Electric pit gun?

wi_racefan

wi_racefan

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Do you think Nascar would every go to electric/cordless pit guns? Honestly I see no disadvantage to it. Air hoses over the wall have always been an issue with them getting hung up on the car, guys tripping over them, and then the hose becoming a weapon when someone runs one over.

I mean electric generally has more torque and if you're only changing a few tires you could get the batteries pretty light/small.

With going to a single lug next year this would be the time to do it.

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I don't think anyone has tried to make one yet. I see the torque as no issue and I imagine the speed can easily be taken care of. But does speed matter if everyone is issued a pit gun?

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wi_racefan said:
Do you think Nascar would every go to electric/cordless pit guns? Honestly I see no disadvantage to it. Air hoses over the wall have always been an issue with them getting hung up on the car, guys tripping over them, and then the hose becoming a weapon when someone runs one over.

I mean electric generally has more torque and if you're only changing a few tires you could get the batteries pretty light/small.

With going to a single lug next year this would be the time to do it.

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I don't see any reason to not give them a shot. Test some makes and models in the off-season. If any of them seem feasible, try 'em in the All-Star; then at least that event will serve a purpose.

They would save tripping over hoses and hauling a compressor around, but someone will oppose the idea purely on the grounds that they don't sound the same.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
I don't see any reason to not give them a shot. Test some makes and models in the off-season. If any of them seem feasible, try 'em in the All-Star; then at least that event will serve a purpose.

They would save tripping over hoses and hauling a compressor around, but someone will oppose the idea purely on the grounds that they don't sound the same.
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The air guns run on bottled nitrogen. No compressor required.

Not broken. No fix required, imo.
 
wi_racefan said:
Do you think Nascar would every go to electric/cordless pit guns? Honestly I see no disadvantage to it. Air hoses over the wall have always been an issue with them getting hung up on the car, guys tripping over them, and then the hose becoming a weapon when someone runs one over.

I mean electric generally has more torque and if you're only changing a few tires you could get the batteries pretty light/small.

With going to a single lug next year this would be the time to do it.

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What other racing disciplines use electric? Why change things?
 
MAGICMILER said:
What other racing disciplines use electric? Why change things?
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Like I said safety. We've all seen a gun and hose go flying down pit road like a rocket as the car drags it off. At this point I think technology has more than made this possible.

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With the hybrid tsunami coming, I think a slower inefficient electric impact wrench would fit nicely.
(of course with proof that all batteries have been charged using only renewable energy)
 
I bet there are a few teams that have dropped the car on the air hose and had to jack it back up to get the hose out would have loved an electric wrench. We just put a roof on my shop a few weeks ago and at first we were going to use air nail guns but then decided to use electric nail guns...it was definitely a better choice. :D
 
BobbyFord said:
I have a pneumatic drill that I bought in the early 80s that still gets quite a bit of use.
Got any 40 year old electric tools?
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Not really following that logic because in this sport things are constantly being replaced

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BobbyFord said:
I have a pneumatic drill that I bought in the early 80s that still gets quite a bit of use.
Got any 40 year old electric tools?
I’ve bought at least 4 Dewalt and Makita drills since then.
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Race teams are not going to use 40 year old tools.
BobbyFord said:
Don’t tell that to auto mechanics.
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I don't need to. I have probably built more cylinder heads, short blocks, serviced more clutches, and rebuilt more blowers then your average auto mechanic has even seen. About the only thing I use a pneumatic tool for is removing the nuts and studs that hold the heads on. I even changed from air to electric about 5 years ago for removing and installing header nuts... and that eliminated one air hose I didn't have to keep tripping over. I did use a pneumatic lapping tool to lap my valves in though. I hate those old hand lapping tools.;) :) Most race teams replace all of their impact guns before the new season starts anyway.
 
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Nitro Dude said:
Race teams are not going to use 40 year old tools.

I don't need to. I have probably built more cylinder heads, short blocks, serviced more clutches, and rebuilt more blowers then your average auto mechanic has even seen. About the only thing I use a pneumatic tool for is removing the nuts and studs that hold the heads on. I even changed from air to electric about 5 years ago for removing and installing header nuts... and that eliminated one air hose I didn't have to keep tripping over. I did use a pneumatic lapping tool to lap my valves in though. I hate those old hand lapping tools.;) :) Most race teams replace all of their impact guns before the new season starts anyway.
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Had you been in a shop you probably would’ve used pneumatic.
I’ve been a mechanic my whole life; light line, heavy line, auto and stick trans. I’ve worked for dealers and private shops. The only guys using electric tools were the 15a guys…and I don’t intend to doubt your claims or want a piss contest.
The original question by the OP was why don’t they use electric guns to change tires on a car. There’s a reason why nobody that changes tires for a living uses an electric gun. They aren’t practical or reliable.
 
Again,.what other forms of motor racing use electric guns for tire changing? I just wonder how they make out using that technology ...
 
BobbyFord said:
Had you been in a shop you probably would’ve used pneumatic.
I’ve been a mechanic my whole life; light line, heavy line, auto and stick trans. I’ve worked for dealers and private shops. The only guys using electric tools were the 15a guys…and I don’t intend to doubt your claims or want a piss contest.
The original question by the OP was why don’t they use electric guns to change tires on a car. There’s a reason why nobody that changes tires for a living uses an electric gun. They aren’t practical or reliable.
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I understand your point Bobby but this thread is about electric pit guns. I'm not talking about working in a shop. I'm talking about working in a race teams pit area. Apples and oranges. I don't have much more time to have a pissing contest anyway because I have to get ready to go to the slot car track to do some testing for a couple big races coming up in the next couple of months. But while I will be working in a pit spot I won't be using any pneumatic tools... I will be using an electric Dremel though. :D
 
BobbyFord said:
Or maybe because there’s a more efficient method.
FWIW, mechanics buy their own tools, not their employers.
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They wrap some big dollars up in them too. Tool prices are out of control. I like the sign that says "you can steal my wife but if you steal my tools I'm going to shoot you". :)
 
Nitro Dude said:
They wrap some big dollars up in them too. Tool prices are out of control. I like the sign that says "you can steal my wife but if you steal my tools I'm going to shoot you". :)
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Ain’t that the truth. I’m waiting on a backordered 3/8” drive extended, quick release Snap-On ratchet…$142 😐
 
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