Another failed legacy Craftsman torque wrench

[gaalcom]

Would just like to confirm my suspicion that it's a spring issue. Pulled this old 1/2" Craftsman wrench out of semi-storage recently and gave it a check for accuracy before and after disassembly for maintenance. In both instances it clicks high at lower settings and low at higher settings. If I calibrate for 60# it'll click consistent at 60# but will click 36#@30# setting and 84#@90# setting. Since it's both high and low at the opposite settings I'm guessing it's the spring at issue. I used my go-to Mystic JT-6 grease when reassembling and don't think that should be a factor. I can confirm the overhaul did improve the clickability of the wrench as it sometimes didn't click when expected but now provided a very clear and clean indication even at lower values.

Short of better insight I'll just calibrate this to lug nut torque and keep it a single-use tool and get a nice 3/8 torque wrench for general duties along with a digital torque adapter for the more demanding jobs (pinion nuts, etc,).

 

[dchawk81]

I'd toss it.

 

[JeepYJ]

I'd toss it.

Agreed. There are better TW about there for short money.

 

[driftpin]

I'd get some scrap metal and that and make some-sort of artwork with some welding. Sell it on Etsy.

 

[4xdog]

It's been stored unloaded, I'm sure? Craftsman's original instructions said (of course) to back off spring tension, and if a wrench had inadvertently been stored with tension to let it rest for four hours to recover.



source: from my c 1982 3/8" DigiTork instructions

 

[gaalcom]

Agreed. There are better TW about there for short money.

I'd toss it.

Oh, the sacrilege in those replies!

This was just one of the few non Snap-On tools I owned after becoming a Mitsu tech 35 years ago (Been retired for a while hence the shelf time for the wrench). This beloved tool has served a number of lifetimes. Is there no ceremony in your heart. I'm thinking a nice walnut case and a prominent spot above the mantle.

In reality I'm a realist so while we'll keep the original wife I will invest in a new wrench...or two. Thanks for the replies!

 

[gaalcom]

I'd get some scrap metal and that and make some-sort of artwork with some welding. Sell it on Etsy.

See, someone that gets me!

 

[gaalcom]

It's been stored unloaded, I'm sure? Craftsman's original instructions said (of course) to back off spring tension, and if a wrench had inadvertently been stored with tension to let it rest for four hours to recover.



source: from my c 1982 3/8" DigiTork instructions

Appreciate the reply.

Absolutely, always stored with tension released. My Snap-On 1/4" (5 years younger than the Craftsman) stored in same manner still calibrates nearly spot-on in the in/lb range.

 

[jayemm]

Would just like to confirm my suspicion that it's a spring issue. Pulled this old 1/2" Craftsman wrench out of semi-storage recently and gave it a check for accuracy before and after disassembly for maintenance. In both instances it clicks high at lower settings and low at higher settings. If I calibrate for 60# it'll click consistent at 60# but will click 36#@30# setting and 84#@90# setting. Since it's both high and low at the opposite settings I'm guessing it's the spring at issue. I used my go-to Mystic JT-6 grease when reassembling and don't think that should be a factor. I can confirm the overhaul did improve the clickability of the wrench as it sometimes didn't click when expected but now provided a very clear and clean indication even at lower values.

Short of better insight I'll just calibrate this to lug nut torque and keep it a single-use tool and get a nice 3/8 torque wrench for general duties along with a digital torque adapter for the more demanding jobs (pinion nuts, etc,).

After going through the same process with a different torque wrench of same design (made by JS Technologies who made other Craftsman TW's and under other various labels, mine was S-K) I'm not so sure it's a spring problem (see below). That's a weird non- linearity. I'm guessing internal part like the "cube" or something.
It seems mine went out of calibration after loaning it to someone and just like yourself I couldn't get the top and bottom end of the range to come in correctly. Mine was a 10-100 ft-lb TW, and lacking a lower range TW, I adjusted it to be dead on between 10-20 for low torque bolts (spark plugs, manifold bolts, valve covers etc) and then added 10% to the desired torque from 20-100. For instance, 30 desired-set at 33, 50 desired-set at 55 and so on. This came from graphing the actual torque (checked against 2 other TW's) vs. the theoretical torque for different settings.
*******I also had an identical TW like yours which was given to me already set to a high setting (150?) for who knows how long so I just used it as a ratcheting breaker bar. After at least 10 years I (for the hell of it) checked it against a 150 ft-lb beam/pointer type. Couldn't believe it, it matched very close after being set for all that time. Gave it away. Already have 4 torque wrenches.

