My first cordless impact was a Milwaukee , it has been nearly 25 years and I still
Have it.
Fast forward
I bought a 2463-20, m12
With max torque of 100ft-lb ??
I needed to change the oil in my diesel truck.
The drain plug was tightened to 62ft-lb
, so I thought few impacts with the small Milwaukee and off comes the drain plug - wrong
After 15 seconds of trying I switched to a half inch impact.
Being in the business, I have seen far too many oil, trans, front and rear differential, and transfer case drain plugs (or heaven forbid drain pans) with stripped threads from over-eager lube guys.
Typically, it is after they have visited a "Quick-Lube" place to save a few bucks. Dealerships are generally more careful.
I change my own fluids regularly, and will only use a 1/2" breaker bar. Sometimes a "cheater" bar extension, if needed.
To reinstall the drain plugs, I use a mechanical torque wrench set to the exact ft.lbs. Stated in the shop service manuals —- not the internet. This, and most always new "crush" washers also on the drain plugs.
The larger impacts I have will take care of other things on the vehicles such as lug nuts, etc.. But even then, I finish off the final tightening with the torque wrench set properly.
It is like the kid at the sporting goods store seeing how fast and tight he can spool new line onto a plastic spool. I only trust what I do myself —- and for me, that is the only way to be confident in the outcome. Even if a shop installs tires for me —- I carry a 4-way lug wrench to verify before leaving the shop. Then when I get home, I recheck the tightness with the torque wrench.
These are things I have learned that are too important to trust to others.
Best, Fred
Drain plugs and impact hammers "especially" with 12 point sockets is a disaster waiting to happen .
What is unsaid here is I know Gobi King well enough to know he was probably trying to do all of this while laying in snow in his driveway. Does that change torque values? NO. But the "badass" coefficient goes way up and totally can understand being in that situation and being frustrated at having tools that don't want to "cooperate". - john
I have a 20v HF Earthquake impact with 1200 ft-lbs torque I use to remove bushhog blades for sharpening but only hand tools for drain plugs.Vehicle wheels I use impact to cinch up the lug nuts then swap to the 4 way for final torque.
Quote from: foakes on January 27, 2026, 01:00:08 AMBeing in the business, I have seen far too many oil, trans, front and rear differential, and transfer case drain plugs (or heaven forbid drain pans) with stripped threads from over-eager lube guys.
Typically, it is after they have visited a "Quick-Lube" place to save a few bucks. Dealerships are generally more careful.
Best, Fred
Fred,
Yeap, nobody cares for your stuff like you do, the local honda dealer stripped my honda's drain plug many many years back.
I have not been to a quick change place in the last 25 years, last was in Gladstone, MO.
While I ONLY service my vehicles at dealerships, the diesel needed an emergency change as the temps were going from 19F to -15F.
I street park my trucks and I have to move them few times when it snows, like on days that end in "y".
Taking off the drain plug is so much simpler with power assist when I am laying down on cold hard ground :-)
Plugs are torqued to spec using a beam type torque wrench, this vehicle has drain plug with built in gasket (what a concept).
Not to offend anyone but I never change the crush washer, I reuse it, no leaks till now,
Someday I will have a lift with bays and heat, but for now, a snowy driveway has to do.
Quote from: oldmanjoe on January 27, 2026, 01:38:28 AMDrain plugs and impact hammers "especially" with 12 point sockets is a disaster waiting to happen .
Yeah 12 points are trouble, unless you are working on 12 point nuts/bolts.
6 point impact rated sockets is all I use.
Quote from: Brewcrafter on January 27, 2026, 02:57:23 AMWhat is unsaid here is I know Gobi King well enough to know he was probably trying to do all of this while laying in snow in his driveway. Does that change torque values? NO. But the "badass" coefficient goes way up and totally can understand being in that situation and being frustrated at having tools that don't want to "cooperate". - john
My son in Oklahoma sent me a picture of his truck covered in snow.❄️ I told him it looked like a good day to get out there and do the brakes. It's what Shibs would do!
Quote from: Brewcrafter on January 27, 2026, 02:57:23 AMWhat is unsaid here is I know Gobi King well enough to know he was probably trying to do all of this while laying in snow in his driveway. Does that change torque values? NO. But the "badass" coefficient goes way up and totally can understand being in that situation and being frustrated at having tools that don't want to "cooperate". - john
How the arm and body shakes differ by the position you are in, lol.
The Milwaukee bare tool was more than the ryobi impact wrench with a 4ah battery,
Very disappointed in the tools performance, could not cough up 55% of max rated torque. In my world, tool needs to work the first time as it too costly to get down on my hands and knees > get back up, take the stairs up the front door > take off nasty ycky shoes > find different tool > get cold gear back on > get on hands and knees and do the limbo dance to inch under the chevy ...
while I do this, one can hear Michael Bolton singing:
"When a man loves a truck..."
