Disassemble and Grease Harbor Freight Impact Screwdriver (Pittsburgh)

The Harbor Freight Impact Screwdrivers are notorious for not being greased from the factory. Mine did appear to have some grease right out of the box, but you don't know until you look inside. This video shows you how to disassemble and grease your impact screwdriver.

[@Toddosphere1]

Just bought and have not used mine yet, to remove my brake rotors. But tonight I greased it, after watching this. Inside the shaft I found rusty shavings-on a new tool 🤷‍♂️. No bueno! Glad I caught your video! Hoping now that the rotor removal should be a little less sweat. Thank you for your work on your channel!!

[@TheFixitShed]

Glad I could help

[@hsyhsy5028]

Even though I just bought the screwdriver, there was no oil in it and there was rust thanks to you, I lubricated it with Mobil xhp 222 Blue grease...

[@karguy1720]

Thanks for posting this. My driver is at least 25 years old, and I plan to grease it today. I'm going to use an HF C-clamp to compress the tool to allow easier removal of the caps and ball bearing.

[@TheFixitShed]

Good idea. Let me know it that works out. Thanks!

[@josequintana6526]

Thanks for the video. I came across a similar video years ago. I bought the same Impact screwdriver from Harbor Freight and used it to remove rotor bolts from my Honda Accord. Was not successful in getting a rotation until I greased the screwdriver. Works very well now when I use my 3 pd hammer on it. Hopefully others will come to realize that the tool works a whole lot better with some grease in it. I used some Super Tech General Purpose grease from Walmart.

[@TheFixitShed]

Thanks for the info!

[@Zakanr-G]

My impact screew driver is not getting rotation too, so using grease will solve this problem sir?

[@josequintana6526]

@@Zakanr-G Yes, I just followed the video on the disassembly, and used a can of SuperTech Multi - Duty Complex Grease from Walmart. Now when I strike the Impact Driver with a 3 pd hammer it rotates easily. I would say any general-purpose grease should work just as well. Good Luck.

[@Zakanr-G]

@@josequintana6526 Thank you very much for your response, sure I will try it👍

[@timothycaldwell3785]

got curious and opened mine, new never used and dry as a bone. glad I did this

[@TheFixitShed]

Glad the video helped.

[@Ppau1]

thanks for sharing, it helped me do the same. I have the same, but brand autobest bought yesterday € 10 new. I was curious to understand the mechanism to change the direction of rotation. Thank you

[@TheFixitShed]

Glad I could help

[@MrAcc45]

Excellent video my friend.🙏👍

[@TheFixitShed]

Thank you 👍

[@mikestorck]

Thanks for making this video, I have an old but well made impact screwdriver from Japan that needed some TLC, but wasn't sure how to take it apart. This video gave me the info I needed, and I appreciate it. I'm curious, what type of grease did you use? I'm thinking of using some waterproof wheel bearing grease I already have, but thought I'd ask.

[@TheFixitShed]

I am glad you found it helpful! I used Castrol MP (multi-purpose) grease from my grease gun.

[@ebazz1]

Great Video, very informative.

[@TheFixitShed]

Glad it was helpful!

[@markadams7597]

Great vid. It's very helpful to see how the drive is constructed. (I'm still learning how ot use my new Williams model.) Ty.

[@TheFixitShed]

Glad it was helpful! I love to take things apart to see how they work.

[@hsyhsy5028]

Thank you very much for the video thanks to you I greased your own screwdriver mobile xhp 222 Blue grease if I did not see your video you would not open the inside of the tool already when I opened the inside of the tool was rusty I applied grease and closed it now the tool works much better... thanks If you do not apply oil to the screwdriver, the balls inside wear out The metal deteriorates by rubbing teşekkürler sizin sayenizde kolayca tornavidayı parçaları na ayırdım...

[@TheFixitShed]

Glad I could help

[@mattyreardon3593]

Could you put a hammer drill bit in it and try and use it on rock or brick? Sort of like a manual hammer drill. I understand the bit holder is different. It's just a concept. Also could you in anyway manipulate the bearings to give you more turn on impact. Instead of moving 10° or whatever it is that it rotates to 20°? I am trying to make Bush tools. Tools with no batteries that are multipurpose. Great video Sending strength from Australia

[@TheFixitShed]

Hmm... I am not too familiar with the application you are thinking of using it for, but it doesn't sound like a good fit. The spring absorbs most of the impact from the hammer, which I would think you would want most of it traveling through the tool to the rock. Also, if you increase the rotation, you will also reduce the downward force from the hammer.

[@mattyreardon3593]

@@TheFixitShed smart. I want to invent a mechanical cold chisel.

[@job607]

Nice video sir

[@drivelifetv6670]

Nice,thank you

[@TheFixitShed]

No problem!

[@MagaRickn]

Well that answers a question that the instructions that came with the tool do not address. There is no mechanism that controls the direction of turn. One video mentioned starting to turn the tool, before you hit it with a hammer. I guess that initializes the direction of impact. Righty tighty, lefty loosey! ;)

[@MagaRickn]

Just tried out my theory, it works.You have to start turning the handle the way you want it to go, then smack it with a sizable hammer! Just got a bunch of rusty window regulator screws/bolts out of my 56 Chevy. Have not been removed in over 50 years, that I have owned it! ;)

[@TheFixitShed]

Right. I was just getting ready to reply to your post. I see you figured it out. Well done!

[@carlosmattos5979]

Obrigado.

[@jimmyah1011]

This HF impact did not move anything for me. Not even screws that were loose, bare tight, tight or the ones that I could not bulge. It did dent my hammer head though.

[@TheFixitShed]

Defective maybe?

[@mattyreardon3593]

Catus maximus yt channel said the same thing. Virtually no movement. He rekns the old vintage ones had more rotation than the new ones. Some barely move at all. Others will move 90°. Klein make a good one I think. I wanted an Aussie one but nothing available.

[@boltmann]

Thanks a bunch man!

[@TheFixitShed]

You're welcome! Glad it helped

[@2WatchAndComment]

is the steel sleeve suppose to have any function as part of cw and ccw?

[@TheFixitShed]

No, it is not. You just turn the socket that the bits fit into.

[@2WatchAndComment]

@@TheFixitShed good because mine is very tight and scrapes/digs against the 'caps' you see when you remove it. I can see the marks in the ring.

[@billmeade9029]

I thought yeah I bet it does need some grease but it doesn't even need a hammer cause the first clip I tried to take off is somewhere over one of Jupiters moons 🤪🤯😥😢😭

[@TheFixitShed]

Year, you do have to be sure they don't get away from you. That is unfortunate.

[@MrAcc45]

Unfortunately my driver doesnt have any visible c clip. seems to be embedded right in, and no thin blade or screwdriver would fit in, assuming the clip is in there...cant even see it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoGsmZ2YqJWUrJo

[@TheFixitShed]

Wow, this just showed up in my unread comments. Sorry for the delay. You show a close up of the black band around the handle (0:41, and it looks like that is what needs to be removed. It even looks like the bearing cap/cover can be seen through the gap. I would say that the black band need to come off.

[@conceptalfa]

👍👍👍

[@TheFixitShed]

Glad you liked it!