HOLY SHITE!!! THIS THING IS AWESOME!!! I was let down by my other acquired guns as they didn't have the balls to loosen lugs put on by the tire shop. I got this gun in the mail brand new off eBay for 75 bucks to my door. I figured if it wouldn't budge my lugs then it wouldn't be the gun being the issue since you guys highly recommendation the 231c. Well, it sure wasn't my HF hose reel or compressor! It's heavy and noisy as hell but I couldn't be happier especially for 75 bucks!
fired up my new ir 231c up today
- Thread starter monster1
- Start date
Yeah, and there's even quite a few out there that are much stronger than that one . just imagine them if you can.
ex-x-fire
Well-known member
A keep telling people the IR 231 is the AK-47 of impact guns.
It's russian?
balane
Well-known member
Great impact. I used one every day for over a decade and it never let me down. Because of that gun I've stuck with IR impacts ever since and they've all been great. Still have a soft spot in my heart for the 231 though.
I bought an aircat after my HF let me down, you got a good deal
The earthquake impact my friend has wouldn't touch those lugs either. It would just sit there and rattle away and just make noise. You can really feel the 231c hitting those lugs. Why should you have to use a breaker bar before you use your impact?
redwrench60
Well-known member
I get it totally. The origional, often copied, no frills workhorse that set the standard for all modern impacts. IR should put a 231 on their flag like some countries did the AK
montanafordman
Well-known member
Yep, heavy and crude compared to some others but a workhorse that keeps going despite abuse, neglect, etc. Often copied but none are as good as the original. I recently got one, I have not yet had a chance to use it much but I'm glad I went that route over the HF earthquake. It still seems like a higher quality gun to me. There will never be a shortage of parts or support available for it either.
loudog212
Well-known member
Glad to read this. I will be purchasing an impact for light home use this week and was deciding on the HF Earthquake or the 231c. Did the seller have anymore they were looking to sell at that price?
kctyphoon
Banned
what were you using before?? 18v impact driver remove lugs w/o a problem.. the HD husky 1/2 pneumatic model has like 800ftlbs of torque for $100 brand new..
goforride57
Well-known member
Not sure if you've used the Husky gun, but, I got one and it won't budge lug nuts. I've got a blue point I use that rips lug nuts off. Would like to upgrade someday. As for the husky, it'll make a nice door stop.
He's talking the H4480 Husky. They are strong. They sell others that are door stops, sounds like what you have.
kctyphoon
Banned
ANY 1/2" impact should rip lugs off with no problem AT ALL. the $20 set hd was selling during christmas was 300ftlbs rated.. my old husky is only rated at 350 i think, and its never NOT removed anything i needed it to.. if you have 1/2" guns that wont remove lugs, there is another issue.. i mean my god - you can find videos online of people even getting 12v impacts to remove lugs.. u realize the air pressure rating is suppose to be running pressure right?
dewalt 12v max removing lug torqued to 80ftlbs..
dewalt 12v max removing lug torqued to 80ftlbs..
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Jarhead0408
Well-known member
Thanks OP. I just snagged a used one on eBay for $30 whoo-hoo!
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The gun was the issue. I had two guns. One was an old Milwaukee pneumatic and a promo craftsman I got with a compressor. Both were of the same design and couldn't remove the lugs off my 2500 dodge. I changed nothing on my current compressor set up. The lugs couldn't be budged with either junk gun. They'd just sit there and rattle until the compressor would kick on and this was with lugs only tightened to 120 ft/lbs. I put it on those lugs using the same compressor set up and it goes to town on those lugs. It even sounds different than those other guns. In this case, it is the gun that was the issue.
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Today I used this gun to change the CV axles on an 89 Toyota. This gun didn't even flinch. The only time I had to turn the gun up passed 3 was when I had to remove the bolts on the steering knuckle which were lock-tited on. Call me crazy but I can't say enough about this gun. 
redmondjp
Well-known member
(shhh, nobody tell the OP about the 2135qti or the 2235!)
The only bad thing I can say about the 231 is that it is LOUD! I worked in a shop with a guy who had one and it drove me crazy whenever he used it. My 2135qti was the best $ I ever spent - it was totally worth the extra $35 or so (to me, anyways) to get the quiet version. I still have decent hearing and want to keep it that way. And once the other guys (didn't) hear mine, you can guess which gun they wanted to use.
