I was just reading another thread that someone suggested using an impact air wrench to remove a stubborn head bolt. They recommended using a weak impact wrench, so as not to overstress and break the bolt.
I was recently trying to remove the brake anchor bolt on the front spindle of a 1957 Chevy Belair. If you haven't had this particular little piece of joy, let me recommend it for some weekend when you have nothing good to do and really want to build up your fund of "you're not going to believe this" stories to tell the guys.
You need to understand we're talking about a bolt that has a 1" head, with a stud sticking about 1" out of it, with a 5/8" fine thread shank into the upper part of the spindle. The hex head of the bolt only has about a 1/8" high sides. So you have every possible problem with a tough bolt. You have long fine threads into a piece that is hard to replace, is exposed to the worst of the elements, with a weak head and a restriction on how close you can get it.
The first one (the driver's side) came out pretty easy. I ultimately had to use my old air impact wrench, but it backed out pretty easily.
The passenger side was not so easy. First, I tried the impact wrench. No luck. Then the impact socket on a 24" cheater bar. No luck. Then a 6-foot cheater bar on the 24" cheater bar. I felt a little movement, but when I checked, it was clear I was just going to round off the bolt head. I figured maybe it was time to find a 3/4" air impact wrench.
It turns out my old impact wrench was exactly the kind of wrench someone was suggesting. It was weak, and proud of it.
Now, my old 3/8" impact wrench I have had forever. It will almost always get lug nuts off. I've had it so long, I don't remember buying it, but I'm pretty sure it cost me $19.95. I looked it up, and it was rated at 230 ft.lbs when it was new...whenever that was. I know it won't do 230 now, because I can tighten lug nuts as hard as it will go, and they still usually need a torque wrench to get to 100 ft.lbs. So, I looked at other impact wrenches available at Home Depot, etc. I found a Husky (Model #H4455) at Home Depot for $80, and it produced 650 ft.lbs. That's a major improvement.
So I drove down to Home Depot in Waco to get one. I got there, and they had that wrench, but right above it they had another unit that was not in their current web site. Also 1/2", only $30 more, and it had 800 ft.lbs. Model #H4480. So I got that one.
I went back home, applied a little heat to the bolt (which I had done before, without effect), hit it with the new wrench, and it was out in 5 seconds. I had worked on that thing for 5 days previously.
So, just a hint. That Husky #4480, for $110, is about as good a buy as you are going to find. In fact, it approaches the Snap-On wrench that costs almost $1000.
And I will tell you honestly, I did not know there was that good a tool available for that reasonable a price. I have used it a LOT on that '57, and it has really paid for itself.
I expect it to do the same on this little Cub.
And if you want a delicate, weak-kneed little impact wrench so you don't break bolts, the Powermate at Home Depot is Model # 024-0077CT. That's the same unit as my old wrench. Take a look at it. You can get it in every cheap tool emporium and pawn shop in the country. Home Depot will sell it to you (but you have to order it) for $28.
I was recently trying to remove the brake anchor bolt on the front spindle of a 1957 Chevy Belair. If you haven't had this particular little piece of joy, let me recommend it for some weekend when you have nothing good to do and really want to build up your fund of "you're not going to believe this" stories to tell the guys.
You need to understand we're talking about a bolt that has a 1" head, with a stud sticking about 1" out of it, with a 5/8" fine thread shank into the upper part of the spindle. The hex head of the bolt only has about a 1/8" high sides. So you have every possible problem with a tough bolt. You have long fine threads into a piece that is hard to replace, is exposed to the worst of the elements, with a weak head and a restriction on how close you can get it.
The first one (the driver's side) came out pretty easy. I ultimately had to use my old air impact wrench, but it backed out pretty easily.
The passenger side was not so easy. First, I tried the impact wrench. No luck. Then the impact socket on a 24" cheater bar. No luck. Then a 6-foot cheater bar on the 24" cheater bar. I felt a little movement, but when I checked, it was clear I was just going to round off the bolt head. I figured maybe it was time to find a 3/4" air impact wrench.
It turns out my old impact wrench was exactly the kind of wrench someone was suggesting. It was weak, and proud of it.
Now, my old 3/8" impact wrench I have had forever. It will almost always get lug nuts off. I've had it so long, I don't remember buying it, but I'm pretty sure it cost me $19.95. I looked it up, and it was rated at 230 ft.lbs when it was new...whenever that was. I know it won't do 230 now, because I can tighten lug nuts as hard as it will go, and they still usually need a torque wrench to get to 100 ft.lbs. So, I looked at other impact wrenches available at Home Depot, etc. I found a Husky (Model #H4455) at Home Depot for $80, and it produced 650 ft.lbs. That's a major improvement.
So I drove down to Home Depot in Waco to get one. I got there, and they had that wrench, but right above it they had another unit that was not in their current web site. Also 1/2", only $30 more, and it had 800 ft.lbs. Model #H4480. So I got that one.
I went back home, applied a little heat to the bolt (which I had done before, without effect), hit it with the new wrench, and it was out in 5 seconds. I had worked on that thing for 5 days previously.
So, just a hint. That Husky #4480, for $110, is about as good a buy as you are going to find. In fact, it approaches the Snap-On wrench that costs almost $1000.
And I will tell you honestly, I did not know there was that good a tool available for that reasonable a price. I have used it a LOT on that '57, and it has really paid for itself.
I expect it to do the same on this little Cub.
And if you want a delicate, weak-kneed little impact wrench so you don't break bolts, the Powermate at Home Depot is Model # 024-0077CT. That's the same unit as my old wrench. Take a look at it. You can get it in every cheap tool emporium and pawn shop in the country. Home Depot will sell it to you (but you have to order it) for $28.
