Switched from impact guns to hand tools on engine rebuilds after a disaster in Pittsburgh

I used to zIp everything off with my Milwaukee impact gun, thought it saved SO much time. Then last October I stripped a bolt on a customer's 2005 Civic timing chain cover in Pittsburgh and had to Heli-coil the whole mess. Now I break out the torque wrench and ratchet for anything internal, and I swear I've saved way more time on re-dos. Has anyone else stopped using power tools for certain jobs after a bad experience?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_leo2d ago

Picked up a breaker bar after a mishap with a rusty brake caliper bolt on a Ford Focus in the snow. I was using my impact gun, chattering away, and it just snapped the bolt clean off. Had to drill it out in the cold and it took me the whole afternoon. Now I always crack those rusty ones loose by hand first with a long ratchet, then hit them with the impact once they're moving. It feels slower at first but saves so much headache, especially when you're dealing with salt belt cars. I also keep a can of PB Blaster in my toolbox and hit every bolt I can reach before I even start.

alice_barnes352d ago

Oh man, that's the worst. My Milwaukee impact gun now has a "respect the torque" sticker on it after I snapped a bolt on my own car and spent a whole Saturday crying in the driveway.