Would you trust Tekton torque wrenches for aircraft work?

[PiperCub49]

I have a couple aircraft that I can do my own work on without an A&P license and will have more in my future.

I have the 1/2" drive Tekton torque wrench for vehicle lug nuts and suspension components and it has worked okay. Now I'm looking for a 3/8" drive. There have been a few instances where the torque wrench didn't click and I overtorqued fasteners. Is this the anomaly with Tekton wrenches? Seems like everyone loves them. However, I see too many reviews where people say, "They work great! But I have no way to test its accuracy or consistency." That doesn't do me much good when I have to rely on it for my aircraft.

Does anyone have some really good or bad things to say about the Tekton torque wrenches compared to CDI or Precision Instruments? I'm looking for qualitative data, not "You need to spend big money to give you the warm and fuzzies because you work on airplanes".

What matters is accuracy, precision, and repeatability. Do Tekton torque wrenches consistently deliver on these, without a doubt in your mind?

 

[BFHtime]

I have tested my 1/2" Tekton against my 1/2" Snap-on and they were very accurate. With 0-2 pounds at 92lbs/ft. This was done manually so there is some human error in there. I would check them from time to time to ensure accuracy, especially for aircraft, and my experience was they were quite accurate.

 

[Jersey Drew]

I forget where I saw it but I think texting torque wrenches are quite accurate. And if I’m not mistaken they come with a certificate verifying their accuracy. i will have to double check that tomorrow.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

What is the failure mode, IF your torque wrench fails to deliver?

Whatever I bought, I would send it for 3rd party calibration if the wrench decides if I live or die plunging out of the sky.

 

[Skin]

You can afford multiple planes but only want to spend $50 on a torque wrench?

 

[Cgw1984]

You can afford multiple planes but only want to spend $50 on a torque wrench?

Was thinking the same thing. I love tekton tools. But if i was buying something to work on aircraft, (which is what my actual job is) itd be a known quantity. (Our tools are provided. The tq wrenches are cdi.) Especially if i already owned one from said brand that occasionally malfunctioned.

 

[SeisMec]

As other have said - airplanes - falling ...

What ever wrench you get, keep in mind that you want to have it recertified/adjusted on a regular basis.

torque wrench calibration interval

torque wrench calibration frequency

 

[drtyler]

Would you use Tekton if you had an A&P license?

Use something good, not something from a marketing company.

 

[Lassen Forge]

If you're doing A&P work, then you know you have to sign off on the work you do. And failures trace right back to your lap.

The question is this - What is that pilot and passenger's life worth? What's YOUR life worth? Because if you use a untrustworthy tool, and something comes augering out of the sky and into terra firma, and they decide to look at your toolbox... and find a funky non-reliable torque wrench...

My dad did A&P in his 20's and he had nothing BUT beam torque wrenches, because he couldn't trust a clicker to be dead accurate every time.

So no, I don't think I would. Especially if you know they don't always work.

 

[Fly YX]

I have a few Tekton torque wrenches and have not had any problems. They all go through cal every year and pass. I do commercial aviation started at Midwest Express back in the day.

 

[Discap]

I work on helicopters both experimental and certified. The first thing I would say is that you need a 1/4” torque wrench that measures in inch pounds. Check the references for torques, 1/4” aircraft fasteners are torqued to 45 in-lb. this is typically way below mid range on most 3/8” drive wrenches.

Secondly, at one time I owned 5 torque wrenches by major American manufacturers. Here in Wichita it is easy to have your torque wrench calibrated. I did them all at the same time. This was after using them for many years without calibration. Only 2 passed the SnapOns. I threw the others in the trash.

Torque wrenches on airplanes are too important to “save money on”. I calibrate every year, as called for on the regs. You should too. If your cheap Chinese versions calibrate, then keep using them. If they don’t, throw them out. The only way to know is to calibrate annually.

 

[Cgw1984]

2nd post in this thread, because i feel very strongly about this- if a cdi (known quality) is $100, and the tekton (again, a brand i like) is $50, really stop and think... is my life worth the extra $50? Seriously. Ratchet? Tekton is great! Socket? Go tekton! Screwdrivers? Again, tekton is a solid choice. Tq wrench? Known good quantity.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Is this a serious ******* question????????

