Ingersol Rand vs HF
- Thread starter Syncro
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Syncro
Platinum Member
Well I got the IR. In fairness to the HF models, about 10 years ago I bought their then top of their line 1/2" wrench which served me well and was both tight and very powerful. Trouble is the 3/4" I looked at yesterday did not have near the build quality as my old HF 1/2" wrench did. There is something negative about buying cheap sloppy tools, know what I mean? And at $250 its not that cheap!
Anyways I got home and promptly put it to work removing the 1 1/2" rusted lug nuts on my dump truck. I tried to get these off using break free, 3/4" breaker bars with pipe extensions and my 1/2" impact, nothing would budge em. Well that IR spun em right off, and that was using 50' of 1/4" hose. I will make up a dedicated 1/2" hose/coupler for it, but I was impressed at the results using the smaller hose. I have industrial compressers so air volume is not a problem.
Bird, it is a 258, what do you think of that model, how does it compare to the 261? I paid $300 and I know I could have got one on line cheaper, but I needed it right away. I notice that it has an oil resovoir, that strikes me as unusual, is that a standard IR design feature? Any problems with that?
Eddie, my wife gave me a Husky brand 3/8" a few years back. Its light, well made and great for small stuff, but its also anemic. I still like it because its small and handy.
One last word on HF, their impact sockets are both cheap and good. I've used them for years and have numerous sets in all sizes. When on sale they are a bargain.
Anyways, thanks all for the helpful feedback, I guess I did the right thing with the 258. It sure looks and runs good, time will tell.
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Anyways I got home and promptly put it to work removing the 1 1/2" rusted lug nuts on my dump truck. I tried to get these off using break free, 3/4" breaker bars with pipe extensions and my 1/2" impact, nothing would budge em. Well that IR spun em right off, and that was using 50' of 1/4" hose. I will make up a dedicated 1/2" hose/coupler for it, but I was impressed at the results using the smaller hose. I have industrial compressers so air volume is not a problem.
Bird, it is a 258, what do you think of that model, how does it compare to the 261? I paid $300 and I know I could have got one on line cheaper, but I needed it right away. I notice that it has an oil resovoir, that strikes me as unusual, is that a standard IR design feature? Any problems with that?
Eddie, my wife gave me a Husky brand 3/8" a few years back. Its light, well made and great for small stuff, but its also anemic. I still like it because its small and handy.
One last word on HF, their impact sockets are both cheap and good. I've used them for years and have numerous sets in all sizes. When on sale they are a bargain.
Anyways, thanks all for the helpful feedback, I guess I did the right thing with the 258. It sure looks and runs good, time will tell.
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
OP
Syncro
Platinum Member
Well I got the IR. In fairness to the HF models, about 10 years ago I bought their then top of their line 1/2" wrench which served me well and was both tight and very powerful. Trouble is the 3/4" I looked at yesterday did not have near the build quality as my old HF 1/2" wrench did. There is something negative about buying cheap sloppy tools, know what I mean? And at $250 its not that cheap!
Anyways I got home and promptly put it to work removing the 1 1/2" rusted lug nuts on my dump truck. I tried to get these off using break free, 3/4" breaker bars with pipe extensions and my 1/2" impact, nothing would budge em. Well that IR spun em right off, and that was using 50' of 1/4" hose. I will make up a dedicated 1/2" hose/coupler for it, but I was impressed at the results using the smaller hose. I have industrial compressers so air volume is not a problem.
Bird, it is a 258, what do you think of that model, how does it compare to the 261? I paid $300 and I know I could have got one on line cheaper, but I needed it right away. I notice that it has an oil resovoir, that strikes me as unusual, is that a standard IR design feature? Any problems with that?
Eddie, my wife gave me a Husky brand 3/8" a few years back. Its light, well made and great for small stuff, but its also anemic. I still like it because its small and handy.
One last word on HF, their impact sockets are both cheap and good. I've used them for years and have numerous sets in all sizes. When on sale they are a bargain.
Anyways, thanks all for the helpful feedback, I guess I did the right thing with the 258. It sure looks and runs good, time will tell.
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Anyways I got home and promptly put it to work removing the 1 1/2" rusted lug nuts on my dump truck. I tried to get these off using break free, 3/4" breaker bars with pipe extensions and my 1/2" impact, nothing would budge em. Well that IR spun em right off, and that was using 50' of 1/4" hose. I will make up a dedicated 1/2" hose/coupler for it, but I was impressed at the results using the smaller hose. I have industrial compressers so air volume is not a problem.
