What Torque Wrench?

Downeaster

Downeaster

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I'll be reassembling the engine this winter, and my old 150 foot-pound beam type Crapsman torque wrench is probably NOT the tool of choice. I do have an inch-pound clicker for the smaller stuff, but I'd like a new one for the cylinder head nuts and stuff.

What wrench does anyone recommend that is reasonably accurate, has the appropriate range (I'm thinking 80 ft/lbs max) and won't break the bank? I'd like to stay under $150.
 
Both my torque wrenches were less than 100 bucks. Both Snap-On wrenches purchased at pawn shops. We have annual calibration requirements, and neither have ever failed. Just a thought. As much or more than a lot of hand tools, you get what you pay for, I think. Proto makes a really good torque wrench as well. I would not sneeze at a Mac branded one.
So much is off shore container ballast nowadays it's not even funny.
 
Check out the husky line at home depot, as they're made by another company that just puts the husky name on them. Also as as jdACE750 said pawn shops are great for the occasional tool deal
 
thanks for good tip on the brand
I have added that CDI 10-60 Nm torque wrench to my wish list.
I have been wanting a good one for a while for the small bolts on the bikes and car
Maybe the kids will buy it for me.
 
I got a snap on in a trade and i have a craftsman both 3/8s I think 85 ftlbs. The snap on quality is night and day to the craftsman but It costs 3 times as much
 
Hi Downeaster,
Alas, you need two of the bastards.
Thing about torque wrenches is they are only accurate in the middle ~70% of their range.
Thus the usual 3/8" sq drive torque wrench will be set too near the ends of it's range to give accurate readings for M6 and smaller at the low end and M16 and larger at the high end.
I have a 1/4" sq drive inch-lb torque wrench and a 1/2" sq drive ft-lb torque wrench so I can torque all the XS650's fasteners in the middle 70% of the appropriate wrench's range.
 
fredintoon said:
Hi Downeaster,
Alas, you need two of the bastards.
Thing about torque wrenches is they are only accurate in the middle ~70% of their range.
Thus the usual 3/8" sq drive torque wrench will be set too near the ends of it's range to give accurate readings for M6 and smaller at the low end and M16 and larger at the high end.
I have a 1/4" sq drive inch-lb torque wrench and a 1/2" sq drive ft-lb torque wrench so I can torque all the XS650's fasteners in the middle 70% of the appropriate wrench's range.
Click to expand...

Yup, I already have a 1/4" drive clicker for the smaller stuff. I've been getting by with my 150 ft/lb Craftsman beam wrench for the bigger ones, just wanted to get a little more accuracy.
 
i have 1/4 3/8 and 1/2 the 3/8 and 1/2 are both snap on.....and i am actually thinking of going to the beam style....problem with the clicker style is if you dont get a full swing or are a little jerky you will get a false "click" also depending on where your support hand is and how much support pressure you are using you can get a false "click" with the beams it is all up to your eyes to view where you are at on the scale.......so as long as your vision is good and you look stright down on the scale you are good to go....plus with the beam you can hold position and watch the stretch of the bolt settle, then go to final torque (hard to do on hi torque ranges due to the difficulty in holding position)
 
Stahlville (German made) may be right up there with Snap-On, possibly better. Their clicker type torque wrenches do not need to be wound down to minimum setting after use, like most other brands. This as the spring does not get compressed before torque is applied.
Clever design, and we have a couple on board, used for tightening critical parts on our Bolt Airguns (Seismic sound source, operation at 2000 or 2500 psi air pressure, and timing requirements as tight as 1 millisecond. So precicion stuff...)
 
Be sure to test the accuracy of the new clicker with your old beam-type. :)

I remember old John Belville being criticized for not using a torque wrench while we watched him rebuild a Norton engine. He said he didn't need one and handed the critic a torque wrench. Sure enough, all the head bolts were spot on. Kids back then... Sigh.

Tom
 

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