Torque wrench suggestions

[billtebbutt]

Mine was last calibrated in.....1986! It wasn't an expensive one back then, but I expect it is well out of whack by now and not worth investing in given what it is worth. So, I was thinking of treating myself to a new one. Mechanical, not digital, 1/2" drive, up to say 200lbs/ft

Any strong recommendations out there?

best
bt

[BeerBudgetRacing]

I have a variety of CDI wrenches in different ranges and sizes.
https://www.amazon.com/CDI-Torque-Pr.../dp/B07N67FT2S

[tstrong]

Almost hate to throw out there based on snap on cost but I have an old rotary dial snap on torque wrench that I got on the late 70’s or early 80’s. Had calibration checked every year from 1999-2020 ( worked for an aerospace co) and it was never outside the 2% tolerance level. Now that I am retired it will likely never get checked again and I am not at all concerned. Like I said cost is outrageous but if I amortize it over the 40ish years I’ve used it seem pretty cheap. Just my thoughts. Still not sure if I were in the market for a new one whether I could stomach the initial cost.

[tstrong]

I have a variety of CDI wrenches in different ranges and sizes.
https://www.amazon.com/CDI-Torque-Pr.../dp/B07N67FT2S

Wow, just saw this after submitting my post. This seems like an amazing deal on what appears to be a quality product. Todd

[billtebbutt]

I have a variety of CDI wrenches in different ranges and sizes.
https://www.amazon.com/CDI-Torque-Pr.../dp/B07N67FT2S

Seems like great value, based upon the reviews. And made by Snap-On, in America....

thanks for this,
bt

[BeerBudgetRacing]

Their catalogue is like a wish list and their website is old and sucks. But that means to me that they don't have to 'sell' people on their products. People come to buy them.

I have an old single torque hex drive screw driver type product they made years ago for electronics assembly (hard drives) and from what I can tell it's still dead on.

Some day I might get the one with changeable ends (different open end wrench ends) because there are lots of times a socket doesn't work.

http://www.cditorque.com/

[Earley Motorsports]

Just for giggles, have a look at comparisons between snap on and harbor freight torque wrenches. It might surprise you.

[TimH]

Their catalogue is like a wish list and their website is old and sucks. But that means to me that they don't have to 'sell' people on their products. People come to buy them.

I had a friend with a SnapOn truck. He referred to his best customers as "toolies." He just needed to get something into their hands and they would buy it.

[tlracer]

I don't know if they're available over there, but I have used Britool torque wrenches for years and found them excellent.

[hdsporty1988]

Just for giggles, have a look at comparisons between snap on and harbor freight torque wrenches. It might surprise you.

https://www.hagerty.com/media/mainte...torque-wrench/

[BeerBudgetRacing]

I don't know if they're available over there, but I have used Britool torque wrenches for years and found them excellent.

They have one on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Britool-AVT10.../dp/B004ZFCHT8

And from the ship dates I suspect it's coming from the UK!

[John Nesbitt]

Just for giggles, have a look at comparisons between snap on and harbor freight torque wrenches. It might surprise you.

https://www.hagerty.com/media/mainte...torque-wrench/

It strikes me that much depends on the desired accuracy, repeatability, and durability of the wrench.

A slightly OT example: I am in the midst of a dental implant, where the embedded post is torqued to 35nm. The periodontist better be using a torque wrench with a recent calibration.

[BeerBudgetRacing]

Just for giggles, have a look at comparisons between snap on and harbor freight torque wrenches. It might surprise you.

https://www.hagerty.com/media/mainte...torque-wrench/

Clearly their knock-offs are better than ever, but to be honest I've stopped buying things from Harbor Freight.

Why? Because they have gotten better.
Their Quinn and Icon brands are must better than the Pittsburg brands we were used to and associate the "Harbor Fright quality".

