new to air tools having a problem already

[hdbpman]

i bought a 25gal 5.5 hp compressor, and 3/8" hose over the weekend. I also picked up a set of 1/4 inch adapters and a fairly cheap impact wrench ($60) its a craftsman... so the problem im having is that even after i let the compressor fill to 150-160 psi i still cant break a lug nut loose... is the problem the small 1/4 inch fittings? should i use 3/8 fittings? or is the problem the cheaper impact i bought? i have used the impact on nuts that arent tourqued as hard as lugs and it worked fine any help would be great thanks

[Muscleford]

The 1/4" fittings are not the problem. I use them and have no trouble. The impact should have several settings on it turn it to the highest torque to take them off but to not install them on that setting.

[hdbpman]

it has 3 settings in forward only 1 in reverse. it will take off lugs that it puts on but after i tighten them it wont pull them off and im not killing them i only weigh 140 pounds lol

[tomboy]

You need to get a 1/2 inch hose, and if possible pick up a pressure regulator, you can adjust the pressure up to make that craftsman impact work like a charm.

[01_ranger_4x4]

Originally Posted by hdbpman

i bought a 25gal 5.5 hp compressor, and 3/8" hose over the weekend. I also picked up a set of 1/4 inch adapters and a fairly cheap impact wrench ($60) its a craftsman... so the problem im having is that even after i let the compressor fill to 150-160 psi i still cant break a lug nut loose... is the problem the small 1/4 inch fittings? should i use 3/8 fittings? or is the problem the cheaper impact i bought? i have used the impact on nuts that arent tourqued as hard as lugs and it worked fine any help would be great thanks

^^ That is your problem right there. It isnt your compressor its the impact. The cheapo Craftsman impacts are weak. (ask me how I know!) You can give that impact as much air as you can give it but it wont help.

[Hickfromhell88]

Originally Posted by 01_ranger_4x4

^^ That is your problem right there. It isnt your compressor its the impact. The cheapo Craftsman impacts are weak. (ask me how I know!) You can give that impact as much air as you can give it but it wont help.

How do you know?





I had too.

[01_ranger_4x4]

Originally Posted by Hickfromhell88

How do you know?





I had too.

Lol I knew someone would. To put it simply, the motor in my nose hair trimmer makes more torque than the cheapo Craftsman impact I have.

[Hickfromhell88]

Lol. I think my screw driver has more torque, at my old job at a trucking company I was a shop worker and part of my job was to do brakes and change tires on the KWs and there were 3 impact guns and one if you didnt hold on to it would rip your arms out of you sockets haha made the 10 lugs easy as hell to get off lol

[hdbpman]

so i should have better luck with lets say a new IR impact? same compressor same fittings and hose? correct or no?

[dtownboy_Erk]

yes. You get what you pay for. If you buy a cheap impact you get bad results. spend the extra money to get an impact with higher torque settings. the cheap one probably only puts out about 250 ft. lbs. if i remember correctly try getting one that puts out 450 to 600, and it should take off your lugs with no problem. as well as any other rusty bolt you throw at it. I made the same mistake and thought that all impacts were the same, but their not i got a cheap husky and couldnt remove a nut or bolt period. I went to harbor frieght and picked up the earth quake gun and, even though its wieghs a ton, it hasnt failed me yet.

[hdbpman]

yea my buddy from work lent me his gun from harbor frieght and it put mine to shame i think im gonna get the IR ratchet and wrench combo from lowes it looks like a solid package for 150 bucks