Shop Press

Shop Press is the news and idea hub for everything related to working on cars and trucks, focusing on repair, technology, and wrenching lifestyle.

From the creative minds at:

FEATURE STORY

Hot Off the Press

ICYMI: Secondary hood prop positions

Today’s article might score a little lower on technical difficulty and higher on automobilia esoterica, but I make no apologies. In my salad days, I worked as a dismantler at a salvage yard. Pulling motors was commonplace, so I learned quickly about this tip I’m sure...

Automotive terms that differ in other English-speaking countries

As a public service to all of our readers, we thought it would be helpful to take a look at some of the common (and not so common) differences between everyday automotive terms used in different English-speaking countries, as this can easily come up when reading or...

LT-series vs. P-series tires

The truck and SUV have never been more prolific than they are today. These vehicles need remarkably different tires depending on a few different factors. Be honest: are you selective about what tire you offer your customers who qualify as “fringe cases?” P-series...

If you have a soldering iron, you need a solder sucker (VIDEO)

Description When an automotive repair involves solder, it often involves desoldering too. Removing old solder is a crucial part of preparing a component for a new soldered connection, and a desolder pump (often called a solder sucker) is the ideal tool for the job. It...

The very best way to remove grease from auto upholstery

I try to keep my customers’ cars at least as nice as they keep them. You probably do, too. The only problem is that I am perpetually filthy. I have a trick I’ve used for a long time on the occasions I’ve sullied a nice interior with grease or dirt. (I will never...

A different type of timed event: the Bobby Bosch Relay Race

I’ll hazard a guess you’re familiar with the 24 Hours of Lemons. If not, it’s endurance racing for Joe Sixpack on a severely tight budget ($500). Ridiculous paint jobs are de rigueur. Costumes are encouraged. Everyone sandbags and cheats and tries to fudge the budget...

How to use a lockout kit (VIDEO)

If you work on cars for a living or you’re a diehard gearhead, odds are excellent that people look to you when some basic automotive snafus need to be handled. I’m sure those who know you have asked you to help with the following items: Reviewing an estimate Jumping a...

How to get a little more (temporary) performance out of your air impact gun

by | Dec 21, 2023

I would like to start this article off by mentioning that yes, I know air impacts are slowly going out of style—which is exactly why you might want to keep this tip in the back of your head. Parts availability can be a challenge for some old impact wrenches, and even if they can be sourced, it’s often not worth the time it takes to renew the tool. So if you have a get-it gun that’s losing its mojo, there’s a half-baked method you can employ to coax some additional (albeit very temporary) life out of it.

Often impact guns lose efficacy when the rotor vanes wear. They’re really not unlike rotor tip seals in a rotary engine, or piston rings in a standard engine. Rust (from water that your inline filter didn’t catch) and debris in the air get into your gun and slowly wear away the vanes, which are often made of a phenolic polymer and seal against the metal housing. Or in your case, stop sealing.

The solution is a rebuild or a new tool. (Or jacking up the line pressure, but that might be part of what got you into this pickle in the first place.) But that doesn’t help much when you’re trying to nurse your ailing rattle-blaster through one more week of rotations until the nice man on the tool truck arrives at your shop.

So do the same thing we do for an ailing engine that’s getting a wet compression test: throw a shot of oil down the hatch. Skip the air-tool oil; that ain’t gonna help much. You want to shove some thick stuff into the air inlet. I work on a ton of Harley-Davidsons, so SAE 60 or 20W50 is always on the shelf, and that stuff usually bumps the power back up to acceptable levels to get by for a little longer.

The articles and other content contained on this site may contain links to third party websites. By clicking them, you consent to Dorman’s Website Use Agreement.

Related Articles

Shop Press Comment Policy

Participation in this forum is subject to Dorman’s Website Terms & Conditions. Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
2 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline feedback
View all comments

Get Articles In Your Inbox

Subscribe to receive a monthly email summary of our latest Shop Press stories.

Shop Press

I agree to the above privacy statement and T&Cs

Thanks! You're now subscribed.