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Torque wrenches

Discussion in 'Technical Chat' started by Bennoclarke, Jan 25, 2016.

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  1. May 18, 2019 at 11:14 AM
    #41
    eon_blue

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    eon_blue Most Improved Member

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    I have the Tekton one mentioned on pg 1 I got on Amazon for ~$40, I use it quite a bit. Also have the smaller 20 -150ft lb Harbor Freight one, I'm just a shadetree DIY'er but they both have served me well.
     
    eon_blue, May 18, 2019
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  2. May 19, 2019 at 8:29 PM
    #42
    Drunken Chewbacca

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    Drunken Chewbacca Well-Known Member

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    FYI. believe it or not, after a while a torque wrench will not give the proper torque. I work in the Aviation industry and we use Snap-on for most of our tool needs. A Snap-on Torque Wrench is roughly +-4% accurate from the factory. After use, possibly a dingbat dropping the TQ wrench or mishandling it can cause it to be further out of cal. I've seen some get to +-10 percent. I wont use one if it's over 6%.
    Take it however you want but think about how accurate is the TQ wrench you are using. Be mindful. Cheaper ones may not be as accurate as you may think causing you to over or under torque something.
     
    Drunken Chewbacca, May 19, 2019
    #42
  3. May 19, 2019 at 9:34 PM
    #43
    razhick4x4

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    razhick4x4 Well-Known Member

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    this pretty much sums up my opinion on cheap torque wrenches. on a side note, after posting i went out to my shop to look at my HF torque wrench again and, funnily enough, it wouldn't work when i pulled it out of the case. it just wont click, even when i know that i am putting well over 50 ftlbs of torque on my test nut. wasn't dropped or anything. oh well, looks like i'll be taking a trip to the "hazard fraught" to take advantage of the warranty. take it however you want but i can say that i probobly wont be purchasing another one of their tq wrenches.
     
    razhick4x4, May 19, 2019
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  4. May 20, 2019 at 3:33 AM
    #44
    That one old guy

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    That one old guy Well-Known Member

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    FWIW, I wouldn't expect any professional technician to be caught with a H/F torque wrench as their go to tool. Let alone the aviation industry being a whole different level of precision above all.
    I deliver (retirement job) to pro shops (light & some heavy repair) all day long. I can tell you the lowest guy on the totem pole most likely has a Snap-On or Matco (or better) in his box.
    HF stuff was never marketed for, or meant to be professional level tools.
     
    That one old guy, May 20, 2019
    #44
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  5. Jun 19, 2019 at 9:38 PM
    #45
    rtzx9r

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    rtzx9r Well-Known Member

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    I have two craftsman 1/2” torque wrenches that are 20 years old. They are used, then returned to no load and stored. Also have a 3/8” HF one that is maybe 10 years old and handled the same way.

    Have done lots of work on my vehicles using them, including valve jobs on my Ducati, complete teardown and rebuild on V65 Magna, valve jobs on S2000, valve job and timing belt on a few Acura’s, and more. I’m good with +/- 10% accuracy... and never had any issues with breaking or stripping fasteners or them coming loose.
     
    rtzx9r, Jun 19, 2019
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  6. Jul 17, 2019 at 10:11 PM
    #46
    NavyGuyAN

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    NavyGuyAN Well-Known Member

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    I have the Tekton 25-250ft.lbs. torque wrench. LoL. works for mostly all applications on the truck. But if you ever end up changing your front wheel bearing assemblies you will need something that goes past the required 273ft.lbs. required for the axle nut torque.
     
    NavyGuyAN, Jul 17, 2019
    #46
  7. Jul 18, 2019 at 4:15 AM
    #47
    TheDevilYouLove

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    TheDevilYouLove You can’t polish a turd, but you can polish a TRD

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    I got a used Snap-On click type. $100, love it!
     
    TheDevilYouLove, Jul 18, 2019
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  8. Jul 18, 2019 at 10:01 AM
    #48
    eon_blue

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    eon_blue Most Improved Member

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    I have that one and love(d) it, but one day I was being too quick with adjusting it and the bottom piece fell off and the little pins inside fell out with it. Never could find them, not sure how important they were but I don't trust it to be accurate now. Luckily it was cheap on Amazon so I'll just grab another.
     
    eon_blue, Jul 18, 2019
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  9. Jul 21, 2019 at 7:13 PM
    #49
    Beerpayzdabillz

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    Beerpayzdabillz Pastryatarian

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    I have the HF torque wrench. It has served its purpose. A year ago, or so, I suspected it may be out of calibration so I sent it Micro Precision Calibration in Grass Valley, CA for testing. Micro Precision tested it, found it to be within spec and certified it as such. I spent more on the calibration testing than on the wrench itself, but I just had to know.
    YMMV.
     
