I used this torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts on my car after finding out that my Honda only needs 80ft-lb, which for a big guy like me is actually very gentle. It is a little hard to learn to read this torque wrench, but you figure it out, it's perfect. Some notes:
The wrench is gorgeous, and the plastic clamshell case is great. The instruction manual is decent, which you don't always expect with Tekton. Overall I'm very impressed with the quality of this tool, especially for the price.
The handle is long, with a knurled grip, and there's a locking nut on the end to hold your preferred measurement. Applying the 80ft-lb my Honda needs barely even registers as effort. The locking nut has a hole, so you can use another object to torque the retaining nut. A pick, an allen wrench, or a heavy cotter pin are all ideal tools.
This is the type of twist wrench that needs to be reset to 25ft-lbs when storing. Make sure you do that, and keep the wrench in a controlled environment, and it should serve you well.
Yes store it in a controlled environment. This is a precision instrument, so keeping it stored outdoors during freezing winter or burning summer may affect performance.
The usual notes on a torque wrench. The wrench only works clockwise, aka "right-y tight-y". The click function will not activate counter-clockwise. This wrench is not meant as a breaker bar or for constant use during the whole tightening process. It is meant only to be used as a precision instrument to check the torque on bolts. I wonder if some of the people reporting problems have either stored the tool improperly (could affect spring rate), or perhaps were only "listening" for the click instead of feeling for it. Unless you have good hearing and a dead-quiet environment, it's possible not to hear the click, so you need to be focused and stop the moment you feel the click. Experienced users will also generally have a "feel" for different torque ranges. When I know my car only needs 80ft-lbs, I don't brace my body like I would for 150+.
On dialing in the measurements. The dial works in a slightly mysterious fashion for the uninitiated. Every mark on the handle is a "0" point, so both 50 and 75 are achieved when you spin the dial to "0", and check that the top of the dial is on that reading. This takes a little getting used to, because if you try to spin the dial straight from the minimum reading it will keep going "0,5,...20,0,5..." and personally that scrambles my brain a little. The better system is to start with the first reading UNDER your target. So if my Honda needs 80ft-lbs, I'd first set the dial to "75" and spin it to "0". Once I see I'm zeroed on the 75 reading, then I would twist to the "5" mark. 75+5=80ft-lbs. Then twist the locking nut firmly. I found that firm finger pressure was plenty, as for 80ft-lbs and with a lever this long I didn't even need to use the knurled handle - I could put plenty of pressure just using the part of the wrench above the handle, putting no strain at all on the locking bolt. For me, this is an ideal use case. I know I'm getting a perfect reading every time, because I'm not even stressing the retaining nut.
This wrench feels like a lifetime investment for me. It's beautiful, it works great, and since I'm not a mechanic I won't be putting that much stress on it. Overall very awesome.
| Color | Steel |
|---|---|
| Brand | TEKTON |
| Material | Alloy Steel |
| Item Weight | 1.8 Pounds |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Head Style | Fixed Square |
| Finish Type | Polished |
| Item Torque | 80 Foot Pounds |
| Operation Mode | Mechanical |
| Manufacturer | TEKTON |
| Part Number | 24330 |
| Item Weight | 1.84 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 14.4 x 1.4 x 1 inches |
| Country of Origin | Taiwan |
| Item model number | 24330 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | 3/8 Inch Drive (10-80 ft.-lb.) |
| Style | 3/8 Inch Drive (10-80 ft.-lb.) |
| Finish | Polished |
| Pattern | Wrench |
| Volume | 1 Milliliters |
| Number Of Pieces | 1 |
| Number of Handles | 1 |
| Measurement System | Foot Pounds |
| Included Components | 1-pc. 3/8 in. drive torque wrench, Storage case, Product manual with torque conversion chart |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | No time limits, no receipts: tekton.com/warranty |
