3/8 Drive Torque Wrench

[TTMotorsports]

So i have a harbor freight torque wrench and when torquing stuff to 50-60 ft lbs it matches my craftsman torque wrench which i had a pro check. NOW when i do lighter torque around 20-25ft lbs I have the wrench not click and i've over torque the bolts. Now what is a good an inexpensive torque wrench that will do say 15-50 ft lbs and common torque for me is 22ft lbs as well. I have 1/2" drive for head bolts and stuff that needs some more torque than that already. I've seen these but no idea how accurate they are.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075ZVQVSY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[visionguru]

So i have a harbor freight torque wrench and when torquing stuff to 50-60 ft lbs it matches my craftsman torque wrench which i had a pro check. NOW when i do lighter torque around 20-25ft lbs I have the wrench not click and i've over torque the bolts. Now what is a good an inexpensive torque wrench that will do say 15-50 ft lbs and common torque for me is 22ft lbs as well. I have 1/2" drive for head bolts and stuff that needs some more torque than that already. I've seen these but no idea how accurate they are.

I went to digital for this very reason (Snap On 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" Techangles), still keep a 1/2" click type in the trunk for lug nuts.

Click type torque wrenches relies on a spring to provide that distinctive "click". At low settings, the spring has very low tension, which results in not so distinctive "click", easily missed = over torquing. It's not really Harbor Freight specific.

Digital torque wrenches are not as expensive as before. Lowes, HomeDepot, Menards all have quite nice digital wrenches for below $100. For $50, this A/C Delco (made by Durofix) seems to fit:

 

[Smithers]

I've used the cheap mechanical torque wrenches for lots of things but when it comes to head studs there is no way I would use them. I have seen test sheets of them torqueing bolts +/- 10% or more. The digital ones are much much more accurate. But if you are just doing wheel studs or chassis bolts then the mechanical are just fine. I run the mechanical for everything and just borrow a Snap-On digital from a friends shop that gets calibrated every now and then. The digital are SO nice and once you get used to them they are much faster when you are in the flow of working on an engine.

Digital torque wrenches have come down in price so much in the last couple years. Good spot on the set of small and large AC Delco torque adapters. What a great deal as those list for half of what individual digital torque wrenches list for.

 

[Smithers]

This 1/2 version from AC Delco looks awesome. The reviews are very good on this and that price is just perfect. I think I'll have to put that on my birthday tools list.

 

[TTMotorsports]

OK. I see this one as well. AC Delco are good?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004VYUQI2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Warehouse deal saves some money too. I wonder if you buy 6 of these to get the cheaper price and return 5 of them if they refund you the cheaper price on 5 NOT the cheaper price on 5 + the added discount.

 

[jayemm]

No sense going too cheap on a torque wrench. You may get the click you are looking for but only after overtightening the fastener. I personally don't look for the click, it's the feeling of the 'breakaway' that the setting has been reached. People put too much emphasis on waiting for the click which may never come or be masked by background noise.
For moderate priced torque wrenches, check out the eTORK brand on Amazon.

 

[Locker537]

I have been happy with Tekton torque wrenches.

 

[Mgdoug3]

Precision Instruments makes a 10 to 50 ft lb torque wrench. I have their 20-100 3/8 model and I have no complaints. The model number is C2FR50F.

 

[Ralf11]

need to use it mid-range for accuracy, esp. the spring ones

the load cell ones seem more accurate, and should be

you may need to add a 1/4" one for 20 ft-lb

 

[bob15]

Why not go with a dial or a beam for the low torque valves? You can see and feel the torque valve as it gets torqued. Something like a 0-600in/lb torque wrench.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I am retired. I used to make a very good living with my tools. I have never bought cheap tools. I have about a dozen torque wrenches including a torque screwdriver for instruments.
SnapOn MAC and other premium brands cost more at the beginning and always command more on later sale. I knew a French Chef who said, "use **** for cooking and you will get ****** food." I think this can be said about tools.

 

[setfocus]

I'm in the market for a new 3/8 torque wrench for work

I've got some cheap, no name, autozone pos that I originally bought when I did the lower intake gasket on my old '96 chevy k1500, the scale doesn't even line up correctly. I don't do heavy engine work, which is why I haven't bought something better sooner

I was looking at getting a CDI 752MFRMH which is 5-75 ft/lbs as an all in one 3/8 wrench. Probably only need one a few times a year

from what I understand... snap-on clicker wrenches are CDI, but with snap-on dual 80 heads, and the split beams are Precision Instruments

 

[TTMotorsports]

I went to digital for this very reason (Snap On 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" Techangles), still keep a 1/2" click type in the trunk for lug nuts.

Click type torque wrenches relies on a spring to provide that distinctive "click". At low settings, the spring has very low tension, which results in not so distinctive "click", easily missed = over torquing. It's not really Harbor Freight specific.

Digital torque wrenches are not as expensive as before. Lowes, HomeDepot, Menards all have quite nice digital wrenches for below $100. For $50, this A/C Delco (made by Durofix) seems to fit:

I bought one of these and will test it out against my calibrated torque wrench and my cheap harbor freight to see how far off they arm on a nut/bolt clamped in my vise. It will arrive tomorrow via Amazon so i'll report back in a couple days i am sure

 

[seber]

One thing to be aware of is that digital sensors are temperature sensitive. They can have compensating circuitry but it is expensive. If you use your tools outdoors I'd suggest testing them in various temperatures.

 

[TTMotorsports]

Well i got the ac delco one and tested it against 3 different torque wrenches and it's awesome. Beeps as you get close to torque than a steady beep and LED lights when you hit to torque. PLUS when you stop it keeps the max torque applied on the screen so you can see how close you were to say 22ft lbs or if you went to 23 ft lbs. I like it. Should prevent me from stripping out aluminum beadlock bolts in the future that I would have to helicoil and hope that holds.

 

[visionguru]

These torque adapters are handy and compact. Everybody should have one.

I have a 1/2" adapter by Powerbuilt. I had at least 2 bolts (the oil drain plug, and a suspension bolt) that all my torque wrenches can't be used because of the height clearance or something gets in the way. The torque adapter got it done.