Torque Wrench

[rweis]

The more I read, the more I need a torque wrench. I find two ranges. 120 inch pounds - 960 inch pounds (which I think is 10 ft pounds - 80 ft pounds), and 10 ft pounds to 150 ft pounds.



Which one?, or am I not looking in the right places (Northern, Sears, NAPA)



Both are micrometer adjustable $$$ about $23 + / -



Thanks

 

[Deezul1]

Go for the big torque, you wont use low torque #s on the truck. The lug nut torque is 150ftlbs on 2500s. Ask about warranty, Sears lifetime doesnt apply to torque wrenches, dont know about other brands.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

$23 is dirt cheap for a torque wrench - it probably won't be very accurate. $80 or so is more in the range of a decent lower end torque wrench. There are some things that will use the inch lb wrench but a lot more that will use the mid range one. Myself I have 3 torque wrenches - one in inch lbs, one 3/8" ft lb wrench (~5-120 ft/lbs - I think), and a 1/2" ft lb (~28 ft/lbs-250).

 

[Briar Hopper]

I won't go with less than Snap-On quality when it comes to torque wrenches, heard too many horror stories from all the "old hands" and experienced mechanics. $120 - $165 is not at all a bad price for peace of mind.

Especially if I'm working on, and responsible for, other people's vehicles.

There are other good brands out there. This was the easiest one for me to get.

 

[nickleinonen]

i had a sears torque wrench, a click type and the head on it shattered when i was torquing my friends wheels @ 80lbs. went to home depot here and they exchanged my sears one for a husky one [home depot here has an exchange program for sears, canadiantire and snap-on tools... ]. the sears one went to 150lbs, and the husky one goes to 250lbs. the locking mechanism on the husky is better than the sears, and the teeth feel finer on it [but i can't be 100% sure on that. just feels finer]

 

[illflem]

You really need a 1/2'' drive up to 250 ft/lb wrench and 3/8'' drive down to 10 in/lb. The smaller one is necessary if you want to adjust your auto transmission yourself. Go for a higher than Sears quality, if you can't justify the Snap-On cost look at Proto or ATS brands.

 

[thepitts]

Northern or Harbor Freight

I bought a tq wrench for 9. 99 from northern or harbor freight and brough it out too work to have it checked by our PEML lab. They said it is within Airforce specs and was closer than the snapon tools that we use on base. For ten bucks if it breaks I can get another. Sofar I only use it for the lug nuts. But will use for putting my jeep motor back togather.

 

[rweis]

Thanks for the replys, will help a lot in "doing it right the first time". Without this forum, I had a good chance of screwing it up. Thanks again.



Bob

 

[JFitzgerald]

I've had a Craftsman micrometer type torque wrench for several years and have used it while building several engines. No problems and the engines are still running fine. Except the one my wife ran out of oil... . :{

 

[slo-ryde]

I'd have to agree with the posts to go bigger. Lug nuts on 2500 trucks are 120 to 150 foot pounds. Oil drain plug has torque data stamped on it (37 foot pounds) but I think the owners manual shows 35.



If you can only afford one wrench, go for something that will take care of the lug nuts on the top end of the range and down as low as possible. My Sears torque wrench goes from 10 to 150 foot pounds.



It's true that Sears only warranties torque wrenches for 1 year.

 

[illflem]

The problem with a $9. 99 torque wrench is repeatability. It might read correctly when new but give it a year or so of use and see what happens.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

I Have the Craftsman 1/2" drive (25#-250#) and 3/8" drive (5#-80#) . Very easy to set and have worked great for 6 years. About $90 each.



#ad

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

That's the same ones I have Hemi and have their inch-lb one as well. I use mine constantly and have had them for about 7 years. I drive people nuts because I torque to spec everything I touch - came from my road racing days.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Be very careful using the low end of the scale on some torque wrenches. You may be waiting for that "click" and hear a "snap" instead. That is why having two is a good idea. Or, better yet as Steve said, three. Actually, I could maybe use a forth one. I have some applications that call for 850ftlbs.



PS, thanks Tom for helping me get the micro.

 

[thepitts]

Back to the Shop

If my 9. 99 tq wrench goes bad I take it back to work and have it fixed and calibrated.

 

[LarryB]

Originally posted by rweis

I find two ranges. 120 inch pounds - 960 inch pounds (which I think is 10 ft pounds - 80 ft pounds), and 10 ft pounds to 150 ft pounds. Which one?

Both! more of those tools that you only want to buy once. And then wonder how you got along without them.

 

[willyslover]

on all meters be it torque or a analog... throw away the bottom and top 20% unless you are buying the most precision piece made and are getting a certificate of - 1% +/- [and boy will you pay for that !!] the meters/wrenches are best used in the 60% sweet spot range and that is why you need more not one size fits all. .

several of you guys already know this . . only meant as info and no flame

 

[illflem]

Actually, I could maybe use a forth one. I have some applications that call for 850ftlbs.

I've got a John Deere disc that calls for 1400 ft/lbs



Luckily it came with it's own torque wench, a six foot bar that you just add 150 lbs of weight on the end.

 

[willyslover]

lucky you. . torque multipliers are not cheep

 

[nickleinonen]

1200 lbs is the most i have to torque by hand at work, and that is with a 4x multiplier. anything more than that and we have hydraulic torque wrenches with 2400lbs being the most...