Need Help with hand impact driver

[gulfcoastsurf]

I just purchased a hand impact driver to free up some lower unit drain oil screws. My question is is the driver suppose to rotate after each hammer blow. I am curious if my impact drive could have arrived defective.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Need Help with hand impact driver

its designed with a ramp feature. it will turn a bit with the impact of the hammer. however you have to push in and turn it to the right side of the ramp for tightening or loosening. (there should be instructions in the package)

 

[ziggy]

Re: Need Help with hand impact driver

My question is is the driver suppose to rotate after each hammer blow

yep, a little bit. just like sd says. it's a ramp, an incline plane. best to hold one to the impact driver with your hand tightly. ya want the screw/bolt to rotate, not the driver...

 

[gulfcoastsurf]

Re: Need Help with hand impact driver

yeah i kinda thinking that it might be defective, it as of right now will not rotate a bit at all. i had it set like the instructions said.

 

[snowforfun4]

Re: Need Help with hand impact driver

I tried an impact driver on mine with no luck. Got the tire iron out of my truck and used the flat end for the screw driver in slotted head and they broke loose with the extra leverage. Worked great that way and did not have to worry about damage to the lower unit.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Need Help with hand impact driver

I have one that is like a ratchet and can be set to tighten (don't!) or loosen, so turned all the way one side it flips over to the other direction, then locks at the end of the "ramp." Another one i think might lock; maybe yours does?

I never can remember which way to go so i always hit it or push down on a block of wood and watch which way it goes. As said above, the driver unit stays still and the bit moves. The movement is almost imperceptible--maybe a 16th of an inch?

Another way to get leverage is to put pliers or a wrench on the screwdriver, but it all goes back to having a good tight fit to begin with, and LU and PTT screws seldom match standard screw drivers. In fact, my old craftsman impact driver's bit fits so well I use it for the screwdriver without even hitting it.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Need Help with hand impact driver

With my hand impact all i do is turn it tightly in the direction I want the screw to go. Righty tighty, lefty,,,,, and then strike with the hammer. I really can't tell if it rotates all that much but it works.

 

[dlngr]

Re: Need Help with hand impact driver

They only turn maybe an eight or less of a turn when you hit it. If the screw doesn't turn,the tool doesn't turn. If those screws are that tight,that impact will crack the case before the screws come loose.Homecookin's got the right idea.

 

[KathyD19]

Re: Need Help with hand impact driver

I just purchased and used an impact driver for the first time to remove stubborn bolts on my vintage motor. Mine did come with instruction and you can select if it's going to the right or left but since I couldn't detect the small movement, I hammered it onto the plastic case it came in to see how the indent moved from how I started out (had it straight up and down at a 12:00 and 6:00 position). Once I knew I had it going the right way, I got every bolt loose with no problem...some require several good smacks. But FIRST, soak the bolt in PB Blaster. I tried WD40 first but the Blaster stuff works right away, no having to wait, and it worked rings around WD40! Good luck!

 

[ronboonville]

Re: Need Help with hand impact driver

I also used an impact driver and broke the casting that the screw went thru. What worked on the remaining screws was to use that nice wide flat srew driver bit that came with it and put it in a socket and use an extension and a good ratchet. That is what I should have done in the first place. Epoxy on the broken casting.