Is This Milwaukee Impact a POS?

[RonRock]

I have to say that I have been very happy with every Milwaukee tool I have ever used. I started with cordless back in the days of 9.6v Makita. And have gone through many brands. Hands down Milwaukee has been the best.

But, I got the 3/8 M12v impact and it is the weakest POS ever. I'm hoping that I just got a bad one. I can actually stop the socket from turning with my bare hand. On my first real use of it I tried using it to install a Overhead Garage door. Lots of small bolts. Frigg'n thing was worthless.

I also have the M18v 1/2" impact. Best impact ever, breaks every bolt or nut I've tried.

So is this defective? Or just a bad tool?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lsm4nnm96cx5eh8/2021-04-08 10.50.08.jpg?dl=0

Sorry about the link, I thought it would be a photo.

The impact is

M12 FUEL™ 3/8" Stubby Impact Wrench

Model 2554-20

 

[Legacyruss]

I love my m12 fuel stubby. I only use it with a 6.0 battery only.

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

I have one seams to do around 100 ft#’s

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

that does sound like defected unit. it's on highest setting as well?

I use mine to take wheels off on passenger cars with no issue.

 

[Don53]

It's definitely defective. I have one and it's a little beast and in general very well rated / reviewed by the masses.

 

[mobiledynamics]

FWIW, my recent M18 mid torque Gen II was dead out of the box as well....1st time ever for all my Red Purchases. So yeah, duds can happen

 

[RonRock]

Well so far it sounds like I was hoping. Now I have to figure out how to deal with the issue. I received it as a Christmas gift from my family. I was in process of building a garage for my daughter, they knew I wanted it. I can possibly return it to the place of purchase, but no box or receipt.

Damn thing! I ain't kidding I can hold a deep socket in my hand on power level 3 and hold the socket from turning. Wouldn't drive the self tappers in a garage door. What are they 1/4" with pilot hols pre drilled?

 

[DerekV]

Milwaukee will take care of you if you can't return it. Submitting an eService claim on their website is very easy. Then there's always 1-800-SAWDUST if you prefer to call.

 

[9eight7]

Hmmm that doesn’t sound right. I have the same one and it easily removes all of our wheels (sedan, suv, and 2 seater) torqued between 92 and 118 ft/lbs on the 3 setting. You might have a defective one.

 

[Woods_Wanderer]

Agreed you must have a defective unit, mine can pull the lug nuts off a 1/2 ton pickup.

 

[RonRock]

Thanks guys, I'll try to deal with it tomorrow. I was hoping that this would be the case. I had high hopes for the tool. Strange thing about it is that the thing sounds like it is running perfectly fine. Hope I end up with the tool I expected.

My M18 1/2" impact is an absolute beast. I don't even think about my air impact, unless I need the 3/4".

 

[Yarpo]

I'm not saying yours is or isn't bad, but I pretty much hate mine. One of the few Milwaukee tools I use so rarely that it hasn't justified me buying it...

Rarely will it take lug bolts off (I find these to be tighter than nuts I guess) and I sometimes find some that my mid torque fails with in the stubbys defense

Cant do brake caliper bracket bolts all the time, won't do really any other suspension bolt. Its just not worth the trip to my toolbox to grab when I've got things to do, so I just grab the mid torque. Hopefully Milwaukee straightens yours out and you get a new unit and it lives up to your expectations.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Bad unit.

Coworker of mine has had to send back a few Milwaukee tools due to failures shortly after purchase they have always taken care of him.

 

[Plastikosmd]

I like mine, it is no m18 but for all of the 7/16-9/16 fasteners in my small engine work it is awesome

Lugs, I grab the m18. It simply is not the right tool for every job. Those that expect it didn’t pay attention to specs

 

[classic70]

What battery are you using in the impact? If I use a older 1.5ah or 2.0ah battery my stubby impact is pretty much useless. That being said I run the 6.0 in mine and more than impressed with it.

 

[Davefr]

I just used mine to swap off the winter tires on two vehicles. 8 wheels swapped including F150 wheels with 150 ft lbs of torque. It did all 8 on one small battery charge.

Either your setting is wrong or you got a defective tool.

 

[Ign]

Well so far it sounds like I was hoping. Now I have to figure out how to deal with the issue. I received it as a Christmas gift from my family. I was in process of building a garage for my daughter, they knew I wanted it. I can possibly return it to the place of purchase, but no box or receipt.

Damn thing! I ain't kidding I can hold a deep socket in my hand on power level 3 and hold the socket from turning. Wouldn't drive the self tappers in a garage door. What are they 1/4" with pilot hols pre drilled?

Send it in for e-service. Milwaukeetool.com. They'll go off the build date and I promise you it was built within the last 5 years, so no receipt required.

It may not be quick, though. They'll provide a FedEx label so have a computer with printer

 

[CerberusM5]

Definitely a defective unit. Send it in for warranty repair.

I have the 1/2" stubby and it is very powerful for its size.

 

[Fly YX]

I got mine when it first came out. It’s been in the shop a few times. Got a different brand for work. Now it lives in my toolbox at home.

 

[ToolGuy89]

Which setting are you using the impact on?

 

[M635_Guy]

My Stubby (1/2") has carried a lot of the load for my recent suspension switch on my Mini. The subframe bolts were too much - they're bigger and had some corrosion - but just about everything else on the suspension was done with the Stubby.

I don't think I've ever used it with anything other than a 6.0Ah battery.

 

[vanapplebomb]

In my experiance the 3/8 stubby is good for bolts up to 10mm. I have had issues removing freshly installed and clean M12 bolts torqued to 87FtLbs. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s hit and miss at that point. Below that it works great.