Summary of Financial Information by Reportable Segment and Product Line (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2017 USD ($)	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2017 USD ($) Segment	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Asset Impairment Charges	$ 0	$ 186,511	$ 0	$ 186,511
Number of reportable segments | Segment			3
Net sales	258,869	263,289	$ 524,662	568,300
Operating profit (Loss)	13,199	(172,115)	21,670	(146,744)
Assets	1,427,034		1,427,034		$ 1,438,660
Industrial Tools [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	78,679	72,095	157,718	151,828
Industrial
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	91,648	81,188	178,938	170,059
Operating profit (Loss)	18,380	16,728	37,155	37,283
Assets	310,197		310,197		308,222
Heavy Lifting Technology [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	12,969	9,093	21,220	18,231
Energy
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Asset Impairment Charges		140,900		140,900
Net sales	72,884	86,225	157,530	199,987
Operating profit (Loss)	(579)	(136,766)	2,632	(126,673)
Assets	501,824		501,824		479,169
Energy Maintenance & Integrity
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	51,590	58,551	116,411	137,385
Other Energy Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	21,294	27,674	41,119	62,602
Engineered Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Asset Impairment Charges		45,700		45,700
Net sales	94,337	95,876	188,194	198,254
Operating profit (Loss)	1,816	(45,116)	2,571	(41,594)
Assets	490,814		490,814		493,840
On-Highway
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	50,611	49,434	102,242	103,510
Agriculture, Off-Highway and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	43,726	46,442	85,952	94,744
General Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit (Loss)	(6,418)	$ (6,961)	(20,688)	$ (15,760)
Assets	$ 124,199		$ 124,199		$ 157,429