removing bolts with torque wrench?

[Sincitymetalworks]

before i get flamed let me say. i don't use my torque wrench in this way it is one the most expensive tools i own so i treat it that way
this morning when i seen a coworker using there torque wrench to loosen stuck bolts i said something and it tured into an all out argument.i told him that it was not a good thing to use it as a breaker bar. his defense was that he has it turned up and its not going past it torque rating(clicking) so whats the difference.i was always told to never leave one tensioned and to never use it as a breaker bar( a slap to the back of my head by my grandpa) i Google it and all i came up with is that it throws off it calibration ( which he believes to be not true since he is not going over it torque limit) so im asking you guys to give me some ammo for this! thanks in advance.

 

[OEXL16B]

Your co-worker is an idiot. Plain and simple.

 

[RangerDaleXp]

Your co-worker is an idiot. Plain and simple.

I agree....

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Why do you want ammo for that argument? Let him wreck his own tools and just keep yours away from him.

It'll be more satisfying when the wrecked torque wrench causes him to screw something up.

 

[lestat]

It doesn't throw off the calibration.

It's just that it has a much lower life span compared to a ratchet or a breaker bar, plus it's the more expensive tool. You just wear it down unnecessarily.

 

[chris142]

Why use a $200+ TQ wrench for a breaker bar when Sears and HF have the real deal for under $30?

 

[EddieSantor]

Let him wreck his own tools and just keep yours away from him.

 

[RangerDaleXp]

It doesn't throw off the calibration.

It's just that it has a much lower life span compared to a ratchet or a breaker bar, plus it's the more expensive tool. You just wear it down unnecessarily.

Wrong. Torque wrenches have a life expectancy and need recalibration around 3000 to 5000 cycles. If he is using it as a breaker bar regularly, it will be out of calibration in a few months if he works in a shop or dealership everyday. I would not want him putting new heads on anything I own....

 

[lestat]

Wrong. Torque wrenches have a life expectancy and need recalibration around 3000 to 5000 cycles. If he is using it as a breaker bar regularly, it will be out of calibration in a few months if he works in a shop or dealership everyday. I would not want him putting new heads on anything I own....

Ok, let me make it clear for you.

Using a torque wrench as a breaker bar does not throw off the calibration.

Using it heavily every day will, but so will torqueing to spec every day.

 

[RangerDaleXp]

Ok, let me make it clear for you.

Using a torque wrench as a breaker bar does not throw off the calibration.

Using it heavily every day will, but so will torqueing to spec every day.

Wrong again. Pushing a torque wrench over its limits will affect calibration and using one as a breaker bar everyday will do the same. Every time you use that tool it uses cycles which is wear and tear. Why use a $200 to $300 torque wrench as a breaker bar when you should be using the proper tool that is around $20 to $60 dollars anyways......

 

[lestat]

Wrong again. Pushing a torque wrench over its limits will affect calibration and using one as a breaker bar everyday will do the same. Every time you use that tool it uses cycles which is wear and tear. Why use a $200 to $300 torque wrench as a breaker bar when you should be using the proper tool that is around $20 to $60 dollars anyways......

OP already said it the coworker was well aware of not pushing it over the limit so you're making a moot point.

Also I already said you're wearing down your more delicate and more expensive tool by using it as a breaker bar, so another moot point.

The torque wrench is a dumb tool. It can't tell when it's being used as a breaker bar and when used to torque bolts, it will work regardless. If you suggest otherwise, let's hear it. That's what the op's beef is about.

 

[osborn.ozzy]

Almost like the one guy that lights the glue on fire before he puts the patch on. He claims he is vulcanizing the tire.

 

[RangerDaleXp]

OP already said it the coworker was well aware of not pushing it over the limit so you're making a moot point.

Also I already sad you're wearing down your more delicate and more expensive tool by using it as a breaker bar, so another moot point.

The torque wrench is a dumb tool. It can't tell when it's being used as a breaker bar and when used to torque bolts, it will work regardless. If you suggest otherwise, let's hear it.

There is no moot points. Torque wrenches are classified as a precession tool and are not meant to be used as a torque wrench. I would not want this guy building my engines or working on my cars if he uses tools that way. That is the point.....

 

[redwrench60]

Almost like the one guy that lights the glue on fire before he puts the patch on. He claims he is vulcanizing the tire.

Lol...I know that guy!

 

[pipsters]

Back maybe 5-6 years ago I lived in an apartment complex. There was a AAA Auto Care center mechanic there who helped me get my lug nuts off. He used a torque wrench and called it a "breaker bar". Even though my wife worked for AAA I never took my car there again!

 

[RangerDaleXp]

Enough said.....

 

[metaleltr]

Almost like the one guy that lights the glue on fire before he puts the patch on. He claims he is vulcanizing the tire.

