I got a new 33 gallon Craftsman air compressor for Christmas along with a 1/2" impact gun. I returned the first impact gun as I thought that was the issue. I cant even take off a set of lug nuts, or anything torque above 30ftlbs. I have tried running both a 50' 3/8 hose and a 25ft 3/8 hose and neither made a difference. I also adjusted the regulator with the gun running WOT and not running at all and that makes no difference. Now I have 75feet of hose laying around and a useless gun/compressor.
Why does my impact have no Umpfh
- Thread starter mrg7243
- Start date
Rflagel222
Active member
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2013
- Messages
- 28
Might help to put a lil oil in the impact
Here is the gun
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-1-2in-impact-wrench/p-00916882000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2
I just saw some reviews and may do what the one individual suggested with tightening up the lever. Or return it and go lowes/home depot.
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-1-2in-impact-wrench/p-00916882000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2
I just saw some reviews and may do what the one individual suggested with tightening up the lever. Or return it and go lowes/home depot.
Its probably not you. Most of those bargain impact guns made for Husky, Kobalt, Craftsman labels are garbage. Literally their best use is as a door stop or paper weight. Get yourself an Ingersoll Rand, Aircat, or at the very least a Harbor Freight Earthquake impact. Even the newer model 3/8" guns from any of those brands will be more powerful than your big box store 1/2" models.
http://www.harborfreight.com/38-professional-air-impact-wrench-68425.html
Something like the above will take wheels off without breaking a sweat. Only thing you might tackle in your home garage that will give it trouble is caliper bracket bolts, pretty much anything larger than 15mm. If you need more power get the 1/2".
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-professional-air-impact-wrench-68424.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/38-professional-air-impact-wrench-68425.html
Something like the above will take wheels off without breaking a sweat. Only thing you might tackle in your home garage that will give it trouble is caliper bracket bolts, pretty much anything larger than 15mm. If you need more power get the 1/2".
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-professional-air-impact-wrench-68424.html
Last edited:
bowlofturtle
Well-known member
^i had two crsftmans units. One wasn't able to take lug nuts and the other one was a free tool for buying my 26 gallon compressor. That couldn't remove my motorcycle wheel.
I went with a IR impact and it did both no problems.
Sent from my SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
I went with a IR impact and it did both no problems.
Sent from my SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
west wind
Well-known member
The cheap craftsman guns are really underpowered. That being said, it has been my experience with impacts that you have to break them in. Add some oil and run it for a bit. repeat and see if that works for you. The gun I use at work now is an old craftsman made by cp. It pounds. Got it at a flea market a couple years back. By far the my favorite gun I ever owned.
Bondo
Well-known member
Ayuh,.... For an Impact gun, ya want the regulator screwed down tight, Max pressure,...
Better yet, put another tap into the manifold for full unregulated tank pressure,...
I have a craftsman pro 33 gallon, oilless compresser, its not high end by any means. Its ran my 2135ti maxx gun just fine. When i has the snap on 725 gun it did just fine. I had the previous generation high end gun, and it would not run that one. All guns were used on this compresser in new condition. I only have the ir now. The compressor if its set up right will run a 1/2 gun fine
RCStocker
Well-known member
When it comes to air tools, power tools and machinery you want to buy good ones. Anything less will just eat your money, frustrate you more than a woman then die on you. You get what you pay for.
A good 2 stage 60 gallon compressor is a must if you want to spend your life using air tools. You will go through more cheap ones and 50 years form now you will have spent more than if you bought a good one up front.
I hate Craftsman air and power tools. Their wood working machinery is not much better.
A good 2 stage 60 gallon compressor is a must if you want to spend your life using air tools. You will go through more cheap ones and 50 years form now you will have spent more than if you bought a good one up front.
I hate Craftsman air and power tools. Their wood working machinery is not much better.
Jamie.91
Well-known member
Uk member here 
I have a similar problem with an old IR impact gun, it's old but good condition, I rebuilt it because it had not been used for years and it was still no good, I then had a guy rebuild it incase I had done it wrong and it's still no good
I have a similar problem with an old IR impact gun, it's old but good condition, I rebuilt it because it had not been used for years and it was still no good, I then had a guy rebuild it incase I had done it wrong and it's still no good WildwoodChuck
Well-known member
I have a Matco 1/2 inch impact and a power tank I can crank up to 150 psi and I'm still not happy with the way it feels under powered. I also have a 14.4 Volt 1/2 inch Snap-on that is under powered. The 42 inch 3/4 inch drive breaker bar always has enough power.
Just for the record, I use my air tools at work. Pro use. I bring them home, and my compressor soumds lile the same type ypu have. It wont run a air sander well, or a die grinder for long, but it will run most 1/2 impact guns for a tire rotation, or even a 4 tire demount/mount taking them off and on with the gun and inflating the tires. I have done it a few times when I want to keep the tires from a car I sell. Some guns require to much air. Look at the cfm requirments of the gun. That might tell the story.
Doc
Well-known member
I had same issue a while back my 60 gal compressor. 125 PSI coming out of the tank. impact would barely loosen a lug. had 120 PSI at the filter. After much trouble shooting, found out it was my HF brass air coupling. I added hi-flo Milton ones and now all my tools work better than they ever have.
Buckaroo5
Well-known member
I am using a 33gal Craftsman air compressor and had the same experience as you with a couple of cheap Craftsman 1/2' impacts. I got a more expensive (but still cheap by IR standards) 1/2" HF Earthquake and, still using the Crafstman compressor, it has made all the difference. I oil it regularly. The others are right about IR being the best if you use it all the time - I don't.
Buckaroo
Buckaroo
Uk member here
I've got an IR 231 I bought 30 years ago and I think it's lost some umpfh too. My compressor has an air filter and an oiler inline, so I don't think that's the problem. I also grease the fitting on the back.
Does someone rebuild them and for how much? Will it return the missing umpfh?
I actually considered buying that wrench, as I thought it might be a (good) copy of an IR. However, after reading several awful reviews, I went ahead and bought an IR from Amazon; I've been very satisfied.
I suspect the cheap gun is the problem.
RM209
R.Anderson
Well-known member
Cheap quick connects or even good ones sometimes can cause air flow problems you will have the PSI there just not flow through em.
Provincial
Well-known member
Bob, my IR 2131 got very weak a few years ago. I took it apart and the motor looked good, so I greased the anvil area and put it back together. It has worked like new ever since.
It's worth a try!
warweapon762
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2013
- Messages
- 323
Any of the 300 ft/lb impact guns are pretty much ****. I've found the craftsman brand to be the worst functioning. My husky one I got on clearance for $5 that came with an air hose and some starter accessories actually works really well (I run it at 120 PSI). It takes off lug nuts fine, its also pretty good for running down bolts and not having to worry about stripping anything.
I have an older 3/8 compact craftsman from the mid 1990s that actually out-performs most of the new stuff and its only rated for 300 ft/lbs as well. It hasn't disappointed me yet.
I have an older 3/8 compact craftsman from the mid 1990s that actually out-performs most of the new stuff and its only rated for 300 ft/lbs as well. It hasn't disappointed me yet.