 

[metaleltr]

Personally-no

I’d be looking at snap-on, norbar or Sykes picavant

 

[tonyciambrone]

People calling Tekton a marketing company...

People suggesting "snap-on" torque wrenches...

Yep, good thread.

 

[bczygan]

No matter the brand, SnapOn, Tekton, HF or others.

Test them regularly and use them if they pass.

Simple.

Bill

 

[woody 73]

I would guess you could use any torque wrench out there but...

If the op has enough money to buy several small planes then why not buy the best torque for the money to work on those planes.

If you do buy any torque wrench at least keep checking it from time to time.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

No matter the brand, SnapOn, Tekton, HF or others.

Test them regularly and use them if they pass.

Simple.

Bill

Yup, buy whatever you want, and calibrate it regularly. Higher end wrenches may come with an individual calibration certificate.

If the tekton gets sent out to a 3rd party, and passes with a certification, it's fine. I wouldn't use ANY brand on aircraft without at least a manufacturer certification certificate. Ideally a 3rd party would also approve it for such use.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

Brand is an indicator not measure of quality. Any torque wrench that is used properly and passes testing is okay in my mind.

Maybe I'm mistaken but I feel like aviation probably has a lot of torque + angle specs. I would get a properly certified/calibrated digital torque wrench which can handle angle as well. I also think digital torque wrenches are more accurate since they can tell you not just whether you reached the desired torque but also what the actual torque you reached was (how far you went over). In my mind that is huge plus for getting consistent and accurate results.

 

[anndel]

No matter what brand you buy, test them initially for accuracy then get them calibrated annually.

 

[visionguru]

Brand is an indicator not measure of quality. Any torque wrench that is used properly and passes testing is okay in my mind.

Maybe I'm mistaken but I feel like aviation probably has a lot of torque + angle specs. I would get a properly certified/calibrated digital torque wrench which can handle angle as well. I also think digital torque wrenches are more accurate since they can tell you not just whether you reached the desired torque but also what the actual torque you reached was (how far you went over). In my mind that is huge plus for getting consistent and accurate results.

I agree. Digital torque wrenches are superior in terms of accuracy, repeatability (precision), and minimizing user errors (such as not feeling the click). Another huge benefit is that digital torque wrench doesn't have mechanical moving parts, thus not as easily go out of calibration as the click type.

Tekton torque wrenches are similar to $10 Harbor Freight in design, slightly better workmanship, with 4% accuracy. People in this thread keep mentioning sending it in for 3rd party calibration. Seriously? Spending $75 to calibrate a $40 torque wrench? Annually?

In 5 years, the calibration cost could exceed a Snap On Techangle.

For OP, if you care about accuracy, spending more, just to make any calibration cost worthwhile. I have Snap On Techangles, and several click types. I found that Gearwrench click type are within 2% accuracy. Even store brands from Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, etc. are specified as 3% accuracy. All are better choices (probably more expensive) than Tekton.

 

[PiperCub49]

I have a few Tekton torque wrenches and have not had any problems. They all go through cal every year and pass. I do commercial aviation started at Midwest Express back in the day.

This is the information I was looking for! Thank you so much!

No matter the brand, SnapOn, Tekton, HF or others.

Test them regularly and use them if they pass.

Simple.

Bill

Good advice. Thank you.
___________________________________________

I wish people would read this thread carefully and think before answering my question. The "augering out of the sky" comments seem to be from people who are scared of something going wrong, but aren't focusing on the BOLD text that I asked my question in. Here it is again:

What matters is accuracy, precision, and repeatability. Do Tekton torque wrenches consistently deliver on these, without a doubt in your mind?

I am not looking for people who want the warm and fuzzy feeling of Snap-On of expensive tools because of the history of quality. I want information about the user experience with accuracy, precision, and repeatability of Tekton torque wrenches.

And for what it's worth, I am the only one flying these aircraft. I don't need to explain all of details about this operation, as you would all get bored quickly. Nobody is dying and no planes are crashing. I don't need people assuming what my finances are, either. That doesn't justify spending money without good cause and is not at the root of the issue. Aviation has taught me to think critically, not throw money at problems.

