craftsman manual impact driver - how to

[tcpoob]

i've one of this . http://www.sears.com/craftsman-impact-driver/p-00947641000P

can anyone school me how to use it, to *loosen* a stuck screw ( say , on rotor ) ? step 1, it seems the tool can be set to either fasten or loosen. how do i know which position is for loosening ( i.e. when i whack it with a hammer, i want it to rotate counter_clockwise ) ? and step 2, if i set it up correctly in step 1, when i whack it using hammer in my right hand, do i also apply a counter clockwise twisting turn/motion with my left hand holding the impact driver in place on the fastener/screw? thanks a lot

 

[FOCUS.FREAK]

Insert the bit and turn the end which ever way you want to go tighten or loose. Then with a hammer hit the end but when you hit it try to turn it at the same time. Simple science.

 

[SantaAna12]

There is a good chance it is not marked. Try placing it on the fastener and find out which way it is resistant to. It will not move one way or the other. That is the way it will drive. Sometimes there is some slack, but it will come to a stop in one direction. If it does not work easily, try "loading" the slack out and pushing down firmly before hitting it with the bfh.
I used a bunch of cman or lisles before getting my SO. I use them alot on boats, and if your interested you can get just the driver on ebay. Well worth the money.

The Snap On model uses the laws of Science.......and has direction markings!

good luck.

 

[JettaGetUpandGo]

This threw me for a loop for the longest time. For some reason I thought the impact was reverse only. The brake rotor retaining screw that I was trying to break loose was only getting tighter!

 

[abvw]

1) Attach bit socket to impact driver
2) Insert the bit into the screw you're trying to turn
3) Rotate the impact driver to the desired direction and hold it still
4) Hit the driver with the biggest, heaviest hammer you have

Repeat step 3 and 4 until you can turn the screw by hand (some rotor set screws have threadlocker).

 

[AutoTeck84]

Could someone explain the point of this tool? If you have room to hammer on this thing why not use an impact? Or if you don't have an impact wrench a breaker bar can easily out do 200 ft/lbs. I'm not saying this things bad because it seems to have great reviews but can it really get you out of a jam?

 

[wildstyle]

Usually used for screws that have a tendency to cam out when applying enough force to break them free. Plus the shock from the hammer hit helps bust things loose

 

[AutoTeck84]

Yeah I thought about that right after I posted the question. I only work on cars/bikes so generally only think that way. But I can see how the hammering action could break loose a bolt without rounding if a impact wrench isn't available. I might get one. Thanks!

 

[RAYJAY]

used them a lot back in the 70's and 80's on motorcycle motors before they started using socket head allens....

 

[SMKS]

To check if you have it set right put a bit in it and the push it down with your hand against the floor/workbench/hard surface. You'll see which way the bit turns.

 

[abvw]

Could someone explain the point of this tool? If you have room to hammer on this thing why not use an impact? Or if you don't have an impact wrench a breaker bar can easily out do 200 ft/lbs. I'm not saying this things bad because it seems to have great reviews but can it really get you out of a jam?

It's not about the torque. Phillips will easily cam out if you don't apply pressure onto the screw head. A manual impact driver applies both rotational and axial shock to the fasteners.

You wouldn't want to do brakes on a car without one of these, they're almost a one trick pony for automotive usage.

 

[67King]

It's not about the torque. Phillips will easily cam out if you don't apply pressure onto the screw head. A manual impact driver applies both rotational and axial shock to the fasteners.

You wouldn't want to do brakes on a car without one of these, they're almost a one trick pony for automotive usage.

I feel pretty stupid after seeing this thread. I had no idea the head came off to expose a 3/8" square fitting. There are tons of internal drive (mostly hex) fasteners on 944's and probably other Porsches that are often drilled out. Pressure plate to flywheel, cam caps, and more.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

Could someone explain the point of this tool? If you have room to hammer on this thing why not use an impact? Or if you don't have an impact wrench a breaker bar can easily out do 200 ft/lbs. I'm not saying this things bad because it seems to have great reviews but can it really get you out of a jam?

You would likely strip a screw out without using one of these. It backs it out slowly.

 

[gtlaw]

I feel pretty stupid after seeing this thread. I had no idea the head came off to expose a 3/8" square fitting. There are tons of internal drive (mostly hex) fasteners on 944's and probably other Porsches that are often drilled out. Pressure plate to flywheel, cam caps, and more.

Some are 3/8 but the craftsman in the link is 1/2

 

[padroo]

I was introduced to them back in the 60s removing door striker plated on cars. Impacts were not as common back then. The next thing I found a use for was painted phillips screws on military aircraft.

 

[97fordsuper]

I feel pretty stupid after seeing this thread. I had no idea the head came off to expose a 3/8" square fitting. There are tons of internal drive (mostly hex) fasteners on 944's and probably other Porsches that are often drilled out. Pressure plate to flywheel, cam caps, and more.

Don't feel stupid, or maybe we both should I've used one for a long time before someone showed me. I was needing to break loose an Allen head bolt and a guy at my old job said just pull the end off and attach an Allen socket.

 

[rlitman]

Yeah I thought about that right after I posted the question. I only work on cars/bikes so generally only think that way. But I can see how the hammering action could break loose a bolt without rounding if a impact wrench isn't available. I might get one. Thanks!

It is not a replacement for an impact wrench. An impact wrench impacts in the rotational direction only. This impacts both in rotation, but also forwards. It is especially helpful with larger sized phillips screws, in that the forward impact prevents the bit from camming out the screw. Something not really useful on a hex head.

Some are 3/8 but the craftsman in the link is 1/2

What he said. Also, some have an adapter that takes 1/4" hex bits, while some take 5/16" hex bits.

 

[itsvegas]

These are a lifesaver if you work on motorcycles!

 

[AutoTeck84]

Oh yeah now that I think about it I wish I would have had this when I was rebuilding an rm250 engine to put on a shifter cart. I stripped the **** out of a couple screws holding the power valve in. But for the most part haven't had much trouble out of screws as long as I put a little elbow into it. I thank god everyday I don't live in the rust belt

 

[tcpoob]

the head or tip (the end for attaching the bits) of my manual impact has a "L" and "R" marking. when you push down on it, from the point of view of the tail (hammer) end, the head (for attaching bit) can be turned counter clockwise to the "L" stop; likewise, you can turn the tip clockwise ( again looking from the hammer/tail end towards the tip), it can be adjusted to "R" right. So when I want to use it for *loosening*, do I set it all the way to the counterclockwise stop marked "L" or the other way marked "R". I guess lefty loosey? That is my confusion - I don't want to end up tightening the stuck screw ... Thanks Maybe I'll take a picture tomorrow guys. Oh here is a link to the AAP Autocraft impact driver.