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Torque Wrench

Discussion in 'The Tool Shed' started by termin8ed, Aug 27, 2016.

  1. Aug 27, 2016
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    [​IMG]
    Just picked this up this week. 3/8".
    Just wish i had the 1/2" version now.
    Looks like i picked up the heavy engine and trans work here so it was needed and will get used.
    Does torque in nm, in/lbs, ft/lbs 5-100 ft/lbs, and angle.
     
  2. Aug 27, 2016
    rusty

    rusty Well-Known Member

    norfolk,va
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    Pretty snazzey .
     
  3. Aug 27, 2016
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    A quality torque wrench is worth it's weight in gold...
     
  4. Aug 27, 2016
    BobH

    BobH Member

    Oviedo, Fl
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    Nov 11, 2015
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    This is a good place to ask this.
    I don't own a torque wrench but when I start on my CJ I'm going to need one. For the little bit I will need it, will a HF wrench be good enough? I'm not a mechanic by trade so it will get very little use. I don't plan to do a frame off or rebuild engines.
    What do y'all think?
     
  5. Aug 27, 2016
    aallison

    aallison 74 cj6, 76 cj5. Has anyone seen my screwdriver?

    Green Cove...
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    When I bought mine I did a lot of research. At the time the one at Home Depot (Husky) brand had good reviews and I could get it at a decent price. I think I paid about $70. It clicks at the right amount of force.

    I've used it quite a few times and I really like it.

    I also have a smaller, 3/8 I use for lower tq numbers. It is a craftsman and it is a good tool but not as good as the Husky. Another clicker one.

    I also have an old 3/8 craftsman that works off of deflection along a straight axis. It is hard to read.


    Nothing as fancy as the one above. but I'd have a hard time with the expense for my needs. And from my experience, I need the two, for lower torques and one for higher torques.
     
  6. Aug 27, 2016
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    I would not buy any precision type tool/instrument from HF. Spend a bit more and get something at least half decent. If you are going to use it on other projects later on, spend the money and get a good one. It's important to have accurate, and more importantly consistent, torque in many situations.

    I have an old craftsman clicker that I still like and use. I'd like to get it checked though just for some reassurance. I recently bought a Precision Instruments (I think that's the name). Supposed to be Mac or Snap-Ons off brand. I trust this one 100% and that's a good feeling.
     
  7. Aug 27, 2016
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    CDI makes snap on's torque wrenches.
     
  8. Aug 27, 2016
    BobH

    BobH Member

    Oviedo, Fl
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    Wheelie
    That's what I was thinking about HF. maybe I'm wrong, but I have trouble trusting anything more complicated than a hammer or screw driver from HF. They have good prices but life has taught me you get what you pay for.
     
  9. Aug 28, 2016
    supertrooper

    supertrooper Member

    moreno valley, ca
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    i used to have a HF torque wrench and sometimes the adjustment locking knob would back off on its own and the wrench didnt feel like it was very consistent. i threw it away and got a craftsman 1/2" drive micro click and it works good enough for my needs since i dont use a torque wrench enough to justify spending snap-on money for one.
     
  10. Aug 28, 2016
    Focker

    Focker That's a terrible idea...What time? Staff Member

    WA
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    I've taken all 3 sizes of my Craftsman torque wrenches to the Costco tire shop and used their tester to check their accuracy. I was disappointed to discover they were all out of calibration.

    Sears said tough :poo:

    It costs almost as much if not the same as a new one to send in for recalibration. I just wrote down how off they were and adjust accordingly. This of course was after my 1/4" Nm wrench busted a water pump bolt on a Honda XR650R.
    :mad:
     
  11. Aug 28, 2016
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    https://www.amazon.com/CDI-1003LDFN-2-Inch-0-100-Feet-Torque/dp/B00GQNFYTW/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1472382131&sr=8-6&keywords=cdi+1/2+torque+wrench
    I use a HF click type torque wrench. I have an old craftsman beam type torque wrench as well. They both seem to agree closely to each other. There is a range generally for torque values and if I can get it in the ballpark, I feel pretty good about it. Its better than no torque wrench, but not the best.

