Armstrong and KD

[brickG-man]

I need some advice. I ordered what was advertised as a brand new Armstrong 1/2" torque wrench on eBay. I travel a lot so it had been sitting at my house for a couple of weeks before I arrived home today. Always excited about new tools, I opened it first thing and was both confused and disappointed to see that the torque wrench says KD Tools not Armstrong. Now it is brand new, and it looks like a nice tool but it does not say Armstrong anywhere on the tool. Did somebody pull a fast one on me or is Armstrong and KD one in the same?

 

[Fedwrench]

Hard to say without the listing. It doesn't say armstrong on the box?
They are not the same usually. Armstrong torque wrenches usually have a pear head whereas, KD use round heads. Pictures?

On a side note, more than a few years ago the KD hand tool part was discontinued to provide for Gearwrench's expansion. Many KD hand tools are still produced with Armstrong stamped on them.

Need more information to make a decision.

 

[PowderKeg]

As Fed said, need more info.

Is it otherwise identical design/feature-wise to the Armstrong you thought you bought, or not?

Was it sealed in a factory box marked for Armstrong, and only on opening the sealed box did you find the tool marked instead for KD? Seller wouldn't know either if he hadn't opened the factory box.

Did you pay a higher price because you wanted an Armstrong? What does the KD model regularly sell for on fleabay?

Have you contacted the seller yet to get his side if the story?

Got the auction link? The auction drops off the completed auction search after 2 weeks, but the link in your bought items should be valid for a few months I believe.

 

[brickG-man]

I have contacted the seller and have not heard back yet. Attached is the auction link to the torque wrench. I paid $82 which I thought was good for a made in US Armstrong torque wrench. I will also try to post a photo but I am not too good at posting photos on forums for some reason. The torque wrench did not come in a Armstrong box, it came in a plain white box. Thanks for the help so far.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/29063621644...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_1333wt_1034

 

[purplezr2]

Did you get the one pictured, it seems to have the armstrong logo on it

 

[brickG-man]

Did you get the one pictured, it seems to have the armstrong logo on it

It does have that logo but it says K-D Tools farther down the handle. That's why I was wondering if it is the same company.

 

[c39er]

The Ebay ad says Armstrong Tools-not Armstrong Tool. Came in a plain white box? His feed negative back is too busy for me. I'd say a bit of a Swindler! I'd complain.

 

[toolmaker1]

the listing says armstrong/kd for mfgr. so if it is USA like the listing says I think you did well. Keep it and use it

 

[brickG-man]

OK. I am starting to see that it appears that I was not paying close enough attention to details. It does say made in US on the wrench however I don't have a very high confidence level that is correct either. I would suspect that with the Armstrong logo and saying K-D Tools and the fact that the two companies are not affiliated that this is most likely a knock-off tool. Now I am pis*ed!!!!!

 

[Treeman]

Actually, Armstrong and KD are related in the fact that they are/were under the Danaher umbrella and these products were made by Danaher owned JS Technologies in Georgia.

It seems that you have somewhat of a hybrid with an Armstrong ratchet mounted on a KD body. Without any proof, it could be possible that your wrench is identical (internally) to an "all Armstrong" wrench. This has shown up before here with CDI/Snap on hybrid wrenches.

What is also strange is the rubber handle. Most "Armstrong/KD/NAPA" level wrenches have this handle:

The only KD rubber handle like your's is the KD "Tire Changer Special" with extra rubber to take the abuse of tire shop gorillas.

Your handle is the typical Armstrong Blue, with a KD body, and Armstrong ratchet. Bizarro. Was this a prototype?....Armstrong site doesn't show a tire change wrench. Sure would like to know the history here.

"According to Cripe, it was originally sold to Les Schwab tire locations."

Excellent find, Ishiboo, on a very unique wrench. Ouch, Cripe is selling them for $60.

Maybe write to JS Technologies.

 

[ishiboo]

OK. I am starting to see that it appears that I was not paying close enough attention to details. It does say made in US on the wrench however I don't have a very high confidence level that is correct either. I would suspect that with the Armstrong logo and saying K-D Tools and the fact that the two companies are not affiliated that this is most likely a knock-off tool. Now I am pis*ed!!!!!

Armstrong and KD are one in the same. Cripe sold this same wrench. It is USA made and genuine Apex/Danaher/Armstrong/KD/McDonalds/KMart/Singer Sewing/etc.

According to Cripe, it was originally sold to Les Schwab tire locations.

You got EXACTLY what you ordered, exactly as pictured.

