really disappointed in my Snap on MG725.

[Snakebyt]

a few weeks back i was on the SO truck, he had a used, in great condition MG725, said it was a repo and still had a year left of warantee on it, he only wanted 250 for it so i figured why not for that price, seemed like a deal. earlier this week i was removing a subframe from a car and came across a very tight bolt. i hit it at least 3-4 times with 7-10 second bursts, and it wouldnt budge. was waiting on a coworker to get done with a customer so i could ask to borrow his 3/4 impact to get the bolt out. while i was waiting i saw my old impact, a Kobalt i bought a few years back for $20 from a random guy that came by the shop needing some money and was selling some tools. I had been using that Kobalt almost daily for 3-4 years. decided to give it a try, with less than a 5 second burst, bolt was out. is the MG725 just that weak of a gun? Should i have my SO dealer send it in to be rebuilt? should i sell it and buy 2 more Kobalt guns? lol .. guess i was just expecting more from a $700 retail impact.

 

[Speed-Racer]

That’s a nice gun, have Snap-on fix it. Maybe some of the air vanes are sticking. Hopefully your tool dealer takes care of you,

 

[Walkers]

Try running a bunch of oil through it first.

 

[dchawk81]

I'm not a tool truck freak but the 725 should at least be on par with a random Kobalt impact.

I have one and it doesn't blow my socks off, but only because I already had the 1250K.

 

[Snakebyt]

this morning i removed the filter/muffler, it was pretty crusty and hard, so we will see how the gun does now with more airflow.

 

[dchawk81]

this morning i removed the filter/muffler, it was pretty crusty and hard, so we will see how the gun does now with more airflow.

Probably a lot better. They can't take air in if they can't let it out.

If it's still not working right it's probably gummed up. It'll either need ran more with fresh oil or disassembled and cleaned.

I let my 1250K sit around for a year because I forgot about it in my car hauler, and it was pretty pathetic until it got ran with new oil for a bit. I actually thought I ruined it.

 

[KomatsuTech]

I've had bad luck with my MG325. I had to send it in for repairs 3 times in two years, two times were about 2 months apart. I had always oiled it everyday that I used it. I have no idea what was going on with that one. It's retired now, replaced it with an Aircat.

Don't get me wrong, I liked that impact, but I cannot be without one.

The muffler on yours probably is the cause of your issue, like you suspect.

 

[rlitman]

I've got an IM5100. There isn't all that much SO changed with the MG725. The magnesium MG725 is lighter than my IM5100 (magnesium is also why they needed to paint it; mine is bare aluminum), they added two vanes to the air motor for a little more power and that "muffler" that can get clogged. It's a reasonably strong 1/2" impact that easily outclasses the competition when it comes to making the loudest noise. That's why I haven't taken my IM5100 out of the drawer in probably a decade. My IR 2235QTiMAX doesn't feel significantly different power wise, but it's just less offending to my ears, and I'm not interested in going cordless (which is the quietest option).

The vanes in air motors can get stuck in their slots if the oil inside gets gummy (which may happen after long-term shelving). Running more oil through it (I'd suggest a thin penetrating oil - Kroil if you've got it) usually flushes the old oil inside and wakes up an air tool that's getting sleepy. Worst case scenario, if you remove the four bolts in the back, it isn't difficult to pull the rotor and clean up the vanes and their slots.

 

[dchawk81]

I've had bad luck with my MG325. I had to send it in for repairs 3 times in two years, two times were about 2 months apart. I had always oiled it everyday that I used it. I have no idea what was going on with that one. It's retired now, replaced it with an Aircat.

Don't get me wrong, I liked that impact, but I cannot be without one.

The muffler on yours probably is the cause of your issue, like you suspect.

Maybe the 3/8 ain't such a hot tool. You don't hear much bad about the 1/2.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Make sure the nose bearing isn't bad. Free spin it for 30 seconds and see if the end by the anvil is hot.