The only bad thing I can say about the 231 is that it is LOUD! I worked in a shop with a guy who had one and it drove me crazy whenever he used it. My 2135qti was the best $ I ever spent - it was totally worth the extra $35 or so (to me, anyways) to get the quiet version. I still have decent hearing and want to keep it that way. And once the other guys (didn't) hear mine, you can guess which gun they wanted to use.
Jarhead0408
Well-known member
Haha^^^ I guess I'll be okay then. I'm partially deaf in both ears so I guess it won't bother me too much!
ClineWrench
Well-known member
The IR 231 is the standard by which all other half inch air wrenches are graded. It's also my personal favorite. I've teied using other guns but the IR 231 it it for me.
On that same note, the IR 212 is the 3/8 version of the 231 and is just as impressive. Just for grins, I wanted to see if it would zip off and on lug nuts and sure enough, it had no problem.
On that same note, the IR 212 is the 3/8 version of the 231 and is just as impressive. Just for grins, I wanted to see if it would zip off and on lug nuts and sure enough, it had no problem.
WhiffySpark
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2009
- Messages
- 6,252
It's too heavy for me loo
bczygan
Well-known member
What ones would THOSE be?
GirchyGirchy
Well-known member
You won't be disappointed. I upgraded to a 231C after my cheapie Kobalt wouldn't budge the lugnuts on the truck I'd bought. It's come in handy several times after that.
Keep your eyes peeled, I bought a new one for about the same price as the OP. They're not hard to find.
balane
Well-known member
Cosmetics and more power.
justme-
Well-known member
IR231 heavy?? real tools have heavy bits my friend.
rated pressure is running pressure but 90% of the impacts wrenches are over hyped ratings. In theory...in a perfect world any gun rated at 200 lbs-ft would easily remove any lug nut, but in the real world 90% of the wrenches rated at 200lbs-ft can't manage 100 when actually tested. Plenty of videos on youtube showing the real numbers of many popular ones, including the IR2135 which comes up short. We've all discussed how cheap, low quality tools and homeowner tools often simply don't do the job...impacts are the same thing. homeowner models (craftsman, lowes, husky, ch, alltrade...) don't usually have the QC behind the manufacturing process to even compare to the model they rip off. I've used (and own) some that don't do what they are rated to do. Got a CH that is great for putting ON lug nuts since it can only manage about 125 even tho it's rated for 250. Meanwhile my plug in electric from HF can easily take off lug nuts that CH can't budge.
Also - watch the auction site - I got my 231h freshly rebuilt for the cost of the rebuild kit plus shipping. Under $35 to my door.
rated pressure is running pressure but 90% of the impacts wrenches are over hyped ratings. In theory...in a perfect world any gun rated at 200 lbs-ft would easily remove any lug nut, but in the real world 90% of the wrenches rated at 200lbs-ft can't manage 100 when actually tested. Plenty of videos on youtube showing the real numbers of many popular ones, including the IR2135 which comes up short. We've all discussed how cheap, low quality tools and homeowner tools often simply don't do the job...impacts are the same thing. homeowner models (craftsman, lowes, husky, ch, alltrade...) don't usually have the QC behind the manufacturing process to even compare to the model they rip off. I've used (and own) some that don't do what they are rated to do. Got a CH that is great for putting ON lug nuts since it can only manage about 125 even tho it's rated for 250. Meanwhile my plug in electric from HF can easily take off lug nuts that CH can't budge.
Also - watch the auction site - I got my 231h freshly rebuilt for the cost of the rebuild kit plus shipping. Under $35 to my door.
It is heavy but I agree that its a more solid tool for that reason. I think it will outlast the new composite guns out there. Zero regret buying this over the 2135timax.
WhiffySpark
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2009
- Messages
- 6,252
Yeah when you use it everyday it's way too heavy.
And I doubt that. My 2135 had been used everyday for 8 years. Dropped, thrown, etc lol. It still works but I upgraded to the 2235
Lately I've been using my 18v snapon
And I doubt that. My 2135 had been used everyday for 8 years. Dropped, thrown, etc lol. It still works but I upgraded to the 2235
Lately I've been using my 18v snapon