My dad always told me that's how it had to be done when he was a kid (born in 59) has the technology changed?

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

Ok, straight and simple your friend is stuck on stupid
Snap On rep told me it will damage the torque wrench
Just let this ***** do as he does, when he breaks something you can laugh
at his face and tell him I told so

 

[osborn.ozzy]

My dad always told me that's how it had to be done when he was a kid (born in 59) has the technology changed?

all it does is burn the glue off, I told him next time he puts in a headliner make sure he lights the glue on fire first. If you read the can the glue comes it says let dry ( I sometimes use a shop light to help it) but not light it on fire.

 

[Greatbear]

When using a torque wrench to break loose fasteners, the sudden breakaway shock can and will degrade the calibration and even damage some torque wrenches. Dial-type and electronic (strain gauge) are the most vulnerable. Some people seem to think a "torque wrench" is meant to put shitloads of torque into a bolt just by its description. It's a measuring device. If you exceed the range of the TW the accuracy will definitely be affected.

 

[RangerDaleXp]

My dad always told me that's how it had to be done when he was a kid (born in 59) has the technology changed?

Yes it has. In the old days they did it that way but not anymore with the modern chemical patches....

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

oh there is proof from Wright tools

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

on a side note it funny I edited the above post a 936 snap on gods wish me luck

 

[boosteddsm92]

I've always wondered why they were reversible to begin with...

 

[greasemonkey44]

some you cant use in reverse; it will really f them up
if he keeps doing it, and hes not exceeding the limit hes just wearing it out.......


also I am the guy who still lights tire patches; it is fun

 

[alan camby]

I've always wondered why they were reversible to begin with...

Left handed fasteners

 

[djb2]

You'll note that the people that understand torque wrench construction know that using a clicker-style wrench as a breaker bar puts wear on the tool, but not exceptional wear.

A click-style torque wrench has a physical stop just after the ball is displaced. At that point the load is carried by the bulk metal of the wrench, not the calibrated parts. You might break the wrench, but you won't change the calibration.

A beam style wrench can more easily be bent, and using it close to its limits can affect calibration. But obviously there is no difference between using the wrench within its limits as a breaker bar, and using it within its limits as a torque wrench.

 

[jim2664258]

I've always wondered why they were reversible to begin with...

The one and only time I've heard a valid use was on my brother's Mustang, which has that problem where the spark plugs could easily break when you remove them (solution is to replace them with 1-piece spark plugs). I think the Ford docs say that to avoid breaking them, you can't apply more than X ft-lb as you try to remove them (I think it was 30).

So my brother used repeated PB Blaster treatments until they broke loose using less than their recommended torque value. That was the only time I had ever heard of using a torque wrench in reverse, and I guess if there are other applications where a reverse max torque should not be exceeded but I would expect those to be few and far between.

 

[dirtrider]

I actually own a Craftsman torque wrench that is only now used as a breaker bar, granted it basically fell apart and I'm sure calibration was way off. But no I would never use a torque wrench that was actually used for precision torquing as a breaker bar.

 

[xtremek]

I've had to use torque wrenches to measure break-away torques of certain bolts(oil pan bolts, head bolts, intake manifold....etc) for work before. Used it in this capacity a ton, because I was running durability engines and this information was tracked religiously. But I would never use one as a breaker bar. It's a precision instrument. I'd go to TSC or HF or Sear and cough up the $15-$30 for a cheap breaker bar before I'd risk damaging my torque wrench. But then again, I paid good money for mine.

 

[jetmech09]

When you use a torque wrench as a breaker bar the shock from the bolt breaking torque is what causes it to go out of calibration. They are reversible for left handed threads, along with torque adapters- crows feet, dogbones, etc. etc.

 

[nehog]

... Torque wrenches are ... not meant to be used as a torque wrench...

Well said, uh, I think! But what are they meant to be used for! (No fair cursing your keyboard for that flub... )

 

[cglasgow]

... Torque wrenches are ... not meant to be used as a torque wrench...

Well said, uh, I think! But what are they meant to be used for! (No fair cursing your keyboard for that flub... )

I think what he meant to say was that breaker bars are not meant to be used as torque wrenches. ;-)

 

[RangerDaleXp]

I think what he meant to say was that breaker bars are not meant to be used as torque wrenches. ;-)

Correct, I can't believe I typed it that way but I was getting a bit aggravated with the discussion at the time.

Torque Wrenches are not meant to be used as breaker bars.....

 

[RangerDaleXp]

Well said, uh, I think! But what are they meant to be used for! (No fair cursing your keyboard for that flub... )

As said above....

 

[cglasgow]

Torque Wrenches are not meant to be used as breaker bars.....

...and vice versa.... ;-)

 

[RangerDaleXp]

...and vice versa.... ;-)

I agree.....