which impact gun to buy!

[henboy1]

I want to invest in an impact gun and I don't know much about them.Should I go electric/rechgargeable or just air to run off my air lines.I am not looking for a big impact gun to take off my wheels but most nuts and bolts on the truck.I see the most common ones are the 1/2" but what torque?10,000 revolutions and 625 torque?etc...

[Dispatch_This]

I have had the best luck with a Campbell Hausfield 1/2" impact wrench running off the trailer supply line. The smaller tools don't seem to have enough punch to loosen a lot of stuff, IME.

[henboy1]

Are you saying that I am better of getting an air gun to run off the lines rather than an electric/rechargeable?
What PSI and revolutions is that rated at?I guess the only draw back is that if your truck aint running then you cannot use an air gun.

[Dispatch_This]

No specs available. I bought it off the shelf from Home Depot 11 or 12 years ago, got a 1/2" airhose with a gladhand from a truckstop and put a quick-connect on the other end. Hasn't failed me yet. You do have to fast-idle your truck if you have alot of work to do, but that's no big deal.

[henboy1]

Good info!
Don't look like many people use impact guns here on their trucks.
Thiis is an off topic:
My alternator went out in Longview, TX 3 days ago.I had a high output alternator at 150AMPS that went bad.The spare one I had in the truck was only 105 amps.I drove to an auto part store to have them check the system.This happened around 8pm, and stuck in O' Rielly's parking lot with a heavy duty AC unit and a tank until 5am in the morning wasn't a good feeling.If only I had an impact gun besides the manual wrenches and sockets that I had, I could have changed out the pulley myself.All the 911 directories and my company's leads they gave me was unsuccessful.All the leads wanted was to come tow it.
I am going to buy an air gun with a long air line.
Thank you dispatch.

[roadranger]

I've often read that a good spare to carry is an alternator with the proper pulley installed. Real B#$%h to move the pulley over! I found the strongest 1/2 inch impact wrench and bought that off eBay. With shop air I can even do wheels if they aren't too overtightened. It is an Ingersol Rand Titanium model # 2135TI . Very light and does 1000 ft/lbs in reverse and 650 in forward. I just use the full torque to tighten the lugnuts and that is about right 8) . Takes forever compared to using a 1 inch impact - but hey, if you have the time and the beer .

[roadranger]

Oh, and the gladhand is flow restricted, you can get a better flow by taking out a plug in your secondary tank and threading in a quick connect. Wrap lots of tape on it when not in use to keep the dirt out!
8)

[Mackmechanic]

I've often read that a good spare to carry is an alternator with the proper pulley installed. Real B#$%h to move the pulley over! I found the strongest 1/2 inch impact wrench and bought that off eBay. With shop air I can even do wheels if they aren't too overtightened. It is an Ingersol Rand Titanium model # 2135TI . Very light and does 1000 ft/lbs in reverse and 650 in forward. I just use the full torque to tighten the lugnuts and that is about right 8) . Takes forever compared to using a 1 inch impact - but hey, if you have the time and the beer .

I have that gun and it is second only to MATCOs top of the line impact

Be careful doing your lugnuts with a 1/2" gun though...they wont always get them tight enough :?

[ICS]

If you are looking for a good impact wrench I have a IR 2131 for sale...

[NotSteve]

Just a side note on the bad alternator. If you have an APU that monitors the batteries it will start up automatically while you drive and keep the batteries charged in the event of an alternator failure.

What did you mean by "The proper pulley installed" ???

[Kranky]

Just a side note on the bad alternator. If you have an APU that monitors the batteries it will start up automatically while you drive and keep the batteries charged in the event of an alternator failure.

What did you mean by "The proper pulley installed" ???

When you buy a new or rebuilt alternator it comes without the pulley.

You have to remove the nut from the end of the shaft and remove the pulley from the old one and install it on the new alternator.

An impact wrench makes this easy.

What he meant was it would be good to get a spare pulley identical to the one on the existing alternator and install it on your spare alternator so you can swap it out quicker on the side of the road.

[NotSteve]

Oh, OK. Thanks.

[countryhorseman]

I have that gun and it is second only to MATCOs top of the line impact

Be careful doing your lugnuts with a 1/2" gun though...they wont always get them tight enough :?

Hmm, unless they have changed in the last couple of years, the MATCO impacts are:



Ingersall Rands

When I needed repair parts for my MATCO gun, they came in a IR package! The same MATCO gun list price is at leat 60% higher than the same gun that say IR on the side! Smart shopping! Oh, the only reason I have the MATCO gun, is a mechanic getting out of the business was selling out for .05 cents on the dollar - the gun at the time was new in the box!

[Mackmechanic]

I have that gun and it is second only to MATCOs top of the line impact

Be careful doing your lugnuts with a 1/2" gun though...they wont always get them tight enough :?

Hmm, unless they have changed in the last couple of years, the MATCO impacts are:



Ingersall Rands

When I needed repair parts for my MATCO gun, they came in a IR package! The same MATCO gun list price is at leat 60% higher than the same gun that say IR on the side! Smart shopping! Oh, the only reason I have the MATCO gun, is a mechanic getting out of the business was selling out for .05 cents on the dollar - the gun at the time was new in the box!

The matco gun I am referring to may be built by IR but I have never seen one sold under the IR name.

My IR is a pansy compared to the particular MATCO gun Im referring too

[roadranger]

My IR is a pansy compared to the particular MATCO gun Im referring too

Hey, I'd appreciate it if you'd give us the model number? When I bought my IR it was the most powerful 1/2 inch I could find and if there is something better out there I'd probably "upgrade".

Thanks,
RR

[henboy1]

I finally bought a CENTRAL PNEUMATIC(ebay)
1/2" AIR IMPACT WRENCH
90PSI
rpm:7000
1/4" NPT AIR INLET
3/8" HOSE.
Now which compressor should I get?13 gallons/2hp engine .... will that be enough to take some bolts off on the truck and my personal vehicle?

[countryhorseman]

I finally bought a CENTRAL PNEUMATIC(ebay)
1/2" AIR IMPACT WRENCH
90PSI
rpm:7000
1/4" NPT AIR INLET
3/8" HOSE.
Now which compressor should I get?13 gallons/2hp engine .... will that be enough to take some bolts off on the truck and my personal vehicle?

You bought this mainly to use on the truck, correct! Just get a hose and a glad hand connection and hook it to your supply line when you are doing your chores! You can usually find one pre-made for the purpose at most truck stops for $25.00 to 30.00, usually long enough to reach the tandems.

If you are going to purchase a compressor for the house, you need to look at the cfm rating on the impact, and make sure your compressor will keep up! I have a Craftsmen with a 20 gallon tank, will keep up with pretty much everything I use! Was around $200.00 in the last sale paper for about the same model! This one was purchased 5 years ago!