Harbor Freight 1/2" Impact....Not impressed

[Black_Z28]

Well, I went with what a lot of guys said on this forum, and got a Harbor Freight Earthquake 1/2" impact. I must say I'm very unimpressed with this thing. I have it hooked up to a 60 gal 3HP Puma with a Ingersoll Rand regulator and filter, set at 90psi. This is ran through a 3/8" flexzilla hose. So, I assume I'm getting plenty of air to the tool. But, I'm having issues with removing pretty lightly torqued lug nuts and nuts. It was having issues taking lugnuts off my truck that are torqued to 120 ft lbs. I used my ridgid 20v cordless impact and it took it off with no issues. This is the second impact I got from Harbor Freight. I returned the first one, because I thought it was a dud, and they happily exchanged it. Do I possibly have another dud....or was I just thinking this tool was going to be much better then it truly is?

I also got one of the Husky 1/2" that was on black Friday last year that also came with the 25' hose...and I would say they seem to have about the same amount of power.

Any help would be great.

 

[c4cruiser]

Is the compressor capable of higher air pressure? Try something like 125-130psi and see if that works. You may find that 90psi may not be enough.

With my Kobalt (IR) 1/2' drive impact wrench and air pressure at 140psi, I can easily loosed the lug nuts on my Silverado that are torqued to 140 ft-lbs.

 

[dnschmidt]

Your suppose to have 90 PSI at the tool WITH THE TRIGGER PULLED. You're probably losing 30 psig between the regulator and the tool. Take the tool over to the regulator and pull the trigger THEN set the regulator to 90 psi with the tool running. A lot of people make this mistake. Where this really matters is with HVLP spray guns.

I use to have this 1/2" Earthquake and it's amazing for the dough. I now have Aircats because they are quieter but from the performance angle the Earthquake was fine.

 

[organ]

Is the compressor capable of higher air pressure? Try something like 125-130psi and see if that works. You may find that 90psi may not be enough.

With my Kobalt (IR) 1/2' drive impact wrench and air pressure at 140psi, I can easily loosed the lug nuts on my Silverado that are torqued to 140 ft-lbs.

I like to set mine at 300 PSI...

 

[GSteg]

Yep, need 90 psi at the tool under at wide open throttle. 90 psi at the regulator will choke it, even more so since the Earthquake tends to need more air than other guns.

 

[Black_Z28]

Your suppose to have 90 PSI at the tool WITH THE TRIGGER PULLED. You're probably losing 30 psig between the regulator and the tool. Take the tool over to the regulator and pull the trigger THEN set the regulator to 90 psi with the tool running. A lot of people make this mistake. Where this really matters is with HVLP spray guns.

I use to have this 1/2" Earthquake and it's amazing for the dough. I now have Aircats because they are quieter but from the performance angle the Earthquake was fine.

Wow, thank you for that information. I honestly never knew that. You guys are great. Learn something knew every day.

 

[blackedout12v]

something is a miss for sure. dana 80 pinion nut torqued to 450lb,and my earthquke 1/2 hammered it of there pretty good imo. dont get me wrong it didnt zing it off there but it did take it off around 100lb air pressure. double check to make sure your gauge on the regulator is accurate also. hopefully adjusting the air when triggered will fix your problem. anyways hope you get it figured out

 

[blackedout12v]

also the forward, reverse switch may be a issue. unlikely since you have had problems with two seperate guns. im leaning toward a air issue.maybe try it on someone elses compressor if possible.

 

[dnschmidt]

As a former NASCAR tire changer (1979) I can tell you that 300 PSIG is exactly where we had the regulators on the nitrogen bottles used for the air wrenches set. I-R gave us the Thundergun wrenches so we didn't care if they blew up. I did blow one up and they fixed it for free at Daytona so all was good.

 

[CobraChevelle]

that HF gun does use more cfm than the IR and snap on guns I have owned.

 

[jonti48310]

We use the EarthQuake as the go to gun in the shopat school. Works very well. I've seen it take loose stuff that the Matco impact couldn't move.

 

[Scimmia]

Your suppose to have 90 PSI at the tool WITH THE TRIGGER PULLED. You're probably losing 30 psig between the regulator and the tool. Take the tool over to the regulator and pull the trigger THEN set the regulator to 90 psi with the tool running. A lot of people make this mistake. Where this really matters is with HVLP spray guns.