I have a handful of Pittsburg torque wrenches and a few bags of wrenches. They get tossed in the back of the truck "just in case". I don't care if someone steals them and they get beat on, chopped up, etc.

Their Quinn and Icon brands cost more than the $9.95 I paid for the Pittsburg product.

All their prices have gone up. HF is an hour round trip for me.
If I want a junk tool now, I can get it from Home Depot or Amazon.
If I'm going to pay $100 to $350 for a tool, I'm going to think and shop more.

And I won't be spending $100 on something like a torque wrench when there is NO customer service or parts available.

[BeerBudgetRacing]

A slightly OT example: I am in the midst of a dental implant, where the embedded post is torqued to 35nm. The periodontist better be using a torque wrench with a recent calibration.

My wife had a dental implant back circa 1986. Very early on. A more serious procedure back then.
She's had 2 others since and the procedure is easier.
The newer one's are smaller but have had problems with the screws 'stretching' because the posts now are much smaller and that constant pressure on the edge of the crown rocks them loose.

She went in for a replacement. $1200 was the cost of the screw. It does come with a special screwdriver (which they wouldn't let me have).

[bassracer]

A recommendation for wheel nuts/track torque wrenches. I have switched to a split beam style wrench - No need to turn down after use! It's nice to have a wrench that is left at 125ft lbs all weekend long.

Precision Instruments PREC3FR250F Silver 1/2" Drive Split Beam Torque Wrench with Flex Head - Amazon.com

[mboian90]

A recommendation for wheel nuts/track torque wrenches. I have switched to a split beam style wrench - No need to turn down after use! It's nice to have a wrench that is left at 125ft lbs all weekend long.

Precision Instruments PREC3FR250F Silver 1/2" Drive Split Beam Torque Wrench with Flex Head - Amazon.com

I also have split beam by Precision Instruments and would recommend for wheel nuts. A downside is that they only work for right hand fasteners. The pinion nut for my Staffs is left handed so I ended up buying a spring style one from them as well. Naturally, I only want to change gears at the track when I just bring the split beam. I do also notice a difference in the "click" between the two, the spring one is more crisp.

[BeerBudgetRacing]

That begs the question on torque accuracy for wheel nuts.

I used a Pittsburg for the wheel nuts on my RF94/95. Single center nut. Wrench set at 100 and never released.

6 years - Zero loose nuts.

I now of a battery impact with a torque stick. Again, zero loose nuts in 3 years.

I would suspect that 4 or 5 lug wheels would require consistent torque, not a specific torque number.

I would not want a good torque wrench hitting the pavement in the pits.

[bassracer]

I also have split beam by Precision Instruments and would recommend for wheel nuts. A downside is that they only work for right hand fasteners. The pinion nut for my Staffs is left handed so I ended up buying a spring style one from them as well. Naturally, I only want to change gears at the track when I just bring the split beam. I do also notice a difference in the "click" between the two, the spring one is more crisp.

Correct, and Hewlands are the same. To prevent having (2) large 1/2" drive wrenches at the track, I use a small digital torque adapter for the pinion and layshaft nuts with my breaker bar (which was already put to use for nut removal). 1/2 in. Drive 25-250 ft. lb. Digital Torque Adapter (harborfreight.com)

[jrh3]

My wife had a dental implant back circa 1986. Very early on. A more serious procedure back then.
She's had 2 others since and the procedure is easier.
The newer one's are smaller but have had problems with the screws 'stretching' because the posts now are much smaller and that constant pressure on the edge of the crown rocks them loose.

She went in for a replacement. $1200 was the cost of the screw. It does come with a special screwdriver (which they wouldn't let me have).

Actually a much more complicated problem than just the screw.

[Lee Johnson]

Correct, and Hewlands are the same. To prevent having (2) large 1/2" drive wrenches at the track, I use a small digital torque adapter for the pinion and layshaft nuts with my breaker bar (which was already put to use for nut removal). 1/2 in. Drive 25-250 ft. lb. Digital Torque Adapter (harborfreight.com)

Many (most?, all?) "click-style" torque wrenches only work properly for clock-wise torquing.

