqueing your nuts so tight that you can't get them off when back in the boonies.
Some CTC tools scare me but I did recently buy a reciprocating saw that I'm more than happy with--quality ways that is!
I'd say that if you intend to use the wrench every blue moon or so, then it should be a safe deal.
I have a 3 amp CT impact and it was not quite strong enough under all conditions. I suspect that the 7.5 amp version would do the trick. If you are patient though, you can buy the 100 piece air tool kit for $100, which includes a decent air impact gun, plus three other air tools. You would have to make sure your compressor has enough output though.
As has been said, do not torque the lug nuts with an impact wrench. You'll be sorry.
I use an electric impact for seasonal tire changes, brake jobs, etc to remove the lugs and suspension components. More than enough power and works great.
I cannot dial in a torque setting on my older model so I use a manual torque wrench for re-installation of the lugs which is typically at 110 ft/lbs and also prevents warping the rotors.
Don't forget to torque the lugs in a star pattern and check them again after 100 kms or so.
I'm on my second electric impact gun. I would not be without one, I carry one on moose hunts with a small genny. The first one was wore out after 20 years of use. Even with air in your shop I would purchase this impact at that priceQuote:
Originally Posted by terrym
I have a Makita battery operated impact gun and I have used it many times for just about anything. Lots of power for almost anything you need, without having to plug it in. IMO a more versatile option.
I will grab it today. I also have a proper torque wrench and check my torque periodically.
I have one. I use it regularly and it does an excellent job. It sure saves on the wrist. Be sure to check your lugs with a proper torque wrench,though. Sometimes,the gun can run a bit over. It's a good unit.
An impact wrench is not a torque wrench, if you use this to put on your lug nuts you risk snapping off your studs.
If you want to use an impact gun to put on bolts (generally they are used for removing nuts) then get something like this, http://www.princessauto.com/en/detai...et/A-p8574055e , these are torque limiting extensions and they are designed for use with powdered wrenches.
I have an impact wrench like this, it works well for removing rusted on fasteners on vehicles but I would not use it for installing any bolt without a torque limiter.
I have three compressed air wrenches out in the garage. Last year I bought the electric from Can Tire as I cannot count on any of the air units when things are cold.
Now when I find a trailer with a flat I load the genny in the tractor bucket along with the torque wrench and sockets......getting to the time when I work easier...
Never use an impact to put them on, it will guaranteed over torque or under torque then. All wheels must be torqued by hand with a torque wrench. Remember if a wheel comes off and your not a licenced mechanic you are held liable, your insurance cannot help you
im a licenced truck, heavy equipment and automobile mechanic, I've got big air guns to do these tasks, I find those cheap guns won't break hardly any torque or corrosion. But I can't stress enough to torque your wheels, I've been a court witness to give opinion when back yard guys have had wheels come off and have seen people loose everything
Not to worry, I have a torque wrench to finish the job.
Terry I've had that same one for 5 years now. It's holding up great with general use for trailers, my truck and car and my daughter's cars twice a year. Boy do they ever speed up the wheel changing process and for getting seized hardware loose.Quote:
Originally Posted by terrym
I learned the hard way at first lol. Warped all four rotors on my Park Ave. One wheel nut I couldn't get off and had to take it to the garage I use and get the big guy to lean on a real long power bar they had.
So I bought a torque extension at first but ended up buying an adjustable 1/2" torque bar. And don't forget then I had to buy two sets of impact sockets to complete the setup. :D Everything was on sale at princess.
For $60 that will be money well spent. I sure wouldn't want to go back to a four way, although I still carry them.
Cheers
I ended up buying the impact gun at CTC. Seems like a fairly well built tool. Little early yet for swapping out the snow tires though.
I've been putting on and taking off wheels for over 65 years and have never used a torque wrench when putting the wheels on my vehicles - never had any problems - I tighten the lugs up as hard as I can - that assures me that I can get them off again if I have to - as Fox said - if you are going to use a air driven wrench you better get a good one or you might be putting the lugs on too tight and when you get a flat you won't be able to get them off - an impact wrench is used to take lugs or bolts off - not on
I agree that using an impact ot install lug nuts isn't the best way to do it, unless you use a torque wrench, but who is going to veriify the calibration of your torque wrench? These things do go out of cal fairly regularly...been using them on aircraft for years and all of them need to be calibrated yearly, if not more frequently.
The secret to not messing up a torque wrench is remove all tension on it when storing it. Will they be to exact spec? No and I wouldn't expect an aviation mechanic to use the same quality tools as the back yard mechanic switching out winter rims. I torque to owners manual specs ( 110) and have never had a problem.
The bar length for lug nuts put in the vehicle from the factory is designed to give torque numbers very close to that of the factory specs when full weight is applied, very simple but very smart.Quote:
Originally Posted by JoePa
Imagine someone with a breaker bar length tire iron putting lug nuts with all the force then could on a Honda Civic?
Everything in aviation gets a yearly recal at least, regardless if it's good or not. I agree they may go out of cal but for home automotive use I wouldn't worry about a little bit out. Now gauges are a different story. Doesn't take too much for the pointer to slip on the shaft, specially on tire gauges that get banged around. I've done the cal on many many hundreds.Quote:
Originally Posted by thunderbolt
Cheers
That's just the point though...without a regular schedule for calibration, who's to say when it goes out of cal enough to be an issue? 1 yr, 2 yrs, 5 yrs...Just backing off the setting and storing a torque wrench doesn't guarantee its good.
Would that be "full weight" of a 300 pound man or "full weight" for a 120 pound woman? And I wonder what the difference in torque would be if each used the same length bar?Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
Update: used this impact driver to take the snows off my wife's jeep this morning. WOW what a great tool. I think I'm going to carry it in the truck with an inverter and extension cord. Now I'm glad I didn't buy an air gun. Money well spent.
The only one I see in my flyer is the 3.5 a for 69.99$
Is this a in store deal..Dutch
it was in one of the early March flyers. 7.5 amp 240lbs torque.Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchhunter
Does anyone else use the old bar type torque wrenches or do you all count on the click style?. Used electric B&D impact for 15 years and learned to judge 50 ft/lbs pretty close. Now I am only doing my own tires I wouldn't be without an electric impact, when used properly...
It does lugs just fine
I have all the tools to do tires but I cant he bothered for the price my shop charges me. $3 a tire. I have them done when its in for an oil change.
Mine lasted 6 yrs with the business. I also got it on sale for $59.00 or so at the time.
The 7.5 amp 240lbs torque is on at CTC for $55 ish again this week. prob only until tomorrow night. Just noticed today when in there.Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchhunter
I found the 7 amp one around the corner from the 3amp units the were on sale on the end of the row. The 3amp unit came with a tire stand. But the 7 amp was 10$ cheaper .lol.