Torque wrench recommendation

Never just use it for what it has been designed for and that is to set the proper Torque of the bolt / nut also make sure you always set it back to Zero when done.

 

I have 3 CDI all metal “clicker” types, one in/lb, one high ft/lb and one ft lb in between. They were pricey, but compared to Craftsman ones I’ve owned in the past that had cheap plastic handles and finicky locks and Harbour Freight ones I’ve used that had no lock and had a super faint click even torquing head bolts, it was worth the extra money for me, buy once cry once I guess.

I’ve found all three ranges have their place, you have to have one that goes as high as 250 ft/lbs to torque the crank pulley bolt after a timing belt swap and have to have an in/lb one to do light gaskets, etc.

 

For just oil changes, spark plug changes, and suspension work would you say the 10-150 is all I need?

 

Yes, that mid range will get you by with 75% of the work on the entire truck

 

I figured. Well, just bought the Tekton on Amazon, had a little coupon and paid for most of it with a gift card I'd almost forgotten about. Thanks folks! Looking forward to changing the oil in a few days.

 

I would agree with not getting a harbor fright torque wrench, I have one of these snap on wrench but then again I am a professional mechanic so i can justify the cost. One of my co workers whos only started a year ago has the harbor freight one and he needed help getting a steering wheel bolt tight, the wrench clicked for me but didnt feel right so I got my snap on and it showed that his clicked at about 25 ft/lb when it was set to 35 ft/lb, now he borrows mine and is very careful with it.
Not saying you need a snap on wrench but dont get a precision tool from harbor freight. Craftsman or Tekton are good, I have heard good things of the Husky ones but have not gotten to use any myself.

 

As others have said, check out Tekton. American designed with a lifetime warranty for the tool. Very reasonably priced too.
https://www.tekton.com/wrenches/torque-wrenches

 

Arrived today, just in time for an oil change. Great piece of gear, love it. Very nicely made. Thanks for the advice all!

 

I have three CDI brand that I've got off eBBay over the last few years. I recently had each checked for calibration and each are still within spec from the factory, one is nearly 20 years old. I've used each at least 200 times, they got a lot more use than that because they were preemptively retired from businesses. I believe Snap-On makes CDI.

I have these:

$174 CDI 2002MRMH Dual Scale Micrometer Adjustable Click Style Torque Wrench with Metal Handle - 3/8" Drive - 30 to 200 in. lbs. and 4.0-22.0 Nm Torque Range

CDI 2002MRMH 3/8-Inch 30-200 In Lb

$169 CDI 3/8" Drive Adjustable Click Torque Wrench, Range 5-75 Ft Lbs / 10.2-98.3 Nm (752MFRMH)

CDI 752MFRMH 3/8-Inch 5-75 Ft Lb

$209 CDI 1/2" Drive Adjustable Click Torque Wrench, Range 30-250 Ft Lbs / 47-332 Nm (2503MFRMH)

CDI 2503MFRMH 1/2" Drive 30-250 Ft Lb

I really like this In Lb wrench because it has a 3/8" head, not 1/4" like many In Lb wrenches.

 

Man those are pricey. I agree that the 3/8” is nice to have. Had to buy an adapter for mine.

 

I don't consider $130 pricey for torque wrenches that maintain spec, one of mine for nearly 20 years. Buy a $40 torque wrench, use it a few hundred times in 5 years and I guarantee you're nervous if it's still in calibration.
Where are you going to send those $40 wrenches off to be repaired or calibrated? Nobody supports them. Calibration alone will cost almost double what you paid for it, you might as well buy another. Now you're at $80, another 5 years and you could have bout a CDI. I send my CDI wrench off to CDI and it's same price to check/repair/calibrate as just check it so I'm not sweating repairs. For personal use, I consider CDI wrenches to be a buy and forget investment unless it's dropped/mishandled a few times.

 

I’m glad you have a tool that’s worth the investment for you. My torque wrench will be used about twice a year for oil changes, and the occasional spark plug change. I spent the right amount of money on it.

 

My first and only torque wrench so far has been the chraftsman with electric display. It has a 1/4drive it does everything small on the truck, obviously I will need to step up to a 1/2 drive when I do the suspension. I bought it for $75 with a coupon 4 years ago.

 

I got a used Snap-On click type 1/2” drive for about $100

 

I have a mechanical Snap-On I use for wheels and suspension, and a digital one for use with engine stuff.