HF whack it style impact screwdriver

[Danglerb]

I bought one of the Harbor Freight impact screwdrivers yesterday, and just playing around with it, compressing by hand, it doesn't seem to twist. I can push down and twist and it rotates, but I'm not seeing it want to twist on its own. Do I need to whack it to see it do its tricks?

Its a heavy metal cylinder with a rubber grip, striking plate on the back, and a knurled ring at the front with a plunger in the middle ending in a 1/2" drive. Turning the knurled ring doesn't appear to do anything, and no instructions came with it.

 

[ImportTuner]

Not sure about the HF one, but with my Blue Point, that's the idea ... on motorcycle crank cases, it's a must have tool ...

 

[wilbilt]

You have to smack it for it to work. If the mechanism was built lightly enough for hand use, it would be more like a Yankee screwdriver.

I've had a similar one since about 1975, although I don't use it much these days. Back in my motorcycle youth, it was a must-have.

 

[Major Ramifications]

I used my dad's old Craftsman? one many times as a teenager on those motorcycle crank cases. Talk about a bad application for Phillips screws. I would probably still be trying to remove those screws if it wasn't for my dad's old manual impact driver.

 

[vjquan]

You have to twist it to the left (or right to tighten) until it stops (quarter turn maybe?), then whack it. Leaving it in the center won't do anything.

 

[Deafautotech]

i had craftsman impact driver set and i had one tech who borrow mine and broke phillip bit. so i got it to sears for warranty but they said no lifetime warranty on bits... only impact driver. i was not happy about it and i am never use impact driver since as it is sitting in my drawer for almost 3 years...

 

[Danglerb]

Just puzzled me that the knurled ring doesn't appear to do anything (a wire clip prevents it from engaging on threads and coming off). Nothing like whacking it on something and seeing what happens, but this "replacement" seems to have some twist as its fully compressed.

Guys who build decks or put up drywall break a LOT of bits, or just round them off, so I can understand they decided not to warranty any bits.

 

[vjquan]

Yup, bits, blades, ez outs are considered consumables. It's weird though in that they'll replace a worn out screwdriver. The impact driver is the tool of choice in removing those phillips screws holding on the brake rotors. That's all I've used mine for.

 

[ImportTuner]

Yup, bits, blades, ez outs are considered consumables. It's weird though in that they'll replace a worn out screwdriver. The impact driver is the tool of choice in removing those phillips screws holding on the brake rotors. That's all I've used mine for.

What kind of car uses phillips screws to hold the brake rotors? Just curious ..

 

[wilbilt]

What kind of car uses phillips screws to hold the brake rotors? Just curious ..

(Dusting out the cobwebs)...Lots of them. Tons of Hondas from the 70s to the 90s, Mitsu, Hyundai (duh), others...

Trying to remove the rusted, thermally-welded screws with anything else usually failed.

 

[ImportTuner]

(Dusting out the cobwebs)...Lots of them. Tons of Hondas from the 70s to the 90s, Mitsu, Hyundai (duh), others...

Trying to remove the rusted, thermally-welded screws with anything else usually failed.

Most of the Honda's, Mitsubishi's, and etc... used a hex screw and the later ones have a torx screw. BMW's have a fancy hex screw that they recommend you replace when replacing rotors (they don't recommend reusing) ... can't remember that many phillips though ... or my memory is fading w/age ...

 

[wilbilt]

Civic CRX is one that comes to mind. Lots of the base Civics and Accords in the 80s. There are more...my typical regimen was to give each screw a blast of penetrant and then follow with a whack from the impact a few minutes later.

I don't remember any hex or torx.

 

[vjquan]

My cars, Honda Odyssey and Acura Legend, both have the phillips. I've never heard of hex on Hondas.

 

[Junkman]

Yup, bits, blades, ez outs are considered consumables. It's weird though in that they'll replace a worn out screwdriver. The impact driver is the tool of choice in removing those phillips screws holding on the brake rotors. That's all I've used mine for.

I bought a Snap On set at a swap meet, and dropped it off at a friends for the local SO dealer to have 4 bits replaced. He warranted three that he had on the truck, and the 4th should be in this week. I believe that how and what the SO truck warranties, depends on the relationship that he has with the shop. This shop the owner buys lots of tools, so it is in the dealers best interest to keep him happy.

 

[jimmycrackcorn]

I have a S/O impact driver, just replaced a Phillips bit. But most i see that they come with a socket that hold different bits i guess you guys can just buy individual bit from s/o to use with any impact driver, and still get them warrantied..

Yeah some s/o dealers are funny about warranties, i had this one dealer that if you don't buy anything from him he gets kinda iffy on the warranty process. Guy (who does not buy anything that often) had a old dead blow that was falling apart tried to warranty it and he said he could not do anything about it. So the guy gave it to another guy at the shop (who buys something almost every week) to get it changed, and the dealer walks to and from the truck with a newer version hammer...

 

[Danglerb]

Thats not a warranty, its a pyramid scheme.

 

[Junkman]

Thats not a warranty, its a pyramid scheme.

Nope....... it is called a dumb business man getting outsmarted by a clever tech... It doesn't cost the SO dealer a thing other than some of his time to make a even swap for a tool that is "defective". Some value the good will more than others. I am lucky that I have never run into a stupid SO dealer, but I have no doubt that they exist, because they exist in every other business around the world, without exception.

 

[eschoendorff]

Geez... I must be lucky... I don't buy much from my Snap On dealer, but he knows me by name and will warranty things for me... and he's a nice guy to boot....