 

[PiperCub49]

Brand is an indicator not measure of quality. Any torque wrench that is used properly and passes testing is okay in my mind.

Maybe I'm mistaken but I feel like aviation probably has a lot of torque + angle specs. I would get a properly certified/calibrated digital torque wrench which can handle angle as well. I also think digital torque wrenches are more accurate since they can tell you not just whether you reached the desired torque but also what the actual torque you reached was (how far you went over). In my mind that is huge plus for getting consistent and accurate results.

This is good wisdom. I appreciate it.

 

[PiperCub49]

I agree. Digital torque wrenches are superior in terms of accuracy, repeatability (precision), and minimizing user errors (such as not feeling the click). Another huge benefit is that digital torque wrench doesn't have mechanical moving parts, thus not as easily go out of calibration as the click type.

Tekton torque wrenches are similar to $10 Harbor Freight in design, slightly better workmanship, with 4% accuracy. People in this thread keep mentioning sending it in for 3rd party calibration. Seriously? Spending $75 to calibrate a $40 torque wrench? Annually?

In 5 years, the calibration cost could exceed a Snap On Techangle.

For OP, if you care about accuracy, spending more, just to make any calibration cost worthwhile. I have Snap On Techangles, and several click types. I found that Gearwrench click type are within 2% accuracy. Even store brands from Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, etc. are specified as 3% accuracy. All are better choices (probably more expensive) than Tekton.

These are some thoughtful numbers involving maintenance cost of keeping these going. My question is, should I expect my Snap-On guy to charge me for calibration of his torque wrench too?

 

[Hiball]

I wouldn’t.. but that’s just my opinion. I’m not going to skimp with a Calibration tool, I’m also not going to pay extra to get one branded in a different color/brand.

PI or CDI all day long.

 

[APEowner]

I have no experience with Tekton torque wrenches but you experience with having your existing one not click occasionally would put me off the brand. That's a pretty basic and important part of it's function and not being able to count on it happening would make me uncomfortable.

As other's have indicated whatever you use should be calibrated regularly. No matter what you payed for it the calibration costs will eventually exceed the initial purchase price. All of my torque wrenches are over 30 years old and I'm sure that I've spent many times the initial purchase price in calibration costs. To visionguru's point one could just replace the wrench if the new one came with a trustworthy calibration certificate.

 

[Fly YX]

I know a lot of mechanics that got the digital Snap On torque wrench. Not worth it in my opinion. At least for A/C use. If it does not pass cal. It has to go back to Snap On. The airline I work for now does cal two times a year I have Snap On Husky Tekton and another one I can't think of the brand.

 

[richfinn]

I would probably ask an aircraft mechanic who has experience working on those type of planes, I like Norbar torque wrenches as they are tough/basic and dont drift out of calibration. I only work on cars and vans though!!

I would imagine you sometimes have to work at heights so maybe a digital/angle torque wrench with plastic components might be a bit too vulnerable if dropped by accident or could be damaged by aircraft hydraulic fluid

I will say my one Snap-On torque wrench (a clicker) is all metal construction and I still use an angle gauge on TTY fasteners (because I can work at my own pace)

 

[pizza]

for something critical to life, i wouldn't use any tool that's not regularly calibrated.

but if your tektons regularly pass cal, then why wouldn't they be ok? torque is torque. the fastener doesn't know the difference.

getting it routinely calibrated is what matters, not the tool brand.

 

[General Geoff]

What matters is accuracy, precision, and repeatability. Do Tekton torque wrenches consistently deliver on these, without a doubt in your mind?

I wouldn't trust any clicker for critical aircraft component torque values unless it's been recently calibrated. I would, however, trust an old school beam style wrench. Hard to get more reliable than that.

 

[ZRX61]

.....

 

[ZRX61]

If you're doing A&P work, then you know you have to sign off on the work you do. And failures trace right back to your lap.

He isn't doing A&P work. Probably gets his Annuals from the local crop sprayer.

 

[nadogail]

My last employer had a torque wench tester.

I would imagine a dozen Krispy Kremes would get an arm load of
wrenches tested.

