Torque Wrench
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 202
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From: Dallas Texas
St. Jude Donor '13
Torque Wrench
Looking for those who have bought torque wrenches and can tell me which ones are garbage and break, and which ones will stand the test of time.
Thank you,
William
Thank you,
William
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,341
Likes: 8
From: Hopatcong New Jersey
I have a 1/4" drive inch pound, 3/8 and 1/2 drive foot pound all from harbor freight. I think I got all 3 of them on sale with coupons for less than $35. My first HF 3/8" torque wrench lasted me 6 years so for $10-15 I have nothing to complain about.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
I have used a craftsman click ratchet type for a long time with no problems.
I also bought the harbor freight ones 1/2, 3/8, and 1/4. I tried comparing the 1/2" to a couple of other torque wrenches and it was the same readings. Each of them were $9.99 with coupons. I actually bought 3 of the 1/2" so that I keep them in the cars for lug nuts.
If you want a real unpopular choice that is accurate and will last forever, try looking at a beam deflection type. This was my first torque wrench and it still works fine. I have had it and used it for over 40 years. Even if the pointer gets mangled, you can straighten it out so that it points to Zero again and it is good as new. The whole principle is a simple beam deflection and the steel in the beam is not going to change over time. The pointer has no stress on it so it simply measures the amount of deflection of the main beam. Another plus is that they are cheap. Most of the other types have some type of mechanism or electronics that can change over time.
Good luck.
I also bought the harbor freight ones 1/2, 3/8, and 1/4. I tried comparing the 1/2" to a couple of other torque wrenches and it was the same readings. Each of them were $9.99 with coupons. I actually bought 3 of the 1/2" so that I keep them in the cars for lug nuts.
If you want a real unpopular choice that is accurate and will last forever, try looking at a beam deflection type. This was my first torque wrench and it still works fine. I have had it and used it for over 40 years. Even if the pointer gets mangled, you can straighten it out so that it points to Zero again and it is good as new. The whole principle is a simple beam deflection and the steel in the beam is not going to change over time. The pointer has no stress on it so it simply measures the amount of deflection of the main beam. Another plus is that they are cheap. Most of the other types have some type of mechanism or electronics that can change over time.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
St. Jude Donor '13
What do the pros use?
I am going to use this for mainly removing and replacing three main items: the intake mainfold, the oil pan(maybe), and the plate on the bottom of the trasmission.
Is there a torque wrench size, i.e. inch pounds vs foot pounds, that can do all three of these jobs? Is it necessary to have seperate wrenches?
I am going to use this for mainly removing and replacing three main items: the intake mainfold, the oil pan(maybe), and the plate on the bottom of the trasmission.
Is there a torque wrench size, i.e. inch pounds vs foot pounds, that can do all three of these jobs? Is it necessary to have seperate wrenches?
Pro
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 541
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh North Carolina
What do the pros use?
I am going to use this for mainly removing and replacing three main items: the intake mainfold, the oil pan(maybe), and the plate on the bottom of the trasmission.
Is there a torque wrench size, i.e. inch pounds vs foot pounds, that can do all three of these jobs? Is it necessary to have seperate wrenches?
I am going to use this for mainly removing and replacing three main items: the intake mainfold, the oil pan(maybe), and the plate on the bottom of the trasmission.
Is there a torque wrench size, i.e. inch pounds vs foot pounds, that can do all three of these jobs? Is it necessary to have seperate wrenches?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,341
Likes: 8
From: Hopatcong New Jersey
What do the pros use?
I am going to use this for mainly removing and replacing three main items: the intake mainfold, the oil pan(maybe), and the plate on the bottom of the trasmission.
Is there a torque wrench size, i.e. inch pounds vs foot pounds, that can do all three of these jobs? Is it necessary to have seperate wrenches?
I am going to use this for mainly removing and replacing three main items: the intake mainfold, the oil pan(maybe), and the plate on the bottom of the trasmission.
Is there a torque wrench size, i.e. inch pounds vs foot pounds, that can do all three of these jobs? Is it necessary to have seperate wrenches?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
You never want to read torque values at the MIN or MAX of your torque wrench reading range. If you have a 0-100 ft/lb wrench and need to read 10 ft/lbs,, it would be better/ more accurate to use an inch pound that would put the reading more mid range. I you need to measure 100 ft/lbs, get a 0-150 ft/lb wrench.
