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1/2” or 3/4” impact wrench?

autobon7

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Oct 27, 2010
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Picking up a Mahindra 1626 tractor with several attachments. Looks like the biggest bolt/fastener is 22mm. Only have a light duty impact wrench and looking to get one with more a$$. I’m thinking a 1/2” would be fine for up to 22mm. I don’t have any 3/4” sockets so that would be an additional expense. What do you all think?
 
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tamaraw

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Do you mean a fastener with a 22mm hex head or an 22mm thread diameter (i.e. M22, 32mm hex)?

A decent 1/2" impact is definitely more than enough for the first and very likely sufficient for the second in most applications.

While a 3/4" impact could be useful for larger fasteners, the tool and corresponding sockets are larger/heavier and may not fit in as many places. 1/2" impact sockets generally stop around 36mm although you can get a little larger or there may be some very tight 30/32mm hex fasteners that benefit from 3/4" drive.
 

ecotec

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Tamaraw nailed it. If you mean a bolt that takes a 22mm socket, a 1/2” impact is the way to go.

If it ever struggles… and I doubt that it will, I would buy a 22mm harmonic balancer socket.
 

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autobon7

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Do you mean a fastener with a 22mm hex head or an 22mm thread diameter (i.e. M22, 32mm hex)?

A decent 1/2" impact is definitely more than enough for the first and very likely sufficient for the second in most applications.

While a 3/4" impact could be useful for larger fasteners, the tool and corresponding sockets are larger/heavier and may not fit in as many places. 1/2" impact sockets generally stop around 36mm although you can get a little larger or there may be some very tight 30/32mm hex fasteners that benefit from 3/4" drive.
22mm hex head. Thinking about grabbing the new 1/2” Bosch Profactor impact wrench. Put up impressive numbers on torque test channel. Already deep into the 18v Bosch line.
 

dchawk81

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I stupidly bought the Milwaukee 3/4 2864 thinking it would be significantly better than the 2767 that I already had.

There's very little practical difference. I'm thinking most of it is in the socket weight.

I say get the 2767 or the latest from DeWalt that's actually better. I forget the model number. It'll wallow out your sockets but replacing those would be cheaper than going deeper with 3/4 drive stuff.
 

dchawk81

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For the record I'm doing 33mm lug nuts on my semi truck. 22mm is tiny by comparison.
 

dchawk81

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I need to correct that. It's never stupid to buy tools, and I got a tool plus battery for the price of tool only. So it was a win.

But when I change my tires, it doesn't matter which one I use.

The Bosch or DeWalt would probably be a more impressive change/upgrade than the drive size itself.
 

Komet

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A high torque 1/2" has enough beans to easily handle 22mm, I'm jamming 36mm axle nuts off and on no problem with mine.
 

Lucid Moments

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How salty does it get where you are and how much will your tractor be in the salt? If it isn't salty or your tractor doesn't see much work near a road then 1/2" will probably be fine. If it is going to get rusty then you might want 3/4".
 
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toyotadriver

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I did have some issues with some large bolts on my tractor bush hog that a 3/4 impact would have been nice to have. I got the 1/2 to work by using heat but eventually I'll be getting a 3/4 impact for some really stuck bolts.
 

chris142

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Well, sometimes you do. Otherwise it just makes quicker work of it.
Truck lug nuts wether they are stud pilot with inner and outer nuts or the newer hub pilot wheels are to be torqued to 500 ft lbs. Any decent 1/2 gun can do that.

Over torquing them can cause the studs to break and you lose a wheel.
 

dchawk81

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Truck lug nuts wether they are stud pilot with inner and outer nuts or the newer hub pilot wheels are to be torqued to 500 ft lbs. Any decent 1/2 gun can do that.

Over torquing them can cause the studs to break and you lose a wheel.
Yeah it'd be nice if they were all torqued properly or never saw rust but hey. This is the real world.

They literally make 1" D handles with extended anvils for trucks because of the need.
 
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autobon7

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That should be a satisfying beast. I forgot all about Bosch.
It performed great on the torque test channel on the tube. Plus I have been very happy with my other Bosch 18v tools so it was an easy decision to go with the Profactor GDS18V-740N when I seen how good the numbers were when tested.
 

humpty

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Minneapolis, MN
A nice long stout breaker bar are handy for those rare occasions when the impact struggles.

I had a rusted in bolt the other day that just wouldn't break free. Grabbed my 36" 3/4" breaker bar, cracked her loose and impacted it the remainder. All part of life in salt country.
 

Ton ton

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Page County,VA
I noticed in the Air Works flyer that the DeWalt 3/4" drive high torque impact gun was $20 cheaper than 1/2" drive DeWalt gun. I have no idea if 3/4" drive has more beans or not to be honest. But you can buy a long handle 3/4" breaker bar to bust the rusty bolts loose and then use the impact gun the rest of the way.
 
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