 

[gvstenst]

I got one of those Chinese impact drivers off of eBay. I still have my old craftsman but can't find any bits for it. Anybody have a line on parts for old craftsman stuff. Working on a 1976 Honda Goldwing....must have tool for old phillips head screws.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I have a S/O impact driver, just replaced a Phillips bit. But most i see that they come with a socket that hold different bits i guess you guys can just buy individual bit from s/o to use with any impact driver, and still get them warrantied..

Yeah some s/o dealers are funny about warranties, i had this one dealer that if you don't buy anything from him he gets kinda iffy on the warranty process. Guy (who does not buy anything that often) had a old dead blow that was falling apart tried to warranty it and he said he could not do anything about it. So the guy gave it to another guy at the shop (who buys something almost every week) to get it changed, and the dealer walks to and from the truck with a newer version hammer...

Thats not a warranty, its a pyramid scheme.

H emust have run into one of the various SO tool dealers I have experienced in the past!

 

[PoorOwner]

useful to take out 2 screws holding the throttle body plate to the shaft.. they are peened in the back. How to get it back on without fear of them coming off is another story, lol Usually red loctite, brass screw and also peen it yourself

 

[billymade]

Deafautotech, I had to buy a couple of the bits for the Craftsman hand impact; they weren't too expensive. I will look up the part #'s tomorrow and let you know what they are. The tool is a good one for the price, IMHO, I've had mine since the late 80's and has not failed me. I tend to use it once in awhile but am glad I have it when I need it.

 

[billymade]

I did a little research today at work and this is what I found out: Sears does sell the replacement bits (not warranted for life), they run $1.99 apiece and the part #'s are as follows!

3/8" slotted bit #47637
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00947637000P
#1 Phillips bit #47631
couldn't find online you might try the craftsman catalog or local store
#2 Phillips bit #47635
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00947635000P?mv=rr
#3 Phillips bit #47632 http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00947632000P

The website has a "pick up at the store" option, you can ship or try the catalog if they show out of stock: 1-800-377-7414
Like I said before, I had to replace a couple of mine but $1.99 isn't too bad for the new ones and the tool itself has hold up well. I hope this helps!

 

[Moose-LandTran]

No-one else notice this thread is oooold?

 

[paramudduck]

They don't care.

 

[MAD]

The Craftsman hand impact driver and bits are made by Lisle.

 

[Yellow Smurf]

I bought one of the Harbor Freight impact screwdrivers yesterday, and just playing around with it, compressing by hand, it doesn't seem to twist. I can push down and twist and it rotates, but I'm not seeing it want to twist on its own. Do I need to whack it to see it do its tricks?

Its a heavy metal cylinder with a rubber grip, striking plate on the back, and a knurled ring at the front with a plunger in the middle ending in a 1/2" drive. Turning the knurled ring doesn't appear to do anything, and no instructions came with it.

Just puzzled me that the knurled ring doesn't appear to do anything (a wire clip prevents it from engaging on threads and coming off). Nothing like whacking it on something and seeing what happens, but this "replacement" seems to have some twist as its fully compressed.

Guys who build decks or put up drywall break a LOT of bits, or just round them off, so I can understand they decided not to warranty any bits.

I recently acquired one of these tools and was also perplexed by the free-spinning, knurled ring. I Googled it and found this tread. I couldn't resist removing the ring to see if that would reveal its function. Although this thread might be a little old, I'll present my findings here anyway.

The ring is there to prevent a metal ball under it from escaping from a hole in the driver, as seen in the first picture I attached. The ball can be removed by pressing in on the end of the driver and turning it, as if to reverse the driver. Once the ball is out, the rest of the driver comes apart as seen in the second picture. The ball rests in a curved channel that is responsible for converting the linear motion into a twisting motion.

 

[Danglerb]

Doesn't look very robust, I wonder if all brands are basically the same?

 

[Steve_P]

I got one of those Chinese impact drivers off of eBay. I still have my old craftsman but can't find any bits for it. Anybody have a line on parts for old craftsman stuff. Working on a 1976 Honda Goldwing....must have tool for old phillips head screws.

what hex size are the bits? sears sells 5/16 hex size bits as does mcmaster carr.

 

[rob0781]

I've got one that looks like the craftsman but its a mastercraft which is pretty much like craftsman but is canadian tires house brand, the driver with a phillips bit works great for taking rusty phillips screws from a fuel tank to get the fuel pump out. I have also used on the phillips screws that hold the fuel filler neck on most cars, usually a screw driver will strip them, the impact driver works great.

 

[trainwreck]

Thank you for taking your impact driver apart, Yellow Smurf. That picture, along with your description, makes clear how a hand impact driver works. And welcome to GJ! If all of your posts are as useful as your first, you'll be a great addition around here.

 

[davepawn]

I went to sears to get some extra bits for my impact tool. I see why they are not warranty for life. On the back of the package it states MADE IN TAIWAN.

 

[bruceforsman]

I totally understand the person who started this thread i bought the same pos impact driver and was like wtf doenst seem to work at all guess i need to by a real tool. Now i dont feel so ashamed i wasnt the only one not to get it to work have used others no problem.

 

[v7guy]

I've used that harbor freight one. Seems to do the job.

 

[oldtools]

I believe there are two settings (tightening and loosening). Make sure you have the right setting before you wack that thing.

 

[Syndicate]

I bought one of the Harbor Freight impact screwdrivers yesterday, and just playing around with it, compressing by hand, it doesn't seem to twist. I can push down and twist and it rotates, but I'm not seeing it want to twist on its own. Do I need to whack it to see it do its tricks?

Its a heavy metal cylinder with a rubber grip, striking plate on the back, and a knurled ring at the front with a plunger in the middle ending in a 1/2" drive. Turning the knurled ring doesn't appear to do anything, and no instructions came with it.

That is why some call it a "slap Hammer"
Just slap 'er around she'll work for ya.