Milwaukee 1/2 impact pin detent problems

[Onefastgsx]

The pin detent on my new Milwaukee m18 1/2" impact is giving me trouble. It seems to stick out too far.
I have to push it in with my finger to mount a socket on it. When I use an extension with a hole that locks onto the pin I have to use a small pick to push the pin in to get the extension back off.
Is there any way to fix this?

 

[gmwelder86]

Next time get one with a ring instead of pin

 

[chrisnazzy]

I thought those attributes were the point of the pin detent.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[Onefastgsx]

I thought those attributes were the point of the pin detent.

I dont think its supposed to be this difficult. I've had at least 5 other various brand impacts, all pin detent, and none of them made it this difficult. Yes they hold the socket on well, but none of my others have ever required a pick just to get them on or off..

 

[p90puma]

I dont think its supposed to be this difficult. I've had at least 5 other various brand impacts, all pin detent, and none of them made it this difficult. Yes they hold the socket on well, but none of my others have ever required a pick just to get them on or off..

My M18 mid torque 1/2 does the exact same thing.

Talked to a milwaukee rep, "it's a feature."

 

[TTMotorsports]

Had same issue with one I got. Returned it next day and got a friction ring.

 

[kctyphoon]

Its SUPPOSED to be like that.. the purpose is to have a socket that cant come off without a tool. Warning you now - dont put a chrome socket on it.

 

[kctyphoon]

I dont think its supposed to be this difficult. I've had at least 5 other various brand impacts, all pin detent, and none of them made it this difficult. Yes they hold the socket on well, but none of my others have ever required a pick just to get them on or off..

Because they werent a true pin detent. It wouldnt work very well if sockets could fall off while working 20 feet up in the air, or if the sockets could pull off while you tried to pull the impact off a fastener.

Ryobi and Ridgid have modified pins - like the type youre thinking off. Those aren’t commercial or utility grade tools. The milwaukee is. The others have pins with rounded tips. They act more like an aggressive ball detent - more than likely cause they know people are gonna throw chrome sockets on it too.

 

[az45]

Put a stubby extension on it, the extension will stay when you pull the socket off.

 

[Onefastgsx]

Well, I feel foolish. I've come to realize I didnt know there was "ball detent" and "pin detent" difference. I guess my other impacts are ball detent style.
I'm still learning

I saw there was a write-up on google about how to switch it to a hog ring. I'm going to look into that more..

 

[tomwil]

Well, I feel foolish. I've come to realize I didnt know there was "ball detent" and "pin detent" difference. I guess my other impacts are ball detent style.
I'm still learning

I saw there was a write-up on google about how to switch it to a hog ring. I'm going to look into that more..

Any chance of grinding down that pin a little?

 

[Onefastgsx]

Any chance of grinding down that pin a little?

I was hoping someone would bring this up as an option. The thought had crossed my mind to pull the pin and grind a bevel around the top, maybe that would make socket changes easier. Replacement pins are only a few bucks so I guess I could give it a shot and just replace it if I really screw it up

 

[DFB]

Milwaukee's old 2655B was a ball pin (I have one)

Still it didn't often release from an impact socket hole though without a slight push with a tool, small screwdriver etc. And I always keep a piece of wire rod right in my portable tool case.

They never said why they dropped that option

But at least it couldn't get stuck on a Chromie socket

 

[Bretny]

I hate pin detent tools. It would be hard for me to take one ever for free.

Pins always need a tool to put them on/off. Thats normal.

 

[Firefighter1406]

I run into this with my mid torque impact. It is nice that the ball holds the socket so well. However when I am taking off lug nuts they always seem to stick in the socket. And trying to take the socket off to get the lug nut off every other one is a pain. However since you explained that’s the way to tool is supposed to be it kinda makes more since. I have had the friction ring anvil replacement in my cart but just haven’t felt like paying the $27. We will see.

 

[balane]

I've been through this and will share what I learned. I wanted the friction ring model but got such a good price on a retention pin impact that I couldn't pass it up. Using a tool to remove sockets wasn't at all something I needed or wanted to do so I modified my pin before purchasing any new parts. What I learned was that you don't need to to remove any metal from the height of the pin nor should you or the socket will come off too easily. The trick is to smooth off the pin's vertical shoulder so the rounded detent extends just beneath the hole's edges. I did this on a belt sander and then polished what I had a left. Here's a photo of the finished project and I have to say it works just as well as any ratchet or drive tool with a ball detent that I own. I'm 100% happy with the impact gun now. This is very easy but the keeper pin takes quite a bit of hammering to get out for the first time, or at least it did for me. Brace your anvil with something like a socket underneath for the pin removal.

.

 

[kctyphoon]

I've been through this and will share what I learned. I wanted the friction ring model but got such a good price on a retention pin impact that I couldn't pass it up. Using a tool to remove sockets wasn't at all something I needed or wanted to do so I modified my pin before purchasing any new parts. What I learned was that you don't need to to remove any metal from the height of the pin nor should you or the socket will come off too easily. The trick is to smooth off the pin's vertical shoulder so the rounded detent extends just beneath the hole's edges. I did this on a belt sander and then polished what I had a left. Here's a photo of the finished project and I have to say it works just as well as any ratchet or drive tool with a ball detent that I own. I'm 100% happy with the impact gun now. This is very easy but the keeper pin takes quite a bit of hammering to get out for the first time, or at least it did for me. Brace your anvil with something like a socket underneath for the pin removal.

.

That is what a pin detent for Ryobi looks like. You can still pull sockets off. It's just much more aggressive then a ball detent

 

[Hammer1963]

I use this type of anvil on my impacts for the very reason it's made for. Positive capture. Once I was hit with a few large sockets, I decided to make the switch. I always keep a small pocket screwdriver with me to aid in socket removal by compressing the detent