Click type versus electric torque wrenches

[Jbullfrog]

I have a 1/2" digital torque wrench and a clicker style. My question is how accurate is a digital if you can't stop versus a click style that bypasses?

Case in point, I was installing a flywheel on a tractor and holding it with a turner in one hand and torquing the bolts to 110 ft/lbs with the other. I noticed the digital would actually be 4-5lbs over by the time I got stopped pulling.

 

[Art From De Leon]

Did it go over because you were doing two things at once? (This is probably why Snap-on came out with the yellow/green/red light sequence) I would say both would be within the acceptable accuracy range for the proper torque.

 

[Jbullfrog]

I have used clicker torque wrenches for 20 years and am so used to the click. Pulling and pushing at the same time makes it a bit harder to stop when the light turns red.

 

[cheechi]

I don't use them all day every day but between the two I would want a clicker.

Now here's where you can rightly ignore me; I prefer a beam type to both.

 

[Mr.3-5-7]

i prefer the electronic for more gentle work, like in an engine bay. and i love the angle feature that keeps track of your angle even if it takes a couple resets. i still use a clicker for torquing wheels and such

 

[GSteg]

I have a 1/2" digital torque wrench and a clicker style. My question is how accurate is a digital if you can't stop versus a click style that bypasses?

Case in point, I was installing a flywheel on a tractor and holding it with a turner in one hand and torquing the bolts to 110 ft/lbs with the other. I noticed the digital would actually be 4-5lbs over by the time I got stopped pulling.

How do you know the digital wrench is over by 4-5lbs? Maybe the clicker is under by 4-5 and the digital wrench is correct?

How old is the clicker and when was it last calibrated? I find digital torque wrenches to be more precise than most other kinds of wrenches.

 

[ffast65]

Beam or electric! Their is an oil additive supplier who banned clickers for a reason; cost them millions to figure out the clicker can fail prematurely without cause.

I'm sure others will disagree, but 20 years of no failures for engine builds, I know my choices

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

How do you know the digital wrench is over by 4-5lbs?

The digital displays the actual torque achieved. If you pull past the beep it will give you that reading. It's kind of nice being able to watch yourself creep up on a torque value.

I prefer clickers because I'm not working on super precise stuff and I hate having to change batteries and I've yet to find a digital with a comfortable grip.

 

[dnschmidt]

I have at least 20 torque wrenches of both clicker and digital variety. In the digital realm there is a company in Taiwan named Eclatorq which I feel makes the best digital torque wrenches in the world an opinion Mac Tools seems to share as that's where their digital torque wrenches come from. I have several of these and am actually considering selling them in the USA. What I really like about them is that they have what looks like a drag racing Christmas tree for when you approach desired torque. These start lighting and beeping at about 95% of the target torque which I think is a big advantage over single lights. Digital wrenches are extremely accurate, many have multiple memory locations so that you can store up to nine desired torques and they are way ****.

The problem is that in the real world you can seldom see the display as modern engines are so tight. This is where the clicker has the advantage. Stevie Wonder can use a clicker and most of the time when you're using a torque wrench over a fender you can see things just about as well as he can.

In closing for bench work you can't beat digital. For on the car work you need the clicker.

 

[Dust Devil]

My Snap-on techangle has lights just like that

 

[Ruger_556]

I prefer clickers because I'm not working on super precise stuff and I hate having to change batteries and I've yet to find a digital with a comfortable grip.

I like the knurled aluminum grip on my Control Tech

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I like the knurled aluminum grip on my Control Tech

I noticed that grip when you posted up pictures, those do look nice. I should say I don't like the plastic/rubber grips that are common on digital wrenches.

 

[Mr.3-5-7]

yeah the SO techangle has progressive lights and it vibrates and beeps when torque is achieved. it also has a setting that can compensate for different length extensions you might be using. you can also change between in-lbs, ft-lbs, Nm, and some other that i never use. the techangle grip is extremely comfortable and i think is a great value for what i got it for on sale @ $350

 

[GSteg]

The digital displays the actual torque achieved. If you pull past the beep it will give you that reading. It's kind of nice being able to watch yourself creep up on a torque value.

What I meant was how does the OP know the digital wrench is over by 4-5 lbs instead of the clicker being under by 4-5. The clicker could have been set to 180 ft-lbs but provide an actual 185 ft-lbs. That tells me the clicker's calibration is off. My Snap On digital torque wrench has been going strong as far as accuracy goes. My clicker needs a calibration once every blue moon.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I have a 1/2" digital torque wrench and a clicker style. My question is how accurate is a digital if you can't stop versus a click style that bypasses?

Case in point, I was installing a flywheel on a tractor and holding it with a turner in one hand and torquing the bolts to 110 ft/lbs with the other. I noticed the digital would actually be 4-5lbs over by the time I got stopped pulling.

What I meant was how does the OP know the digital wrench is over by 4-5 lbs instead of the clicker being under by 4-5. The clicker could have been set to 180 ft-lbs but provide an actual 185 ft-lbs. That tells me the clicker's calibration is off. My Snap On digital torque wrench has been going strong as far as accuracy goes. My clicker needs a calibration once every blue moon.

I don't think he was saying the wrench was out of calibration by 4-5lbs, but more he overpulled by 4-5lbs.