Torque Wrench Preferences

[BoatBuoy]

I have an old beam torque wrench - one of those with the long pointer that extends from the business end back to the handle where the guage is. When torquing, the shaft flexes but not the pointer which moves across the guage to indicate torque. Although satisfactory for old cast-iron work, I don't think it's accurate enough for sensitive aluminum work. Before I tear down my motor for certain work, I would like to get a new one (any excuse to buy a new tool, eh). Anyway, I was wondering what kind of torque wrench everybody uses. I'm kinda leaning toward one of those that "click" when correct torque is reached. That way, these old eyes don't have to be in position to see a guage.

 

[wayne h]

Re: Torque Wrench Preferences

i use both still myself i am a 28 year old mechanic so your tool is not outdated it just depends what u are using it for and what u prefure. craftsman makes a nice clicker type torque wrench mine are snap on (high dollar) but i use them almost everyday. i would stay away from off brands also look at where the torque starts and stops some are higher then others and wont work for most outboards. just remember to set the clicker type torque wrenches back to zero when not in use.

 

[swist]

Re: Torque Wrench Preferences

Do I remember seeing one that had a digital readout? Or was that wishful thinking?

 

[bubbakat]

Re: Torque Wrench Preferences

Go to sears and get the craftsman. I have been using theirs for years. I have one in 3/8 and 1/2<br /><br />When you break one no replace hassle to.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Torque Wrench Preferences

hello<br /> I think I have 5 of them. some foot pounds some inch pounds some dial some click type and some beam type. like wayne says just depends on what I am doing. you cant set rolling torque with a click type. its hard to set rolling torque with a beam type so depending on what I am doing dictates which one I use.<br /> good luck and buy a quality tool if you intend to use it a lot.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Torque Wrench Preferences

If you use Craftsman click type torque wrenches, the Digitorque model is OK, but do not use the cheaper Microtorque style.<br /><br />By the way, Craftsman does not consider a torque wrench as a hand tool with a lifetime warranty. It is an "instrument" and comes with the warranty described in the instruction booklet.

 

[bubbakat]

Re: Torque Wrench Preferences

Seahorse you are right as rain. I was in my garage awhile ago and got to thinking about that and looked at the papers and sure enough it has a limited warranty.<br />Sorry my bad.

 

[wayne h]

Re: Torque Wrench Preferences

yaa u have to watch craftsman i bought a drill and the 3 year warrenty told me it covered batterys so i took there word for it and bought the warrenty 2 years later batterys when bad and they said that it did not cover batterys.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Torque Wrench Preferences

Thank you all for your replies. I have looked on the web at quality torque wrenches and the prices have stiffled my idea. I didn't realize that they could run $200-$300. That and the opinions that beam type certainly are not obsolete. Rather than spend more on the torque wrench than I planned on spending on the motor parts, I think I'll take my wrench to a local garage and compare accuracy to theirs. If reasonably close, I'll just use it. This isn't an item that I use regularly, but rather very infrequently.<br /><br />Thanks again for the replies.

 

[karrick]

Re: Torque Wrench Preferences

Where I work they only allow us to use Snap-On or Proto. They have done studies to find that these two are the ones that stay in spec the longest. <br /><br />Stanley/Proto are reasonably priced.<br /><br /> Proto Torque wrench prices

 

[cajun555]

Re: Torque Wrench Preferences

Check the pawn shops. I picked a clicker ( craftsman 1/2 in. drive) for 35 dollars. Now how accurate it is, is another story. I've rebuilt a couple of motors. No broken bolts or water leaks using this tourqe wrench. You can have the calibration checked out on them also.

 

[wayne h]

Re: Torque Wrench Preferences

PAWN shops are a good place to pick up tools but i like to stay away from the air tools and the torque wrenchs just because they can easly get abused. i send mine in every year to get calibrated

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Torque Wrench Preferences

Pawn shops are a great idea. Thanks. As to recalibration, I have a story. Back in the 60's I had a friend that was in the military and worked on nuclear weapons in silos. One of the things he "could" tell me was the process for handling torque wrenches. If one was ever dropped or knocked off the work surface, it immediately went back to the factory for recalibration and certification. Needless to say, they had a good supply of replacements. Interesting.

 

[Boilermaker]

Re: Torque Wrench Preferences

I have both beam & clicker type. The one thing I don't like on the clicker wrench is if you have a "stretchy" bolt, you can tell with the beam or dial type. On a beam/dial wrench, the indicator will stay the same as you continue to turn the wrench, where as the clicker you will just turn until the bolt snaps.

 

[robbyusa]

Re: Torque Wrench Preferences

If I had a choice of the 3 types I would take dial but a flex beam is the best value. My last choice would be a clicker.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Torque Wrench Preferences

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the electronic digital Snap On torque wrenches made in 1/4", 1/2", and 3/8" sizes. They have the best of both worlds, but carry a $250+ price tag.<br /><br />The digital display shows the torque value readout as you tighten a fastener, just like a beam wrench does, and then a vibration in the handle warns the user that the torque setting is being approached. At the pre-determined torque, a beeper sounds so you do not have to be looking at the display.<br /><br />At the press of a button, you can change the units from ft-lbs to in-lbs to newton-meters.<br /><br />This sounds like an info-mercial, but I use the 1/4" drive version and like it for outboard work, especially with so many plastic parts on the newer motors.

 

[BillP]

Re: Torque Wrench Preferences

I have several beams and a clicker. My clicker is a Klein and they will calibrate free if you send back to the factory. They aren't cheap (I paid $250 about 10 yrs ago)but worrying about accuracy isn't an issue like on cheap clickers. When you have a few different types it's comforting to check them against each other to see how they match. My cheap beams are very accurate and consistant when compared to the expensive clicker.<br /><br />No offense to Craftsman fans (I own a lot of Craftsman tools) but a friend of mine used a low priced Craftsman clicker on his experimental aircraft engine and had a forced landing with rod through the crankcase. Final results found the wrench was off and every bolt on the motor was loose. The wrench was way off and it was new. I see the local aircraft mechanics using mostly SnapOn clickers.<br /><br />Any clicker you buy used or from a pawn shop should be calibrated before use. I would use a cheap beam over a cheap clicker any day.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Torque Wrench Preferences

I have the 1/2"snap on click style, can be left on<br />what ever torque setting it was last used at.<br />I bought it in the late 70'S and I remember it<br />being at least 200.00 dollars at that time.