BAL leveler and cordless hammer drill?
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Topic: BAL leveler and cordless hammer drill?
Posted By: TheBum
Subject: BAL leveler and cordless hammer drill?
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2016 at 3:56pm
| I have a Ryobi 18V cordless regular drill, but it doesn't have nearly enough torque to raise and lower my BAL tire leveler. I've been thinking about a Ryobi hammer drill, but don't know if it would have enough extra torque to matter. Does anybody have experience with using a hammer drill on a BAL leveler? |
Replies:
Posted By: sailor323
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2016 at 4:45pm
| I don't think a hammer drill is the appropriate tool. The purpose of the hammer drill is to give a hammering action to the drill bit, especially when drilling into masonry. I doubt that any drill will produce enough torque to raise the BAL leveler. I quit using the BAL because it was way too difficult to operate. |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2016 at 4:58pm
| The Ryobi P214 has three modes: drill, drive, and hammer. I'm thinking that the drive setting will pulse radially whereas the hammer setting would pulse axially. I can get it online for $50, so it may be worth getting just to see. It's rated at 600 in-lbs = 50 ft-lbs. |
Posted By: sailor323
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2016 at 9:12pm
|
An ordinary drill works by twisting. A hammer drill does not increase the torque of the twisting, it punches into whatever you are trying to penetrate. You will not increase the torque by hitting the BAL with a hammer. If you want to increase torque, you might look into an impact wrench. Don't know if such a thing exists as a cordless tool. If you want to make the BAL work more easily, get a longer wrench handle |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2016 at 11:32pm
As a matter of fact, Ryobi makes one that generates 300 ft-lbs.
|
Posted By: JandL
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2016 at 11:58pm
|
You need a battery powered (Cordless) Impact Wrench, I saw a person use one and it worked at raising the Ball leveler ------------- JandL 2013 Honda Ridgeline 2012 177 2 Paynes in a Pod |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2016 at 10:55am
Thanks. That's the confirmation I needed. |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2016 at 11:13am
|
I have seen several BAL's run with a cordless. I never looked into it myself, because I don't find raising and lowering with a wrench all that big of a deal. I lower and raise my stabilizers by hand also. We do have a power tongue jack..
------------- |
Posted By: JandL
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2016 at 11:46am
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Keep in mind a impact driver is different from a hammer drill. A hammer drill is for drilling holes in concrete and a impact driver is for installing or removing nuts ------------- JandL 2013 Honda Ridgeline 2012 177 2 Paynes in a Pod |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2016 at 12:43pm
I've had to raise the BAL to the last few inches of worm gear twice. That's not fun, even when using a 300 ft-lb torque wrench. |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2016 at 12:55pm
Been there a couple times myself.. agreed, not fun. Luckily, it isn't often. ------------- |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2016 at 1:00pm
|
While on campsites, I haven't had to raise the BAL but a few twists to tweak the leveling. However, in my driveway, it is a different story. There I have to raise it most of the way. I still use the wrench that came with it. Neither my 16V nor my 20V drills are strong enough to raise the BAL leveler. It isn't something I have to do every day. If it were, I might be looking for a power alternative also.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: ToolmanJohn
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2016 at 4:29pm
|
The BAL acme screw is not designed to handle that kind of impact. If it was a smooth and continuous torque, it would be OK, but I have personally witnessed a friends BAL get ruined because he used a hammer drill, and I warned him not too (It took about 6 camping trips to ruin it). The acme screw thread is NOT hardened. It will gall and become damaged, requiring a new screw and nut. Make certain to put some grease on the screw!!!! I know it's messy, but it will make it work so much easier. And even then, it may become worn out. Maybe they have quality problems at BAL. Check out the one star reviews on AMAZON for the BAL leveler. A lot of damage from using power tools. And, I own one, and it does work. But I find that I almost always have to pull the trailer forward onto a leveling block in order to raise tire on the low side slightly. This is so I can actually slide the BAL leveler under the tire. On a soft surface it can be impossible to get the BAL under the tire, so I put the yellow lego block pad in front, pull forward to raise the tire a bit, then put the BAL under the tire and level the camper.
------------- 2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler 2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD) 2013 VW Touareg TDI |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2016 at 9:07pm
|
Use of power tools does not mean that the BAL has quality problems. If it was not designed for them, then they should not be used. If a power tool is used, BAL cannot be blamed when it damages the leveler. Using some grease on the threads is common sense. I can see where if it is overloaded or not greased, the jack screw can quickly fail. That being said, I am not sure about the durability of the design. The concept is good, but it is exposed to weather and dirt, both of which are not good for the sliding surfaces of the threads and will contribute to wear. I like the idea of using one block to elevate the tire a little in order to make sliding the BAL leveler under and removing it easier. I'll have to try that when I get ready to lower it in my driveway and when I raise and lower it in the future. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: birderdiane526
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2016 at 9:41pm
|
So, what is a BAL? 😊 ------------- Diane and Michael 2016 179 "PIP" (PODDING IN PARADISE) 2007 Toyota Tundra BLOG:Podding in Paradise, birderdiane526.blogspot.com |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2016 at 9:58pm
This is a http://norcoind.com/bal/products/consumer/leveling_products/tireleveler.shtml - BAL .
 ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: birderdiane526
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2016 at 10:01pm
|
Ahhh! Now I understand! Thanks! ------------- Diane and Michael 2016 179 "PIP" (PODDING IN PARADISE) 2007 Toyota Tundra BLOG:Podding in Paradise, birderdiane526.blogspot.com |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 11:01am
|
The impact wrench I bought has three speeds. The lowest speed should put the least stress on the worm gear; the only question is whether it will provide enough torque.
I hadn't though about greasing it, but it's a good idea. I'll probably use the same red sticky grease I use for balls and WDH bars. I also saw where someone suggested putting a quarter under the end of the worm gear to save wear and tear on the BAL frame. |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 11:45am
|
I would be very leery about putting a quarter in the ring under the jack screw. The ring is meant to keep the end in place. Putting a quarter in there reduces the amount of wall there is to keep it from slipping. I would think that just putting some grease there also would help to reduce wear.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: ron/roscoe
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 2:38pm
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Impact cordless drill will do the trick. ------------- Ron Rowland |