Posted by Paul Cook on Sunday, April 04, 2004 at 7:23PM :
In Reply to: head bolts?? posted by Bill [Lynn, Ma.] on Sunday, April 04, 2004 at 1:14PM :
Impact is better. The impact wrench turns a bolt very little each hit. A long pull by a gorilla with a cheater bar will almost always break a bolt.
Bolts stick because the mechanical binding of the threads and because of rust. Most impact wrenches have adjustable torque settings. For really difficult bolts, use a low torque setting alternately forward and then reverse. After doing this a while, move to the next higher torque setting - and after a while, increase it again. This lets you "knock" the bolt loose a little at a time.
Remember, the bolt may have had 50 years to become attached. You cannot rush these projects. Every part of you project requires patience and finesse.