Disposed and Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from the sale of businesses	$ 372,666	$ 206,407	$ 689,314
Gain (loss) on sale of businesses	2,196
Income Taxes Paid	337,987	170,394	346,382
Pension settlement charge, net of tax			810
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue			72,869
Gain (Loss) on sale of businesses			265,550
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax			8,222
Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Discontinued Operation			176
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation During Phase-out Period, Net of Tax			8,398
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net	0	0	273,948
Warn [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from the sale of businesses	250,283
Gain (loss) on sale of businesses	116,932
Performance Motorsports International [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from the sale of businesses	147,313
Gain (loss) on sale of businesses	88,402
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested	$ 118,706
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	25.00%
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Sale of Parent Equity Interest	$ 18,607
Accounts and Notes Receivable, Net	$ 10,000
Texas Hydraulics [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from the sale of businesses		47,300
Gain (loss) on sale of businesses		11,853
Tipper Tie [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from the sale of businesses		158,887
Gain (loss) on sale of businesses		$ 85,035
Datamax ONeil [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from the sale of businesses			185,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Gain (Loss) on sale of businesses			87,781
Sargent Aerospace [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from the sale of businesses			500,000
Income Taxes Paid			110,500
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Gain (Loss) on sale of businesses			177,769
Businesses held for sale or spun [Member]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation During Phase-out Period, Net of Tax			$ 9,209