Cordless Drill and Impact driver to remove ligh nuts
- Thread starter BrentB
- Start date
I use a 3/4" cordless Dewalt impact wrench with 2 lithium batteries . Have used it many times on many sides of many roads. The only thing better is the Snap On version for double the money .
Lots of blocks instead of jacks for tandem/triple trailers . My personal best is less than 5 min between flat tire and back on road again . Thats assuming you have a good spare.
Marc
Lots of blocks instead of jacks for tandem/triple trailers . My personal best is less than 5 min between flat tire and back on road again . Thats assuming you have a good spare.
Marc
I have gone in all of my portable tools to a Ryobi 18 volt li.ion system. It takes 1/2" sockets in the impact driver, and does fine with lug nuts. I use a 1/2" torque wrench on the final tighten, for the lug nuts. This took so far has taken off any thing I need it to.
I do have an air driven impact wrench with a 30 gallon air tank and 120 PSI compressor, which will move almost any bolt. There are special high grade steel sockets designed for impact wrench sets.
I agree that the DeWalt and Snap on tools are going to be better. But at the time the Ryobi had all of the tools I wanted. Plus one of my friends who is a full time RV mechanic said he was getting excellent service out of the Ryobi units. I have yet to have one fail--but if doing over, I probably would go DeWalt.
With the 2 Ryobi batteries and a quick charger, I run my fan, spotlight/trouble light, Sawzall, drill/driver, and impact wrench, which I carry in the truck/some to the boat. I do have a 1/2" to 3/4" drive adaptor, and a few specific size 3/4" size large sockets. But my torque wrench are only 1/2" Drive (20" handle), and 3/8" Drive(17" handle)
I do have an air driven impact wrench with a 30 gallon air tank and 120 PSI compressor, which will move almost any bolt. There are special high grade steel sockets designed for impact wrench sets.
I agree that the DeWalt and Snap on tools are going to be better. But at the time the Ryobi had all of the tools I wanted. Plus one of my friends who is a full time RV mechanic said he was getting excellent service out of the Ryobi units. I have yet to have one fail--but if doing over, I probably would go DeWalt.
With the 2 Ryobi batteries and a quick charger, I run my fan, spotlight/trouble light, Sawzall, drill/driver, and impact wrench, which I carry in the truck/some to the boat. I do have a 1/2" to 3/4" drive adaptor, and a few specific size 3/4" size large sockets. But my torque wrench are only 1/2" Drive (20" handle), and 3/8" Drive(17" handle)
I carry a 36 volt DeWalt 1/2 inch impact wrench when towing. Very impressed with it's capability and it has never let me down.
FWIW I Recently used the wrench to remove a seriously stuck 30 year old bath tub drain. Wrapped a close fitting impact socket with duct tape after a $75 special purpose tool would not suffice. Five seconds and job was done. Just changed my three lawn mower blades in a couple of minutes versus bleeding knuckles and three days in recovery. At age 70, I try to work smarter versus harder.
Only caution is when installing lug nuts, run the nut up until it touches and than use a torque wrench for final adjustment. The DeWalt has the power to actually pull the stud from the hub or stretch the threads. Once you stretch a bolt the nut will continually come loose.
FWIW I Recently used the wrench to remove a seriously stuck 30 year old bath tub drain. Wrapped a close fitting impact socket with duct tape after a $75 special purpose tool would not suffice. Five seconds and job was done. Just changed my three lawn mower blades in a couple of minutes versus bleeding knuckles and three days in recovery. At age 70, I try to work smarter versus harder.
Only caution is when installing lug nuts, run the nut up until it touches and than use a torque wrench for final adjustment. The DeWalt has the power to actually pull the stud from the hub or stretch the threads. Once you stretch a bolt the nut will continually come loose.
journey on
New member
The trailer on which Journey On rests has frozen lug nuts which are a bear to remove. All due to launching in salt water.
At home I use an air driven impact wrench which produces 650 ft-lbs @ 100 psi to loosen the nuts. Works well, but my blowouts occur on the road, usually in some inconvenient place, such as an interchange. I could use a 3/4 inch 20v DeWalt battery power impact wrench (700 ft-lbs, $500). But I use a cheaper, never-fail system: 6' of schedule 80 PVC pipe and a breaker bar which fits inside the pipe, with the appropriate 1/2" socket. Hasn't failed yet and it works better that the AAA service truck's impact wrench. You can pull on the end or stand on it. Never broke a stud or pulled the threads.
