torque wrenches

[superlooper]

When i was at Sears on Saturday (buying myself some fathers day tools.. yes im a mama but id hella rather have tools than a frickin microwave) i was looking at the torque wrenches.. i really need one but im not sure which kind to get.. there was one for 20 bucks then they shot up 80! i know a little about them but what is the difference and which one should i get that will last me??
oh yah i ended up buying a new 122 piece craftsman socket set , a little one for the truck and a 3 1/2 ton floor jack...heehee.. also... i was going to get an air compressor for my brother and i to share... so many choices.. what is a good one for not so much money?? thanks....:naughty: you guys are the only ones i know to ask.. i ask my brother about some of this stuff and his dumba$$ just says "i dont know nothin bout trucks"....

[Incredible Hulk]

Get the torque wrench that "clicks" when it reaches the torque setting.:cool:

[97Silverado]

Originally posted by superlooper
When i was at Sears on Saturday (buying myself some fathers day tools.. yes im a mama but id hella rather have tools than a frickin microwave) i was looking at the torque wrenches.. i really need one but im not sure which kind to get.. there was one for 20 bucks then they shot up 80! i know a little about them but what is the difference and which one should i get that will last me??
oh yah i ended up buying a new 122 piece craftsman socket set , a little one for the truck and a 3 1/2 ton floor jack...heehee.. also... i was going to get an air compressor for my brother and i to share... so many choices.. what is a good one for not so much money?? thanks....:naughty: you guys are the only ones i know to ask.. i ask my brother about some of this stuff and his dumba$$ just says "i dont know nothin bout trucks"....

Oh man. Torque wrenches are probably one of the most misunderstood, misused and abused tools out there. First, decide what range you are going to need. Determine whethere you need foot/pounds or inch/pounds. You can use either one, you just have to remember to divide or multiply by 12 to get the proper value. For example, you need to torque a bolt to 120 in/lbs. If you divide by 12 you get 10 ft/lbs.

Some torque wrenches use a pointer scale but these are not as accurate as a "breakaway" torque wrench, which is what I recommend. A breakaway wrench allows you to set the actual torque value desired and will "break" or click when it reaches that value. It is very important not to go past the breakaway point as this will cause you to overtorque. Most wrenches of this type use a vertical scale and a horizontal scale. The horizontal scale will usually be marked in ones and the vertical scale in tens. Add the two together to get the correct value. The way you hold a torque wrench is also important. You should hold it only at the midpoint of the handle. Never use anything to change the length of the torque wrench (i.e. cheater bar, horizontal adapters....crows feet are okay) Anytime you change the length of the wrench you change tha amount of torque applied.

Torque wrenches should really be calibrated periodically. Banging a torque wrench around or dropping it will cause it to become inaccurate. In the AF, if we drop a torque wrench it is NOT used again until it is recalibrated. It irritates me that Discount Tire advertises that they apply torque to wheel lugs. First, unless you install lugs, bolts or nuts hand tight before you torque it, you have probably already overtorqued it. Second, not once do you ever see them reset a torque wrench and I know they bang them around alot (I used to work there)

It is very important to always reset the wrench to its lowest setting when you are done. Do NOT turn it past it's lowest setting as this will stretch the internal spring. A torque wrench should always be stored in a rigid plastic or metal box (Craftsman wrenches come with a box).

[454ss]

I was sitting here trying to get my a** out the chair and go to sears to buy one, and this is the first post I see.:D I'm buying the $80.00 one cause it's 1/2 " and it looks stronger also I'm pretty sure you can use this one to check the torque before you use it, and this one clicks when it hits the setting.

[superlooper]

That definetly helps me.. i still am really worried about over torquing my lugnuts especially ever since i did my brakes and rotors and i guess i over tightenedthem because i snapped off 3 nuts off that next week.. i also am paranoid about Discount Tire.. it seemed when i was watching them they werent paying much attention to how they torqued them.. yah i figured the 80 dollar one would be good but i defeintly need to learn how to use one so i dont f it up... thankya....


P.S. Sears is like HEAVAN to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hint hint... my birthday is next month...hmmmmmmhmmmmmm

[97Silverado]

Originally posted by superlooper
That definetly helps me.. i still am really worried about over torquing my lugnuts especially ever since i did my brakes and rotors and i guess i over tightenedthem because i snapped off 3 nuts off that next week.. i also am paranoid about Discount Tire.. it seemed when i was watching them they werent paying much attention to how they torqued them.. yah i figured the 80 dollar one would be good but i defeintly need to learn how to use one so i dont f it up... thankya....