 

[MaverickDMD]

How about just stop buying Snap-On..

 

[Zewnten]

I'm guessing gummed up with oil. Mine worked great but I hated the adjustment on it so I went IR TiMax but the MG725 was just as strong.

 

[yellowbox]

Those are junk , I sent mine back 3 times , 4th time I said keep it .....

 

[WWheeler]

Sell it for whatever you can get and spend $150 on an Astro 1894 Thor and never look back.

 

[Wolley]

Check the air fitting on the gun matches the hose

 

[10thanncobra]

personally the mg725 and 3/8 gun are weak, ive had multiple of each and have sold them all. barely use air anymore with my milwaukee stuff but use an ingersol 3/8 and matco 1/2 when i do

 

[KomatsuTech]

Maybe the 3/8 ain't such a hot tool. You don't hear much bad about the 1/2.

You may be correct there, I actually don't know anyone who has the 1/2", so I can't say either way.

 

[charbar]

I always thought my 725 was a pooch from the day I bought it (new). I let my snap on guy take it for a week to use in his shop and he said it was fine. Made him send it in to snappy anyway to have it checked out and they said there was nothing wrong with it. After that I literally used it for a door stop for awhile and I honestly don't know where it is anymore. Bought an IR (Cornwell branded) and never looked back....more power, lighter weight, less clumsy, I like the forward/reverse switch better, it's quieter and it's also much cheaper.

Buddy of mine has three MG725s and I feel the same way every time I use his....underwhelmed.

 

[dchawk81]

I always thought my 725 was a pooch from the day I bought it (new). I let my snap on guy take it for a week to use in his shop and he said it was fine. Made him send it in to snappy anyway to have it checked out and they said there was nothing wrong with it. After that I literally used it for a door stop for awhile and I honestly don't know where it is anymore. Bought an IR (Cornwell branded) and never looked back....more power, lighter weight, less clumsy, I like the forward/reverse switch better, it's quieter and it's also much cheaper.

Buddy of mine has three MG725s and I feel the same way every time I use his....underwhelmed.

I don't notice much difference between my MG725 and my 1250K. They're both excellent. I think the underwhelmed feeling is because of how expensive it is. It's not BETTER than the lower priced guns. It's about the same.

But SO guns do like air. I run 1/2 ID hose and 3/8 fittings with the compressor wide open at 125psi at the regulator.

 

[dr_clyde]

I have a few SO impacts and I do think they’re very underwhelming for the money. I will say though they’re very sensitive to air pressure and just don’t play well on restricted flow or lower pressure.

They wake right up with a big hose, high flow connections and higher pressure air.

That said, they’re not a good value. I bought mine before I knew better and I don’t use them much at all, largely replaced by battery impacts now.

If I had to buy new today I’d go IR or Astro. Aircat isn’t bad either.

 

[charbar]

But SO guns do like air. I run 1/2 ID hose and 3/8 fittings with the compressor wide open at 125psi at the regulator.

I agree with that. The friend I mentioned before that has three 725s has one set up just like yours (3/8 fittings and 1/2 hose) and it is a noticeable difference over the ones with 1/4 fittings running off the 3/8s hoses.

 

[dchawk81]

I have a few SO impacts and I do think they’re very underwhelming for the money. I will say though they’re very sensitive to air pressure and just don’t play well on restricted flow or lower pressure.

They wake right up with a big hose, high flow connections and higher pressure air.

That said, they’re not a good value. I bought mine before I knew better and I don’t use them much at all, largely replaced by battery impacts now.

If I had to buy new today I’d go IR or Astro. Aircat isn’t bad either.

I 100% agree if you're talking new. They are not worth the premium. The delta is huge.

Used, they only fetch 200-300 most of the time so they're not such a bad deal if not beat to hell.

 

[Mr_B]

Sell it for whatever you can get and spend $150 on an Astro 1894 Thor and never look back.

