. I use it for a breaker bar.
Warning about Sears torque wrenches
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,706
Likes: 485
From: Everett WA
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by Baldturbofreak
I don't off hand , no But it was ust in the sunday paper's add so it's probably new.
The down side (heh heh there's always a down side) is that it seems to require 2 people. The unit sends a radio signal to the display meter that shows the force applied. So you need someone to read the meter while you muscle the wrench.http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...0&tab=des#tabs
Last edited by Mr. Peabody; Aug 26, 2005 at 05:12 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 824
Likes: 2
From: Camden SC
Hello all,
Measuring instruments typically require recallibration. They may be durable, but still require adjustment. Like front end alignments.
That said, I once purchased a SnapOn 1/4" torque wrench form Ebay, fully expecting an out of spec tool. My job allows access to a calibration shop. Don't work there, occasionally drop in. At any rate, while getting the out of spec SnapOn wrench adjusted, I noticed some Sears click type wrenches on the test bench. They were from a shop that worked on Boeing aircraft, and I had the exact same wrench in my home tool box.
Point is, any torque wrench needs checking. As I understand it, a beam type wrench is very consistent over time, assuming you don't throw a beer cooler in your tool box along with the torque wrench. The broken wrench in the original post is upsetting and is justified with being unhappy. Haven't given up on Sears or SnapOn.
Maybe bad luck. I get some of that too.
Keep the greasy side down.
dlmeyers 90 coupe zf6 3speed shocks
Measuring instruments typically require recallibration. They may be durable, but still require adjustment. Like front end alignments.
That said, I once purchased a SnapOn 1/4" torque wrench form Ebay, fully expecting an out of spec tool. My job allows access to a calibration shop. Don't work there, occasionally drop in. At any rate, while getting the out of spec SnapOn wrench adjusted, I noticed some Sears click type wrenches on the test bench. They were from a shop that worked on Boeing aircraft, and I had the exact same wrench in my home tool box.
Point is, any torque wrench needs checking. As I understand it, a beam type wrench is very consistent over time, assuming you don't throw a beer cooler in your tool box along with the torque wrench. The broken wrench in the original post is upsetting and is justified with being unhappy. Haven't given up on Sears or SnapOn.
Maybe bad luck. I get some of that too.
Keep the greasy side down.
dlmeyers 90 coupe zf6 3speed shocks
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,671
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
Originally Posted by dlmeyers
Haven't given up on Sears or SnapOn.
Maybe bad luck. I get some of that too.
Keep the greasy side down.
dlmeyers 90 coupe zf6 3speed shocks
Maybe bad luck. I get some of that too.
Keep the greasy side down.
dlmeyers 90 coupe zf6 3speed shocks
The other thing about the Sears I go to is the manager of the tool department. We just don't get along. I've tried, but he just pushes the wrong buttons every time I try to get along. He enjoyed telling me it was out of warranty.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
Originally Posted by 65Z01
Good heads up on Sears off brand tools; I hate buying them.
I just checked and my new Sears click torque wrench is a Craftsman so it should carry a life time warrantee. They have always been aces on replacing socket type tools in the past.
I just checked and my new Sears click torque wrench is a Craftsman so it should carry a life time warrantee. They have always been aces on replacing socket type tools in the past.
The new Craftsman torque wrenches are only a 90 day warranty. I had a Sears Roebuck torque wrench that went bad a few months ago, & the local srore manager had to call the district manager ( at least that`s what they said ), when I said that it had a lifetime warranty. I had to wait in the store for like a half hour while they hashed it out. Finaly, they said yes, the old one was warranted for life, & they gave me a new one, but only warranted the new one for 90 days.-----thts progress 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 792
Likes: 1
From: Stanfield NC
Interesting thread Strick. I had the same experience at Sears in Charlotte recently when they refused to warranty my old clicker. Dept mgr gave me the run around that they only had 90 day warranty. Went home and dug out an old 1971 Craftsman tool catalog where they showed a Lifetime warranty, including the torque wrench. He then told me they would honor the warranty, but needed the original receipt. I went out and bought a Snap On. Sears is not the store they used to be for tools.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,793
Likes: 9
From: VA
There is nothing "new" or even interesting about this. I have a 15 year old Craftsman torque wrench and it also had a 90 day warranty. I believe my other torque wrenches from other vendors also were 90 days.
The OP wants to get free recalibration after two years. No tool manufacturer is going to do that.
[edit]After thinking about it, I think I bought it around '85, so it's been a 90 day warranty for at least 20 years.[/edit]
The OP wants to get free recalibration after two years. No tool manufacturer is going to do that.
[edit]After thinking about it, I think I bought it around '85, so it's been a 90 day warranty for at least 20 years.[/edit]
Last edited by VenkmanP; Aug 28, 2005 at 12:35 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 1
From: OR
Originally Posted by WNDOPDLR
Interesting thread Strick. I had the same experience at Sears in Charlotte recently when they refused to warranty my old clicker. Dept mgr gave me the run around that they only had 90 day warranty. Went home and dug out an old 1971 Craftsman tool catalog where they showed a Lifetime warranty, including the torque wrench. He then told me they would honor the warranty, but needed the original receipt. I went out and bought a Snap On. Sears is not the store they used to be for tools.