Now, you can comment on using silicone grease when putting the nuts on, but remember, that can lead to them working loose a unwanted times. And it doesn't help after a decent amount of time lapses. Though I've started using Salt-Away after I dunk the trailer in salt water. The nuts go on with a standard lug nut tool.
Boris
At home I use an air driven impact wrench which produces 650 ft-lbs @ 100 psi to loosen the nuts. Works well, but my blowouts occur on the road, usually in some inconvenient place, such as an interchange. I could use a 3/4 inch 20v DeWalt battery power impact wrench (700 ft-lbs, $500). But I use a cheaper, never-fail system: 6' of schedule 80 PVC pipe and a breaker bar which fits inside the pipe, with the appropriate 1/2" socket. Hasn't failed yet and it works better that the AAA service truck's impact wrench. You can pull on the end or stand on it. Never broke a stud or pulled the threads.
Now, you can comment on using silicone grease when putting the nuts on, but remember, that can lead to them working loose a unwanted times. And it doesn't help after a decent amount of time lapses. Though I've started using Salt-Away after I dunk the trailer in salt water. The nuts go on with a standard lug nut tool.
Boris
Boris,
Have you never broken the Schedule 80 PVC pipe? I have been reluctant to put that much force on PVC... Now if it were steel pipe like I used to carry--
DeWalt 1/2" impact drivers start at $85--didn't see any for $500. I suspect that DeWalt makes them at various price points to complete with the other "cheaper' tools.
Any of the impact drivers sure beat a trip to the emergency room.
Be safe!
Have you never broken the Schedule 80 PVC pipe? I have been reluctant to put that much force on PVC... Now if it were steel pipe like I used to carry--
DeWalt 1/2" impact drivers start at $85--didn't see any for $500. I suspect that DeWalt makes them at various price points to complete with the other "cheaper' tools.
Any of the impact drivers sure beat a trip to the emergency room.
Be safe!
journey on
New member
Bob, I've never broken the PVC pipe. I have several impact wrenches, but they don't put out the torque needed to break those nuts loose. And I don't have any $500 impact wrenches.
I'm not sure where the emergency room comes in, but I've watched the AAA guy hammer on the nuts with his air impact wrench. That's when I came to the conclusion I needed to find a sure way that I could loosen those nuts by myself. And thus a piece of 1 1/2 schedule 80 pipe, a breaker bar I've had since we were both young and an impact wrench socket. Hasn't failed yet.
Boris
I'm not sure where the emergency room comes in, but I've watched the AAA guy hammer on the nuts with his air impact wrench. That's when I came to the conclusion I needed to find a sure way that I could loosen those nuts by myself. And thus a piece of 1 1/2 schedule 80 pipe, a breaker bar I've had since we were both young and an impact wrench socket. Hasn't failed yet.
Boris
The ER comes from throwing your back out trying to get the lug nuts off..Just giving you a hard time...but I am serious about the PVC pipe--it must be a lot stronger than I thought, or you have some of that specially "hard water" used PVC pipe from Calif 8)
When things get that bad with rusted lug nuts, I have been spraying them with PB blaster. I do check my lug nuts regularly however.
Take care my friend.
When things get that bad with rusted lug nuts, I have been spraying them with PB blaster. I do check my lug nuts regularly however.
Take care my friend.
I got hooked on Ridgid (Home Depot brand) only because of their lifetime free battery replacement policy. They are mediocre quality, actually re-badged Ryobi products, but for the past 25 years, with most cordless tools, it was actually cheaper to throw the tool away than buy new rechargeable batteries.
I don't know if that HD policy is still in effect, but they made registration a 2-hour job, and they expected that most people wouldn't bother. I've done it 3x.
Worth exploring.
I don't know if that HD policy is still in effect, but they made registration a 2-hour job, and they expected that most people wouldn't bother. I've done it 3x.
Worth exploring.
I bought a Porter cable bare tool for $99 and already have smaller battery packs. If they don’t work well then buy higher capacity ones
https://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-PCC ... pSrc=srchY
https://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-PCC ... pSrc=srchY
Robert H. Wilkinson
New member
Wefings":1o99x40e said:
Around $500.CAD - we have not had a dealer in our area for 4-5 years. Most guys now have a drawer full of warranty items. Very frustrating when you have given this company so much money over the years and now no service - not even a store where you can take your broken tools for warranty.
Same deal with Craftsman tools. Sears have closed all stores here.
I use the Ryobi 18v set. Thing I like about them is the same battery can be used in many different things. I use the light on the boat. Plug it in to charge when under way then use it at night to save the house battery.
For corded tools I have found De Walt, Makita and Porter Cable to stand up well. They have also come down in price a lot from years ago.
Regards,
Rob