Best Torque Wrench?

[sontakke]

Even on that Ducati, if the bolt were at 200 or at 250, you will NOT die! Obviously, you would have catastrophe if that bolt were left at 100 ft-lb. But if you routinely handle car lug nuts, you should be able to differentiate between 100 vs 200 ft-lb of torque without needing a torque wrench.

What I am getting at is before picking up the torque wrench, make sure you can reliably tell if it is out of whack by 100% or not. If you can not, you should NOT be wrenching.

 

[Yuriman]

Even on that Ducati, if the bolt were at 200 or at 250, you will NOT die! Obviously, you would have catastrophe if that bolt were left at 100 ft-lb. But if you routinely handle car lug nuts, you should be able to differentiate between 100 vs 200 ft-lb of torque without needing a torque wrench.

What I am getting at is before picking up the torque wrench, make sure you can reliably tell if it is out of whack by 100% or not. If you can not, you should NOT be wrenching.

I know I'm taking this slightly out of context, but how does someone learn to know how tight 200 ft-lbs is if they shouldn't pick up a torque wrench until they already know how it feels?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Even on that Ducati, if the bolt were at 200 or at 250, you will NOT die! Obviously, you would have catastrophe if that bolt were left at 100 ft-lb. But if you routinely handle car lug nuts, you should be able to differentiate between 100 vs 200 ft-lb of torque without needing a torque wrench.

What I am getting at is before picking up the torque wrench, make sure you can reliably tell if it is out of whack by 100% or not. If you can not, you should NOT be wrenching.

I could tell the difference.

Too loose and, at the very least, you would damage the rear wheel and hub as it slips on the hub because of the amount of torque put to that rear wheel. Not something I'd care to experience.

I've removed the rear wheel on my bike a few times. It is so easy to do and having a quality torque wrench has been well worth the time and money it has saved me having to ride to the dealer every time I need a set of tires or I want to bleed the rear brake (which is much easier with the rear wheel off the bike).

 

[Wuzup101]

Clearly nobody read my first post (post 10). You can get split beams that click just like a micrometer wrench.

Edit: To clear any confusion this is a split beam torque wrench:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002XMSFIM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_wOxMyb83114YD

Not this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PUT6E38/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_RPxMyb1MYNETM

I realize now the person I had quoted was probably talking about the latter.

Learn something new every day - I was definitely thinking about the drive beam torque wrench.

 

[TridenT]

Any recommendations on which wrenches specifically to get? (Say from CDI) I'm looking for one to do things that are up to 100 ft-lbs (my wheels are the only thing I know that take 100) but also smaller jobs for things like oil pans which are usually in the 5-10 ft-lbs rain.

Their digital ones are about $300 each and that's a rather high price. The horror stories I read are bad too. Something about overtorquing the bolt past what you set the wrench to can damage the torque wrench permanently. (Even if it's just 10% over! Say 22ft-lbs instead of 20!)

D: It's made me go very far away from the digital lines right now because of that insanity.

 

[repoman0]

I've had these two for ~4 years and they've been a decent range. Easy and quick to set ... I've never felt the need for a digital.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B002LA19P2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004618UI8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If you torque your wheels to 100 ft-lbs maybe grab the 20-150 instead of 10-100. Mine call for 85.

Side question, anyone know how often to look into recalibration?

 

[tortoise]

For those with a "sense of torque", a corded clutch driver may be suitable for some torque applications . . Ryobi . . Northern Tool.

A second for split-beams.

 

[momeNt]

Cant a luggage scale placed in a known measurable spot along a long wrench perform very accurately? Won't break and can also be used on your vacations to avoid overweight charges.

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/torque-wrench-luggage-scale-d_1909.html

 

[sontakke]

I have actually used similar concept to verify the accuracy of my torque wrenches. I actually used the bathroom scale and jury rigged few sockets and extensions but the basic idea is the same.

 

[sontakke]

I know I'm taking this slightly out of context, but how does someone learn to know how tight 200 ft-lbs is if they shouldn't pick up a torque wrench until they already know how it feels?

I am not saying don't pick up torque wrench. I am saying you need to be able to differentiate between 100 v 200 without using torque wrench aka with your "grunt" feel. You can not substitute torque wrench for that feel.

 

[Slappy00]

I have 3 for different values, all work fine:

Husky 1/2" for high torque (not used that often, mostly wheels, axles and such)
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-50-250-ft-lbs-1-2-in-Drive-Torque-Wrench-H2DTWA/205914009

Craftsman Clicker for medium torque (this is used often, although I like my electric better). I have an older model
https://www.craftsman.com/products/...e-wrench-3-8-drive-00931424000p?taxon_id=1909

Craftsman inch-pounds clicker also used often
https://www.craftsman.com/products/craftsman-micro-clicker-torque-wrench-3-8-drive

My new electric torque wrench, its pretty awesome, but gotta change the batteries
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VYUQI2/


I always use torque wrenches when torque is specified, it's best practice and should be done for any bolt that holds things together.

 

[RLGL]

You guys are way over analyzing the subject . Each wrench has its place determined how it is being used!