Am I the jerk?

[Vercingetorix]

I bought a 1/2” Milwaukee electric torque wrench. About six months into ownership the LCD screen tells me it needs to be calibrated. I took it to the Milwaukee tool place and they don’t do torque wrenches so they sent me to a torque wrench calibrator which I went to and I showed the lady at the counter that it’s telling me it needs to be calibrated. I get the wrench back yesterday and the LCD screen still says it needs to be calibrated. After a little round and round with another gentleman, I said I’ll pay, but I’m going to dispute this charge. He said it was calibrated and had a barcode I could look up online which I’m aware of, but the screen still said it needs to be calibrated and every time I use the device I have to clear that screen. I made it quite clear that only use this on lug nuts and all I really wanted was the screen cleared. Am I in the wrong here?

 

[dnschmidt]

No, your mistake was buying an overpriced Milwaukee electronic torque wrench not being upset about the error message.
Call 1-800-SAWDUST and ask to talk with technical service. Very likely there is a key sequence that will clear that message just as there is on your car for the oil change reminder.

 

[Vercingetorix]

No, your mistake was buying an overpriced Milwaukee electronic torque wrench not being upset about the error message.
Call 1-800-SAWDUST and ask to talk with technical service. Very likely there is a key sequence that will clear that message just as there is on your car for the oil change reminder.

I got it on sale. It was merely expensive, not overpriced.

 

[mikedodge]

Yep. I wouldn't expect the torque wrench place to be able to clear screens like that unless there's a standard way of doing it or they are a Milwauke repair place. I'd be more upset at Milwauke for making it with the warning screen to begin with.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

https://www.reddit.com/r/MilwaukeeTool/comments/1637hnp
Read that..

The problem is the tool not the people who serviced it. Pay for the service and ***** to Milwaukee about it.

 

[PCustoms]

 

[Codyboy]

I don't do much torque wrenching. Rebuilt a couple engines here and there though.
Is there something special about an electronic torque wrench that its a must have? I mean if you're working on the space shuttle, maybe? Did they even have electronic torque wrenches back then or is this some new tool/gimmick? Honestly I had no idea such a thing existed or why it would exist after knowing it exists.
I just use the standard dial a click.
And if I'm just using a regular ratchet, I just say "click" when I think its sufficient on the tightness.
Lol

 

[M.Jay]

I made it quite clear that only use this on lug nuts and all I really wanted was the screen cleared.

I know this doesn't solve your problem, but if you're only do lug nuts, a classic clicker torque wrench would be perfectly sufficient for the job. Always keep it simple and stupid.

 

[twouvakind]

Goodntight, done!

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

I’d assume the issue is that the torque calibration service provider can’t clear that message/warning? So they provided the service, which they should be paid for. Would have been great if they told you before accepting the work that they can’t clear that message.



Milwaukee’s game here, if it is indeed that, reminds me of the old days, when Mercedes required a specific scan tool to reset/ clear the “oil change needed” message, and all the cheap cab companies high mileage Mercedes cars would drive around with that message on because none of the “back alley shops”, that were used once the car was out of warranty/ fleet service, had the scan tool to clear/reset that . I used cabs extensively during that time, and the only time you’d get a ”clean” (referring solely to that msg on the dashboard) cab was at the major airports and major stations, because they had a 24/7/365 supervisor there and only gave concessions to companies that had a clean record. (Couldn’t use the cab waiting line with dirty/damaged/ or otherwise “compromised” cabs.)

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[K13]

You took it to a calibration place not a Milwaulkee repair depot. They calibrated it. It would be an ******* move to dispute the charge, They did what you asked them to do calibrate it. The screen function has nothing to do with whether it is calibrated or not. Your beef is with Milwaulkee not the calibration place.

 

[Codyboy]

I did not see the part where OP said it was for lug nuts only. To me that's even more wtf.
No offense OP as I know some want the best most accurate tool , for reasons. I guess.
The only benefit , maybe that i could see is if this tool somehow logged the torque into a database. Put in car info, torque lugs and its recorded in case of a lawsuit where a wheel falls off and kills grandma and her grand babies on the way to church.
Or it could swing the other way and be in favor of granny because it showed only 18 clicks on her F150 and one wheel was never torqued and now there's proof of it.


So that tool has to be re-certified every 5000 clicks.
So on average let's just say 24 lug nuts per
vehicle for tire rotation or whatever.
Each of those lugs will probably get 2 clicks each. So 48 clicks per vehicle.
After 104 vehicles it has to be calibrated. Seems excessive. At least to me.

