Impact Wrenches

[Re-Vision]

Picked up a cheap impact wrench the other day at Harbor Freight and just as I expected it doesn't have enough torque to break the flywheel bolt loose. I took the engine to a friends garage and one of his mechanics broke it loose with a $400/1200 ft/lbs of torque  impact tool. What is a reasonably cost effective way to break these and similar bolts loose? Chain wrench and breakover bar, heavy-duty impact wrench, or something else.    BDC

[Night Vision]

I have a 4 foot pipe that the end is beaten down and holds a half inch ratchet quite nicely...

4 foot and 200 lb down force breaks everything I've ever needed broke

[Rikugun]

A common ploy is to stuff a rolled up rag or piece of lead between gears to hold. Then  use a socket and breaker bar and pipe over that for more leverage if need be. I think I read in a Harley manual to remove the countershaft sprocket nut: put the bike in gear, have someone apply rear brake pressure and have at the nut with a ginormous wrench. Ok, so I'm paraphrasing but there are lots of ways to go about it.

HF sells many impact wrenches from weak to robust. I had one of their 1/2" drive Chicago Pneumatic models that maybe had 250 ft lbs and wouldn't take my lawn mower blade off. They sell stronger ones that look like IR knockoffs that would probably get the job done.

[Re-Vision]

Part of my problem is that I have the engine setting on my workbench. Completely destroyed one shop rag and the gears kept turning. I saw the higher torque impact wrenches at Harbor Freight but wasn't prepared to part with the necessary green.    BDC

[Tiger]

 :) I have an electric impact wrench that I bought from Princess Auto...sort of like a Harbor Freight...for about $50.00 3 or 4 years ago. It works really well. Lead wheel weights work between the gears with no need for anything else... ;) Make sure you torque everything back up right.

              8) .......TIGER....... 8)

[Extent]

I got my own impact wrench after I bent a 1\2" breaker bar with a 4' pipe extension trying to remove the Axle nut on my civic.  I was shocked when I borrowed an electric impact from an uncle (pffft, electrics will never be strong enough) and it zipped that sucker right off with zero effort.

I got myself a craftsman 1/2 air impact similar to this one
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00919982000P?keyword=19982
It's definitely a low end wrench, but I've yet to have a bolt that it won't break free.  If you've got a sticky bolt you can try hitting it with a heat gun, that helps a lot when you've got something that's really stuck on there.

[lexx790]

Not got one but remember haynes manual true definitions   ;D

Haynes: Rotate anticlockwise.
Translation: Clamp with molegrips (adjustable wrench) then beat repeatedly with hammer anticlockwise. You do know which way is anticlockwise, don't you?

Haynes: Should remove easily.
Translation: Will be corroded into place. Clamp with adjustable wrench then beat repeatedly with a hammer.

Haynes: This is a snug fit.
Translation: You will skin your knuckles. Clamp with adjustable wrench then beat repeatedly with hammer.

Haynes: This is a tight fit.
Translation: Not a hope in hell. Clamp with adjustable wrench then beat repeatedly with hammer.

[Rikugun]

You do know which way is anticlockwise, don't you?

That's the direction clocks run in Australia, right?  :D ;D :)