Topic: Need a torque wrench options?

[purf_man]

So in building a decent motor I think I need a proper torque wrench.  I have been using a big ol 1/2" drive wrench for bike work but now that I am doing a full teardone and rebuild I think I need something a little more accurate (I am down on the very bottom of the range of the 1/2" drive)

I am looking at a couple options:


 The Cheap: 

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-8-eighth-inch-drive-click-type-torque-wrench-807.html



The easy to use one:

http://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-ARM601-3-8-Inch-Digital-Torque/dp/B004VYUQI2/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1365374529&sr=8-19&keywords=torque+wrench+3%2F8


Basic but better range:

http://www.amazon.com/Torque-752MFRMH-8-Inch-Handle-75-Foot/dp/B002L9Z27E/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1365374399&sr=8-9&keywords=torque+wrench+3%2F8

I do like that the dial type and the electronic go very low for those small 6mm bolts.  But the $20 option is appealing.  For another $20 I could put a 1.4" drive inch-pound wrench with it and be really set for the small stuff.

Honestly I have a digital wrench I was given as a gift and have yet to put a battery in it after 5 years of owning it.

I know you always want to be in the middle range of any measuring device and the digital one has a much more narrow window which I think will help with repeat-ability (plus it has a peak and hold function so I will know if I blow buy a setting)

[Mo]

I have this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Neiko-Classic-Needle-Style-8-Inch-2-Inch/dp/B0019VMI0Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1365376094&sr=8-4&keywords=torque+wrench

Not much to say other than that it works. And its cheap.

[purf_man]

http://www.sears.com/park-tool-tw-6-clicker-torque-wrench/p-SPM6180495304?prdNo=11

Found this one which is tempting with its 7 to 45 ft-lb range (will cover most all of the engine assembly nicely)

[kghost]

Buy what your comfortable with.

Buy the best you can afford. Good tools last a lifetime.

[thirsty 1]

Find one on Ebay.

I've been a mechanic my entire life. Buy one and you'll never need to buy another if you take care of it.
All I use is MAC and Snap On for my day to day needs.

This says Mac but its a Matco, good quality
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MAC-Tools-3-8-FLEX-TORQUE-Wrench-5-75-FT-LB-Model-TRB75F-/261196781710?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item3cd08a988e&vxp=mtr#ht_280wt_1129

i have this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SNAP-ON-TOOLS-3-8-DRIVE-FLEX-TORQUE-WRENCH-W-CASE-FLEX-RATCHET-USED-QC2FR75-/261195863192?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item3cd07c9498&vxp=mtr#ht_624wt_1129

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Used-SNAP-ON-3-8-torque-wrench-5-75-ft-lbs-/140950917333?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item20d15450d5&vxp=mtr#ht_25wt_1129


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-On-QD2RN25-3-8-Adj-click-type-Torque-wrench-/200912493919?
pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item2ec7515d5f&vxp=mtr#ht_199wt_1129

i have this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MAC-3-8-SWIVEL-HEAD-TORQUE-WRENCH-NEW-/360597160394?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item53f54401ca&vxp=mtr#ht_169wt_1129

i have this is for small fasteners - nice for the bike

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mac-3-8-50-250-IN-LB-Torque-Wrench-TW6250-With-case-/310639007832?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item4853871858&vxp=mtr#ht_331wt_892

[Mo]

One thing I would say for the wrenches, I would avoid buying use.

The "click" type wrenches require maintenance, and depending on how the owner took care of it, it would be in need of a calibration.

[scottly]

^^ What he said about used, especially with clicker type torque wrenches. One of the car magazines did a test recently, and found that if the wrench was left sitting without being reset to zero for a month or two, it lost accuracy.
I have a 3/8" drive beam type wrench that reads up to 300 inch-pounds (25 ft/lbs).

[thirsty 1]

Thrse guys are 100% right. I'd also like to add that a new torque wrench should also be calibrated. If you bought a used quality wrench it would more likely be in calibration then not. In the Seattle area I use http://www.robbprecisiontool.com/ they have a one week turn around and the prices are reasonable. Google torque wrench calibration for your city and something will pop up. It's just that if you buy a quality used torque wrench over the harbor freight it will/should be right. HF torque wrenches are a waist of money.

[thirsty 1]

purf_man. The CDI wrench is a snap on with another name. I just bought a Mac clicker wrench that was 20 years old. Had it calibrated and they did nothing to it. It was in calibration.

[purf_man]

I can have it calibrated at work (nuclear power plant)

I found another last night (link is at home) that was a inch-pound scaled clicker that was 88 to 580 inch pounds.

Still going between trying to find a single wrench or just getting two (since the lower end stuff needs a inch wrench while the higher stuff needs a foot wrench)

Going to look a bit more tonight and then go for something.

[VTCBike750]

Purf Man,
What did you end up getting?

Unfortunately Craftsman is all made in China now. Went to my local sears, they are on sale now, but everything they had measure more than 25 ft/lbs.

[lucky]

Read the 77! HF reviews. Then decide.

[Don R]

Hot rod mag tested a bunch of  them and the harbor freight tested favorably. I bought one, who knows how long it will stay in calibration but it's OK now.