Need An Impact Wrench

[red1ton]

I am looking for an impact wrench so I can remove tires, etc. This wrench would only be used occasionally. I would like to keep the price under $150 or so. Sears handles
Ingersoll-Rand, Craftsman and Craftsman
Professional. Don't know which wrench would serve my needs. I assume at least a 1/2" minimum. What brand would you suggest.

Thanks for your help.
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2001, 3500, 2X4, QC, SLT, Auto, 3. 54 gears, camper and tow packages. Lance model 1130 camper. Rancho 9000 5 Speed shocks. BD Brake, autoloc, pressureloc. Hadley air horns. OEM bugshield w/eyebrows and dash cover. Member San Jose Ram Runners.

 

[illflem]

You get what you pay for. The best general duty 1/2" impact you can get is a
Ingersoll-Rand 2131,the kind with the composite case,many professional mechanics,
tire shops etc. use this model,will cost you about $175. I would avoid Craftsman,you can
get the exact same models with Chicago Pneumatic written on them instead of Craftsman
for 2/3 less money elsewhere.

[This message has been edited by illflem (edited 03-05-2001). ]

 

[GSchlegel]

I used to sell industrial air tools and I agree, the IR-2131 is the best 1/2" impact available for the price. Gene

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'96' 3500, 5-speed, 3. 54 LSD, Ext. Cab, 180,000 plus miles, relay controlled back-up alarm and rear facing halogen tractor flood lights, K&N air filter, TST #11 plate . 010" forward of stock, AFC spring kit, lost cat, SPA digital EGT and boost gauge,20 yr. old marine air horns, bed liner, 5" monster exhaust tip, Geno's manual trans. filter, brite box.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

That Ingersoll Rand 2131 looks like a nice wrench. #ad


I got a Chicago Pneumatic Super Duty 1/2" drive p/n CP-749 from Harbor freight tools. (pictured below) Rated @ 500 ft. lbs. forward, 625 ft. lbs. reverse About $163. Powerfull impact wrench. #ad

#ad

Very Happy with it. Don't use it that much

What ever you do, don't get a $27 1/2" drive impact wrench. It won't even be able to take off your truck lug nuts. #ad





[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 03-05-2001). ]

 

[drawson]

I have an old IR 231 and it runs very well and was used everyday for 6 years and has never let me down, but will tighten wheels tighter than they should be even on our RAMS.

 

[Koa Man]

I agree with all the previous posts about the IR 2131. In fact I have 3 IR air impacts, a 3/8" butterfly, the 1/2" IR 2131, and a 3/4" IR261 (1100 lbs torque) The IR2131 (600 lbs torque) will work fine on removing lug nuts on the Dodge Ram, but it would not even budge the nuts on my med. duty trucks with 1 5/8" lug nuts. That is why I bought the 3/4" IR261. You can get the IR2131 from NorthernTool.com for about $190. 00. Pay a little more and get the quality tool. My 3/8" butterfly is over 25 years old and it still works perfectly and has never been taken apart. I am not a professional mechanic, so this life span is occaisional use only.

 

['956Wheel]

Have had a CP for years, don't remember the cost but it wasn't bad. I have used the heck out of it and it just keeps on going. Just feed it a few drops of oil, I use marvel mystery, and it will never let you down. IR are a real good impact too, we have them at work 3/8" to 2" drive. The 2" drive is called the "widowmaker". Its for taking boiler feed pumps apart.

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9535hundred

 

[Koa Man]

Wow Statland, I never even knew 2" drives even existed. What size sockets do they run on those things and what kind of torque do they put out??? Also what kind of CFM and PSI do you need to run something like that?

 

[Champane Flight]

I have had a 1/2"IR for years works great. I found it in peices in a box at work. Asked the boss about it and he told me to throw it out. I did,right in the back of my pickup. Took it home,cleaned it up and put it back together. Never has failed me in 15 years. Worked with a 1"1/2 before busting tires. You had better hang on tight if you had good air pressure. It would definetly take you down.

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95 Dodge 2500 Luverne grill guard,headache rack,running boards and Amzoiled. Soon to be mildly bombed. 84 Dodge d-150, 318 Hooker headers,Edelbrok intake,mallory ignition,Carter Afb,Accel coil,and Custom dual exhaust. Boat,fifthwheel,motorcycles,and shop. 72000 as of 3/1/01,not even broke in yet. Old Dodge 126000 miles and running better than new.

 

[illflem]

Koa Man,if you want to see the big boys look at Snap-On's specialty tools catalog some time. They have things like 4" open end wrenches 6' long that weigh 200 pounds.
A friend of mine that works at one of the local hydro-electric dams was telling me about the nuts and bolts they use to hold the turbines down. 120 bolts weighing about 300 lbs each with nuts at about 100 lbs,torqued down to 8000 ft/lbs by a hydraulic crane mounted wrench. Guess that's what it takes to hold a 60 rpm, 3 million HP "engine" down.

