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I need a new torque wrench

Discussion in 'General' started by cpettit, Feb 25, 2020.

  1. cpettit

    cpettit Well-Known Member

    What do you all like for one that wont break the bank? Its just for use on toys in the garage, not commercial everyday abuse. Thanks.
     
  2. 2blueYam

    2blueYam Track Day Addict

  3. speedluvn

    speedluvn Man card Issuer

    Timely thread. I just recieved a new, in box, 3/8 drive torque wrench (Pittsburgh Brand) from my cousin for helping him with a project. How accurate can I expect this torque wrench to be? I aint expecting much.
     
  4. Dom17

    Dom17 Well-Known Member

    I have a friend who had access to a torque wrench calibrator and he was able to confirm that the quarter inch drive Pittsburgh brand torque wrench out of the box was as accurate as the snap on wrenches they use. That being said that was when it was brand new. who knows how long it maintains that accuracy or how accurate it is in different temperatures or if it is durable and doesn't lose accuracy from drops.

    Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
     
    speedluvn likes this.
  5. cpettit

    cpettit Well-Known Member

  6. NemesisR6

    NemesisR6 Gristle McThornbody

    I just bought a 1/4" and 1/2" drive wrench off Amazon for the brand Tekton. Simple, basic, click-style wrenches that are cheap and suit me just fine as I'm not assembling engines for a living and they maybe come out of the case maybe a few times a year.

    I did also buy a digital Kobalt wrench that is rated up to 200 ft. lbs for doing things like the lugs on my trailer.
     
  7. 2blueYam

    2blueYam Track Day Addict

    The search is your friend.

    On the Pittsburgh: I have a Pittsburgh 1/2" drive click type that I have been using for about 10 years to torque anything over about 35 lb-ft. I haven't stripped a fastener or had one come loose yet. I always set it back so there is no tension on it for storage. I have a 3/8" Craftsman for lighter torque.

    note: I do not do motor builds. If you do you may want something a bit better, but for chassis, engine mounts, brakes, wheels and suspension it seems to be fine.
     
  8. cpettit

    cpettit Well-Known Member

    I'm looking to buy a set i think. Definitely need a 1/2" for car/truck/trailer but also want a 1/4 $ 3/8 for working on bikes and stuff. My old 1/2" will be retired to road duty (in the car trunk with a spare and jack since it came with none of that).
     
  9. borislav

    borislav Well-Known Member

    For bike and car work up to 100 ft/lbs I use 1/4 drive inch/ lbs wrench. Also just replaced my old Snap-on 3/8 drive for digital one with main reason of working on Ducati, it automatically converts to in/lbs, to ft/lbs, to Nm and does angle torque.
     
  10. rice r0cket

    rice r0cket Well-Known Member

    Idunno what you're doing, but the vast majority of 1/4" torque wrenches only measure up to 200 in-lbs, which is 16.7 ft-lbs. The Techangle will do 240 in-lbs or 20 ft-lbs, iirc, but nowhere near 100 ft-lbs.
     
    MGM and NemesisR6 like this.
  11. Rising

    Rising Well-Known Member

    I recently bought a Husky torque wrench from HD. Price was reasonable, it was available in the store, and it has a lifetime warranty.
     
    OGs750 likes this.
  12. speedluvn

    speedluvn Man card Issuer

    Some new fine print wording that I have come to understand is that whose lifetime is the item warrantied; yours or the item?
     
  13. shea9965

    shea9965 Active Member

    I went cheap for 20 years and then spent ~$350 on a used snap-on electronic version and realized i should have spent money on it a long time ago given the consistency of being able to understand the actual torque being applied irrespective of the click point (e.g., there is significant variation in the result based on how smoothly you are applying force).
     
  14. borislav

    borislav Well-Known Member

    I ment to say that I use 1/4 and 3/8 up to 100 ft/lbs respectively. 1/4 for smaller stuff up to 240in/lbs which is 20 ft/lbs. Now most 3/8 start from 10 ft/lbs which you can convert to in/lb by multiplying it by 12! But you know that right!?
     
  15. L8RSK8R

    L8RSK8R Well-Known Member

    I've a digital Snap On ya can purchase for $275, I'll pay shipping.
    I paid $400+/- for it.
    Only used once on an mg motor rebuild.
     
  16. cpettit

    cpettit Well-Known Member

    Tempting but I’m not sure I’m looking to spend that much. I think I want a set of 1/4, 3/8, & 1/2. Thanks. I’ll pm ya if I quit being cheap.
     
  17. gapman789

    gapman789 Well-Known Member

    +1 I have the 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" Tekton and the 250lb Kobalt non-digital for the bigger stuff.
     
  18. pittmeister

    pittmeister Well-Known Member

    Just know that many click type torque wrenches, especially the cheaper ones, only work in the clockwise direction. If you have any left hand threaded bolts, you'll need something else.
     
    NemesisR6 likes this.
  19. RIB333

    RIB333 Well-Known Member

    Purchased the CDI 3/8" recently. Checked accuracy against a Proto 1/2" I also own. Both seem spot on. Both are great tools.
     
  20. james weaver

    james weaver Well-Known Member

    any one use a mac click type . i have a old mac 1/2 but may need to have it checked. has been pretty accurate up to now. thoughts.
     

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