    If I were to buy torque wrenches, it would probably be CDI. They make Snap On ones.

    I have not been able to get Sears to honor their warranty for any tool I have ever brought in. There was always some reason why they couldn't do it. I have given up and would never buy a new tool from them. I will buy them all day long at yardsales though if they are cheap.

    Believe it or not, HF has taken every tool back that was faulty with no questions asked. Some of the stuff was garbage to begin with, but they took it back and either refunded my money or replaced the tool.
     
  12. Aug 28, 2016
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    Have you tried taking stuff back to other stores? Ive found the people working there care more, or less. one sears i went to i had an industrial series screwdriver to take back. Didnt make them anymore so he gave me one of their professional series same size. Guy told me he didnt care. He gets commission on it anyways.
     
  13. Aug 28, 2016
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    But, i havent been there in awhile since they where one of the stores that shut down a few years back:p
     
  14. Aug 28, 2016
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    Yes. I found this to be true as well. Very disappointed about it as well. If I had a super expensive torque wrench I'd consider recalibration but, not on a medium or cheapy.

    Many folks like the dependability of the beam style. I was always scared of them and thought they were junk but, I've been told they are actually very good. I have yet to use one. Bought a cheaper one to set my pinion preload but ended up having someone else do the work for me.

    The beam type is a bit harder to read when you're working, I believe. This is why so many folks like the clicker style. But, when I was shopping for one and asking around here and reading about them, it seemed that many professionals sort of frowned on the clicker style. If you don't have a good feel for it and let off immediately when it clicks, you can exceed the torque value you are trying to achieve. I ended up buying another clicker as this reason didn't sway me much. I can see it happening, especially at lower values, but, I have a decent feel for it and let off at the click.

    I am curious about the digital type but, they really aren't my style (technophobe here). The dial type are interesting and I almost bought one of those instead of that beam type in/lb unit. They are kind of salty though.

    I looked a lot on eBay, for used stuff, as well. Ultimately, I couldn't convince myself that buying a used precision measuring tool was a smart idea.

    EDIT: The one I was told was a snap on off brand is a Precision Instruments. Bought it a few years back. Maybe I got hosed. Seems like a nice wrench though.
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2016
  15. Aug 28, 2016
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    Stay away from the Harbor Freight cheapies. They are way too inconsistent to be dependable. Unfortunately I'm seeing this more and more with the Craftsman break over (click style) also. We have a torque compensator at work for testing torque wrenches. The HF units make good breaker bars or pry bars. Nothing more. When they first came to town we had gobs of students buying them and broken and stripped bolts and thread incidents went through the roof. We banned them and those incidents dropped dramatically.
    I don't like click type torque wrenches for the reason Wheelie mentioned. Most people don't use them correctly and consistently over torque fasteners causing problems. I do a demonstration with my students illustrating this. I like the dial type and beam type for different jobs but you need a decent quality unit. Dial types require more care to not damage them. I really like the electronic units. I have both Cornwell and Snap-On units at home and Snap-On at work in my tool box. I also have dial type and beam type at work for special operations and beam type at home for both backup and an lb. inch unit for pinion bearing preload, etc. I believe that one is a KD.
     
    3rdgenjeeper likes this.
  16. Aug 28, 2016
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Yeah, I tried to bring stuff back in different stores in different states and after being told no, I just gave up and moved on.
     
  17. Aug 28, 2016
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    The electronic one doesnt click but you have a row of led's yellow, then green. Display will hold the highest torque you pulled to. "Think" it buzzes too. The biggest thing about them is you can do angles in more than 1 pull. It will add them up if you have a tight area.
     
  18. Aug 28, 2016
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Thats really amazing.
     
  19. Aug 30, 2016
    Stout

    Stout Member

    Quakertown, PA
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    Sorry to hijack the thread but does anyone have experience with torque limiting extensions for impact guns? I see tire shops use them for torquing lug nuts with their impact guns. I figure I don't need a whole set, only one -- 100 ft/lb will do since that's sort of the standard for most cars.
     
  20. Aug 30, 2016
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
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    I use one.gets it close. Not a bad idea to double check
     
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