When an air tool dies...

[bmwpower]

Bought a tool off of eBay, but when I went to try it out, it didn't work. No mechanism movement, but air comes out of the exhaust. Is this is thing dead? Seized up?

 

[Canadian Charlie]

What did you buy?

That might help in getting a better answer

 

[bmwpower]

Craftsman butterfly impact. Owner said it was tested good. I put some oil in it before use, too.

 

[kartracer55]

DAMN! SAme thing happened to my air ratchet today!!! I just came on to find out what could be happening. No matter what directior its in, it doesnt turn. It ratchets, but just doesnt turn. tried two different drops, tried increasing pressure. Same deal. I ALWAYS oil the thing and the mechanism up top, so Im probably going in for warranty work monday. What a PITA... I wonder what could have done it, I dont use it all THAT much.

Jim

 

[Fast Orange]

That's what you get when you buy that IR chinese stuff-J/K

George

 

[kartracer55]

Hahaha yeah yeah The ratchet was actually Japanese

 

[Jared]

what brand of air ratchet was it?

 

[kartracer55]

Ir 1200

 

[iiibdsiil]

You can have it rebuilt, but you are probably better off fighting with the guy about it. If you paid through paypal, get them involved.

 

[markl]

I think that was the butterfly I was bidding on. Anywho....did the seller state if it was used and if it was tested or not?

 

[bmwpower]

Yea, he said it was test good before he sent it. Well, I told him it tested bad on my end. He agreed to give me my money back. Of course I have to ship the thing back to him.

 

[red caddy]

Air tools are not rocket science, surf the net for an exploded drawing, carefully disassemble it and clean the junk out of it. Lay the parts out on a clean surface in the order you take them apart, (yea, I know you think you will remember how it goes together, but you won't, not the first time) then re assemble and test.
I have a pretty good little sideline going, tool repair for the construction trades here locally. thease guy's are hard on tools, never do maintenance, and sometimes just give me the broke tools, after they replace them. A lot of them, mostly nail guns and staplers and hammer drills, just need cleaning, or the safety features re installed. (why they think the safety's need to be deactivated or broken off, I can't imagine,LOL) I keep a "loaner pool" for my good customers, and occasionally sell the rebuilt's. ANY gearhead, worthy of the name, can fix his own tools, go slow, don't force anything and enjoy the journey... RED

 

[bmwpower]

Air tools are not rocket science, surf the net for an exploded drawing, carefully disassemble it and clean the junk out of it. Lay the parts out on a clean surface in the order you take them apart, (yea, I know you think you will remember how it goes together, but you won't, not the first time) then re assemble and test.
I have a pretty good little sideline going, tool repair for the construction trades here locally. thease guy's are hard on tools, never do maintenance, and sometimes just give me the broke tools, after they replace them. A lot of them, mostly nail guns and staplers and hammer drills, just need cleaning, or the safety features re installed. (why they think the safety's need to be deactivated or broken off, I can't imagine,LOL) I keep a "loaner pool" for my good customers, and occasionally sell the rebuilt's. ANY gearhead, worthy of the name, can fix his own tools, go slow, don't force anything and enjoy the journey... RED

Red,
Normally I'm the adventurous type and won't mind taking apart a tool, but in this case I'd rather not. The tool was bought on eBay and was DOA. If I take it apart and it's really busted, I'll need to buy some parts. At this point in time, it would make more sense to buy a new one as my time and parts cost $. New it's $60...I bought it shipped for $35. Not worth the chance for $25 difference.

 

[kartracer55]

I fixed the air ratchet today. I took the head apart, and I noticed the little "ball" piece that rides on the "crankshaft" so to speak (what else would it be?) seened to be bound up. I wiggled it off, and it appeared the edge had a slight bur on it, so I put a super fine sanding drum on the dremel, and gently smoothed it off, and put a bit of grease inside as well as on the bottom mating surface. Put the whole thing back together and greased what I felt needed grease and it was back to brand new.

Jim

 

[eschoendorff]

I fixed the air ratchet today. I took the head apart, and I noticed the little "ball" piece that rides on the "crankshaft" so to speak (what else would it be?) seened to be bound up. I wiggled it off, and it appeared the edge had a slight bur on it, so I put a super fine sanding drum on the dremel, and gently smoothed it off, and put a bit of grease inside as well as on the bottom mating surface. Put the whole thing back together and greased what I felt needed grease and it was back to brand new.

Jim

Sounds like a little detective work goes along way.

 

[HatTrick]

red caddy, do you have a good dwg source?

Air tools are not rocket science, surf the net for an exploded drawing, carefully disassemble it and clean the junk out of it. Lay the parts out on a clean surface in the order you take them apart, (yea, I know you think you will remember how it goes together, but you won't, not the first time) then re assemble and test.

I have a SnapOn 3/8 impact that sat too long without use and is weak (read impotent!) now. I'd love to do the service on it myself instead of paying Snappy if its not that difficult.

Chad

 

[kartracer55]

It depends on what is wrong with it. The usual air motors are simple offset cylinders with slots in them that hold "vanes" that are free to expand outward in a sense "sealing" the drum against the wall and turning it when air pressure is introduced. Impacts are as simple as dirt to clean/rebuild (at least IR) and like red caddy said, as long as you lay them out the way to took it apart, you shouldnt have any problems. The Ir was simple to rebuild, at least the head anyway... never donea snap on but Im sure you can get a diagram and just use your discretion when going to grease and oil parts.

Jim