I bought a Craftsman Torque Wrench about a year ago... I am now getting ready to rebuild a motor and I am concerned with the accuracy and reliabilty.

Should I invest in another one? If so, which?

Thanks!

 

If you haven't banged it around or dropped it, I wouldn't really worry about it. Maybe torque everthing 5Lbs. tighter for your peace of mind. Craftsman makes a decent trq wrench, accurate to 3-5% I believe.

 

Overtightening could stress the bolt or other structures too much. There should be a place in nearby, unless you live in a small town, you can take it and they will check the calibration. If it happens to be off they'll adjust it. If it helps to find them they usually recalibrate scales, micrometers, dial calipers, etc. Also, this link might help. http://www.daviscalibrationlab.com/callab.asp?aid=1

 

You can have the torque wrench calibrated, but it may cost more then a few dollars. I almost bought one that was on ebay, then I called the manufacturer and found that it cost $40.00 to calibrate the torque wrench. You can just about buy a new one for a few more dollars.

Are you rebuilding your current motor?

 

If you have a good torque wrench ($100+), get it calibrated. If you have a cheap one, buy a new one...a good one!
Because TW's are only accurate in the middle 80% of their range, I have three wrenches spanning the range of a few ounce/inches to 250ft/lbs. (1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" drives) and I get them calibrated every two years or so.

Larry
code5coupe

 

I just use German specs, "Guten tite"

 

The wrench is about a year old, and has not been abused.

It is the $100.00 mechanical craftsman model - http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00944597000

There has just been so much talk about these that I wanted to be sure.

To be honest, rebuilding a motor is right in the meat of this unit's rating. So it should be at it's most accurate.

I do need to get a smaller 3/8" drive unit, tho... for the other bolts... this is 1/2" drive.

Is the sears 3/8" drive units ok? I will need it to do the intake, plus oil pan and timing cover bolts. I don't want no stinking leaks.

The 1/2" would to everything else... rods, mains, heads... things like that.

 

stop by a machine shop and ask them to test it on their spring tester cheap and really close

 

You can use an adapter to fit 3/8" socket to it. Won't effect the torque to the bolt.

 

I have one and have never, ever had a lick of trouble from it!

 

They don't go out just from sitting around.

You can check a few points with a fishing scale tied to the handle, if you're concerned.

Yes you should probably invest in a smaller one to do the low-torque bolts.

 

This one is from 25 - 250... I am thinking of a smaller unit for the lighter bolts, maybe a 5-50 lb unit.

Thanks for the tip on the adaptor! This means I can get a cheapo one for the oil pan and such - the biggest factor there being consistant tightness as much as anything else.

 

And just for anyone who may not know, always turn them down before putting them away and if they're the type w/ the tension clip, leave it released. I have all Snap-ons and Macs and they've remained accurate for years through proper use and handling.

 

If your concerned about reliability, then take it back. Find a Snap-On dealer and buy one of theirs.

Accuracy (and repeatability) is another story. I have four (clicker) torque wrenches. 3 Snap-On's and one Craftsman. All four made regular trips to the tool crib for calibration once every six months. Each piece saw the same amount of "use service" as my past life in the aircraft maintenance industry. All of these wrenchs never required calibration adjustment after 8 years of service. As time and use started to wear on the srings and *****, some adjustment and service was required. By year 15 they were overhauled and the cycle started once again.

Assuming you have a "clicker" (spring/ball - breakaway - overcenter, whatever you care to call it) the calibration should last a coupla years without concern. This is assuming you always relax the spring tension when the wrench is not being used. And you only use the wrench for torquing, not as a regular wrench. (Don't mean to imply anything here)

Just make sure your bolts are clean, lubed if required, and don't pull past the point of break-away.

-JRC-

 

I always release the tension, never store it anyother way.

My concern has to do with recent discussions about the quality of Craftsman torque wrenches.

From this, it sounds like they are not all junk. This is good! I will plod on with this.

Thanks!!!

 

For what it's worth, I've got all 3 Craftsman torque wrenches 1/2, 3/8 and their inch pound wrench. I've used the 3/8 on the transmission bolts (very easy to over torque and leak as you know) many times with no leaks. I've never built a rocket with them, but they seem to work well.

 

I would not be afraid of a Craftsman torque wrench and would buy one, especially for home use.

 

My Craftsman Torque Wrench is junk. As far as torquing stuff it's ok, it's the locking collar that broke. The one I have, you twist the collar to unlock, adjust the wrench, twist the collar to lock. Well mine is stuck at 100 because the plastic collar stripped itself.

I went to bring it back, but I was told that since I bought it online, tough crap.

So now I have to go buy a new one and put the old one back in teh case and return it for a refund and keep the new one as a backup and buy myself a better torque wrench.

 

that sounds like a plan.

at least the wrench is stuck at the right setting for wheel lugs!

 

Unfortunately, those rings even give trouble on the expensive ones frequently. I've never broke one per se but they get to where they don't lock well so you have to keep an eye on it as you're using it so your setting doesn't change.