Even that isn't really a good test, since it doesn't account for the drop of the fittings and hose.

90 PSI static off the tank is way too low.

 

[fourtythree]

Are you using high flow fittings?

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I never knew the air pressure should be set with the tool at wide open. This alone has made the thread valuable to me.

 

[AV tinker er]

What diameter hoses are you running? 1/4" ain't gonna cut it.

 

[boobag]

Are you using high flow fittings?

yup. standard 1/4" fittings slow the air down also.

What diameter hoses are you running? 1/4" ain't gonna cut it.

exactly got to use 3/8"

 

[itguy08]

I never knew the air pressure should be set with the tool at wide open. This alone has made the thread valuable to me.

Me too. Guess I'll just crank it up to 120 PSI and be done with it then.

 

[fourtythree]

For what it's worth, my Earthquake wasn't worth a damn until I switched to high flow fittings and cranked the compressor up to 120+ PSI. After that, it was a beast.

 

[bob15]

What diameter hoses are you running? 1/4" ain't gonna cut it.

Re-read the first post again. I read 3/8" flexzilla.

As for the 1/4 fittings, though not the best out there, will work fine with an impact. More garages and companies (factories) in the country use 1/4 hose ends than anything other size combined.

A 1/2 drive impact with 1/4" quick-disconnects should be able to break-free a lug nut on a pick-up without any issues, even with a regulator set at 90 psi. If it cannot, junk the gun and buy a higher quality impact.

As for the 30 psi loss....not even close. Probably closer to 5 psi.

http://www.productionproducts.com/charts_pressure_loss_hoses.htm

 

[azhatchback]

My IR Ti rips lugs off my truck with no issues on a 50ft 3/8 hose, on a 25ft 1/2 inch copper condensation trap with motor guard toilet paper filter, with a 3ft pigtail going to condensation trap, on a small but strong IR GARAGE MATE 20 gal vertical V cylinder compressor set at 90 psi with out tool flowing. All my fittings are 1/4 gold fittings from HF. Maybe you have a bad gauge. That HF gun looks like a sunex re-brand. I bet its a good gun. I like Sunex products but i do own the Ti max.

After painting with compressor set at 40 psi flowing for max cfm, I ran my IR on lugs and it didn't sound snappy but still yanked the lugs off my truck

 

[flying eyeball]

get you some better fittings...Milton V's or similar

 

[Scimmia]

As for the 30 psi loss....not even close. Probably closer to 5 psi.

http://www.productionproducts.com/charts_pressure_loss_hoses.htm

I beg to differ. A good 1/2" impact will use 30+ CFM while actually running. Based on that, you'd drop over 10 PSI from a 25 ft hose, plus the drop from the fittings. Best case scenario, 30 PSI might be high, but it's far more than 5. If, as has been suggested here, the Earthquake takes more air than other wrenches, this number goes up even more. Even more so if a 50 ft hose is involved (OP didn't specify).

 

[stage20]

i always read "do not exceed 90psi" so ive never set my pressure higher. ive got an 80 gallon tank. not sure if more volume changes pressure drop. havent had an issue with my earthquake. it twists lug nuts off like it should and nice and quiet compared to my older IR.

 

[redwrench60]

Take that air regulator off and throw it over your left shoulder. You won't overfeed any air tools with that compressor. Screw your air hose directly into the tank fitting for best performance.

 

[bob15]

I beg to differ. A good 1/2" impact will use 30+ CFM while actually running. Based on that, you'd drop over 10 PSI from a 25 ft hose, plus the drop from the fittings. Best case scenario, 30 PSI might be high, but it's far more than 5. If, as has been suggested here, the Earthquake takes more air than other wrenches, this number goes up even more. Even more so if a 50 ft hose is involved (OP didn't specify).

A 1/2" dr earthquake has a rating of 6 cfm (their 1" drive is 10 cfm). A Proto is 4.4 cfm and a snap on MG725 is 5.2 cfm. Where in the hell are you getting 30 cfm from a 1/2" drive impact? We are talking impact guns, not die grinders.

