"impact" universal joints...

[Wrenches of Death]

Have any of you ever used this type of universal joint, capable of 90 degrees, on an impact wrench?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3PC-IMPACT-UNIVERSAL-JOINT-SET-SOCKET-ADAPTER-RATCHET-/290569752906

I did once, and only once. It was probably close to forty years ago on a CP734. I was wrenching at a Chevrolet dealership and changing the engine mounts on a Cadillac. My real ball type universal didn't have enough "bend" to do what I needed to do, so I grabbed a regular universal. I never did that again...

I guess that all it takes to make something "impact" today is the color.

WoD

 

[TheJohn]

I tried using one with a 1/2" ratchet. It got caught up on itself and the top half left a nice indent on the bottom half and vice versa. Never used one again, went out and got a craftsman pinless universal swivel (slight downgrade from Matco, the Matco is a tad shorter)

 

[ken w.]

If you these on an impact it will most likely pinch your finger as it flops out of control. Been down that road when I was young and dumb.Impact swivels are a must with an impact wrench.These are not impact,just painted black.

 

[DanarchyCustoms]

These are not impact,just painted black.

Agreed.

 

[Haukur]

They just call them "impact" because "tactical" hasn't caught on in the toolworld as a word to describe everything that is black, let alone flatblack.

 

[wafrederick]

This is an impact swivel looks like

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/BUP2BB/3-8-DRIVE-IMPACT-UNIVERSAL-JOINT/?source=igodigital

 

[Wrenches of Death]

They just call them "impact" because "tactical" hasn't caught on in the toolworld as a word to describe everything that is black, let alone flatblack.

Tactical! I love it!

Back those many years ago, when I attempted to use a regular universal over the "real" ball type impact universal, I found that there was an angular "tipping point".

And once the angle of the joint passed that point, to say 90 degrees, centrifugal force would allow that heavy Vulcan impact socket to be propelled across the shop at a really high rate of speed. Fortunately it wasn't propelled into my eye or a customers car or something. I don't know what the no load speed on the old 734 was, but it was pretty respectable. That detent ball didn't stand a chance in hell of retaining that socket. I learned from my mistake and never attempted it again.

It could have easily become one of those "you're going to put your eye out" scenarios that my mother kept warning me about when I was a kid.

WoD

 

[Haukur]

I would wrap a U-joint with electrical tape before attempting to use it with a power tool.