Good value torque wrenches without breaking the bank?

[dawgn86]

I had been rebuilding a Trek road bike and don't have a torque wrench that can read inch-lb, so I used the 'good and snug' method but last week, I got an Ariens riding mower with a bad head gasket and the torque is more important for reinstalling the head. I had bought a Pittsburgh wrench from Harbor freight but since the bike went on the back burner, never used it until Friday and when I was tightening the first bolt, it never clicked. I have seen a lot of videos showing people using that wrench and they received good reviews, but I don't think customers should have to do Quality Control testing for any manufacturer unless they pay us in some way. I also don't like the need to turn the handle three times through its range from low to high and turning the sleeve felt like I was scraping the thread into a new piece of metal- the first replacement had grease coming out and it was very hard to turn. I tested the first one by putting a 1/4"-3/8" adapter and clamping it in my vise to check it at the lowest torque setting and it never clicked. It actually broke the adapter that I had used for decades- I had ground off some material so it could be used once and it never failed until I was testing the wrench.

I was pretty PO'd- neither of the HF stores is close enough for me to call them 'convenient', but I need to finish the work, so I drove out and exchanged it without any problem from them, even though I had never registered it (can't even see that it was needed until it's opened), but I wasn't going to leave without testing it and since I bought a set of adapters, I was able to use a vise again. The replacement never clicked, the 2nd and 3rd replacements didn't click. I was talking to the store manager after the first exchange and he tried a couple of them, even went to the back room to grab one in a fresh case- none of them worked.

To be honest, I have had very few problems with their tools and have a lot of SnapOn, some Craftsman and other brands but this was ridiculous.

Anyway, I still need a torque wrench that will work between 20-240 inch-pounds. What do you fine people use? I don't expect to need it often.

I would prefer Taiwanese if it's going to come from Asia.

Tekton has good quality torque wrenches

 

[Gym123]

Tekton has good quality torque wrenches

I have seen that, but as I posted, I bought the torque adapter and won't use an in-lb wrench often, unless I find myself working on bicycles and mowers more often.

 

[Red Good]

Hmmm, quick ? - - - how many torque wrench users have their wrench recalibrated annually..... "silence"

If you step on the snap on truck the calibration device is usually on the wall behind the driver. Beam type and several klicker types and a new digital beeper one , checked every year . And likely the only thing free on that truck !!

 

[g-man57]

This discussion brings up an interesting thought... Why don't auto parts stores, etc., have calibration devices so shade-tree mechanics can check their wrenches? I would think it would be 'magnet' for customers working on projects that require them to use their torque wrench.

 

[Gym123]

If you step on the snap on truck the calibration device is usually on the wall behind the driver. Beam type and several klicker types and a new digital beeper one , checked every year . And likely the only thing free on that truck !!

The question of "What should I do if it doesn't meet spec?" needs to be considered, too. That's the main thing preventing me buying a used torque wrench- repairing isn't cheap.

 

[13brian]

what does the project farm guy say - have they tested tore wrenches?

For cost and accuracy the digital adapters (specifically HFT Quinn & AC Delco) seem to be the best deals. There is also another YouTube channel Torque Test Channel with some very good tests and info. FWIW

After watching 4-5 testing episodes on both, I grabbed and AC Delco digital adapter and will be recalibration my HFT clicker very soon.

 

[Hammermechanicman]

I wonder how exact on torque settings you need to be on a mower engine? Other than head bolts that i cheat on regularly by adding 10 ft/lb, rod and sump bolts. What else do you guys use a torque wrench on? After over a half century of twisting things i rarely grab a torque wrench.

 

[ILENGINE]

I wonder how exact on torque settings you need to be on a mower engine? Other than head bolts that i cheat on regularly by adding 10 ft/lb, rod and sump bolts. What else do you guys use a torque wrench on? After over a half century of twisting things i rarely grab a torque wrench.

Head, Sump, Rod, and Flywheel bolt/nut for me. I also check the lug nut/bolts on my tractor and the loader mounting bolts.

 

[StarTech]

Well I use them nearly on everything here. It probably why have 1/4, 3/8, 1/2" and 3/4 RH versions and 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2" LH versions. LH are needed on chainsaws and ATV (UTV) units. I also small in/lb driver for 10-15 in/lbs screws on the plastic carburetors and air filter bases just to keep from warping them.

SO far the max torque I needed has been 300 ft/lbs or I would have gotten a 600 ft/lb version.

 

[jcaden]

I have had a problem with the HF torque wrenches where the mechanism in the handle disconnects if the knob adjustment is loosened too far. (No click problem). Its easily solved by opening up the handle and re-connecting the mechanism.