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Sears only warrants their torque wrenches for 12 months.
I'm on my third(and last one). The cheap construction is what caused failure in mine.
I'll be seeking out the Snap On guy as well.
I'm on my third(and last one). The cheap construction is what caused failure in mine.
I'll be seeking out the Snap On guy as well.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by rspreng86
That is interesting I will have to compare my Sears digitorque to my Snap-On and see what I get. I do know that you have to reset the Sears back to zero or the bands will "stretch" thus causing different results.
Bob
Bob
ANY type of adjustable torque wrench should always be turned all the way down when not in use. If it's got a tension lock-lever, it should be left released as well. I have Snap-ons and Macs, some for over two decades, and they have remained reliable and accurate due to proper care. Some torque wrenches are only designed to be used in a clockwise direction, some can be used in either direction. Just because it has a reversing lever on the rachet mechanism does not neccesarily mean it is designed to torque in that direction. It's just for convenience in that case, such as when a socket sticks on a bolt head so you can loosen it. If you're torquing near the upper design limit of the wrench, you really need a bigger one for that application. Know how your TW is to be used and cared for and you should get good service out of a quality brand. Also, if you don't have a dedicated drawer in your tool box for these and other precision tools, at least keep it in the protective case it came in.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Lake Wylie SC
Originally Posted by Corvette Kid NC
ANY type of adjustable torque wrench should always be turned all the way down when not in use. If it's got a tension lock-lever, it should be left released as well. I have Snap-ons and Macs, some for over two decades, and they have remained reliable and accurate due to proper care. Some torque wrenches are only designed to be used in a clockwise direction, some can be used in either direction. Just because it has a reversing lever on the rachet mechanism does not neccesarily mean it is designed to torque in that direction. It's just for convenience in that case, such as when a socket sticks on a bolt head so you can loosen it. If you're torquing near the upper design limit of the wrench, you really need a bigger one for that application. Know how your TW is to be used and cared for and you should get good service out of a quality brand. Also, if you don't have a dedicated drawer in your tool box for these and other precision tools, at least keep it in the protective case it came in.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 418
Likes: 45
From: Houston Texas
I grew up in the 50's & 60's hearing the stories about the Sears Lifetime warranty....you didn't need a receipt, just the broken Craftsman tool. The reached over and gave you a new one off the rack; no waiting, no paperwork, no hassle.
10-15 years ago, I turned in a broken ratchet and expected a new one. Was given a remanufactured one that feels cheap and was different from the new ones on the shelf at that time. Haven't been back since.
Their electrical drills, saws, etc all crapped out while my cheapo Black & Deckers still work. Their hand wrenches are probably still the only thing left that are any good, but when compared to the price & quality from Harbor Freight, I have no reason to go near their stores.
10-15 years ago, I turned in a broken ratchet and expected a new one. Was given a remanufactured one that feels cheap and was different from the new ones on the shelf at that time. Haven't been back since.
Their electrical drills, saws, etc all crapped out while my cheapo Black & Deckers still work. Their hand wrenches are probably still the only thing left that are any good, but when compared to the price & quality from Harbor Freight, I have no reason to go near their stores.
Large Impressive Member
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by Strick
Now that I have seen the inside of the Sear Digidork, I can see why it's important to return the gauge back to "stop", but don't go beyond "stop" as you'll release the workings inside and it will be inoperative. All there is a coil spring pushing against the head of the wrench. As you increase the torq required the more pressure you put on the spring, so if you keep the torq setting dialed in while it's put away, the spring will lose it's value. As far as protective cases, Sears doesn't have one that comes with their torq wrenches.
Please note, I was speaking of quality torque wrenches, Tom! 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,193
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From: Cincinnati Oh
Well I keep buying the Craftsman HANDtools because that's the only brand I can snap the head off of a screwdriver with, or strip out a socket with - and get a brand new one no-questions-asked.
As for the torque wrenches - they're the only affordable onese I can find (snap-on is not in the realm of what I'd call "affordable"). And since you can have them recalibrated cheaply it's no biggie. And I've never had problems with both craftsman torque wrenches that I own.
As for the torque wrenches - they're the only affordable onese I can find (snap-on is not in the realm of what I'd call "affordable"). And since you can have them recalibrated cheaply it's no biggie. And I've never had problems with both craftsman torque wrenches that I own.
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by Ramanstud
Well I keep buying the Craftsman HANDtools because that's the only brand I can snap the head off of a screwdriver with, or strip out a socket with - and get a brand new one no-questions-asked.
As for the torque wrenches - they're the only affordable onese I can find (snap-on is not in the realm of what I'd call "affordable"). And since you can have them recalibrated cheaply it's no biggie. And I've never had problems with both craftsman torque wrenches that I own.
As for the torque wrenches - they're the only affordable onese I can find (snap-on is not in the realm of what I'd call "affordable"). And since you can have them recalibrated cheaply it's no biggie. And I've never had problems with both craftsman torque wrenches that I own.
I'd rather spend the money on a higher quality tool than to keep buying multiple cheap ones.