 

[Fedwrench]

I don't think the seller is a crook or that you were swindled. I think you bought a hybrid torque wrench that was made for a limited run. Possibly for a tire chain. I call it a hybrid torque wrench because it has an Armstrong head and a KD style handle.
I think the wrench will serve you well.

 

[85camaro]

Armstrong and KD are one in the same. Cripe sold this same wrench. It is USA made and genuine Apex/Danaher/Armstrong/KD/McDonalds/KMart/Singer Sewing/etc.

According to Cripe, it was originally sold to Les Schwab tire locations.

You got EXACTLY what you ordered, exactly as pictured.

Everything you said is one hundred percent correct.

A similar thread about this wrench and the Armstrong/KD connection was opened back in August, but it never got off the ground.

 

[SMKS]

To the OP-

That is some kind of strange hybrid torque wrench, as others have mentioned. You got the Armstrong head, but not the Armstrong grip. I have two Armstrong torque wrenches, and they have knurled metal grips, not the rubber one in the pic.

Also, the torque wrench you purchased is not listed on the Armstrong website.

But, I don't think you necessarily got a bad deal. The Armstrong head is a lot nicer than the KD round head, IMO. The actual torque mechanism inside the wrench is probably very similar or identical between the KD and Armstrong.

 

[bobemmerich]

The Danaher factory wherever this was made was probably either:
A) switching from Armstrong to KD tooling lines
B) using up parts from both lines in order to get a new line started
C) ran out of identical parts and used another tool lines' parts because they are the same just different stampings
D) the line guy (s) weren't paying attention
I really don't think you got screwed or that the seller was trying to pull a fast one.

 

[brickG-man]

Well I appreciate all of the feedback. And i suppose between many of your comments and a few hours of cooling off I will most likely take it easier on the eBay seller than intended earlier today. I still think that he could have been a little more upfront with the description though.

 

[brickG-man]

The attached that found on eBay looks like the exact same wrench with the same manual that came with mine. It was made for a tire shop.

Now my question to the experts here is: is there any difference between a torque wrench for a tire shop and a regular Armstrong torque wrench? I do plan to use it to torque lug nuts when I rotate tires so that much is good. Are there any shortcomings compared to a regular torque wrench?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KD-Tools-34...ps=63&clkid=4965758106613228220#ht_7396wt_845

 

[Fedwrench]

Actually, I think you got the better end of the deal. I'm not too fond of the round head ratchet found beneath the rubber cover on the KD tire torque wrench pictured. I think the 36 tooth armstrong ratchet head is more durable.
Internally they're the same probably. I would think a torque wrench made for a tire chain would be more durable and gorillia proof.

 

[sselander]

Here are pics of my Armstrong torquewrench I picked up earlier this year locally:

 

[brickG-man]

Actually, I think you got the better end of the deal. I'm not too fond of the round head ratchet found beneath the rubber cover on the KD tire torque wrench pictured. I think the 36 tooth armstrong ratchet head is more durable.
Internally they're the same probably. I would think a torque wrench made for a tire chain would be more durable and gorillia proof.

You very well may be right.

Thanks again for everyone's input.

 

[brickG-man]

Here are pics of my Armstrong torquewrench I picked up earlier this year locally:

Same head, different handle. I am going to accept what I purchased and enjoy it. Thanks

 

[plinker]

It could be "Les Schwab tire" wanted a teardrop style ratchet mechansiam instead of round head. I would think it would be a good wrench overall. Great price at any rate for the size wrench.

My Brother was going to get one of these, but he got a Gearwrench one instead so he didnt have to order from two places.

 

[trboxman]

Armstrong and KD are one in the same. Cripe sold this same wrench. It is USA made and genuine Apex/Danaher/Armstrong/KD/McDonalds/KMart/Singer Sewing/etc.

According to Cripe, it was originally sold to Les Schwab tire locations.

You got EXACTLY what you ordered, exactly as pictured.

Thanks for posting the link to Cripe's listing for this wrench. I just snagged one of the last ones that they had. I think it's a really nice wrench at a really good price. It came with the factory calibration sheet, interestingly enough it was dated Dec, 2007...it looks like they sat around on a shelf somewhere for the last few years.

 

[Tool Pants]

Interesting to see how Danaher mixed Armstrong and K-D.

A few years ago when Penske was closing their auto centers I bought this torque wrench on ebay. Made by CDI. It is for tire work. Has a rubber cover on the head - that I removed. It only ratchets in the tighten direction, so some genius will not try to use it as a braker bar. One of these days I will try to get the missing parts so it will ratchet in both directions, but last time I checked I would have to buy the entire head to get the missing parts.