CT 561 to a CT 525 conversion

For those people with the CT 561 impact version of this tool, if you thought it was not useful as a 3/8" drive, you were not alone. I had heard rumors that a 1/4" version (which makes a lot more sense in a 7.2 volt system) was coming out so I took a chance and bought one from a pawn shop a couple of months ago for not a lot of money. Sure enough, they anounced the 1/4" version and I had my dealer keep a lookout for the replacement anvil for a 1/4" drive on Snap-on's repair parts site.

It became available a few weeks back and I picked up my new $21 1/4" drive anvil today. 10 minutes later I had changed from a CT 561:


To this CT 525:



All in all, it is now a better all around useful impact and should help a lot with trim, valve cover and oil pan bolts, intakes and the like. Not a bad little gun for no more than I have in it but thought you guys might like knowing that they can be changed if you get the itch.

Awesome!!

Looks like you saved bunch of money.

I had one of the original 3/8" drive when they came out. I was really dissapointed in the performance. It was so bad, my Snap-on dealer pulled them off of his truck. The 1/4" version makes total sense and for the cost of the conversion, I will be looking for a good used one. Thanks for the post, great info

For those interested, the part number is CT525-152R

Nice! How hard is it to swap the anvils?

Looks good GW, as Sterff asked, how hard is it to switch the anvil???

10 minutes tops...remove 5 or 6 T9 screws, push in two plastic pins to remove the motor from the back of the anvil assembly, remove the gear cover plate, three planetary gears and the ring gear (they just fall out), them remove the snap ring holding everything together. At that point, the hammer and anvil assembly will come out of the back and you just remove the anvil and reverse to assemble.

I did use some super lube during the assembly on the hammer and anvil and the planetary gears. That is what the factory lube resembled and everything appears to work just fine with it. Mind you, it doesn’t take a lot…..