2554-20 M12 3/8" impact wrench

Cordless Drilling & fastening Impact wrench M12 FUEL

The 2554-20 is a cordless electric impact wrench with 3/8" square drive shank manufactured by Milwaukee. It is part of their high performance FUEL product line.

It has a brushless electric motor powered by a 12 volt M12 battery. Milwaukee calls this a "stubby" impact wrench because it has an extra short body for working in tight spaces.

Although not as short as the 2467-20 angle impact driver it has a square drive shank on which sockets fit on directly without an adapter and can deliver up to 250 foot pound (339 Newton -meter) torque for loosening nuts. Milwaukee does not specify the maximum torque for tightening.

The machine shares the same user manual with the 2555-20 impact wrench. The tools are the same except for the larger 1/2" drive.

Although the machine has a variable speed trigger to control the speed the machine features four work modes for even more refined control:

  • 1: 1200 RPM / 1100 IPM
  • 2: 1800 RPM / 2100 IPM
  • 3: 2700 RPM / 3200 IPM
  • Auto shut off mode: 2700 RPM

The out shut off mode reduced the RPM and automatically stop when "the torque is achieved" according to the user manual. It is not specified how much torque, but it seems to work similar to a clutch found on a drill/driver. In reverse it will go up to the maximum RPM in this mode.

Exterior

The machine has a plastic red body with black rubberized around the handle and back side.

The handle is placed in the middle of the body for better balance. An M12 battery is inserted in the bottom of the handle. This makes the machine more compact than similar tools where the battery is placed under the handle but also makes the handle wider.

On top of the handle is a black trigger switch with an LED light above it that illuminates the working area. Behind it is a black push button to reverse the direction of rotation on each side.

Behind it are four LEDs on the left side that act as a battery charge indicator. Milwaukee calls this the "fuel gauge".

The motor housing has a metal belt clip on the back that can be placed on either side.

On top of the body is "drive control" membrane button to switch between four work modes. They are marked with the number 1,2,3 and a turning arrow icon and light up to indicate the active mode.

At the front there is a short dark gray hammer case and a black 3/8" square drive shank with a friction ring to prevent sockets from falling off.

Operation

The machine is activated by pulling the black variable speed trigger switch. The turning direction can be reversed with the button behind it.

The work mode can be switched by pushing the membrane button marked with a circular arrow on top of the motor housing. The button has to be pressed repeatedly to cycle through the modes.

Sockets can be removed by simply pulling them off the drive shank.

Variants

  • 2554-22 with battery and charger

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