Hi. Not sure if this is the appropriate forum to ask this in, hopefully it's OK.

I'm looking to get a pretty beefy air ratchet that can do up to 125 ft-lbs or so. Central Pneumatic makes one(model 43335) that can do up to 90 ft-lbs, and Westward makes one (model 5ZL21A) that can do 75 ft-lbs. I would like something just a little bigger. Sometimes (a lot of times recently for me) you just can't fit an impact wrench somewhere, but you need to get off something that's pretty tight.

I COULD get around the problem using a breaker bar or a big torque wrench (to reinstall the nut later), but it would just be convenient to have a power tool do the work instead of my arms... Has anyone seen something a little beefier for sale anywhere?

Or maybe a right-angle adapter, a straight extender (a foot or so), and then another right angle adapter?

I've seen this "Lisle Right Angle Impact Wrench" (search on midwayautosupply . c-o-m), but I'm not too sure about how it works. I don't see how that long piece turns the rotary motion of the impact wrench into up and down motion on that arm. Another site said that it hooked to an air HAMMER, so I thought maybe it just vibrated and loosened the bolts (meaning that I couldn't use it to re-tighten, which is one of the main purposes), but this site says it can tighten too. Anyone ever used one? Or have any other tricks for getting an impact wrench into close quarters using some type of adapter(s)?

Thanks

sean

EDIT: One other nice one, the K&E Ratchepact KW-1175 (90 ft-lbs)

truth is, an air ratchet will never have the power to loosen bolts that an impact will(regardless of their ft lb rating). I've used about 5 different brands and they all work about the same. I have the IR-1107 which was replaced by the IR-1200. They are both composite based and rather powerful and will remove most of the bolts you can throw at it.

what kind of areas are you having problems fitting an impact into?

I'm doing lateral links, and the inboard side is a rather tight squeeze. Even with the rear halfshaft removed, it would still be tight.

i've always been able to get my flex head impact sockets in there previously. and you are correct it is a bit of a squeeze

i've always been able to get my flex head impact sockets in there previously. and you are correct it is a bit of a squeeze

Do you have legit impact-rated flex sockets? I've seen impact grade universal joints that you could hook onto regular sockets, and I've seen "regular" flex sockets... But I only saw a "true" flex head impact socket once, and it was on eBay. It was made by Snap On, the auction said they used to cost $69 each and were pretty rare. I don't see them on Snap-On's web site anymore. Do you remember where you bought it?

By the way, do you have to adjust your torque applied by the impact wrench due to the flex head? This question would apply for "regular" flex sockets too. ie when they are at an angle, does one side turn exactly one revolution every time the other turns one revolution?

I am a MB tech and ball joints on these car all use 22mm sockets, problem is getting them in place properly. A real swivel socket from snap-on made for impact with the flank drive deal cost me about 80 bucks. I use it at least once a day and it hasn't failed me yet. I use it with my IR 2135Ti 1/2 in impact gun all the time with no problems.

You should be able to get a swivel socket in there for lateral links, it's tight, but a little extra convincing and you should be ok.

-Mike

Do you have legit impact-rated flex sockets? I've seen impact grade universal joints that you could hook onto regular sockets, and I've seen "regular" flex sockets... But I only saw a "true" flex head impact socket once, and it was on eBay. It was made by Snap On, the auction said they used to cost $69 each and were pretty rare. I don't see them on Snap-On's web site anymore. Do you remember where you bought it?

By the way, do you have to adjust your torque applied by the impact wrench due to the flex head? This question would apply for "regular" flex sockets too. ie when they are at an angle, does one side turn exactly one revolution every time the other turns one revolution?
snap-on, matco and mac all make legit impact flex head sockets. I currently have the Matco ones because they no longer use Pins they are spline driven(got my hand ripped wide open by a Cornwell pin socket when the pin sheared as the socket was turning). I use them on a regular basis, the Impact universal joints also work but i prefer the correct socket(less power loss)

Nice, I'll have to look into some of those flex sockets. Does the torque applied by the impact wrench get reduced or multiplied at all by the flex sockets, either by a mechanical advantage or by friction? Can you set your torque to a certain value, and then trust that the bolt will actually be tightened to that point (at least... as much as you could trust a regular impact socket)?

Anyone have any recommendations for a butterfly style impact wrench with a 90 degree head? Any other good "adapters" or interesting devices out there for getting into hard places?