Harbor Freight 3/4" Impact - Worth it?

[goodysgotacuda]

I'm in the market for a 3/4" impact. I need it to crush the crush sleeve on a pinion [Dana 44 differential] which can go from 400-500ft/lbs. My 1/2" Mac impact just can't quite get there!

I am running a 20gal compressor with 120psi tank pressure and 3/8" ID fittings and hose.

Is the $90 Harbor Freight 3/4" impact worth the money? I would imagine that my requirements would be within it's reasonable expectations..since their pneumatics are actually pretty decent.

https://sphotos-b.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/72920_4918989186416_369092496_n.jpg

Thanks!

 

[volvo92906]

Not worth the money as a daily user....

You need to get rid of that MAC impact if it isnt doing the job. My Snap-On MG725 gun can most definitely do that job and then some... I have done a few differentials with it, including my own.

 

[pipsters]

I think they recommend 1/2" hose as well for the most power. I'd run it straight off the tank, no regulator.

 

[383novamike]

I have a 3/4 IR that i never use any more.When i did it was useless with any compressor under 150psi.And as the other member stated u will need 1/2 hose.

 

[G-Ram]

Time for a new 1/2" impact, no need for a 3/4"

 

[kythri]

The Earthquake 1/2" gun at HF is on sale right now for $79. $63.20 after a 20% off coupon.

The gun:
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-professional-air-impact-wrench-68424.html

The coupon (scroll down):
http://www.harborfreight.com/digitalsavings.html

Might not be the lightest or the quietest gun out there, but it's plenty powerful, gets consistently good reviews here on the forum, and $63.20 is about as cheap as I've seen it.

Edited to add: While I have no direct experience with it, I wouldn't buy the non-Earthquake impact gun. If I needed a 3/4" gun, and found the 3/4" Earthquake to be a reasonable price when compared with other stuff, I'd buy it, no questions asked, based on my experience with the 3/8" and 1/2" Earthquake gun. Yes, it's definitely more expensive than the $90 gun, but I'm sure it's worth it.

 

[chris142]

Something is wrong with your mac gun or air supply! My 20 yr old 231 will do crush sleeves and the lugnuts on my peterbilt while on the end of a 100 ft hose.btw when did they start putting a crush sleeve in the 44?I've done scouts and 44s on pickups as well as my 02 jeep and they had shims

 

[2jeepdrivers]

Just get the solid spacer from Yukon or east coast gear supply. No more crush sleeve to worry about then. I am guessing these are later model 44's under a Jeep. The older ones where just shims and bearings.

 

[87FoRunner]

JK Rubi 44?

 

[smothers33]

you need a 1/2 hose and fittings. even if you bought a 3/4 gun having a 3/8 hose and fitting is gonna to cut down the power to fairly close what your 1/2 would be if you had the 1/2 hose

 

[KinzeMech]

This one? http://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-quarter-inch-heavy-duty-impact-wrench-66984.html
Yes, it is worth it. It is not the best 3/4" impact out there, but it is very good, and it is the best bargain. It's on sale for $90, and 20% off HF coupons are not hard to find, and they will apply them to the sale price.

I bought mine two years ago. It was supposed to be a short term solution while I saved money for an IR 2145TiMax. It doesn't see use every day, but it sees use several times a week, and when it does, they're good sized fasteners that need serious torque. It has not met the bolt/nut it cannot turn.

I run it on a half inch hose with a half inch coupler, for maximum power. I have another 2 ft hose that adapts it down to 1/4" coupler that plugs into the 3/8" hoses we have in the shop, for the times when I need the 3/4, but don't need enough power to justify running out the big 1/2" air line. The power difference is noticeable, but I think a 3/8 hose with a 3/8 coupler should feed it to near maximum potential.

 

[malibutwins]

IR 261 cant go wrong

 

[garyhgaryh]

This one? http://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-quarter-inch-heavy-duty-impact-wrench-66984.html
Yes, it is worth it. It is not the best 3/4" impact out there, but it is very good, and it is the best bargain. It's on sale for $90, and 20% off HF coupons are not hard to find, and they will apply them to the sale price.

I bought mine two years ago. It was supposed to be a short term solution while I saved money for an IR 2145TiMax. It doesn't see use every day, but it sees use several times a week, and when it does, they're good sized fasteners that need serious torque. It has not met the bolt/nut it cannot turn.

I run it on a half inch hose with a half inch coupler, for maximum power. I have another 2 ft hose that adapts it down to 1/4" coupler that plugs into the 3/8" hoses we have in the shop, for the times when I need the 3/4, but don't need enough power to justify running out the big 1/2" air line. The power difference is noticeable, but I think a 3/8 hose with a 3/8 coupler should feed it to near maximum potential.

I agree with this guy. I'm using 1/4 in fittings on it and it was able to remove my crankbolt that my other 4 impact wrenches failed to do.

I posted this on the HF thread:

I have 5 impact wrenches. Needed one that can take off a honda crank pulley bolt (none of mine could and I don't have access to my 1 in air impact) and was going to buy an earthquake 1/2 version when I saw a 3/4 inch version on sale for $79. With coupon, it came out to about $60.

1000 ft/lb max torque. Not bad. Better than my 3 craftsman air impact wrench in terms of torque.

Sale ended on 5/15 unfortunately.

Here's a comparison video:

This is the impact wrench:

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-qua...nch-66984.html

Gary