Mysterious Snap On torque wrench

[bosco659]

I bought this torque wrench today thinking it was a good deal as it appeared to be brand new. I got it home and tried it to make sure it worked as well as it looked. I attached a socket to it and applied force onto a bolt in the vice. The needle didn’t move at all. It appeared to be seized up. I tried rotating the dial and found that when the dial was placed in certain positions, it appeared to to be indicating the proper tightening torque up to 300 in lbs, but, in the reverse direction, it measured only up to 150 in lbs and then “locked up”.

The model number is TE25LA. It was made in 2000. I tried googling an operators manual, but the search came up empty. What I did discover was that this model had an indicator light. I guess when the preset torque value was achieved, a small light came on. The light is missing on my wrench. I believe the needle makes contact with a pin on the dial to complete a circuit to illuminate the light.

Has anyone used such a torque wrench in their past lives? I had a very similar one a couple of years ago but that one just had a movable dial and a normal indicator needle.

I contacted the guy I bought it from and told him it was defective. He said he’ll refund my money if it is in fact broken. At this point I’m trying to see if what I’ve described is normal for this tool.

Here’s some pics.

 

[bosco659]

From eBay. Looks like maybe these light indicator wrenches are for tightening only.

 

[kshansen]

From the looks of the indicator needle I would think it should indicate in both directions. Possible the one with the one way tag on it was marked because someone was damaging it by over working it and using it to break bolts loose.

Hate to say but from your description of how it's working I would be taking the guy up on the refund.

 

[Niels B]

Never seen anything like it - further would never use mine for loosening anyway
I’ve been using a Bristol click wrench for years - expensive though !

 

[Raymond]

If your wrench is a TE25LA then the problem is very likely to be the battery . . .

 

[kshansen]

This is the part that would worry me:
"it appeared to to be indicating the proper tightening torque up to 300 in lbs, but, in the reverse direction, it measured only up to 150 in lbs and then “locked up”"

Used an unlighted version of that tool for many years, mostly for setting fuel injectors in Cummins Diesels. You should be able to have the needle go the full travel to 300 inch pounds in either direction. With even a fair sense of feel you should be able to tell if you are pulling the same in each direction. I could come up with a simple test to confirm that it is reading very close in both directions.

Just one quick thought, you do know that the ring with the numbers on it rotates? For example in your pictures the Red needle is set very close to 70 inch pounds,(each mark on that scale is for 5 inch pounds) it would light the light just as the red pointer touched the brass pin at the zero.

Now if you are turning it the other direction with it set like that when the brass colored end of the needle touches the pin you will be at 245 inch pounds.

Hope that makes sense to someone!

 

[kshansen]

And while on the snap-on torque wrench subject I actually found a picture on FeeBay of one I have:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/355289791171

This is not mine, just easier to post the link than dig out camera and take one of mine.

This one reads in inch/pounds or inch/ounces and is 1/4 inch drive.
The one I have I found in a bunch of odds and ends that came to our shop at the quarry from another plant.
Not sure what they had it for and I don't think I ever had a use for it just hung on to it as it was so odd!

 

[mike in idaho]

The old guy, who use to be our shop mechanic, had one of those light-equipped torque wrenches. Actually kind of handy to use,lying under a truck, torquing main bearing caps.

 

[AUTOMAN]

Test cal in a vise.

Orient so handle is 90° from ground(flat)
Clamped in vise-drive square is oriented to do this
IF square is not true to a flat handle, it is tweaked/junk

Measure center of drive square to end of handle
Hang known mass from end of handle, it is hollow so a hook is easy

do the math

Repeat in other direction

T=M x L but M is weight on earth
So torque is hung weight times distance

cliff

 

[bosco659]

I managed to get a partial copy of an owners manual from Snap On. It briefly describes how to use it but doesn’t say there’s a limit to torque in the counterclockwise direction. Maybe it is defective. Too bad.

 

[Jan_P]

First thought
Being an High End brand according to rumor
Looking new undamaged
25 years old without use
I would depending on price payed consider open and lubricate the internals with light oil
And perhaps new grease at other places .Have done it on ordinary wrenches at least 10 of them
Battery is mentioned ..can have leaked

 

[WideAWAKE]

You don’t use a torque wrench in the opposite direction to loosen… you use it to tighten (torque) a left handed thread.

 

[bosco659]

First thought
Being an High End brand according to rumor
Looking new undamaged
25 years old without use
I would depending on price payed consider open and lubricate the internals with light oil
And perhaps new grease at other places .Have done it on ordinary wrenches at least 10 of them
Battery is mentioned ..can have leaked

I’ve contacted my Snap On dealer to see what they can do. Until then I don’t want to mess with the internals. There’s only a small round cover covering that’s maybe 14mm so there’s not so much access. The body of the tool is riveted together.

 

[bosco659]

With my agreement, the seller refunded most of my money with me hoping I can get it fixed. I popped open the back cover which I assume is for calibration and can see a twisted arm inside. I think the wrench is done so a sad ending. Don’t think the internals are serviceable so if Snap On says no, I’m going to drill out the rivets and see what other trouble I can get into.

 

[kshansen]

You don’t use a torque wrench in the opposite direction to loosen… you use it to tighten (torque) a left handed thread.

And while 99.9% of the use of a torque wrench is tightening bolts or nuts with standard right-hand threads there are sometimes someone might have another need to measure the torque needed to turn something in either direction!

 

[Wingedwheel]

I would think there are left-handed bolts that need to be torqued.

 

[kshansen]

I would think there are left-handed bolts that need to be torqued.

In all the years I worked pulling wrenches can only recall one left handed threaded bolt. It was the one holding the clutch brake together on a 18 speed Mack transmission. I'm sure there are many more out there Jim might know of some on aircraft.

 

[AUTOMAN]

Left handed threads on older drivers' side wheels
that is LHD vehicles

 

[Jan_P]

Bicycles have some left threads left side pedal for ex .

And Small Busses with 4 wheels on the axle in the rear did have some left threads
Football team once got a flat Tyre . Trying to replace .. Trying the wrong way for a while
3 car Mechs in the bus One did know it ..-- Try the other way lads

Would be surprised if this one is not serviceable

 

[AUTOMAN]

Send pix!
I wanna see what you see under the cap

c