All right, let me explain a bit more.
Why do I want an impact wrench, for things like rear wheel nut(s) on the single sided swing arm bike, dry clutch drum nut, counter shaft sprocket nut, etc? ( while I can do with big breaker bar + cheater pipe + a friend (helper, to sit on a bike and step on the rear brake, for example).
Because using an impact wrench is safer (less chance of rounding the nut, less chance of dropping the bike, etc), a lot less stressful. And a helper is not always available.
Why do I want cordless, rather than corded electric impact or air impact + compressor.
Mostly because my living situation, the cordless tool works best for me. I can use corded tool. But I really don’t want to run the compressor all the time. Also, I can take cordless tools anywhere I go.
How much torque do I need ?
Now, the interesting bits.
Here’s the tightening torque spec, of the nuts that I’m going to use the impact wrench.
(I am going to use impact wrench only to loosen the nut, NOT to tighten (I will hand tighten then use torque wrench.))
Rear wheel nut Left hand side : 156 N-m (115 ft-lb.)
Rear wheel nut right hand side : 176 N-m (130 ft-lb.)
Dry clutch drum nut : 190 N-m (140 ft-lb.)
I first looked at these two cheapest options.
Harbor Freight ($120, about 300 ft-lb. max torque, NiCd Battery. 90 days warranty)
http://www.harborfreight.com/18-Volt-12-in-Cordless-Variable-Speed-Impact-Wrench-67845.htmlCraftsman ($160, 300 ft-lb. max torque, Li-ion battery, 1 year warranty)
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-c3-189-8221-heavy-duty-impact-wrench-kit/p-00945195000P?prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4They should be just fine, since it is supposed to produce 300 ft-lb. of torque, right?
However, some reviewer said it didn’t break the lug nuts torqued down to 140 or so.
OK, then, I thought. Get the most powerful handgun in the world ... , err, no, the most powerful impact wrench I could afford.
Hence, asking about IR W7150 and Milwaukee M18.
As I said in the first post, Milwaukee has five year warranty on the tool, three year warranty on the battery. Snap-On and IR warranty is two years.
Milwaukee and IR (and Snap-On) will do what I want. HF and Craftsman are,... kind of gamble. It may or may not be enough.