 

[22george]

I worked on commercial airplanes for over 30 years. We only ever used snap on click torque wrenches that were calibrated/certified every year with records kept. We never had an issue with them. If you drop it, get it recalibrated/recertified.If something goes wrong on an airplane, you can't pull over on a cloud to fix it. As an A&P if you are doing the work and signing off on it you are liable for it if something goes wrong. If you are using uncalibrated/uncertified tools again you are liable. Some things are just not worth trying to save money on IMHO.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

My friend who is an aircraft mechanic uses Harbor Freight and Tekton torque wrenches they work fine for it he said


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[demarpaint]

I wouldn't use them. I'd want a wrench that is calibrated and certified so that if God forbid something happened from torquing something that wasn't up to snuff, I'd have my *** covered as long as I followed the proper spec.

 

[Bagherra]

as stated above....as long as they are calibrated on a regular basis, they are fine...

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I wouldn't use them. I'd want a wrench that is calibrated and certified so that if God forbid something happened from torquing something that wasn't up to snuff, I'd have my *** covered as long as I followed the proper spec.

Which is why you see people mentioning 3rd party calibration. Not because it's economically viable to regularly send out any tool, it isn't.

But when that plane falls out of the sky and they show up at your door asking questions, I'd like to be able to say the equipment used was up to snuff. If I was going to buy something that torques bolts on something that flies, I'd buy the best with a certified calibration.



Imagine driving down the road, 65mph, and the LF wheel falls off. That is a joke, compared to the level of severity if a plane lose controls. At the end of the day, it's OPs choice. While I'm sure the tekton wrench would produce acceptable results, do you wanna bet on it? I think it also is worth considering if the person using the torque wrench also flies in said plane.

 

[kngelv]

It appears the whole reason the OP started this thread was because HE had doubts about Tekton torque wrenches based on his own usage. Most of the responses any of us can give you are just our own opinions based on our own experiences. Here is mine. I'm an electrician at a major American auto manufacturer. My current position is as an electrical leader in an assembly plant. Throughout our building are literally hundreds of Atlas Copco guns that torque to specified numbers. There are also plenty of hand torque wrenches with digital readouts that the torque inspectors use for random checks. We have a state of the art torque inspection and calibration setup that probably does at least 50 tools a day. I have had my doubts about a few of my torque wrenches so I took them all in to get inspected and calibrated. Some had not been used in years. I had about a dozen various torque wrenches from a Snap-On Torquemeter to the low cost Harbor Freight clickers. Other than the HF I had one Chinese Husky and all the rest were various American brands. The reason I bought the HF ones was because my old Craftsman took a dump and I figured if I was going Chinese why pay $100.00 for Gearwrench etc. I was never really comfortable because they always felt off a bit. Most of the others were so old that I had no idea how accurate they were. I mostly use them on dirt bikes for myself and my son. Plus he does a lot of work with mountain and BMX bikes. Like literally every day. On the initial test every torque wrench passed inspection except an old 1/2 inch SK that I think was used as a breaker bar by someone since it was at the max position when I inherited it and the 1/4 HF. I never had the SK tested again. Over the course of six straight weeks I brought them all in to get tested on a weekly basis after using them to just tighten random stuff in the garage. I would tighten things in the low, middle and high areas of their range and of course unload all the spring based ones after use. The Snap-On, Mac and Easco passed every time. The HF 1/2 failed three times and the 1/4 failed four times. The 3/8 HF passed each time. The Husky failed twice. The other American ones failed once each. All of the American ones are at least twenty years old and they were all 3/8 drive. After all this I decided to bight the bullet and buy a couple of new torque wrenches. I ended up with Precision Instruments 3/8 split beam and a 1/4 clicker. They passed eight weekly inspections. Yes they cost more but I am satisfied with the repeatability of them based on getting tested at my workplace. I realize I am fortunate to have such a setup where I work.

James

 

[visionguru]

...The reason I bought the HF ones was because my old Craftsman took a dump and I figured if I was going Chinese why pay $100.00 for Gearwrench etc...

Thanks for sharing your experience.

I found that price dictates quality more than COO. $100 Gearwrench torque wrenches are pretty good, night and day from $10 Harbor Freight. Also far better (in both workmanship and accuracy) than the Craftsman USA torque wrenches I used to have.