Question about Snap On battery impact gun

[pharmvet]

Last year I purchased a Snap On battery powered impact gun. I have used it mostly for changing out lawn mower blades and a trailer re-flooring project. Recently, an employee used it for a small project. After I got it back and was looking it over, I found that I could hold the socket and prevent it from turning. I charged the battery fully and tried again with the same results.

Is it normal to be able to prevent the impact socket from turning by gripping it tightly with your hand, or is something broken?

 

[PRF]

Something's up.. Did you try using it to tighten a bolt or screw in a lag bolt? That'll tell ya for sure..

 

[mikehaugen]

Is it hammering? If not the hammers themselves may be stuck, snd the motors themselves are not that powerful.

 

[pharmvet]

It is still hammering, it's just that I can keep it from rotating with my hand. I never noticed it before, but never actually tried.

 

[Scooby074]

Try it on a lag screw or similar. I assume its a 1/2" drive.CT6850? You shouldnt be able to stop it by hand I dont think.

Im curious, is there any lube required for the hammer mechanism? Although Ive worked with guys that own them, I only use air impacts, and they require regular lubrication. Without that the hammer mechanism can fail.

You should be able to get it rebuilt relatively cheap. Last air impact I had repaired was well under $100. $65 or so I think.

THose electrics are great little impacts for what they are. They seem pretty reliable in my experience. Too bad your having issues.

Perhaps posting on one of the mechanic / garage forums would help. The Garage Journal or WWW.GarageGazette.com

 

[mmorisoli]

Recently I purchased the Ingersoll Rand 1/2" battery impact wrench and it is a monster. It is actually more powerful than my IR air impact. There is no way you can stop it with your hand.

Truly a new generation battery type tool.

 

[jinman]

Aren't Snap-On tools guaranteed for 1 year? If not, I sure wouldn't pay their huge price. If you bought the wrench from a dealer, I think I'd take it back, especially if it's less than a year old and you don't make a living using it. It should not have failed with your described use. I cannot believe those tools go for $500-$800 depending on model. Try Big Sky Tools for Hitachi and/or Dewalt 1/2" drive impact wrenches. Currently, Big Sky is out of the Hitachi Driver, but they have Dewalt drivers reconditioned at extremely good prices. Here's a reconditioned 1/2" impact wrench with Lithium-Ion battery for less than $200. Act quickly if you want it because they only have one left. It's 1950 in/lb or 160 ft/lb of torque.

EDIT: BTW, that reconditioned torque wrench comes with two (2) 3ah Li-Ion batteries and a charger. It's like you are buying the batteries and charger and getting the tool for free.

 

[Scooby074]

Aren't Snap-On tools guaranteed for 1 year? If not, I sure wouldn't pay their huge price. If you bought the wrench from a dealer, I think I'd take it back, especially if it's less than a year old and you don't make a living using it. It should not have failed with your described use. I cannot believe those tools go for $500-$800 depending on model. Try Big Sky Tools for Hitachi and/or Dewalt 1/2" drive impact wrenches. Currently, Big Sky is out of the Hitachi Driver, but they have Dewalt drivers reconditioned at extremely good prices. Here's a reconditioned 1/2" impact wrench with Lithium-Ion battery for less than $200. Act quickly if you want it because they only have one left. It's 1950 in/lb or 160 ft/lb of torque.

EDIT: BTW, that reconditioned torque wrench comes with two (2) 3ah Li-Ion batteries and a charger. It's like you are buying the batteries and charger and getting the tool for free.

Snapon's cordless impact (CT6850) is VERY strong, like strong as a professional grade air impact strong. Between the strength, the name, and the fact that it is made in the USA, its going to cost alot. Its an order of magnitude stronger than the consumer ones like the dewalt and hitachi. ABout the only one that compares (or may be a bit stronger, depending on who you talk to ) is Matco's Infinium or Ingersol Rand W7150, but it is not made here. They are all in the same price ballpark however.

I agree that if he tests it on a lag or similar and ts not working, he should call his dealer. It has a 1 yr warranty. If hes just past that and has a good dealer, something likely can still be done under warranty for customer satisfaction. Or alternatively he can call SO directly.

 

[jinman]

I agree that if he tests it on a lag or similar and ts not working, he should call his dealer. It has a 1 yr warranty. If hes just past that and has a good dealer, something likely can still be done under warranty for customer satisfaction. Or alternatively he can call SO directly.

Yes, you are certainly correct about the strength of the tool, but since pharmvet isn't a professional using his tool daily, he did not discover it was defective until his warranty is nearly gone or maybe past expiration. The tool still costs the same, but he never got what he paid for. What I'm suggesting is that a person who is not a full-time user might be better served to buy a cheaper tool if it does the job needed. I'd put Hitachi Li-Ion batteries up side-by-side with any batteries on the market. Their Li-Ion batteries have a lifetime warranty and are 3ah while being much more light weight than the Ni-Cads that come with the Snap-On. You can call the Dewalt and Hitachi tools consumer grade, but I disagree based on owning the Hitachis and also seeing many professional carpenters with tool boxes full of Dewalt tools.

 

[Agent Blue]

This is the reason I bought the B&D electric model. A bit bigger, heavier, drag the electrical cord around, but it works !! Battery powered models may fail after the initial trial leading one to buy more batteries that also crash in a given period of time. Snap On hand tools are fabulous ,,,,,,, welders, battery chargers, and many other branded machines are made by competitive companies that may not live up to company standards. I buy their hand tools ( wrenches, sockets, screw drivers, ect ) but have no intention to purchase a welder or like product. This is just my point of view. Their finance program makes it lucrative to buy the entire brand for shop related professionals.