 

[Vercingetorix]

You took it to a calibration place not a Milwaulkee repair depot. They calibrated it. It would be an ******* move to dispute the charge, They did what you asked them to do calibrate it. The screen function has nothing to do with whether it is calibrated or not. Your beef is with Milwaulkee not the calibration place.

I asked them to clear the screen. If they couldn’t do that they should have been upfront.

 

[Vinny]

I don't do much torque wrenching. Rebuilt a couple engines here and there though.
Is there something special about an electronic torque wrench that its a must have? I mean if you're working on the space shuttle, maybe? Did they even have electronic torque wrenches back then or is this some new tool/gimmick? Honestly I had no idea such a thing existed or why it would exist after knowing it exists.
I just use the standard dial a click.
And if I'm just using a regular ratchet, I just say "click" when I think its sufficient on the tightness.
Lol

My wife worked on the Space Shuttle Engines back in the day, and they just used Snap On Clicker and dial torque wrenches.
The one cool feature that the electronic torque wrenches can do is you can link them to software that records torque. The big aerospace companies use this as they are required to record all torque, so instead of a guy torquing something and stopping to record it, it will automatically record the torque so they can continually work.

 

[mike93lx]

, I said I’ll pay, but I’m going to dispute this charge.

That isn't how disputes work. You'll lose

 

[MovingAlong]

I asked them to clear the screen. If they couldn’t do that they should have been upfront.

If AI is to be trusted:

 

[Vercingetorix]

That isn't how disputes work. You'll lose

They didn’t do what I asked them to do, that is clear the message. Calibration was incidental.

 

[Codyboy]

My wife worked on the Space Shuttle Engines back in the day, and they just used Snap On Clicker and dial torque wrenches.
The one cool feature that the electronic torque wrenches can do is you can link them to software that records torque. The big aerospace companies use this as they are required to record all torque, so instead of a guy torquing something and stopping to record it, it will automatically record the torque so they can continually work.

I mentioned that in post 12.
Actually didnt know it was a real thing, buy yeah, why not if your going to have electronic wifi tools.
And yes I could see it as a benefit to critical components. Not saying that lug nuts aren't critical because, well, they actually are.
But yall know what mean.

 

[PCustoms]

If AI is to be trusted:

Yeah, from the manual I already posted:

 

[rooster59]

You should be thankful your torque wrench didn’t turn your freezer off and set your furnace to 91 degrees.

 

[mike93lx]

They didn’t do what I asked them to do, that is clear the message. Calibration was incidental.

Good luck

 

[K13]

I asked them to clear the screen. If they couldn’t do that they should have been upfront.

Milwaulkee sent you there. If they sent you somewhere that wasn't capable of resetting their screen that's on them not the shop that they sent you to. All the shop has to say is we were unaware that only an authorized repair center couldn't reset the screen when we took it in and we calibrated the wrench as asked. They performed a service you owe them money for that service.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Milwaulkee sent you there. If they sent you somewhere that wasn't capable of resetting their screen that's on them not the shop that they sent you to. All the shop has to say is we were unaware that only an authorized repair center couldn't reset the screen when we took it in and we calibrated the wrench as asked. They performed a service you owe them money for that service.

They didn’t perform the service I asked of them and should have informed me they couldn’t before they began work.

 

[K13]

They didn’t perform the service I asked of them and should have informed me they couldn’t before they began work.

Maybe they didn't know they couldn't. If they are not an authorized service center they wouldn't have the information to reset it and may not be aware that only an authorized center can. You are the only one that doesn't think you owe them money. Maybe think about that for a second.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Maybe they didn't know they couldn't. If they are not an authorized service center they wouldn't have the information to reset it and may not be aware that only an authorized center can. You are the only one that doesn't think you owe them money. Maybe think about that for a second.

I was the only one there.

 

[RTM]

Am I in the wrong here?

Yes

 

[K13]

I was the only one there.

Not sure why you started this thread to get validation? You are arguing with everyone who say you are wrong. You clearly thought you might be or you wouldn't have asked and now you don't like the answer you are getting. Don't ask for advice if you are not willing to take it.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Not sure why you started this thread to get validation? You are arguing with everyone who say you are wrong. You clearly thought you might be or you wouldn't have asked and now you don't like the answer you are getting. Don't ask for advice if you are not willing to take it.

Let me ask you this. If you took your car in for an airbag light and they fixed the airbag problem but can’t clear the airbag light would you be happy?

