Digital torque wrench options

[daithi]

Looking for a new torque wrench - actually I need to add a 3/8" and replace my 1/2" but budget is for 1 right now. My current 3/8 is too low a range and there's no overlap with my 1/2" and the 1/2" is just worn out, the markings on the handle are all illegible and sometimes it slips instead of giving the usual "click".

We work on a bit of everything in our shop, from ATVs to Graders, Lawnmowers to Gensets. I was thinking that a 3/8 digital and 1/2" split beam would be ideal. The 1/2" would do usual duty - lug nuts, suspension and so on. The 3/8" digital would handle the smaller lug nuts (ATVs), bearing preloads as well as any engine work.

I was browsing around and obviously the HF Quinn is a good price. They don't have Flex heads which isn't a deal breaker but would be convenient. I'd also have to drive down to HF from Canada. Gearwrench has a few options and the majority of reviews are positive, but the negative ones are really, really bad (see here).

We also regularly set a bearing preload at work of 150Nm. Most of the 3/8" digitals go to 100 ft-lb or 135 Nm so they won't even work for one of the more common jobs I do.

Which leaves the big expensive elephant in the room: The Techangle. Leaving aside price for a moment (and I'm still an apprentice so I could get a bit of a discount), our shop has all but sworn off SnapOn. We're a little out of the way and the guy just shows no interest in showing up. Warranty isn't worth **** if your rep is a ghost and some of the guys have not only outstanding credit balances but drawers of tools waiting for a rep to exchange. And it's not like the TechAngle has a lifetime warranty anyway, it's only 2 years.

Are there any other options out there? CDI units seem to be really hard to find in Canada but I don't see any other 3/8 options that will go up to the 125 ft-lb mark. I could go for a 1/2" digital but I thought I'd get away with mechanical at that drive size.

 

[dnschmidt]

You're out of luck in 3/8" drive. They all max out at 135 Nm. I sell Eclatorq (which makes most of the digital torque wrenches sold by all divisions of Stanley Black and Decker (Proto, USAG, Mac) and the Harbor Freight Quinn and they make no 3/8" torque wrenches that exceed 135 Nm. You're only hope Obi-Wan is to get an interchangeable head torque wrench and replace the 1/2" ratchet with a 3/8" if you really are set on doing this. But, I don't see what that gains you as you're still stuck with a long and big wrench. The Gearwrench you mentioned is a nightmare to set up and use. Once you've figured out the magic code it is accurate but it's completely unintuitive. It comes with a huge instruction sheet which is never a good sign. Also, the only advantage of a digital torque wrench is if it comes with built in angle capability. Other than that a split beam or clicker are both faster to use. The best clickers are made by Norbar in England as they have the best torque setting scales.

 

[daithi]

You're out of luck in 3/8" drive. They all max out at 135 Nm. I sell Eclatorq (which makes most of the digital torque wrenches sold by all divisions of Stanley Black and Decker (Proto, USAG, Mac) and the Harbor Freight Quinn and they make no 3/8" torque wrenches that exceed 135 Nm. You're only hope Obi-Wan is to get an interchangeable head torque wrench and replace the 1/2" ratchet with a 3/8" if you really are set on doing this. But, I don't see what that gains you as you're still stuck with a long and big wrench. The Gearwrench you mentioned is a nightmare to set up and use. Once you've figured out the magic code it is accurate but it's completely unintuitive. It comes with a huge instruction sheet which is never a good sign. Also, the only advantage of a digital torque wrench is if it comes with built in angle capability. Other than that a split beam or clicker are both faster to use. The best clickers are made by Norbar in England as they have the best torque setting scales.

That's frustrating, but glad I checked the spec on that hub before buying anything! I think I'm going to scratch the Gearwrench from my mind there's just too many weird complaints and horror stories out there when you sift through the "haven't used it yet but looks good, 5*" reviews.

I was always thinking of getting something like the Brown Line Metalworks angle gauge - too afraid of overdoing it on the angle TW and getting that error screen I've read about (eg is 60Nm + 60* greater than the 135Nm max?). I just wanted digital for running/rotating torque, rather than buying a dial/needle beam style.

Some guys are adamant that you need this for bearing preload, others are not. I'm trying to do an info dig on it to find something definitive. This Timkin procedure poster never mentions running/rotating torque, just an initial torque, back off, final torque. Seems to me like this could be done with a Split Beam/Regular clicker.If that's the case I might just buy 3/8" and 1/2" split beams and be done with it (I hate adjusting up and zeroing down the twist type clickers every time I use them). I know Tekton has some and what tools I've bought from them have served me well so far. PI is a little harder to come by in Canada than the US. If/when the time comes to do a diff rebuild or similar I can buy a cheap 1/4" Needle for a one off job.

 

[tak1313]

Since you have to replace both, what if you replace the 1/2" and get the new Quinn 3/8 torque adapter to tide over until you can afford a wrench, since the Quinn adapter is very accurate and run at $40 (US) when not on sale?