 

[Wamsutta]

I'd toss it.

I was going to say the same thing but not so abruptly.

 

[gaalcom]

{snip} I'm not so sure it's a spring problem (see below). That's a weird non- linearity. I'm guessing internal part like the "cube" or something.
{snip}

Appreciate the reply and lived insight.

Yeah, I doubt there's any double rate reversing spring-ability happening with it. I do note that in 4xdog's post above his attachment on line 4 states there is some super secret special sauce lubricant used from the factory. Doubt that would be the factor for weirdness but...

I do like your simply elegant solution to the linear runout. I could see me doing it the hard way and picking the middle value to calibrate (such as it is now) and then charting both positive and negative percentages for the full range. That's how I roll before actually thinking.

I was going to say the same thing but not so abruptly.

A gentler realist.

 

[dchawk81]

Wait I got one:

Turn it into crafts, man.

 

[gaalcom]

Wait I got one:

Turn it into crafts, man.

That is a good one.

Funnier still is the modicum of viability in that. Since a linear runout could/would be a calibration issue but mine very likely could not be calibrated to proper working order would indicate a tool parts failure. I am simply musing here as the wrench is happily committed to retirement.

 

[dchawk81]

That is a good one.

Funnier still is the modicum of viability in that. Since a linear runout could/would be a calibration issue but mine very likely could not be calibrated to proper working order would indicate a tool parts failure. I am simply musing here as the wrench is happily committed to retirement.

Too technical for almost midnight.

 

[dscheidt]

Wait I got one:

Turn it into crafts, man.

The problem is all inside your spring
She said to me
The answer is easy if you
Take it logically
I’d like to help you in your struggle
To be free
There must be fifty ways
To toss your torque wrench.
She said, “It’s really not my habit to intrude
Furthermore, I hope my meaning
Won’t be lost or misconstrued
But I’ll repeat myself
At the risk of being crude
There must be fifty ways
to toss your torque wrench

Oh turn it into crafts, man
throw it in tip, Skip
trade it on the truck, Chuck
Just listen to me
leave it in the bus Gus
don't need to discus much
just thow it in the trees Lee
And get yourself free
...

 

[ronkz650]

I never do maintenance on mine, which is the identical Digitork from around 1982. I check it once in a while on the torque adapter and it's spot on. They are a good quality wrench. Hope you can somehow get it fixed. I hate throwing away old things, hoping new things are better. Sometimes not the case.

 

[Hakeem]

It's been stored unloaded, I'm sure? Craftsman's original instructions said (of course) to back off spring tension, and if a wrench had inadvertently been stored with tension to let it rest for four hours to recover.



source: from my c 1982 3/8" DigiTork instructions

Wow! Thorough instructions like this for a Torque wrench!? Cool stuff

 

[Notgrownup]

I recently tossed,y craftsman torque wrench in the trash. I went with a Quinn with a lifetime warranty.

 

[unslow1]

I wouldn't pitch it. Just label it as not accurate and now you have a breaker bar. It would probably work well to toss in a trunk for changing tires.

 

[jayemm]

I wouldn't pitch it. Just label it as not accurate and now you have a breaker bar. It would probably work well to toss in a trunk for changing tires.

Mine made a great ratcheting breaker bar. Strong wrench, rated to 250 if I remember. Passed it on to a friend to use for breaking lugs.

 

[slowtwitch73]

If you don't check them, they are always on spec.

 

[Bubba Fett]

Wow! Thorough instructions like this for a Torque wrench!? Cool stuff

I feel like in many cases, (or most cases) new tools do not come with sufficient instructions for usage, maintenance, etc. A little documentation goes a long way.

