250 ft-lb torque wrench for very occasional use?

[Innovate1]

Have a simple beam type but only goes to 150. Don't find that style in searching. The dual beam are reliable from what I have read and have an obvious snap when torque is reached (at least some of them from what I have read). Whats a good reliable low cost option?

Had checked Autozone loan a tool but didn't find torque wrenches. I see other places have them as loaner but then accuracy may be an issue if they are used/abused. Here's one:
https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/...ntal-tools-evertough-torque-wrench/ren1/67075

 

[OccupantRJ]

I bought the 1/2” drive HF Quinn clicker unit on sale for around $65 and have been happy with it.

 

[ecotec]

I don’t even know anymore. I have had my Precision Instruments so long that they have, basically, doubled in price.

Split beams are so easy… set it and forget it. You don’t need to zero it out.

I got mine on sale for half of what they sell for today.

While I love mine, I don’t think that I would recommend it for occasional use at today’s prices. Maybe look at the ICON copy when they do a 40% off sale.

If you need angle, maybe look at the Gearwrench digital torque wrenches.

 

[zimman]

I bought the 1/2” drive HF Quinn clicker unit on sale for around $65 and have been happy with it.

Autozone has them here in my hometown. I should know I worked there up until a few weeks ago. LMAO
Part # 51-320 but only to 200lbs Call them!
Zim

 

[pbon]

Is there a project farm type test that includes dond cheap clickers?

 

[shibertus]

I like the eTork torque wrenches. They are much easier to read than the typical design. The 1/2" goes up to 250 ft lbs.

 

[jayemm]

I like the eTork torque wrenches. They are much easier to read than the typical design. The 1/2" goes up to 250 ft lbs.

At 74.95 that's a good price on a quality TW. The owner of eTork was previous owner/founder of JS Technologies which made TW's for S-K, ATD, Craftsman and other labels. Mine was S-K branded and had it for years. I own 2 eTork TW's and am very sure that this style, with the direct readout in the handle, uses the same proven internal design as the JS Technologies.
On another note, I got a cheaper 10-160 ft lb TW from Amazon to be used for lug nuts or hitch balls. Cost me ~$30 at the time and is well built and accurate per testing with my digital torque adapter. For only occasional, non critical use, I think a person could get a decent 250 ft-lb clicker for $40-60 if they don't mind a weird name brand. Mine is a UYECOVE. Amazon is full of unpronounceable name brands. LOL.

 

[T45]

ICON 1/2 split beam at HF has been on sale (recently) for as low as ~$100. Never used it, but for the money I'd give it serious consideration. As noted above, inflation has really taken its toll on some tools.

It seems alot harder to get something higher end now at ~$100 vs ~$200 than say even 5-6 years ago. Whereas before that, you could score new precision instruments or used snap-ons at decent prices used or on sale with coupons etc.

 

[AdAstra]

Tekton has a split beam one that is maybe same Taiwanese maker as the Icon. Nice that they offer it reading in N•m units as well.

1/2 Inch Drive Split Beam Torque Wrench (70 - 350 Nm) | TEKTON

1/2 inch drive split beam torque wrench. Range from 70–350 Nm. Includes serialized certificate of calibration and case. TRQ62231.

www.tekton.com

 

[charbar]

I was looking at either an Icon or Tekton earlier strictly for tire duty. I would have no problem with either one. Ended up finding a basically new Precision locally for $50. Kid said he "upgraded" to a Snap On and said the snappy dealer wasn't going to give him anything for his PI

Its worth it to check out the local marketplaces if you haven't yet.

 

[Black300zx]

What kind of accuracy do you need? Are we dealing with something like head bolts, or are you dealing with something less critical where fastener condition is going to introduce a ton of error and something like +/-10% accuracy would be perfectly adequate?

 

[Junkman]

My experience has been that if the torque wrench is going to be off in its readings, it is always less than the setting. I have also found that as long as all the head bolts are tightened equally and in the pattern that the manual suggests, ha it will be OK. All the engines that I have worked on haven't been in production for decades, so you can get away with more than you can on a modern engine. The last time I tried to tighten the head nuts on my Corvair engine, they stripped before I reached the setting the manual called for. I called the supplier, and they said to use a lower setting, and it would be fine. Instead, I used the original head nuts, and they went to the full setting, and I haven't blown any head gaskets yet. Every year, Chevrolet kept increasing the head-bolt torque due to blown head gaskets. When they gave up on the copper head gaskets and switched to higher-torque steel gaskets, they solved the blown head gasket problem. The only problem that they never solved was the dropped steel valve seats in the aluminum heads.

 

[FigN⋅m]

Whats a good reliable low cost option?

Like they say: "Quality, Service, Value. Pick 2."

Since you'll likely have it the rest of your life, just get modern split beam in your favorite color and go to town.

 

[Innovate1]

What kind of accuracy do you need? Are we dealing with something like head bolts, or are you dealing with something less critical where fastener condition is going to introduce a ton of error and something like +/-10% accuracy would be perfectly adequate?

No need for super accuracy. Most of the torque spec ranges I am looking at are about +/-10%.

 

[j3rf]

Another vote for Icon or Tekton split beam, whichever you can find cheaper.

 

[david3921]

If it's just for occasional use why not just get a digital torque adapter?

 

[shoggoth80]

I've bought some of the Icon split beams for use at work. They're surprisingly nice for the money. Unidirectional, but that's not a huge concern these days.

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

If it's just for occasional use why not just get a digital torque adapter?

That's exactly what I did. I didn't want to pay and store a big torque wrench that is going to be used very occasionally.

Mine is HF.