Torque Sticks with Impacts

[mobiledynamics]

I forgot where I saw this but figured the GJ brethren would know

Torque sticks are only for pneumatics ?
Same video showed the torque stick on a High torque impact and I believe it overtorqued by 40lbs ?

Discuss

 

[jeepinerdeep]

As far as I'm aware you can't run most pneumatic guns all out with a stick anyway. I don't see why that would be any different with a battery gun. Eventually you overcome the stick.

 

[sberry]

Dont own them, wont either. I can come close with the gun.

 

[plinker]

At work the boss wants them used, mainly so nothing is getting over torqued. On my Matco impact, I set it a click back from full forward power and it does the trick (provided said user doesnt keep hammering on the thing). All nuts are then torqued to spec with a torque wrench. He's never had a wheel come off in thirty years so something is going right.

Battery impacts are pretty much the same from what I've seen.

 

[kelpaso1]

Holy ****, this again? If you don't use a torque wrench then you are a lazy, friggen mechanic or .... Torque stiks are NOT accurate due to the different guns and air pressure.
I could go on but will let someone else.

 

[Tallpilot]

I forgot where I saw this but figured the GJ brethren would know

Torque sticks are only for pneumatics ?
Same video showed the torque stick on a High torque impact and I believe it overtorqued by 40lbs ?

Discuss

The stick works by flexing which reduces output proportionally. Therefore the input torque must be within the specified range. Proper use is to pick a stick about 2/3 of the desired torque then final tighten by hand. Like Sberry says with a little experience you can learn to do that without a stick.

Flat rate guys want something to let them avoid the final hand torque. They make those types of devices for production work. Torque sticks aren’t it.

I don’t blame flat rate guys for cutting corners. I don’t let them touch my stuff either. Caveat emptor.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

The stick works by flexing which reduces output proportionally. Therefore the input torque must be within the specified range. Proper use is to pick a stick about 2/3 of the desired torque then final tighten by hand. Like Sberry says with a little experience you can learn to do that without a stick.

Flat rate guys want something to let them avoid the final hand torque. They make those types of devices for production work. Torque sticks aren’t it.

I don’t blame flat rate guys for cutting corners. I don’t let them touch my stuff either. Caveat emptor.

I've had zero wheel-offs. A bit of common sense (which ain't so common) keeps me confident I will have zero wheel offs. Any lug-nut I install can be easily removed with your standard HF breaker bar. YMMV.

 

[Citation]

The stick works by flexing which reduces output proportionally. Therefore the input torque must be within the specified range. Proper use is to pick a stick about 2/3 of the desired torque then final tighten by hand. Like Sberry says with a little experience you can learn to do that without a stick.

Flat rate guys want something to let them avoid the final hand torque. They make those types of devices for production work. Torque sticks aren’t it.

I don’t blame flat rate guys for cutting corners. I don’t let them touch my stuff either. Caveat emptor.

That's pretty close. The stick works by flexing under impact load. That means it only works when you are using an impact wrench. With a traditional torque wrench the stick will flex but torque in equals torque out regardless of the flex in the center. With the momentary impact of the impact wrench the stick doesn't travel far enough (twist enough) to transmit the impact impulse from the gun into torque on the nut. Think of trying to use a hammer to drive a nail supported by a rigid board vs a very flexible board. The hammer has just as much power behind each hit but with a flexible board the nail just moves back and the hard strike becomes a slower push.

To answer the OP's question, yes torque sticks only work with impact type drivers. Not with normal ratchets/breaker bars.

 

[Tallpilot]

I've had zero wheel-offs. A bit of common sense (which ain't so common) keeps me confident I will have zero wheel offs. Any lug-nut I install can be easily removed with your standard HF breaker bar. YMMV.

I know there are good guys out there fixing cars everyday and doing it well. I don’t mean to offend anyone. Sadly your hack cohorts make it easier for me to just work on my own stuff than try to find you.

 

[chrisnazzy]

I've used torque sticks for 15 years in the tire business.......for PRE TORQUE ONLY!

65 ft. lb. torque limiting extension used on all vehicles which specified lug nut torque is 120 ft. lbs. or less. Final torque is achieved with a torque wrench.

120 ft. lb. torque limiting extension for full size trucks and suvs that torque between 140 and 165.



Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

 

[marineman]

1" extended anvil gun straight on at full power does the trick, possibly a different application though.

At home I've torqued my wheels a few times but honestly believe close is close enough. Snug it up and give it another 1/4 turn to feel good. I use a torque wrench on engine internals, everything else is just good n tight.

 

[Tonyuk]

We use torque wrench's in work, i usually run the bolts down lightly with the impact until they seat, then torque them with the wheels on the ground.

 

[PhysicsDude]

I've watched a few youtube videos on this subject, which seem to show that torque sticks are made for 1/2 air impact gun TORQUE RANGES. I believe the sticks had issues when being used with things like 3/8" electric impacts, due to the difference in power.

For all the people bashing torque sticks, I often do work at a large engine manufacturer that produces large diesel industrial-type engines. Except for stuff like head bolts and main bearing cap bolts, which are installed by machines, most of the engine assembly is done with Milwaukee 1/2" M18 impact guns and torque sticks.

 

[ex-x-fire]

I've used torque sticks for 15 years in the tire business.......for PRE TORQUE ONLY!

65 ft. lb. torque limiting extension used on all vehicles which specified lug nut torque is 120 ft. lbs. or less. Final torque is achieved with a torque wrench.

120 ft. lb. torque limiting extension for full size trucks and suvs that torque between 140 and 165.



Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

Yep, you only need 2 and a torque wrench.

 

[johninct]

The instructions for my torque sticks say to use with an impact putting out around 250 ft lbs so use the closest setting to 250 ft lbs.

 

[MShaw]

My last job was at a defense manufacturer. We tried torque sticks and when the government inspectors questioned the results we did extensive testing and no longer used them. After witnessing the tests and reviewing the testing results the government directed us not to use them.

 

[mobiledynamics]

Was this with air or battery. Per the OP, same stick. Battery went 40lbs over. Air was at set rate.

 

[bobcatdan]

With torque sticks, before using them you are suppose to adjust your air impact as close to 230 ft lbs output torque as possible. With the gun properly adjusted, they are reasonably accurate. Never use them on cordless.

 

[rlitman]

I've used torque sticks for 15 years in the tire business.......for PRE TORQUE ONLY!

65 ft. lb. torque limiting extension used on all vehicles which specified lug nut torque is 120 ft. lbs. or less. Final torque is achieved with a torque wrench.

120 ft. lb. torque limiting extension for full size trucks and suvs that torque between 140 and 165.



Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

+1 That's how I use mine. They're perfect for using an impact to put your lug nuts back on with the car in the air just tight enough that the hub is seated. And then you use a torque wrench with the wheel back on the ground.

 

[mobiledynamics]

That's how I use mine as well - and or right when it starts to impact with cordless gun/socket, I just stop with the gun. Then I go over them with the torque wrench

Just clarifying if the myth of overtorque on battery impacts vs sticks only working with air.

I have sticks in 17 and 19mm 90lb and sometimes I'll use it when I handthread the sockets on

 

[ScottsGT]

Bought an 80 ft lb stick for pre-torquing my lug nuts. No matter how hard I tried, I either over torqued or didn't even come close to getting them down.
Hit with the stick at 80, down to 125 with my wrench.

FWIW, they will not work with the Milwaukee M18 medium torque impact since it hits too fast and the stick does not have enough time to react. I used it on my high torque M18 and it was perfect.