compact impact with "Ball" retainer NOT snap ring retainer

[slackdaddy1]

I purchased a Aircat 3/8 Nitrocat compact impact gun,, love this gun,, 550 Ft Lbs. EXCEPT I can not get the damned sockets on or off because of the damned "hog ring" socket retainer, most times it takes 20-30 seconds to get a socket on or off, last time I had to use a small pry bar to get it off.

In the same order I purchased a Aircat 3/8 air ratchet, it has a "ball detent" socket retainer, works great.

Looking through pictures online,, it looks like ALL compact air impacts have the "hog ring" socket retainer??

Does anyone make one with a ball retainer??

Slack

 

[WhiffySpark]

I just took the ring off. I got tired of it

 

[Advan]

Huh? Just hold the socket and pull it away from the gun with your free hand, and blip the trigger with the other. Should come right off!

 

[vssjim]

air ratchets always have ball retainers and impacts that small have clips

 

[kctyphoon]

The ball retention on an impact may invite sockets slipping off the gun.. the friction rings shouldn't need a pry bar to remove sockets.. maybe yours is a opened a little too much? You can buy new ones real cheap, and YouTube can show you how to install them. Maybe replacing it with a different one will help your issue.. or maybe you can try to close it a little more with some pliers first. Getting sockets on and off should not be a battle.

 

[ItsNemo]

Always a bit of a pain on a new gun...give it some time. Putting them on, come at it at a bit of an angle makes it easier.

 

[plinker]

The only other option the the ring is a pin detent which you'd need a small punch/screwdriver to release the socket. The ring retainers usually need some break in though.

 

[bsaint]

Just keep using it, eventually itll get easier.

 

[bwringer]

A ball makes the anvil significantly weaker -- it's basically got a hole most of the way through for the spring and ball. So it's not a good design for an impact.

As others have said, it should wear in and get easier, or you may be able to squeeze the ring a bit to tweak the retention force.

It's a safety factor -- you really do need stronger retention on an impact. But it shouldn't require added implements to get sockets off.

 

[slackdaddy1]

Thanks for the input,, closed the ring up and re-installed,, seams to be "ok" now