torque wrench

[TurboKA37]

im looking to buy a torque wrench. will a cheap $20 one off ebay work just fine? heres an example: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...42265

[Nismo_Freak]

No... don't buy a cheap torque wrench.

Buy a craftsman at least... matco, mac, snap-on, cornwell if you can afford it.

[Bubba1]

Agree, go with a good one, it'll last forever

[tinted]

There are five things to consider:

DriveTorque rangeLengthQualityWarranty

right?

Whats wrong with this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/c...r=239

[TurboKA37]

that one looks good to me. what advantages are there on that pittsburgh torque wrench vs. a craftsman one with near the same specs for $70

[drjohn]

Torque wrenches tend to get knocked around if not careful and the quality of material used will also affect the need for calibration from time to time. Depending on use it's good to cal. them once a year or once every two years. There is also the torgue angle wrench which is a more precise way to torgue.

[TurboKA37]

yea i saw those torque angle wrenches. looked kinda odd to me and old fashioned. but what works works

[red240ne]

I got a VERY good one at a swap meet, lol. 10 bucks. But yea, buy a good craftsman one. If you go to an auto parts store and buy a 20 dollar one, then it'll blow after like 2 months. The ratchet will go bad, sockets won't stay on as good anymore, and the torque mechanisms(or whatever) get all screwy.

I don't know how to describe all that, but IMO, don't buy a ****ty torque wrench.

[BadMojo]

Cheap tools suck. Another vote for Craftsman.

The Craftsman lifetime warranty rocks, but I've never actually had a Craftsman tool break on me! :thumbup

Snap-On probably has a bit more prestige associated with the brand, but I've never had a problem with Craftsman stuff. Snap-On costs serious $$$, while Craftsman falls in to the mid-range as far as price goes.

[Cold_Zero]

I bought my Craftsman 1/2 Torque Wrench for only $50. The thing you will want to look into is, how high or low the wrench will go. Also, make sure you get one with standard and metric measurements. Its a pain to have to stop and convert a measurement.

Just a note: Depending on the size of the socket extension, socket extensions will effect the torque setting of the wrench.

[TurboKA37]

yea i was looking on the ranges for the craftsman torque wrenches. one of them was 25-250 lb/ft but i think i may need to measure smaller than 25 lb/ft. there was another one that measured either 15 or 20 to 150 lb/ft which would prolly be better

[Nathan]

that even would be to high for some things...cam bolts on a KA are 8lbs. although my understanding is that if you manage to get them up to 8lbs. without shearing them you are a very lucky person, 6 is the number to go with. I got a craftsman torque wrench and like it a lot

[AllTurBo]

I have the craftsman 10-75 ft/lb 3/8'' drive, comes in handy for those smaller bolts for my s13 like on water pumps and valve covers etc., but also can handle the bigger stuff. I don't think there is much on my s13 that goes above 75 ft/lbs which is about 105 N/m (it's calibrated for both). I think I paid like $50-60 for it at Sears (where else).

Does calibration fall under the craftsman warranty??

[DAEDALUS]

My Craftsman goes from 5-80 ft-lbs in .5 ft-lb increments. Cost $100, but it was well worth it. I have 3 other torque wrenches, and this one is the best overall, hands down. In case it's not obvious, get a clicker type, not a beam type.

[SmithSR]

My Craftsman goes from 5-80 ft-lbs in .5 ft-lb increments. Cost $100, but it was well worth it. I have 3 other torque wrenches, and this one is the best overall, hands down. In case it's not obvious, get a clicker type, not a beam type.

Same. I'm happy with the Craftsman unit. On a slightly different note, I once forgot that I left a craftsman screwdriver in the engine bay of my old Bronco. I had this awful smell both on the way to work, and as I was letting her warm up before going home. I pop the hood, and there is my nice new screwdriver, with the handle being quickly melted onto the header. I shut 'er off, let it cool a bit, and removed the screwdriver. Whole handle was melted into a long turd shape, complete with melted plastic smell. The next day, I took it in to Sears. Guy looks at it, perplexed, looks at me, and says "man, I don't even want to know." He tosses it into a bin full of busted tools, hustles off, and quickly returns with a new screwdriver. "Have a nice day" he says, and I was off.

[Nathan]

I got the 5-80 as well come to think of it, and I think it was only 70 bucks I haven't gotten to use it much yet but it's about to see it's fair share!

[TurboKA37]

Same. I'm happy with the Craftsman unit. On a slightly different note, I once forgot that I left a craftsman screwdriver in the engine bay of my old Bronco. I had this awful smell both on the way to work, and as I was letting her warm up before going home. I pop the hood, and there is my nice new screwdriver, with the handle being quickly melted onto the header. I shut 'er off, let it cool a bit, and removed the screwdriver. Whole handle was melted into a long turd shape, complete with melted plastic smell. The next day, I took it in to Sears. Guy looks at it, perplexed, looks at me, and says "man, I don't even want to know." He tosses it into a bin full of busted tools, hustles off, and quickly returns with a new screwdriver. "Have a nice day" he says, and I was off.

hehe.. ill have to check out the 5-80 lb/ft