P.S. Sears is like HEAVAN to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hint hint... my birthday is next month...hmmmmmmhmmmmmm

No problem....I feel like I have finally made a post to your questions that I answered sufficiently :D :D :D

[BaggedC10]

Originally posted by 97Silverado
No problem....I feel like I have finally made a post to your questions that I answered sufficiently :D :D :D



:word: Very informative..........:D

[97Silverado]

Originally posted by LowC10




:word: Very informative..........:D

Thanks. I have taught aircraft and avionics maintenance for the last twelve years and have over 20 years fixin' them. Torque wrenches is something we teach in basic handtools.

[AZdragger]

Originally posted by 97Silverado


Thanks. I have taught aircraft and avionics maintenance for the last twelve years and have over 20 years fixin' them. Torque wrenches is something we teach in basic handtools.

You need to transfer down here to Luke AFB. Man i'm tired of having to keep lookin into the sky and watching for falling f-16's, and etc.:cussing: :cussing: I lost count of howmany planes have crashed around here in teh past few years

[97Silverado]

Originally posted by GreenZ71


You need to transfer down here to Luke AFB. Man i'm tired of having to keep lookin into the sky and watching for falling f-16's, and etc.:cussing: :cussing: I lost count of howmany planes have crashed around here in teh past few years

That is the last course I was teaching....F-16 avionics

[AZdragger]

Originally posted by 97Silverado


That is the last course I was teaching....F-16 avionics


Obviously you weren't to entertaining, since it seems like a lot of ppl slept through it:read:

[97Silverado]

Originally posted by GreenZ71



Obviously you weren't to entertaining, since it seems like a lot of ppl slept through it:read:

I don't get paid to entertain....99% of those crashes are pilot error. We have lost damned few airplanes to maintenance in I don't know how many years!!!!

[ChevyOnAir]

I have a Craftsman Torque wrench but have always wondered if im setting it right.. whats the best to set it (say I want to torque my wheels to 140 foot pounds) cause there are no marks to set it. The Foot pounds are etched into the main steel part and on the black plastic there are numbers 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, and 9 with numbers under that in RED. Any help would be appreciated

:D

[97Silverado]

Originally posted by ChevyOnAir
I have a Craftsman Torque wrench but have always wondered if im setting it right.. whats the best to set it (say I want to torque my wheels to 140 foot pounds) cause there are no marks to set it. The Foot pounds are etched into the main steel part and on the black plastic there are numbers 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, and 9 with numbers under that in RED. Any help would be appreciated

:D

The numbers on the steel should be in 10s. There should be a line that corresponds to each of those 10s. rotate the plastic piece until the 1s line up with the 10s.....the sum of which should equal your torque value......My example shows 53 ft/lbs. Let me know if this helps!!

[ChevyOnAir]

oh!!! I get it duh:dunce:


Thanks man:D

[97Silverado]

Originally posted by ChevyOnAir
oh!!! I get it duh:dunce:


Thanks man:D

Is that kinda what yours looks like?

[ChevyOnAir]

Originally posted by 97Silverado


Is that kinda what yours looks like?

yup thats mine

:D

http://www.sears.com/data/product_images/tools/large/00944595000-dlv.jpg

[97Silverado]

Originally posted by ChevyOnAir


yup thats mine

:D

http://www.sears.com/data/product_images/tools/large/00944595000-dlv.jpg

:word: That is the most common (and the best) kind of breakaway. Couple of things to remember:

1. don't tighten the lock t0o much (plastic ring) or it will break, but if it does you can still use it. Of course Sears will replace it

2. never EVER use a torque wrench to break torque!!!

glad I could help!!

*EDIT* the numbers in red may be Newton/meters.......kinda like putting kilometers per hour on a speedo....

[ChevyOnAir]

Thanks bro you get :thumbup: :thumbup: :read:

[superlooper]

Seriously.. great info!! im getting me one this weekend!!!

[firestorm]

Of course Sears will replace it
I don't know about their other torque wrenches, but my $80 Craftsman wrench specifically stated that it had a 90 day warranty; not lifetime. 'Course, I don't think they sell mine anymore, and compared to others, it feels pretty cheap (plastic handle and collar). I really wish I had asked to be able to take it out of the packaging and hold it before I bought it. Oh well. :dunno:

[CKTA]

Craftsman Digitorq! :read:

[97Silverado]

:digger: Dang!!

[firestorm]

Ah crap... I forgot that I did a search, not "New posts"! :chair: Long day(s), can I go home now?

[97Silverado]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Bob T]

How to get a torque wrench calibrated if you don't work at an aircraft place or shipyard?
Don't see anybody in the phone book.

(link to old post follows)
http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1423240#post1423240

[454ss]

BTW if anybody cares I did get off the chair that day and bought a new wrench:head:

[blazenlo95]

BTW if anybody cares I did get off the chair that day and bought a new wrench:head:
What one did you get? :digger:

[CKTA]

BTW if anybody cares I did get off the chair that day and bought a new wrench:head:


We don't care. :middle:

[Phoenix8936]

snap on digital torque wrench..the only the best will do...lol