I have a Craftsman impact gun that is extremely weak. It's rated for 350ft-lbs, but it can't even remove my lug nuts that are torqued to 80-85 by hand. My compressor is a little 3 gallon thing, but I figured it should be able to supply enough air for short bursts at least. Also, the regulator on the compressor is set to ~85psi, because the max for the gun is 90. I'm gonna try resealing all the fittings with more teflon tape in case it's leaking too. The gun should be good to go right out of the box correct? I'm starting to think that it's defective...thanks for your input in advance.

Here's the gun I'm using: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr...87000

 

craftsman usually has pretty weak guns if you want a good gun go with an ingersoll rand very good but kind of expensive 3 gallon air compressor isnt much but it will have enough power to take off lugnuts you just have a weaker gun sorry to say oh and you should oil that thing directly out of the box.

ive spent a lot of money on tools and ingersoll rand has always served me well i wont buy a different air tool enless its something like an angle grinder or cheaper smaller tool.

let me know if you have any more questions ill be glad to help you out, oh and by the way my job is working on cars so thats why i have so many tools

 

Thanks man, I think you're right about the compressor. I posted this up in the civic forum too and basically got the same answer: https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1787854

 

I got a craftsman too, and like yours, it's weak. I usually end up using a 2-ft breaker bar to get bolts loose. Much more effective than the impact gun.

 

Air hose size matters too. If you have that dinky yellow tubing, might try upgrading.

My dad is in the body shop business, has some nice tools. I use his snap on monster impact gun for my crank pulley bolts. It won't budge it unless i use big hose, they have smaller lines, not really sure why in the shop.

 

you need to set the regulator on the air compressor to about 100-110psi. even though the gun is only rated at 90psi no one really sets the regulators at that pressure. that should be able to remove lug nuts with a proper 3/8" air line.

the regulators in my shop are around 120-130psi or maybe even more....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by non-VTEC &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you need to set the regulator on the air compressor to about 100-110psi. even though the gun is only rated at 90psi no one really sets the regulators at that pressure. that should be able to remove lug nuts with a proper 3/8" air line.

the regulators in my shop are around 120-130psi or maybe even more.... </TD></TR></TABLE>

I would, but it supposedly triggers a bypass valve when you go over 90...I also am using the tiny yellow hose.

 

Find out what the tank rating is, and pump your tank up to just under that amount.

For example, out of the box, my compressure pumps up to 120 psi. But the tank it rated for 150, and my pressure relief valve goes off at arounr 140 psi

At 120 psi I was unable to break free my crank pulley or axle nuts...

but at 140 psi, I was able to remove everything.

BTW I have a husky gun which says to use 90 psi.

 

How do you get it to pump up more?! Mine just stops at a preset pressure, how do you change it?

 

you may have to adjust the regulator..

on mine, I opened the box where the switch is... there is a screw on a spring, this is the pressure shut off switch.

adjust the screw, adjust the pressure..

BUT YOU MUST BE CAREFUL!!!

Your tank should have a pressure relief valve. You want to make sure that:

1.) Your pressure in the tank NEVER EXCEEDS THE RATED AMOUNT
2.) That your pressure relief valve works, so that (1) never happens
3.) That you do not set your regulator higher than your relief valve, otherwise your compressor will run forever.

 

Wow, thanks Dave.