When come to engines I seldom need an impact but it is the large riders, zero turn, ATV/UTV equipment that I need more power for. I had several zero turn deck spindle bolts that I was having to use a 5 ft cheater on my pull bar, place my feet on the deck and row boat them loose. On an ATV I was having jump on end of the same setup to break free the axle nuts. At the time I weighed 260 lbs, now I down to 245 lbs and hopefully still dropping toward my target of 220-230 lbs. My pre-old age weight. Oh I not that old just 59, just learning to live the single life and cooking smaller meals and not for a family of three. I got as terrible habit if the food is there I will eat it.
Boy my chickens are liking me lately.
My Campbell Hausfeld rated at 250 ft-lb which equals 320 nm wouldn't even touch them. I actually gave it away. I had only one item that my Air Cat couldn't free that was because it overcame the engine compression too easily. That was a Stihl backpack blower. It just took a piston stop and a pull bar to remove the fan. Just shows that you must use the correct tool for the job.
Now I did have air supply problem but even with it resolved the old 250 ft-lb still wasn't doing the job. The main problem with the air supply was those couplers and plugs causing a major restriction. I still have a slight problem on the 125 ft run of 3/8 air line but that is a CFM restriction at the air compressor that I can't resolve without replacing the whole compressor setup. Most times I just need to bump the trigger to loosen a fastener. Actually I can carry a 10 cu ft air tank to the field along with the impact and loosen most fasteners on riders to replace blade or pull an electric PTO clutch. That because the Air Cat beak away power uses less air.
Now why I need such a powerful impact. The nuts on zero turns transaxles that torqued to 300 ft-lbs. Those nuts are the type that destroy the threading due the metal locking design. You actually need to replace the axles because of this but I found it just easier the disassemble the transaxle and pull the compete axle if I need the replace the seals. On ATVs it is because these things are constantly being submerged in nasty water.
Oh I twisted a few cheap adapters and extensions in two. They were some I brought at a flea market. The last one I twisted in two using a torque wrench and it snap at 150 ft-lbs. I call HFT about the spec on theirs 1/2 to 3/8 and it is 350 ft-lbs so I just chalk it to a defective adapter but I have replace that socket with a 1/2 drive version. For some reason I have never busted a socket.
Now we got to back topic here so Duncan have you figured out what you are going to do with the engine. I know it is a lot the take in if your experience is low but if you are getting into repairs might as well get your hands dirty
and we will try are best to help out.
