Who makes a good torque wrench?

[steved0x]

I just checked, the Pittsburgh Harbor Freight is 1/2" drive, not 1/4" and goes from 10 ft/lbs to 150 ft/lbs. Also I have been leaving it at the last setting, which is usually 85-100 ft/lbs because putting lug nuts is usually the last thing we do. I realize now that is a no-no.

After I stripped the drain plug, I put the old one back in and decided to do it in stages, so I set the wrench to 15 ft/lbs, and got the click as I was tightening. Set the wrench to 30, and got no click after about 1/4 turn so I stopped and just left it at that setting. That is when I decided to put the wrench on another bolt and see if I could get the click, and that is when I snapped the bolt.

I have a craftsman micro torque, 3/8 that goes from 25 to 250 in/lbs, so I think I will get another 3/8 20-75/100 ft/lbs and use it for everything, and maybe save the big one for lug nuts and big values as it seems to never give any trouble there and I will do some tests comparing it with the other one. I have also released the tension on it. It is a big handle and has a lot of leverage, probably not the best to use on smaller stuff anyway. It was too easy to strip that drain plug and twist the bolt head off with that long handle (even though it was totally my fault and I learned a good lesson today)

Thanks everybody,

Steve

Edit: after some more thought I am going to treat the 1/2" Drive Harbor Freight torque wrench as nothing more that a long handled 1/2 socket wrench/breaker bar... I don't want to take a chance of messing something else up.l

[Mark_T]

Originally Posted by steved0x

Edit: after some more thought I am going to treat the 1/2" Drive Harbor Freight torque wrench as nothing more that a long handled 1/2 socket wrench/breaker bar... I don't want to take a chance of messing something else up.l

Good call. We have Princess Auto here, which seems to be similar to HF with regard to tool quality. I don't mind buying a snow shovel there, but I sure wouldn't buy one of their $20 torque wrenches, unless it was a gift for someone that had pissed me off.

Expensive car + expensive parts + cheap tools... that just makes no sense to me at all, especially given that you can get good used Snap-on and Mac on Ebay for not much more than the cheap junk costs in the stores.

[golonaus]

Originally Posted by Mark_T

Good call. We have Princess Auto here, which seems to be similar to HF with regard to tool quality. I don't mind buying a snow shovel there, but I sure wouldn't buy one of their $20 torque wrenches, unless it was a gift for someone that had pissed me off.

Expensive car + expensive parts + cheap tools... that just makes no sense to me at all, especially given that you can get good used Snap-on and Mac on Ebay for not much more than the cheap junk costs in the stores.

Torque Wrench Testing - Shop Tools - Car Craft Magazine

[MaxD]

Another Snap On fan here. Have both a 3/8 and 1/2 in models. ( Jealous of JFP with a 3/4", but replacing wheel bearings and air cooled pulleys are a rare charge in my shade tree garage).

A good torque wrench is a precision measuring tools. They are not breaker bars. You never loosen fasteners with your torque wrench. Also, its not a one size fits all tool as the OP Steve ascertains- 1/2" drive, 20 ft-lbs no way.

The pros (Byprodriver/JFP) pretty much sum it up with their tool range.

Harbor Freight really isn't saving you money in this case, buy quality they last much longer

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by MaxD

The pros (Byprodriver/JFP) pretty much sum it up with their tool range.

When making a living depends upon your tools, you buy quality and whatever you need to do the job properly. At 2AM, no one will answer their cell phone, but you can always count on your tools to be there.....

[JAAY]

I just bought a craftsman 3/8 digital and it has been great.