Bird, it is a 258, what do you think of that model, how does it compare to the 261? I paid $300 and I know I could have got one on line cheaper, but I needed it right away. I notice that it has an oil resovoir, that strikes me as unusual, is that a standard IR design feature? Any problems with that?
Eddie, my wife gave me a Husky brand 3/8" a few years back. Its light, well made and great for small stuff, but its also anemic. I still like it because its small and handy.
One last word on HF, their impact sockets are both cheap and good. I've used them for years and have numerous sets in all sizes. When on sale they are a bargain.
Anyways, thanks all for the helpful feedback, I guess I did the right thing with the 258. It sure looks and runs good, time will tell.
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
GeneD14
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2003
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- Kubota B26 TLB, Allis Chalmers D17 series IV, Kubota ZG-23 Mower, Kubota ZD 1211, Kawasaki Mule 610, Stihl 361, Stihl 045 AV Super, and a Stihl 660 Ported and tuned
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( One last word on HF, their impact sockets are both cheap and good. I've used them for years and have numerous sets in all sizes. When on sale they are a bargain.
)</font>
I thought so too...until last weekend. With my little weasely Campbell Hausfield 1/2" impact I cracked a 17mm and a 22mm HF impact sockets. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif They were the HF Pittsburg brand. Up until then I hadn't cracked one in several years.
)</font>
I thought so too...until last weekend. With my little weasely Campbell Hausfield 1/2" impact I cracked a 17mm and a 22mm HF impact sockets. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif They were the HF Pittsburg brand. Up until then I hadn't cracked one in several years.
GeneD14
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2003
- Messages
- 1,458
- Location
- Tennessee
- Tractor
- Kubota B26 TLB, Allis Chalmers D17 series IV, Kubota ZG-23 Mower, Kubota ZD 1211, Kawasaki Mule 610, Stihl 361, Stihl 045 AV Super, and a Stihl 660 Ported and tuned
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( One last word on HF, their impact sockets are both cheap and good. I've used them for years and have numerous sets in all sizes. When on sale they are a bargain.
)</font>
I thought so too...until last weekend. With my little weasely Campbell Hausfield 1/2" impact I cracked a 17mm and a 22mm HF impact sockets. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif They were the HF Pittsburg brand. Up until then I hadn't cracked one in several years.
)</font>
I thought so too...until last weekend. With my little weasely Campbell Hausfield 1/2" impact I cracked a 17mm and a 22mm HF impact sockets. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif They were the HF Pittsburg brand. Up until then I hadn't cracked one in several years.
Bird
Rest in Peace
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Bird, it is a 258, what do you think of that model, how does it compare to the 261? I paid $300 and I know I could have got one on line cheaper, but I needed it right away. I notice that it has an oil resovoir, that strikes me as unusual, is that a standard IR design feature? Any problems with that? )</font>
I don't recall ever working on a 258 so I'm not sure how long IR has been making them. However, I just looked up the exploded view and parts list for that tool, and it's a very common design, used more by Chicago Pneumatic (and Snap-On), as well as a number of cheaper and weaker knock-offs including Central Pneumatic, than by IR. There's certainly no problem with it. Just as a lot of our members prefer different brands of tractors, mechanics prefer different brands of impact wrenches. It's an entirely different design from the 261. The 261 has a hammer frame and one large hammer, and has a grease fitting in the back end. The grease is forced through the rotor to lubricate the impact assembly in the front end. The 258 has a hammer cage (big, heavy steel cup affair), 2 hammer pins, cam, cam release spring, etc. that are lubricated with SAE 20W or 30W non-detergent motor oil. That design just has a lot more moving parts, plus some oil seals to keep that motor oil from leaking out, but it works just as well.
I assume you got a manual with it that includes the exploded view and parts list, as well as maintenance recommendations. It should have come with the right amount of oil in the front end and may not need any added for years. If you do need to add, or check, the oil level, just remove that plug, set it down on its top, and turn it so the oil plug is at the 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock position as viewed from the front or rear end. In other words, you want that front end about halfway filled with the motor oil. And of course, as with any of them, you apply air tool oil to the air inlet.
I don't recall ever working on a 258 so I'm not sure how long IR has been making them. However, I just looked up the exploded view and parts list for that tool, and it's a very common design, used more by Chicago Pneumatic (and Snap-On), as well as a number of cheaper and weaker knock-offs including Central Pneumatic, than by IR. There's certainly no problem with it. Just as a lot of our members prefer different brands of tractors, mechanics prefer different brands of impact wrenches. It's an entirely different design from the 261. The 261 has a hammer frame and one large hammer, and has a grease fitting in the back end. The grease is forced through the rotor to lubricate the impact assembly in the front end. The 258 has a hammer cage (big, heavy steel cup affair), 2 hammer pins, cam, cam release spring, etc. that are lubricated with SAE 20W or 30W non-detergent motor oil. That design just has a lot more moving parts, plus some oil seals to keep that motor oil from leaking out, but it works just as well.