 

['956Wheel]

Koa Man, They say the 2" drive puts out 3000 ft. lbs. never seen it on paper. On CFM, it's fed by two 1" hoses @ 160 psi. You don't hold this monster up, the crane does then two guys hang on (anti-rotation). Sockets are up to 10".

Bill, Yeah we use the "hydrosets" too. It looks like a pullscale (giant one) and your pull with the crane while the other end is rigged to the wrench via a steel sling. This goes beyond torque... ask your buddy about "bolt stretching". Yup you heard me right, this is a real factor on equipment that goes through temp. change, i. e. Steam and gas turbines. I'm doing more lighter work since my back surgery... leave that tough stuff for the young bucks! I did it for fifteen years... enough! #ad


Mike

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9535hundred

 

[illflem]

Pete,I've found for 3/8" drive you're better off with a ratchet wrench type impact,great for the tight spots,they won't usually over torque things and spin much slower for more control. I use my IR-2131 mainly for taking things apart,use my IR-106XP 3/8" ratchet style for putting them back together. Another nice feature on the ratchet styles is that they can be used like a regular ratchet by hand to break loose nuts and also get a feel for how tight they are.

 

[pcorssmit]

I actually picked up two of them at a swap meet a few weeks ago, one Snap-On and one Matco, they are the bigger, more powerful "base-ball bat" style. One has a broken part in the head, and the other is pretty weak, I'm planning on having them rebuilt. I agree, though, they are really handy for spots where the gun won't fit. Was glad to have one when I did the clutch a couple weeks ago.

Pete

 

[Jeff H]

Ingersol-Rand will be the last one you will ever buy. I got one and love the 600 ft lbs in reverse. I also have an Ingersol-Rand compressor 3hp twin cylinder 60 gallon stand up. Can't believe it but it keeps up with a die grinder or cutoff wheel.

 

[Wayne M.]

Red, All the above posts are good reccomendations, especially the post asking what your air supply is. As far as a compressor goes, the bigger the better with a 3HP being adequate. use 3/8 air hose, and whatever you buy, get a whip hose and plumb a small inline lubricator, or at least put a squirt of oil every time you use it. I personally use the IR 231 which is known as the 'ol reliable and Mechanics favorite. Since the IR2131 came out it has become the favorite, but I still like the 231. I don't think impact guns should have plastic parts. I bought my 231 for $135 and have seen it in Catalogs for $115. If this gun can't handle it I get the 3/4 gun. For the Ram any quality 1/2 gun with good air is good.

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'92 W250,3. 54,auto,reg cab, raven hi top cap, tach,boost,transtemp,pyro. 16cm housing.

 

[Doc Tinker]

I've used my IR-231 for 15 years, daily. And my shop pardner uses one too. I beat mine to death and it keep on ticking. I do have the rubber cover on it, so maybe that's why it's still livin.

The gun I had before that was the same model and I don't know how long that lasted before I retired it. I still use the old one at home. What do you guys think I have to do to wreck the IR-231 so I can get a new IR-2131?

Doc

 

[illflem]

Doc,drop it from 12 feet onto concrete. That's what happened to my old 231 while turning lag bolts on roof trusses,cracked the case. I've dropped my 2131 from 6 feet,no damage,it just bounces,I use a rubber case on it also though,$6 add on.
That's what I like about the composite case. It also doesn't feel as cold/hot as a metal impact does when using out in the weather.

 

[Randy J]

Red1Ton, I just bought a Ingersoll Rand 231XP (a 231 with just a little more power), love the gun. At work we have a 2131, which is a great gun also. Recently after about 5 years of HARD use, the case on the 2131 started coming apart. I took it to the place I had just bought mine from, IR is going to warranty the repair. Can't beat that. I have also heard great things about Chicago Pneumatic.

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Randy Jones, San Antonio, TX, rdj@gvtc.com, 98 1/2 QC, 4X4, American Racing BAJA's, 285/75/16, Amsoil throughout, Superstar 3000 export radio, Firestik antenna with fender mount, Fire-ring cable

2000 VW Jetta TDI

 

[red1ton]

Everyone, thanks for your input. I think I will get the IR2131. Post Tools has one for $179. 00.

The other thing is the sockets and extensions? What should I look for? I saw some Husky brand deep sockets at Home Depot for $49 for 11 socket set. They have a "lifetime guarentee. " Does anyone know about them? I see the black sockets are for impact wrench applications. I don't need professional quality tools as I will only use them from time to time.

Again, thanks for your help.
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2001, 3500, 2X4, QC, SLT, Auto, 3. 54 gears, camper and tow packages. Lance model 1130 camper. Rancho 9000 5 Speed shocks. BD Brake, autoloc, pressureloc. Hadley air horns. OEM bugshield w/eyebrows and dash cover. Member San Jose Ram Runners.

 

[GSchlegel]

Statland,
I used to sell IR industrial air tools, the largest i sold was 2 1/2" square drive to the power plants, but if I recall the largest IR made was 3 1/2 " square drive. I think it was rated at 80,000 ft. lbs. I'll double check the torque value with a friend.