 

[4xdog]

Here's a post from a couple of years ago with the full instruction manual for my early-1980s 3/8" Craftsman DigiTork torque wrench.

Craftsman DigiTork torque wrench operating instructions -- scanned copy from 1981

There are a lot of these torque wrenches still out there and giving good service. I've had mine since new and it's working fine, as far as I can tell. Here's a scanned copy of the original operating instructions for the Sears Best Craftsman DigiTork™ micro-adjusting torque wrench for the...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[gaalcom]

Some days are good...and this is one.

Had someone offer me a trashed wrench of the same model. It must have been in a bad environment for some time as the handle was rotted and and the remainder, including the ratchet head, was quite rusty. Upon disassembly I was happy to see the internals, having been well lubed, were in quite good condition. I transferred nothing but the spring out of it and into mine. Amazingly my adjustment of spot-on at 25# transfers to only a very consistent 1-2# run-out at 90#! Unfortunately I had no available hardware capable of additional torque for testing above this level.

The only thing irritating me now is trying to find a way to secure the grip. No matter how well I clean both the rubber grip and chrome body I can't find a glue that'll stop it from shifting.

 

[Sumboodie]

84 at 90 is well within the accuracy of those wrenches. That's barely 5% off.

When I ran a tool room, we had difficulty holding 5% with Snap On, even brand new.
Crazy enough, the $75 Craftsman ones rarely had issues.
I ended up with dozens of Snap On torque wrenches from the trash bin. Plenty fine for me, "end of the world" on multimillion dollar planes and munitions. Gave a bunch away, kept a few which I still use nearly 20 yrs later

 

[Sumboodie]

And no idea why they sucked so bad. We'd buy 10 and be lucky if 5 would pass USAF PMEL calibration.
And they were "calibrated" from Snap On.

 

[gaalcom]

And no idea why they sucked so bad. We'd buy 10 and be lucky if 5 would pass USAF PMEL calibration.
And they were "calibrated" from Snap On.

While my Snap-On 1/4" is 1990 vintage and due for its first calibration you're making me wonder how in spec all those valve bodies (and trans assemblies in general) were when they left the dealership.

 

[honcho]

And no idea why they sucked so bad. We'd buy 10 and be lucky if 5 would pass USAF PMEL calibration.
And they were "calibrated" from Snap On.

While assigned to an 8" artillery battalion in Germany, we regularly replaced torque wrenches for our special (nuclear) weapons teams that wouldn't pass calibration. The older style W33 8" nuclear warhead had to be assembled to the desired explosive yield and you didn't want to get the torque values wrong! The newer style W79 warheads were "dial-a-yield" but still had torque specifications for things like the transport coffins.

 

[nadogail]

My flexible beam Torque Wrench has been tested once after 30+ years and it was right on; I no longer work at a facility where Torque Wrenches are used.

 

[InsanePyro]

Buy a digital torque wrench and never look back

 

[AC-WC]

And to think I scrapped mine out a few months ago when the ratchet broke. I would have sent the whole thing to you. Still have the manual if anybody wants it.

 

[johnre]

84 at 90 is well within the accuracy of those wrenches. That's barely 5% off.

When I ran a tool room, we had difficulty holding 5% with Snap On, even brand new.
Crazy enough, the $75 Craftsman ones rarely had issues.

I've got this Craftsman Digitork model, and I accidentally left mine stored loaded up at 85 lb. - ft. on a couple of occasions. I did back off on it and let it "relax" the spring back to normal before using it again right away, but I do wonder about checking the calibration.

Does anyone know if I can check this cal myself the simple, straightforward way with a bolt that won't turn, a ruler, and a digital hanging scale?

 

[NHtoolguy]

And to think I scrapped mine out a few months ago when the ratchet broke. I would have sent the whole thing to you. Still have the manual if anybody wants it.

If it's for the Digitork series, I would appreciate having it. I have a 3/8" drive torque wrench that's missing the manual.