I assume you got a manual with it that includes the exploded view and parts list, as well as maintenance recommendations. It should have come with the right amount of oil in the front end and may not need any added for years. If you do need to add, or check, the oil level, just remove that plug, set it down on its top, and turn it so the oil plug is at the 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock position as viewed from the front or rear end. In other words, you want that front end about halfway filled with the motor oil. And of course, as with any of them, you apply air tool oil to the air inlet.
Bird
Rest in Peace
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Bird, it is a 258, what do you think of that model, how does it compare to the 261? I paid $300 and I know I could have got one on line cheaper, but I needed it right away. I notice that it has an oil resovoir, that strikes me as unusual, is that a standard IR design feature? Any problems with that? )</font>
I don't recall ever working on a 258 so I'm not sure how long IR has been making them. However, I just looked up the exploded view and parts list for that tool, and it's a very common design, used more by Chicago Pneumatic (and Snap-On), as well as a number of cheaper and weaker knock-offs including Central Pneumatic, than by IR. There's certainly no problem with it. Just as a lot of our members prefer different brands of tractors, mechanics prefer different brands of impact wrenches. It's an entirely different design from the 261. The 261 has a hammer frame and one large hammer, and has a grease fitting in the back end. The grease is forced through the rotor to lubricate the impact assembly in the front end. The 258 has a hammer cage (big, heavy steel cup affair), 2 hammer pins, cam, cam release spring, etc. that are lubricated with SAE 20W or 30W non-detergent motor oil. That design just has a lot more moving parts, plus some oil seals to keep that motor oil from leaking out, but it works just as well.
I assume you got a manual with it that includes the exploded view and parts list, as well as maintenance recommendations. It should have come with the right amount of oil in the front end and may not need any added for years. If you do need to add, or check, the oil level, just remove that plug, set it down on its top, and turn it so the oil plug is at the 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock position as viewed from the front or rear end. In other words, you want that front end about halfway filled with the motor oil. And of course, as with any of them, you apply air tool oil to the air inlet.
I don't recall ever working on a 258 so I'm not sure how long IR has been making them. However, I just looked up the exploded view and parts list for that tool, and it's a very common design, used more by Chicago Pneumatic (and Snap-On), as well as a number of cheaper and weaker knock-offs including Central Pneumatic, than by IR. There's certainly no problem with it. Just as a lot of our members prefer different brands of tractors, mechanics prefer different brands of impact wrenches. It's an entirely different design from the 261. The 261 has a hammer frame and one large hammer, and has a grease fitting in the back end. The grease is forced through the rotor to lubricate the impact assembly in the front end. The 258 has a hammer cage (big, heavy steel cup affair), 2 hammer pins, cam, cam release spring, etc. that are lubricated with SAE 20W or 30W non-detergent motor oil. That design just has a lot more moving parts, plus some oil seals to keep that motor oil from leaking out, but it works just as well.
I assume you got a manual with it that includes the exploded view and parts list, as well as maintenance recommendations. It should have come with the right amount of oil in the front end and may not need any added for years. If you do need to add, or check, the oil level, just remove that plug, set it down on its top, and turn it so the oil plug is at the 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock position as viewed from the front or rear end. In other words, you want that front end about halfway filled with the motor oil. And of course, as with any of them, you apply air tool oil to the air inlet.
OP
Syncro
Platinum Member
Bird- Thank you for looking at the 258 vs the 261. I really never paid too much attention to the different models, but from what you say it sounds like the 261 is better and would be the minimum wrench to buy. Turns out that HF carries both, so I returned the 258 and will either have them send me a 261 or look around for better price. HF current price is $350 plus tax and $10 shipping for the 261, but that also includes a 9 piece 3/4" socket set. I'll post final results.
OP
Syncro
Platinum Member
Bird- Thank you for looking at the 258 vs the 261. I really never paid too much attention to the different models, but from what you say it sounds like the 261 is better and would be the minimum wrench to buy. Turns out that HF carries both, so I returned the 258 and will either have them send me a 261 or look around for better price. HF current price is $350 plus tax and $10 shipping for the 261, but that also includes a 9 piece 3/4" socket set. I'll post final results.