Craftsman Torque Wrench Problem

[CLamb]

My 1/2 Drive Torque wrench just started giving me some crap. I set it to max (150ft lbs) to torque the axle nuts on my jeep and had hell getting it there. I had to put a long extension on it and squeeze the holyfriggencrap out of the handle to get it tightend up that much. I had the same hell backing it off as well. Its fine once you get it below 75lbs or so but its almost a two man job anywhere over that. It seems to operate normally otherwise. I did forget to back it off awhile ago and it was set at 95lbs when I pulled it out of the box, it probably only was set like that for a few days.



Any Ideas? FYI this is an older one that has a metal handle not the newer plastic handle.

 

[Loghead]

I'm not sure what you mean by having to squeeze the "holyfriggincrap" out of the handle. If you're talking about setting the wrench to click or break at 150 ft/lbs, then be glad you don't usually need that much torque.

If you're talking about how much you need to pull on the wrench to tighten the nut.....

two things;

be glad that you don't usually need that much torque.

Second, it makes you appreciate the torque monster under the hood.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

if you were closer, I'd throw it on the fixture and check it out for ya. I calibrate torque equipment



I've got a mobile van that I calibrate out of, but I'll be driving the Dodge up to OK for the holidays, otherwise I'd do it for ya

 

[CLamb]

I'm not sure what you mean by having to squeeze the "holyfriggincrap" out of the handle. If you're talking about setting the wrench to click or break at 150 ft/lbs, then be glad you don't usually need that much torque.

If you're talking about how much you need to pull on the wrench to tighten the nut.....

two things;

be glad that you don't usually need that much torque.

Second, it makes you appreciate the torque monster under the hood.

I was reffering to how hard it was to set it at 150ft lbs. It was much easier to click 150lbs lol.

 

[Babyfat]

take it back to sears and get a new one OR throw in the garage sale box and buy a snap-on, either way always remember turn it down

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Sears only has a 90 day warranty on their torque wrenches so taking it back probably isn't an option.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

don't buy a Snap-On either... buy a CDI! same exact wrench, different name, black case instead of red... a lot cheaper! CDI has been making Snap-On's wrenches for like 10-12yrs now.



I happen to get a pretty good deal on them if you're interested



FWIW, the cheap-o $25 wrenches from Wal-Mart are a copy of an old Proto design and are actually a pretty good wrench once properly adjusted and calibrated but they're all over the map straight out of the box

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I have a Proto that's doing the same thing - I rarely use it, and forget to check it out and fix it between uses...



I'm assuming crud and hardened lube has the internal adjustment threads gummed up, and it needs a little TLC and new lube to fix - thanks for the reminder, with Winter about here, I have more time for inside maintenance stuff...

 

[Nate]

What you can do. . not saying it's "right"... but just an idea.



If it's a fairly recent model that they still carry, go and buy a new one. Wait a month or whatever, and return old one with new one's receipt.



I have a couple Snap On torque wrenches I got from work because they are off 5ft lbs or so, which is no good for work. I just paid Snap On the $40 to rebuild and calibrate it and now I have a nice torque wrench. I have no idea why they refuse to do this at work. They tell me to order new ones intead.

Sears only has a 90 day warranty on their torque wrenches so taking it back probably isn't an option.

 

[CLamb]

What you can do. . not saying it's "right"... but just an idea.



If it's a fairly recent model that they still carry, go and buy a new one. Wait a month or whatever, and return old one with new one's receipt.



I have a couple Snap On torque wrenches I got from work because they are off 5ft lbs or so, which is no good for work. I just paid Snap On the $40 to rebuild and calibrate it and now I have a nice torque wrench. I have no idea why they refuse to do this at work. They tell me to order new ones intead.

LOL not a bad idea but this one is probably 20 years old, I borrowed it from my dad a few years ago lol. He bought me one for my birthday but kept it so I still have his old one haha. I need to go swap them out now :-laf

 

[Nate]

I would say it's time to buy a new one. The Craftsman torque wrenches are fairly cheap.

 

[sid325]

Is the Craftsman even worth repairing? I have the large 1/2 inch drive torque wrench. I've had it for about 3 years, used it maybe 5 times and the 1/2 drive socket head just free spins. It will not tighten/loosen at all, just spins. Any ideas?



Sid

 

[Forrest Nearing]

probably just needs a ratchet kit or needs the ratchet cleaned out, springs put back in place, etc.



PERSONALLY, I wouldn't bother with a Craftsman torque wrench

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Thanks to this thread, yesterday I took my Proto that was doing the same thing apart to check it out - the lube inside had literally turned to varnish! I had to use the bench grinder to get it off the external adjustment threads - and wiped out the insides as best I could with rags soaked with WD40. I then applied a thin coating of grease on all threads and re-assembled - it now works fine. When the current rainy weather clears, I want to check the accuracy of the torque settings...

 

[CumminsAholic]

Forrest, Care to PM me about how much you can get a 1/2" torque wrench for? I'm going to be needing a new one soon. The adjusting nut came loose on my craftsman one and I think it's time to upgrade. Thanks -Corey

 

[Hoefler]

LOL not a bad idea but this one is probably 20 years old, I borrowed it from my dad a few years ago lol. He bought me one for my birthday but kept it so I still have his old one haha. I need to go swap them out now :-laf

If you still have the paper work for it, check it out. The older tools like that had a lifetime warranty with them. They will honor it, they might give you some resistance, just show them in writing, they will honor it. You won't get one with a life time warranty again, but you will get a new wrench. Been there, done that.

 

[DPetrey]

well here you guys go we have a torque wrench for tightening our head studs it go's to 3250 ft lbs. yeah that is fun let me tell you

 

[Forrest Nearing]

hydraulic or pneumatic? biggest one I've calibrated in the van did 11,500, but I've calibrated up to 45,000ftlbs at the shop hydraulics of course. biggest pneumatic I've had on the truck did like 7,500ftlbs

 

[GOlsen]

We have one at work that goes into the 30,000 ft-lbs range. It's not exactly a "wrench". It's just a big hydraulic box that comes with a giant hydraulic pump that runs on 440 VAC. Pretty neat. Real scary when it pops off the bolt you're tightening though. :{

 

[DPetrey]

The one we have is pneunamtic it is calibrated to 30 psi air but i goes up to like 100psi on the regulater don't know what it will do but it is heavy