This or other top performing options
When it comes to air tools snapon is far from a great buy besides a couple of gems and even then the repair costs when warranty time has passed is super stupid ....
All the best air tool innovation won't be found on the snapon truck ...

 

[dchawk81]

I usually don't recommend Thor to folks because of its bulldog profile. It has a fat head and a short nose so reaching in isn't really going to happen. Then you're adding extensions which sap power etc etc.

Something traditional shaped is more useful, IMHO.

Good gun out in the open though.

 

[WWheeler]

I usually don't recommend Thor to folks because of its bulldog profile. It has a fat head and a short nose so reaching in isn't really going to happen. Then you're adding extensions which sap power etc etc.

Something traditional shaped is more useful, IMHO.

Good gun out in the open though.

A Thor with a 3" extension will best a Snap-on MG725 in fwd and rev torque all day every day.

 

[Shoreline_]

Okay so it's not just me. I felt like that gun has been weak the whole time I've had it, going on 11 years. I bought it used and even had paid to rebuild it. Felt the same. I have a awp434 that I use a lot from Mac. It's IR. It's so loud. I love it though. When I go for the mg, im like wow this thing struggles as much as my IR does. So it sits in the box. Probably has a whopping half hour on it since the rebuild. I have a Matco electric now I'll bust out for the hard to remove bolts.

That being said I LOVE my mg325. I'll never get the new style 3/8

 

[dchawk81]

Okay so it's not just me. I felt like that gun has been weak the whole time I've had it, going on 11 years. I bought it used and even had paid to rebuild it. Felt the same. I have a awp434 that I use a lot from Mac. It's IR. It's so loud. I love it though. When I go for the mg, im like wow this thing struggles as much as my IR does. So it sits in the box. Probably has a whopping half hour on it since the rebuild. I have a Matco electric now I'll bust out for the hard to remove bolts.

That being said I LOVE my mg325. I'll never get the new style 3/8

People see that $696 price tag and think that means it's 2-3x more powerful than the IR, Astro, Aircat. When they find out it's not they're like WTF.

And yeah at $700 it's a ripoff. Lol.

 

[bubinga]

I know l have a 3/8" drive aircat from around 2010 and it's a little beast for a 3/8" impact.

 

[rlitman]

People see that $696 price tag and think that means it's 2-3x more powerful than the IR, Astro, Aircat...

It sure does make 2-3x the noise.

 

[Shoreline_]

I've never ran it without the muffler. I should try. Maybe that's why they sell it with one.

It sure does make 2-3x the noise.

 

[Snakebyt]

i mean at the price i wasnt expecting it to be super duper, but i did expect it to walk all over a big box store gun, removed the muffler and ran lots of oil thru it, we will see how it does.

 

[charbar]

Just seen a used MG725 for sale on the Snap On truck today.... Apparently somebody else was less than thrilled with theirs because it didn't look like it had been used for more than 5 minutes

 

[Snakebyt]

i mean at the 250 i paid for mine used, its a good deal, retail.. forget about it....

 

[Azzkker]

I've have all the magnesium impacts from over the years. The mg725 was good when it came out but now falls short at normal psi. I run all my stuff at 160 psi and they really wake up. I also never used the mufflers supplied as they really choke off the performance.

I did buy the pt850 when it first was released in green and it is a beast. The 725 is definitely less in real world power than the pt850.

 

[dchawk81]

Just seen a used MG725 for sale on the Snap On truck today.... Apparently somebody else was less than thrilled with theirs because it didn't look like it had been used for more than 5 minutes

Yeah at full price or even 20% off it's not a deal in any way shape or form.

Get it for the same price as any other similarly rated gun and it's fine.

I got mine on eBay for $170. At that price it's pretty legit.

 

[Shoreline_]

How did you make out with oil it up and taking out then muffler. Also the next day I noticed my 325 doesn't have a muffler.

 

[rancherbill]

It might have been traded in because it was not doing the job. Send it for warranty repair.