The HF digital torque adapter bassracer mentions works in both directions. I've also started using it for Hewland pinion & layshaft nuts.
It displays the applied torque in real-time and makes a "beep" @ 80% of set torque, then a longer "buzz" when set torque is achieved. Also automatically shuts down to save the battery if unused for awhile.

Lee

[halcyon]

Almost hate to throw out there based on snap on cost but I have an old rotary dial snap on torque wrench that I got on the late 70’s or early 80’s. Had calibration checked every year from 1999-2020 ( worked for an aerospace co) and it was never outside the 2% tolerance level. Now that I am retired it will likely never get checked again and I am not at all concerned. Like I said cost is outrageous but if I amortize it over the 40ish years I’ve used it seem pretty cheap. Just my thoughts. Still not sure if I were in the market for a new one whether I could stomach the initial cost.

Similar experience here. My Snap-on Torque wrenches are the only ones that haven't gone out of calibration.

[patman]

For a reasonable money option, the Kobalt click types are pretty nice. I have had several in full time mechanic use for 5+ years now and still test ok.

[Keith Carter]

Just for giggles, have a look at comparisons between snap on and harbor freight torque wrenches. It might surprise you.

Got mine from HF for $9.99 a decade or so ago. I just make it a point to unwind it before putting it away. Pretty impressive for a throw away...

[Keith Carter]

I watch a lot of Project Farm videos when doing research on tools as well. https://youtu.be/HP4uECoH8cc?si=n3Jn7tB7rKRM1plE

[sccadsr31]

I have 6 torque wrenches
1/2 - Snap-on side knob adjustable 250 ft-lb
3/8 - Snap-on side knob adjustment 600 in-lb
3/8 - Snap-on electronic 50-600 in-lb programmable - auditable
1/2 - Craftsman beam 0-150 ft-lb
3/8 - Craftsman beam 0-600 in-lb
1/2 - Beam 0 - 150 ft-lb, this last one was made by my Cal-Poly Pomona Mechanical Engineering design class in 1969. It was a year class, first quarter output was the project the class was going to build, second quarter the project was designed, third quarter the project was built in volume and sold. There was of course a lot more going on during the class but ultimately the grade depended on the success of the manufacture in volume and sale of the project. I love this torque wrench and it has had a good deal of use.

In my first couple of years racing an HP Bug-eye (70-75) had a good friend (still talk to him) he had engine issues I did not. We agreed I would put together his engine. To make a long story bearable it turned out to be his click-torque wrench, 35 ft-lb's was really less that 25 ft-lb. it was not adjustable and simple got weak. He got a Snap-on, I kept using my beam, It would be some years before I decided to spend some entry fee money on a new torque wrench, afterall I had 3 very accurate beams..
When I started working on Kawasaki ZX10's the 87 in-lb bolts were everywhere.

I was at Road America mid week for something and there was a Snap-on truck parked at the road intersection just after the tunnel near turn 5. The guy said he had come out to service some racer who was testing and I asked him what he could sell me that I could not live without. He shows me the 3/8 programmable-auditable, said he had gotten it for a customer who had decided to not to get it and did not want his deposit back, sold it to me for the remainder. I never leave the batteries in it.

Can you have too many torque wrenches???

[EYERACE]

Buy a click click Craftsman. In a few years if you don't think you can trust it.. chuck it and buy another. Some tools become disposable, some treasures

[stonebridge20]

Buy a click click Craftsman. In a few years if you don't think you can trust it.. chuck it and buy another. Some tools become disposable, some treasures

Most Snap-On trucks have a torque wrench tester on board. I check all my torque wrenches every couple of years. They are all over 25 years old and are still dead on, even my 30+ year old beater Crafstman 3/8's