As for air drop....are you saying the the companies that sell air products are lying when they say pressure drop ratings are with 20 cfm flowing through a 3/8 hose at 100 psi is less than 5 psi?

Read what the the pressure drops are:

http://www.airtx.com/recommended-air-hoses.htm

And maybe read what IR has to say as well about your grossly overboard cfm idea:

http://www.ingersollrandproducts.com/am-en/solutions/garage-solutions/maximum-impact-enewsletter/tool-tips/tool-tip-choosing-the-right-air-compressor-consider-power-and-storage-needs

The OP should check the air filter and the gauge on the regulator. The hose and fitting will work fine for removing a lug nut with a torque of 120 ft/lbs.

 

[jethrob]

I bought one, threw it away. Didn't have the heart to sell it to someone else.

 

[redwrench60]

A 1/2" dr earthquake has a rating of 6 cfm (their 1" drive is 10 cfm). A Proto is 4.4 cfm and a snap on MG725 is 5.2 cfm. Where in the hell are you getting 30 cfm from a 1/2" drive impact? We are talking impact guns, not die grinders.

As for air drop....are you saying the the companies that sell air products are lying when they say pressure drop ratings are with 20 cfm flowing through a 3/8 hose at 100 psi is less than 5 psi?

Read what the the pressure drops are:

http://www.airtx.com/recommended-air-hoses.htm

And maybe read what IR has to say as well about your grossly overboard cfm idea:

http://www.ingersollrandproducts.com/am-en/solutions/garage-solutions/maximum-impact-enewsletter/tool-tips/tool-tip-choosing-the-right-air-compressor-consider-power-and-storage-needs

The OP should check the air filter and the gauge on the regulator. The hose and fitting will work fine for removing a lug nut with a torque of 120 ft/lbs.

Just for giggles I installed a Tee fitting and a pressure guage at my air coupler at work to see what the difference in my static vs dynamic (at rest and under use) air pressures are.

With my IR 2235 timax at rest the deadhead line pressure in the shop is about 160 psi. With the impact running at full throttle free speed the air pressure drops off to 85-95 psi (the guage dances around some) That's a big difference and this is with a large commercial rotary screw air compressor, two 100 gallon air tanks, large diameter copper piping and 3/8" air hoses.

Pressure drops with air flow.

 

[bob15]

Just for giggles I installed a Tee fitting and a pressure guage at my air coupler at work to see what the difference in my static vs dynamic (at rest and under use) air pressures are.

With my IR 2235 timax at rest the deadhead line pressure in the shop is about 160 psi. With the impact running at full throttle free speed the air pressure drops off to 85-95 psi (the guage dances around some) That's a big difference and this is with a large commercial rotary screw air compressor, two 100 gallon air tanks, large diameter copper piping and 3/8" air hoses.

Pressure drops with air flow.

I've done similar test using the regulator/gauge set-up from my hvlp gun and found the drop was minimal. I've seen places with 60,000-80,000 gallons of compressed air and seen 60 gallons of air and didn't see pressure drops of significance at either place.

If your test is accurate, how is it that every hose manufacturer, air tool company, compressor manufacturer, etc. doesn't agree with your test results? How do factories around the world survive building stuff with 1/4 fittings and 3/8 hoses? From your test, if the reg was set at 90 psi, you would have only 30 psi at your gun.....that i doubt.

 

[redwrench60]

I've done similar test using the regulator/gauge set-up from my hvlp gun and found the drop was minimal. I've seen places with 60,000-80,000 gallons of compressed air and seen 60 gallons of air and didn't see pressure drops of significance at either place.

If your test is accurate, how is it that every hose manufacturer, air tool company, compressor manufacturer, etc. doesn't agree with your test results? How do factories around the world survive building stuff with 1/4 fittings and 3/8 hoses? From your test, if the reg was set at 90 psi, you would have only 30 psi at your gun.....that i doubt.

Just sharing my actual personal experience. Pressure drops with flow. If you set a regulator to 90 psi with the impact at rest it will be a gutless turd under full throttle load. Try it for yourself.

 

[fury9]

Dumb question but did you oil the tool good? My gun works awesome and I'm in the rust belt.Just did a rear carrier on a 03 escape, had to loosen a lot of rusted suspension parts. Only had trouble with one and after a minute or two of hammering on it with the impact it broke free. Have my pressure set at 100psi at the regulator then it goes through about 20' of black pipe to my hose reel with 50' of 3/8 hose going through 1/4 fittings.