 

[mike93lx]

Let me ask you this. If you took your car in for an airbag light and they fixed the airbag problem but can’t clear the airbag light would you be happy?

More arguing. You see no fault in your approach. Why bother asking?

 

[Vercingetorix]

I guess I expect to get what I thought I was paying for.

 

[Shiftless]

I guess I expect to get what I thought I was paying for.

Welcome to 2025
You're not the only one with those kinds of problems.

 

[K13]

Let me ask you this. If you took your car in for an airbag light and they fixed the airbag problem but can’t clear the airbag light would you be happy?

If the manual and everything I can find on the internet say it has to be reset by a factory approved repair facility and I took it to bubba's garage on my own volition then no I would not expect the light to be off. Now had the factory sent me to bubba's garage and he couldn't do it I would be all over the factory for sending me to the wrong place. In no world would I refuse to pay Bubba for the work he did. He still did work and deserves to be paid for it. I am not ripping a guy off for being put in a spot where he couldn't succeed because the company I bought a product from isn't competent enough to send me somewhere that can do the work. And you have no idea if you paid for getting the screen cleared or not unless you have proof that someone else would calibrate and clear the screen for the same amount you paid. Maybe you only got charge for calibration.

 

[Steve_P]

I am a little more on OPs side than some, but as K13 said, you need to take this up with Milwaukee and not dispute the charge- Milwaukee sent you there, and they couldn't clear the code, so that's on Milwaukee.

The reality is that the calibration company can just say that you brought it in for calibration and they performed that service. I doubt you'll win a dispute with the CC over something verbal when they have a digital record of calibration, and that's the service they provide.

Is it really worth the many minutes or hours on the phone fighting this vs just the seconds for clearing the screen???? Some time you have to pick your battles. It's calibrated. Clear the screen and move on with life since you're not using it 10X a day in a tire shop.

And, as said by many, if you are only using this on lug nuts you should've just bought a clicker wrench as they last for decades as long as you don't drop them off the roof onto the driveway. Keep it simple.

 

[Vercingetorix]

If the manual and everything I can find on the internet say it has to be reset by a factory approved repair facility and I took it to bubba's garage on my own volition then no I would not expect the light to be off. Now had the factory sent me to bubba's garage and he couldn't do it I would be all over the factory for sending me to the wrong place. In no world would I refuse to pay Bubba for the work he did. He still did work and deserves to be paid for it. I am not ripping a guy off for being put in a spot where he couldn't succeed because the company I bought a product from isn't competent enough to send me somewhere that can do the work.

Do you get your oil changes done at the dealer when the owners manual tells you where to go? I don’t and they can’t legally make you go to the dealer. The issue is the screen tells you when the next calibration is due, it tells you if the wrench has been overtorqued and how many activations. Without resetting I’m flying blind. I certainly did not take it to Bubbas garage, but a facility with more accreditations than I can list.

 

[JradM]

Not a jerk, just particular.

The thing that separates you from the jerks is that you were specific about what service you were asking for, they agreed to do it, then didn't.

I also own tools way more sophisticated and expensive than I deserve - that's no crime.

 

[K13]

Do you get your oil changes done at the dealer when the owners manual tells you where to go? I don’t and they can’t legally make you go to the dealer. The issue is the screen tells you when the next calibration is due, it tells you if the wrench has been overtorqued and how many activations. Without resetting I’m flying blind. I certainly did not take it to Bubbas garage, but a facility with more accreditations than I can list.

Just admit you wanted everyone to side with you and you are mad that they didn't and move on.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Just admit you wanted everyone to side with you and you are mad that they didn't and move on.

You are free to move on. I could care less what others think, just wanted some perspective. I have no moral qualms not paying someone for not doing a job.

 

[Torque&Recoil]

I guess I am kinda on the OPs side, for a different reason. This is an electronic torque wrench. If the calibration shop didn't have the digital tool to clear the error message, HOW DID THEY CALIBRATE IT ? They may not have done anything beyond a quick check of torque - the wrench says 50 on the screen, the calibrator says 51 (I'm making this up), so it's good enough - call it calibrated, give us some money.

 

[Old tool guy]

You should be thankful your torque wrench didn’t turn your freezer off and set your furnace to 91 degrees.

It did, but he’s too busy arguing here and hasn’t discovered it yet.

 

[PCustoms]

They may not have done anything beyond a quick check of torque - the wrench says 50 on the screen, the calibrator says 51 (I'm making this up), so it's good enough - call it calibrated, give us some money.

Ideally that's all calibration is, an annual verification against a precision calibrated device.