Warning about Sears torque wrenches
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,671
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
Warning about Sears torque wrenches
They are crap and they (Sears) don't back them. I bought Sears' best torque wrench, the "Digitorq" about 2 years ago and used it maybe 20-30 times. While torqing my spark plugs, I felt that the torque was a little tight. I went for my beam torque wrench and found that the Digitorq was way off. I re-adjusted it and tried it out one more time and the pivot pin fell out and the head of the torque wrench fell out along with all the guts of the wrench. I brought it back to Sears and they said sorry it's out of warranty. I went to the Sears repair center, and for $50 they would send it back to the factory and fix it. It's time to find the Snap-on truck and buy a good torque wrench. I'm disappointed with Sear's new approach to their tools. End of Rant 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,018
Likes: 1
From: OR
Click-stop type torque wrenches are used quite a bit at my job (not sears, not one of the venders they use). They should be sent in annually for calibration. I'm sure 99% of users don't though. I never have on mine.
I can't complain about Craftsman tools myself. I had one of their click-stop torque wrenches for probably 25 years...I don't know how accurate it was over that time. Think I bought it on sale for something like $20. The ratchet in the head stripped a gear and couldn't get parts for it anymore. They gave me a new $100 wrench. The new one only had something like a 90 day warranty though.
I can't complain about Craftsman tools myself. I had one of their click-stop torque wrenches for probably 25 years...I don't know how accurate it was over that time. Think I bought it on sale for something like $20. The ratchet in the head stripped a gear and couldn't get parts for it anymore. They gave me a new $100 wrench. The new one only had something like a 90 day warranty though.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,490
Likes: 2
From: Oviedo FL
Originally Posted by Strick
They are crap and they (Sears) don't back them. I bought Sears' best torque wrench, the "Digitorq" about 2 years ago and used it maybe 20-30 times. While torqing my spark plugs, I felt that the torque was a little tight. I went for my beam torque wrench and found that the Digitorq was way off. I re-adjusted it and tried it out one more time and the pivot pin fell out and the head of the torque wrench fell out along with all the guts of the wrench. I brought it back to Sears and they said sorry it's out of warranty. I went to the Sears repair center, and for $50 they would send it back to the factory and fix it. It's time to find the Snap-on truck and buy a good torque wrench. I'm disappointed with Sear's new approach to their tools. End of Rant
Mike
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,270
Likes: 26
From: Winchester VA
Cruise-In V Veteran
My regular craftsmen 1/2" fell apart and I ran into the same warranty issue. So I replaced it with a Snap-On but they too are only 90day warranty. For whatever reason, I don't think there is a mfr who warranties their torque wrenches very long. I will say though as with most other tools, the Snap-On is much better wrench. I have 3.5 years on mine and the first 2 years were daily use.
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 3
From: Hazel Park MI
I thought only the sears stuff made in china - like the stupid air compressor I bought that lasted 13 months out of a year warranty for me - would break after the warranty. I have a craftsman beam torque wrench, no problems so far.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17,640
Likes: 1
From: Lenoir City TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
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
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 18
From: Raleigh, NC
I used to work at Sears. Tey won't warranty the Torque wrench because its a precison measuring tool, not a hand tool. Their wrenches and other hand tools still have the lifetime warranty.
If you can catch a new cashier that doesn't know any better, you might be able to get it warrantied. I warrantied a couple torque wrenches for my buddies when I worked there.
If you can catch a new cashier that doesn't know any better, you might be able to get it warrantied. I warrantied a couple torque wrenches for my buddies when I worked there.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,564
Likes: 109
From: Austin Texas
I feel for you...
They have really pinched the penny's lately. Last few times I took a ratchet in because it stopped working, they tried to exchange a "remanufactured" one out of the drawer.
I pitched a fit and got the manager out there. My broken ratchet was in better shape than the "remanufactured" one!!!
Got a new ratchet, but I think I'm going to get SnapOn or Matco from now on. Both of them have a route near us....see the trucks all the time.
They have really pinched the penny's lately. Last few times I took a ratchet in because it stopped working, they tried to exchange a "remanufactured" one out of the drawer.
I pitched a fit and got the manager out there. My broken ratchet was in better shape than the "remanufactured" one!!!
Got a new ratchet, but I think I'm going to get SnapOn or Matco from now on. Both of them have a route near us....see the trucks all the time.
Last edited by 1991Z07; Aug 26, 2005 at 09:36 AM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
Every torque wrench in my box is made by Snap On. But I can tell you that they don't warranty them either. They do for the first 6 months or so but after that you are one your own.
Check this website out for some really nice torque wrenches:
http://www.torqwrench.com/Products/Drivers/Drivers.html
I am pretty sure that Precision Instruments makes Snap On's torque wrenches and for others as well. So you can search in independant internet tool sales for the best prices on these wrenches. I have seen them in their labled boxes and I can tell you that they are of very high quality.
Check this website out for some really nice torque wrenches:
http://www.torqwrench.com/Products/Drivers/Drivers.html
I am pretty sure that Precision Instruments makes Snap On's torque wrenches and for others as well. So you can search in independant internet tool sales for the best prices on these wrenches. I have seen them in their labled boxes and I can tell you that they are of very high quality.
Advanced
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Ida, Michigan, USA
This is why I buy a torque wrench every couple of years from a home store (Home Depot, Lowes). I know they go out of spec, I know it will cost money to fix it WHEN it breaks, so I save the money on the ones I buy knowing I will have to replace it. Mine have actually been pretty acurate for the first few years (tested at work) but after that they seems to fall apart. I get mine for about 1/2 that of a Sears one and about 1/4 of a Snap-On one costs. I hate to support to ideology of a throw away society but that is how they make these things.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Torque wrenches are the most important tool you can own, if you build an engine... and I built one engine with my Sears click to torque 1/2" drive already...
I may get it recalibrated before I do my motor, or, I will get a new SnapOn... but a recal is a lot cheaper then a new SnapOn.
If it busts, it busts... and I will worry about that then.
Sad that TWs have become so disposable.
I may get it recalibrated before I do my motor, or, I will get a new SnapOn... but a recal is a lot cheaper then a new SnapOn.
If it busts, it busts... and I will worry about that then.
Sad that TWs have become so disposable.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
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.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,671
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
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.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 590
Likes: 0
From: Boynton Beach, FL
Craftsman going down hill
Craftsman/Sears sucks when it comes to tools. The last torque wrench I bought there I kept in my spare tool box for use at the track. The first time I went to use it I found it had literally fallen apart in the tool box. I returned it Sears maybe 60 days after buying it for an exchange only to be told it wasn't under warranty. For $40 they would send it NC for repair and oh by the way it would take 6 to 8 weeks. Sears is not what it esed to be.
My $.02.
Larry
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 495
Likes: 1
From: Spokane Washington
sears
I have used craftsman items for years and have lucked out. My tork wrench did brake once, I thought there was a life warranty and turned it in. It came back with a 50 dollar pluss bill. I said you just keep it and they gave it back no charge.
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
sears sells an internemediate adapter to b go between your socket and ratchet. You set the electronic box for your value and it beeps when your there. Uses a strain guage. Much more accurate.
BTW, I just purchased a craftsman professional grade floor jack and that only has a short warranty as well. Like was said above...it seems like anything with moving parts no longer has the lifetime warranty.
I remember 20 years ago busting the mechanism on my 1/2" drive using a 3' lenth of pipe as a breaker bar to get a rusted castle nut off the rear wheel of the wife's VW Superbeatle. Walked into the store,no questions asked, they just took a new one right off the shelf. ahhhh the good old days
