ingersoll rand 2130 pneumatic impact wrench

[chet]

I recently bought an ingersoll rand 2130 impact wrench to help with my new DYI expansion into auto mechanics. At 90 psi from a 13 gallon coleman compressor, I found the wrench would loosen most but not all of the bolts I was trying to take out. I posted some questions and got responses saying to increase the air pressure.

Today, I maxed out the compressor at 125 psi and it took off the bolts I had trouble with. So naturally, I looked for the biggest nastiest bolt I could find. It was a 20 mm bolt that connects the front stabilizer bar to a tie in. The wrench would not budge it. The breaker bar would not budge it. I eventually put heat to it and the wrench was able to remove it.

I really would rather have an impact wrench that has enough power to just zip the bolts off. I hate messing around with a torch or breaker bar but I am scared to increase the air pressure more than 125 psi. Is it normal for automechanics to occasionally use heat to remove stubborn bolts or do they all have extremely powerful impact wrenches that make easy work out of them.

Thanks Chet

Topic

[Alex F.]

Stanley makes a hydrolic Impact wrench—- Thay make great products with wonderful warranties.—-Then agian they can get pretty high in price

[MARK FELDSTEIN]

Hey Chet. I don’t know if you’re still looking for a response to your question, but this should help. Yes, we do use heat to remove really stubborn fasteners. My personal view is that it’s a last resort. If my impact won’t get it, I’ll try some Kroil penetrating oil which usually works on any stubborn fastener within a few minutes. Be careful not to get it on plastic surfaces or carbon fiber.

You can also take a hammer and tap on the part that the fastener attaches rather than the fastener itself and see if that loosens it up. Impacts aren’t necessarily a cure-all for removing all stubborn fasteners. You ought to try to match the size of the impact to the size of the fastener since too much line pressure or torque on on a bolt might snap the thing off or bust the drive mechanism on your impact.

Sometimes they need some additional help overcoming the resistant ones. Remember too, too much pressure can damage your tool use impact sockets and as Norm Abrams would say, “Always wear these, safety glasses.”

[Konrad]

The 2130 produces 550 ft-lb. I had one of those guns and it would have trouble with some fasteners like really tight wheel bolts and subframe bolts. Eventually i bought a 2135Ti Quiet which is a 780 ft-lb gun. It removes probably 90% of all automotive fasteners. Some things like axle bolts are too much for it and require a giant breaker bar. I also bought a 3/4″ 2145 1350 ft-lb gun and that will remove everything even with only a 3/8″ air line feeding it. Our shop air pressure is at 120psi.

For a DIY’er, i would suggest getting the IR electric guns. They are every bit as powerful as the top of the line pneumatics, and you don’t have to deal with the noise and expense of a large compressor. You can also take them to the track, if you are into that.

Your gun is pretty good, but it’s going to be too weak for heavy work.

[Michele Pensotti]

[quote=”FourRings” post=60150]
For a DIY’er, i would suggest getting the IR electric guns. They are every bit as powerful as the top of the line pneumatics, and you don’t have to deal with the noise and expense of a large compressor. You can also take them to the track, if you are into that.

Your gun is pretty good, but it’s going to be too weak for heavy work.[/quote]

I second that advice!
I’ve read specs and seen/read reviews, and the latest IR electric guns are simply awesome

Lots and lots of torque with no air hose, no compressor, and very compact and silent (when compared to it’s air siblings).
When I have money I’ll buy a W7150; about that, I’ve noticed its US prices are WAAAAAAAAYYYY lower than EU prices, I mean , here in EU I can find a W7150 for about 850€ , but on ebay US I can find it for around 350€…I don’t think this is fair

I’ll just wait…and keep using my 2130 in the meantime 😉

Live long and prosper (and stay dirty!)

10nico

[Bruce]

Also the compressor is likely limiting the power of the impact. I can tell a difference in my impacts when used at home with a small compressor vs at work with a bigger compressor.

[dollman0]

If your air line goes through the regulator, it can be restricted giving you a drop in pressure. I put a line direct to the tank and my gun hits harder on the same 120 psi. keep in mind that you will drop 10-20 psi through a 3/8 air hose when you are pulling 15-20 CFM hammering on stubborn bolts.

I use the older style 231 gun its just heavy and cold in the winter.

[Court Rutherford]

Running more than what the tool is designed for will just shear the hammer pins and the tool is useless. The compressor is probably your limiting factor as some have said. But if you can’t move it with a breaker bar then the impact would probably just shear the bolt anyway. I shelled 2 Ingersoll Rand 236’s in a week when all I needed was a 231C.

[simon]

I have had this happen when I have used the Ingersoll-Rand 2130 on the incorrect compressor.

[Author]

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