    Beerpayzdabillz, Jul 21, 2019
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  10. Jul 28, 2019 at 2:18 PM
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    Hook78

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    Hook78 Well-Known Member

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    Was reading your post and thought, there must be a way to test my torque wrench and see if it's within spec.

    Sure enough:

    https://www.tekton.com/torque-wrench-accuracy-and-calibration

    However, sounds like I still need to send to a professional calibration lab if I want it tested and recalibrated if necessary.
     
    Hook78, Jul 28, 2019
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  11. Jul 28, 2019 at 2:30 PM
    #51
    mcm808

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    mcm808 Well-Known Member

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    I love absolute red! I had an auburn sky pearl 01 is300 and loved it. Going to mod it? I lowered mine quite about 2 inches and loved the look. put on some bhlm and some aftermarket tails so they weren't all chrome...those cars are tanks!
     
    mcm808, Jul 28, 2019
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  12. Jul 31, 2019 at 5:21 AM
    #52
    PzTank

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    PzTank Stuck in the Well

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    +1 for the CDI endorsement.

    I have a 3/8 drive - I think the range is 7-75 and a 1/2 that goes from 50 to 250 (or something along these lines).

    Figure I have most automotive torque needs covered.

    I think it was $330 for both when I got them. A bit pricey but not over the top...
     
    PzTank, Jul 31, 2019
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  13. Jul 31, 2019 at 6:20 AM
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    Tylerh147

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    Tylerh147 Well-Known Member

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    Tylerh147, Jul 31, 2019
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  14. Jul 31, 2019 at 9:22 AM
    #54
    JJ04TACO

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    JJ04TACO Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, I have three covering a wide range and thus a bit of money invested but I love them. I'd like a smaller one for gunsmithing. Maybe the 5-40 in/lb screwdriver type. But it's $145 for not that much use...

    3/8" 30-250 in/lb (valve cover bolts)
    3/8" 10-100 ft/lb (most bolts, including wheel nuts)
    1/2" 30-250 ft/lb (Large suspension bolts) I use this for wheel nuts because of the additional leverage for 80 ft/lb.
     
    JJ04TACO, Jul 31, 2019
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  15. Sep 10, 2019 at 3:12 AM
    #55
    06Tacooo

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    06Tacooo Earth Czar

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    I'm happy with my 1/2" 250 ft/lb CDI, (Snap-On) that I've had for years.
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2020
    06Tacooo, Sep 10, 2019
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  16. Sep 11, 2019 at 11:54 AM
    #56
    TheDevilYouLove

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    TheDevilYouLove You can’t polish a turd, but you can polish a TRD

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    I just got a Quinn 3/8" drive torque wrench from Harbor Freight. So far, so good! Should be perfect for spark plugs and general auto stuff. It does 5-100 foot/pounds.
     
    TheDevilYouLove, Sep 11, 2019
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  17. Sep 21, 2019 at 7:50 AM
    #57
    underaroof

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    underaroof ember

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    I used a HF torque wrench for about two years until it broke internally. Who knows how far off the calibration was at that point. It was the most frustrating tool I've recently owned.

    I went ahead and bought two (one for in/lbs, one for ft/lbs) eTork wrenches. Couldn't be happier!
     
    underaroof, Sep 21, 2019
    #57
  18. Oct 22, 2021 at 3:47 PM
    #58
    manfred twd

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    manfred twd Active Member

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    I went to harbor freight yesterday. I need a wrench to torque my oil canister to 18 ft lbs and they had none that went that low.
     
    manfred twd, Oct 22, 2021
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  19. Oct 22, 2021 at 3:49 PM
    #59
    eon_blue

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    eon_blue Most Improved Member

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    They have them online, maybe it wasn't in stock at that store.
     
    eon_blue, Oct 22, 2021
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  20. Oct 22, 2021 at 4:16 PM
    #60
    JJ04TACO

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    JJ04TACO Well-Known Member

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    You’ll likely get more use from an in/lb wrench. Most torque wrenches are more accurate in the middle and top of their ranges anyway. When you get into the lower ft/lb just go with a smaller wrench. They are good for spark plugs and valve cover bolts and drain plugs. All kinds of stuff.

    I use my 3/8” 20-250 in/lb wrench more than my big 30-250 and even my 10-100 ft/lb ones.
     
    JJ04TACO, Oct 22, 2021
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