Quote from: MarkT on January 27, 2026, 06:59:48 PMQuote from: Brewcrafter on January 27, 2026, 02:57:23 AMWhat is unsaid here is I know Gobi King well enough to know he was probably trying to do all of this while laying in snow in his driveway. Does that change torque values? NO. But the "badass" coefficient goes way up and totally can understand being in that situation and being frustrated at having tools that don't want to "cooperate". - john
My son in Oklahoma sent me a picture of his truck covered in snow.❄️ I told him it looked like a good day to get out there and do the brakes. It's what Shibs would do!
8)
We really need a "like" button!
Man, Shibs!
Your low temperatures and ice make our 24° lows seem like warm sand, bikinis, and palm trees!
My hat is off to your determination. I generally scrape the heck out of my hands and arms when working in cold conditions.
Usually just wait for a good day. With the new truck/RV carport —- there are some dry options now.
Be careful!
Best, Fred
:) Well I feel for you , I just got cold looking at this . I see you have a sand creeper and a height adjusting lift . Hope you ran the engine a little before draining , it does make it easier and warmer >:D
I use to have to go out every cold morning 2 hours before the job started to start the machines . Most had 3-53 and 4-53 GMC . I could not trust the operators with a can of ether . Too many bent connecting rod would be the outcome .
A few people have touched on the probable cause.
The cold.
The torque output of cordless tools is hugely dependent on how "juicy" the battery is, which is very affected by cold. Wouldn't take a lot of cold to drop a best-case 100ftlb tool to where it wouldn't remove 60-odd ftlb.
Quote from: boon on January 28, 2026, 12:07:12 AMA few people have touched on the probable cause.
The cold.
The torque output of cordless tools is hugely dependent on how "juicy" the battery is, which is very affected by cold. Wouldn't take a lot of cold to drop a best-case 100ftlb tool to where it wouldn't remove 60-odd ftlb.
Boon has a sensible take; while I do not own an EV, some automotive groups that I participate in all have commented that EV performance (things like vehicle range and charging times) are substantially affected by cold conditions, so it would make sense that our cordless hand tools would be the same. - john
Quote from: foakes on January 27, 2026, 07:40:15 PMMan, Shibs!
Your low temperatures and ice make our 24° lows seem like warm sand, bikinis, and palm trees!
My hat is off to your determination. I generally scrape the heck out of my hands and arms when working in cold conditions.
Usually just wait for a good day. With the new truck/RV carport —- there are some dry options now.
Be careful!
Best, Fred
Fred,
That car port your built is the shizzle, you might have some Pharaoh genes :-).
I was waiting for "good" days, many dry 35F days went by and then I saw the forcast -15F, things got serious, lol.
I don't get too many days off when my daughter is with me, so we made the most of it.
Can't work without gloves in cold anymore, fingers gets stiff ...
Another dry day around 30F and I will work on the rear brakes on her truck and then my duramax.
Sitting on the curb, these get a bunch of salt on the driver side.
Quote from: oldmanjoe on January 27, 2026, 09:07:21 PM:) Well I feel for you , I just got cold looking at this . I see you have a sand creeper and a height adjusting lift . Hope you ran the engine a little before draining , it does make it easier and warmer >:D
I use to have to go out every cold morning 2 hours before the job started to start the machines . Most had 3-53 and 4-53 GMC . I could not trust the operators with a can of ether . Too many bent connecting rod would be the outcome .
Yeah, bezos keeps sending me new sand creepers often 8)
The duramax never had issues starting, I do add some anti gel to the diesel for those -16f nights, 5 seconds on glow plugs and it starts up on 2 or 3rd crank.
Yeah, I had it run it till the temp moved a bit. switched the oil to 5w40 syn and charged the batteries.
Quote from: boon on January 28, 2026, 12:07:12 AMA few people have touched on the probable cause.
The cold.
The torque output of cordless tools is hugely dependent on how "juicy" the battery is, which is very affected by cold. Wouldn't take a lot of cold to drop a best-case 100ftlb tool to where it wouldn't remove 60-odd ftlb.
Boon, you are correct, the batts are old and not used much, the unit stored inside and I had just take them out,
I bought some XC batts for it since this attempt and I bought a digital torque gauge, I will bench mark the tool.
I have a much of very $$$ milwaukee tools, but at the mid and small size I will use my Hart or Hyper Touch line of impact wrenches,
My plan it so use my van's wheel to confirm the torque rating I get for each.
The wheels on my Ford Transit are at 140 lb-ft of torque.
I seen something on tv this guy was putting alaska heat pads on trucks,,,,oil pans,battery