 

[dnschmidt]

There is a very different and I think better solution. Eclatorq makes what some would call a digital torque adapter, which I know Proto, and honestly I sell, that is a combination torque wrench and angle gauge. It's sort of the big brother to the Brownline angle gauge mentioned above. This enables you to use any ratchet or breaker bar with it to measure both torque and angle.

 

[daithi]

Since you have to replace both, what if you replace the 1/2" and get the new Quinn 3/8 torque adapter to tide over until you can afford a wrench, since the Quinn adapter is very accurate and run at $40 (US) when not on sale?

There is a very different and I think better solution. Eclatorq makes what some would call a digital torque adapter, which I know Proto, and honestly I sell, that is a combination torque wrench and angle gauge. It's sort of the big brother to the Brownline angle gauge mentioned above. This enables you to use any ratchet or breaker bar with it to measure both torque and angle.

My only hesitation the the digital adapters is the size/access considerations. It's

When you say you sell Eclatorq do you sell to consumers or you wholesale to the likes of Proto?

I just found the Proto J6300TWA on crazy clearance ($40 CAD/30USD) - it's the magnetic style similar to the Brown Line. For how often I do angle it's definitely tempting me to go down that route, not to mention I think it would work for both 3/8 and 1/2" applications. What are the major downsides compared to something with a ratchet pass through?

 

[tak1313]

I just found the Proto J6300TWA on crazy clearance ($40 CAD/30USD)

Where is that? I'd buy one even though I have nothing to do with it - at least right now.

 

[dnschmidt]

My only hesitation the the digital adapters is the size/access considerations. It's

When you say you sell Eclatorq do you sell to consumers or you wholesale to the likes of Proto?

I just found the Proto J6300TWA on crazy clearance ($40 CAD/30USD) - it's the magnetic style similar to the Brown Line. For how often I do angle it's definitely tempting me to go down that route, not to mention I think it would work for both 3/8 and 1/2" applications. What are the major downsides compared to something with a ratchet pass through?

That's Ecaltorq too. The two downside is that you need to achieve the angle with one pull or press a button between pulls to continue counting the angle whereas the ones I attached automatically do that and secondly the ones I've attached are actual torque wrenches in addition to doing angle. For $40 BUY IT as Proto lists these for several hundreds of dollars.

 

[dnschmidt]

When you say you sell Eclatorq do you sell to consumers or you wholesale to the likes of Proto?

I sell to consumers. Right now my stock is a little low but if you're interested in something let me know and I can see what I've got.

 

[daithi]

Where is that? I'd buy one even though I have nothing to do with it - at least right now.

https://www.princessauto.com/en/digital-angle-adapter/product/PA0009111279

 

[tak1313]

https://www.princessauto.com/en/digital-angle-adapter/product/PA0009111279

[email protected], when the destination is US, the ONLY State option is North Dakota (which is kind of weird).

 

[daithi]

That's Ecaltorq too. The two downside is that you need to achieve the angle with one pull or press a button between pulls to continue counting the angle whereas the ones I attached automatically do that and secondly the ones I've attached are actual torque wrenches in addition to doing angle. For $40 BUY IT as Proto lists these for several hundreds of dollars.

Well I impulse bought it so we'll see how it goes! I assume it will come with an instruction sheet of some sort. When you say a single pull do you mean without ratcheting or one motion? Like if you pause but don't ratchet can you pull again?

I sell to consumers. Right now my stock is a little low but if you're interested in something let me know and I can see what I've got.

I'll browse their lineup and see what jumps out at me most. Now that I have this angle tool on the way I'm back to leaning towards mechanical/split beam.

[email protected], when the destination is US, the ONLY State option is North Dakota (which is kind of weird).

Lol that's bizarre. Must be a glitch on the website.

 

[danski0224]

There is a very different and I think better solution. Eclatorq makes what some would call a digital torque adapter, which I know Proto, and honestly I sell, that is a combination torque wrench and angle gauge. It's sort of the big brother to the Brownline angle gauge mentioned above. This enables you to use any ratchet or breaker bar with it to measure both torque and angle.

That looks like it would be great for torquing wheels.

 

[signcrafter]

I have the gearwrench 1/2" digital torque wrench. It took a little to figure it all out but it does come with instructions. Once you get used to it, it has served me well. I don't use it everyday so couldn't justify the next step up of snap on. I will be getting the 3/8" in the near future also.

 

[pbon]

I bought the HF Icon digital angle wrench in 1/2 recently for about $275 on sale. I was told there is a lifetime warranty. It got high ratings in a utube test against competitors that included snap on.

 

[dnschmidt]

The ICON is the bomb. It's made by KABO which is as good as it gets. I wouldn't call it superior to the Eclatorq equivalent but it's equal to it. When HF has one of their 20% off coupons it's a deal that's impossible to beat. The fact that if it shits the bed you can simply walk into HF and grab another one off the shelf is a huge advantage which nobody else offers.