I admit ,, Ive cheated . I torqued my ARP Damper bolt to 240 ft/lbs using a 0-250 ft/lb wrench.
Bill
I admit ,, Ive cheated . I torqued my ARP Damper bolt to 240 ft/lbs using a 0-250 ft/lb wrench.
Bill
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Mar 21, 2013 at 02:20 AM.
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Colorado
I have a 3/8" Snap-on 10-100lbs/in/nano/etc and the 1/2" Craftsman 10-200 from Sears. I use the Craftsman on things like head studs when you really need the leverage, but I've double checked the two against each other as a poor man's calibration, and they're the same from what I can tell.
Pro's are going to use snap-on, mac, or better. no "pro" would use a craftsman. but i guess it depends on your definition of pro.
Pro's are going to use snap-on, mac, or better. no "pro" would use a craftsman. but i guess it depends on your definition of pro.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,800
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From: Northville, MI
You can get by with inexpensive ones, but what I do every spring is measure to torque value at 50lb. I have a 50lb weight with a 12" J-hook and several large washers to hold the weight. I have weighed it with several different scales and it has consistently read 50.5 lbs. I place the torque wrench in a vice in a horizontal position and attach the weight/J hook 12" from the center. Usually start with 55 lbs on the wrench setting and slowly move the handle until the wrench drops. My Craftsman is usually about 1 lb off and my cheapie HF is usually less than 1/2 lb off. Go figure.
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I've had a Craftsman click type torque wrench for many years and never had any problems at all with it.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,719
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From: Colorado
You can get by with inexpensive ones, but what I do every spring is measure to torque value at 50lb. I have a 50lb weight with a 12" J-hook and several large washers to hold the weight. I have weighed it with several different scales and it has consistently read 50.5 lbs. I place the torque wrench in a vice in a horizontal position and attach the weight/J hook 12" from the center. Usually start with 55 lbs on the wrench setting and slowly move the handle until the wrench drops. My Craftsman is usually about 1 lb off and my cheapie HF is usually less than 1/2 lb off. Go figure.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,938
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From: Rochester Hills MI
Now if you are building a large scale precision CNC machine, you'd better get the best torque wrench you can find. Remember cars are meant to be worked on by any shade tree mechanic, and they are mass produced with innacurate machines or even by accurate machines but with super high feedrates to keep the cost of the car down. Pretty much everything in a car has a decent safety factor, and the assembly is very crude in comparison to pecision manufacturing equipment or other exotic applications that would require a real high quality torque wrench to assemble.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 202
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From: Dallas Texas
St. Jude Donor '13
Sorry about raising this from the dead.
What stores sell the cheap $15-30 wrenches and has a selection of size and measurement scale?
I have gone to autozone, oreilly, home depot, and lowes. Needless to say the selection was limited, no inch/lbs, and all $40 or more.
What store sell the harbor frieght?
Thanks for helping
What stores sell the cheap $15-30 wrenches and has a selection of size and measurement scale?
I have gone to autozone, oreilly, home depot, and lowes. Needless to say the selection was limited, no inch/lbs, and all $40 or more.
What store sell the harbor frieght?
Thanks for helping
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 202
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From: Dallas Texas
St. Jude Donor '13
Ok did not know there was a harbor freight store. Googled it and found one here in Dallas. Thanks
Craftsman tools are decent but I want to spend more money on parts and less on tools right now. If I could by just one wrench and do all the jobs I would find a top quality. But since I have learned I will need a few different torque wrenches to do what I want, I just want a set of el cheapo's.
Craftsman tools are decent but I want to spend more money on parts and less on tools right now. If I could by just one wrench and do all the jobs I would find a top quality. But since I have learned I will need a few different torque wrenches to do what I want, I just want a set of el cheapo's.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,180
Likes: 2
From: Yes it's hot! Arizona
The first torque wrench I bought many years ago was a click type Proto. The first time I used it stripped the out the rocker rocker box bolts on my HD. Found out it was bad and the calibration was WAY OFF!!! 
It went straight to the garbage can, and now have several Snap On torqe wrenches. Very happy with them.
It went straight to the garbage can, and now have several Snap On torqe wrenches. Very happy with them.