I used to swear by impact guns for pulling stuck injectors until I switched to a slide hammer setup last year

For like 5 years I'd just crank the torque up on my 1/2 inch impact and hope for the best on stuck injectors in old Cummins 5.9s. Then I wrecked a cylinder head on a 2001 Dodge in Baton Rouge because the injector sleeve came out with it (huge mistake). Now I use a Proto slide hammer with a threaded adapter and some Kroil oil let it soak overnight first. Has anyone else had better luck with slide hammers over impacts for this kind of job?

2 comments

2 Comments

xena_williams22d ago

Yeah I wrecked a cylinder head on a 2001 Dodge" - that one stung just reading it. Probably cost you a good weekend and some cash. I started using a Mac Tools slide hammer with a blind hole puller attachment on Duramax injectors after watching a buddy strip out three threads with an impact. The slide hammer lets you feel the angle and pressure way better. Still use Kroil soak for 12 hours first though. Heat gun on the injector body helps break the carbon seal too.

nora_barnes21d ago

...and honestly I think slide hammers are way overrated for this. I've pulled hundreds of injectors with impacts and never had the issue @xena_williams talks about if you're smart about it. The trick is not just cranking torque like a moron you pulse the trigger and let the hammer vibrate the carbon loose. I've seen guys screw up way more heads with slide hammers when they get impatient and yank sideways. Kroil soak is solid advice though I'll give you that. But impacts are faster and if you've done enough of them you just know when to back off.