 

[blackedout12v]

Just sharing my actual personal experience. Pressure drops with flow. If you set a regulator to 90 psi with the impact at rest it will be a gutless turd under full throttle load. Try it for yourself.

only if regulator, line , or fittings aren't capable of the flow required to run the impact.

 

[redwrench60]

only if regulator, line , or fittings aren't capable of the flow required to run the impact.

Lol, so...pressure doesn't drop with flow? Better go try it for yourself. Trust me, the setup I use at work is plenty adequate and then some. At 90 psi static pressure it's a noticeable drop in performance.

 

[wild cowboy]

my HF earthquake has broken loose lugs nuts on a class 8 semi!

I run it at about 100-110 PSI at the tool

 

[87FoRunner]

FWIW, my snap one didn't work worth a fudge until I oiled them well and ran them a while.


I never knew air tools to need "broken in," but shrug.

 

[redwrench60]

Why don't you kick the training wheels off that scooter. Take that regulator and throw it over your left shoulder and see what real power is like.

It takes a hell of a setup to over feed an impact and most fall short of the recomended 90 psi at the tool at no load wide open throttle free speed.

 

[Red996]

This thread is too much about fittings and air pressure. With regular fittings and 90 psi you shouldn't have any problem removing a properly torqued lug nut on any passenger vehicle. I don't think harbor freight has great quality control. They're cranking tools out as cheaply as possible, wider tolerances, fewer inspections. Even if it's a good design there's a chance you got a defective unit. I'd try to exchange it.

 

[redwrench60]

This thread is too much about fittings and air pressure. With regular fittings and 90 psi you shouldn't have any problem removing a properly torqued lug nut on any passenger vehicle. I don't think harbor freight has great quality control. They're cranking tools out as cheaply as possible, wider tolerances, fewer inspections. Even if it's a good design there's a chance you got a defective unit. I'd try to exchange it.

The OP did exchange it once with the same result and I'm not trying to be a smart *** but this thread is about air pressure because that's what the OP's problem is. Probably nothing wrong with his impact, he just needs to feed that thing!

 

[Scimmia]

A 1/2" dr earthquake has a rating of 6 cfm (their 1" drive is 10 cfm). A Proto is 4.4 cfm and a snap on MG725 is 5.2 cfm. Where in the hell are you getting 30 cfm from a 1/2" drive impact? We are talking impact guns, not die grinders.

Those numbers are average CFM at some duty cycle, not actual numbers while running. Check Snap-on's website again, the list the MG725 at 37 SCFM.

As for air drop....are you saying the the companies that sell air products are lying when they say pressure drop ratings are with 20 cfm flowing through a 3/8 hose at 100 psi is less than 5 psi?

I was going by the link that you posted: http://www.productionproducts.com/charts_pressure_loss_hoses.htm
Using the 90 PSI chart, of course, since that's the number the OP was using.

Don't come up with different links now just because your first one doesn't support your argument.

And maybe read what IR has to say as well about your grossly overboard cfm idea:

http://www.ingersollrandproducts.com/am-en/solutions/garage-solutions/maximum-impact-enewsletter/tool-tips/tool-tip-choosing-the-right-air-compressor-consider-power-and-storage-needs

This link is a very, very simplified explanation for newbies. Again, it all goes back to duty cycle.

 

[Ruger_556]

A 1/2" dr earthquake has a rating of 6 cfm (their 1" drive is 10 cfm). A Proto is 4.4 cfm and a snap on MG725 is 5.2 cfm. Where in the hell are you getting 30 cfm from a 1/2" drive impact? We are talking impact guns, not die grinders.

The average air consumption specs are entirely meaningless, the at load spec is the one that matters. IR's 1/2 gun uses 20 CFM at load. A 1" gun uses almost 50CFM...

Why do people regulate their compressors down? Most homeowners compressors aren't even capable of putting out what our shop air is regulated to.

 

[Scimmia]

I've done similar test using the regulator/gauge set-up from my hvlp gun and found the drop was minimal.
...

HVLP is a whole different ball game.