Snap on 3/8" 7.2v lithium impact 70 ft/lbs torque?

[Nanashi]

This little gun is rated at 70' lbs of torque on the website and the owners book says 60' lbs or 720" of torque. However, after putting the gun to the test its more like 40 ft/lbs break away torque.

My question is how do they get 70 lbs? How are they able to state that if its just not true? When I tested the gun the battery was between 80-100% charge. This gun is only a few months old so it hasnt been worked too hard. I was just curious as to how much power this thing actually had and to my disappointment it wasn't even close to its spec sheet.

On another note the new 14.4v 1/4" lithium ratchet is within spec. I broke a bolt loose at 25 lbs. At 30 it wouldn't budge but at 25 it spun it off.

 

[MR_T]

It's called marketing, ie lying

 

[devoncoolman]

Those little impacts are a joke. I bought one new. Used it 5-6 times. Sat for a year and i traded it in. One of the most dissapointing buys if ever had. I now have the milwaukee fuel m12 mini 3/8 lithium. That thing will blow the doors off the snapon. I bought the new 14.4 snapon 1/4 ratchet. Very handy and pleased with its performance. Bonuse is using the 14.4 batteries in my 7.2 v screwgun. Makes big difference.

 

[Skin]

I like my little impact a lot. Works great for 10mm and under stuff. Also handy for Phillips (Honda captive rotors) so I don't have to go digging for the hand impact driver nearly as often.

When I got it I compared it against a 12V Makita. Both realistically were good to things torqued to about 50 foot pounds and that was it despite both claiming ~70 foot pounds break-away. Even then it would drain most of the battery hammering away during loosening at 50 foot pounds of torque so I wouldn't keep it if that's the range I required it for. Happily most 10mm nuts and bolts are torqued anywhere close to 50 foot pounds so it does quite well in the real world. Think valve covers, sump covers/pans, timing covers, interior components, exterior trim and things like that.

Considering their size (much more compact than a 14-18v impact) I think they're great.

 

[Nanashi]

I actually like mine as well I've been using it for a few months now I was just curious as to it's real power. And the results where disappointing. If it was actually 70 lbs it would be the ultimate tool. The trigger has to be my favorite part.

 

[amlv20]

I've been massively disappointed with mine,it has its uses but mainly not much.im very impressed with the screw gun and m12 ratchet. I plan on getting the m12 mini impact and 3/8 ratchet.and has a better warranty than snap ons one year, what's the point for that price.

 

[jeeper93436]

before i bought my first one littlte over a year ago i torqued a nut the tool truck had (of course new bolt and nut coarse thread) to 70 lbs and it loosen it. i said screw it im buying it. it has been my favorite tool ever since. i didnt buy it for its power but for its size. little over a year of course it took a ****, everyday use between my full time job and side jobs. that same day it broke i bought another one. if you are more interested for more power get the normal size 3/8. you wanna sell yours? they do make another mini 3/8 rated like at 40 or 50 ft lbs make sure u got the higher rated one, just to make sure.

 

[Robbie UK]

My little Makita zips off my little car's lug nuts (88Nm ~ 65 ft lbs) with no effort at all. A few more Nm above this figure and the performance drops like a cliff.

I love the little thing as it does everything I need it to do in a compact size that I can actually thread into small spaces. Using extensions is not really an option as the performance drop on these little units is dramatic.

 

[Lurv]

My little Makita zips off my little car's lug nuts (88Nm ~ 65 ft lbs) with no effort at all. A few more Nm above this figure and the performance drops like a cliff.

I love the little thing as it does everything I need it to do in a compact size that I can actually thread into small spaces. Using extensions is not really an option as the performance drop on these little units is dramatic.

I got the exact same model. LOVE IT! small and compact with good performance for daily use. I use a break away bar loosen the lugnuts. then jack up the car and use it to remove them. I use it almost every time im in the garage to loosen/fastenen bolts. I just bought a IR W7150 for the bolt this little guy can't loosen.

 

[MellyVan]

Lug nuts at 88nm? I thought 100nm minimum in every application?

Nice performance though for the Makita!

 

[Robbie UK]

Lug nuts at 88nm? I thought 100nm minimum in every application?

There is quite a variety out there; our Suzuki Swift Sport was just 85 Nm. By way of contrast my main car (2013 Discovery 4 / LR4) requires 140Nm. The little Makita is good, but not that good!

 

[Nanashi]

There is quite a variety out there; our Suzuki Swift Sport was just 85 Nm. By way of contrast my main car (2013 Discovery 4 / LR4) requires 140Nm. The little Makita is good, but not that good!

I got a discovery in the shop right now with a possible blown head. The lug nuts on this thing are huge.