OP
Greenlawnracing
Well-known member
I didn't see it on there. Do you happen to have a link?
Bicycle torque wrench
- Thread starter Greenlawnracing
- Start date
I didn't see it on there. Do you happen to have a link?
Qualitytools
Well-known member
I googled Amazon.co.uk and once up I searched for Norbar TTI 20, it says 2 left. Keep us posted on your search and purchase. Also if you google Norbar US, you can find a distributor on their site worldwide and it will give you sales and service for your local area.
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GirchyGirchy
Well-known member
I can't tell where they make anything any longer, even the stamped steel wrenches. I haven't bought anything from them in a while...last few things have been Japanese.
Wow, I would've never guessed that there were so many brands of torque wrenches! On amazon they're seemingly endless. :~\ So I really appreciate reading all the reviews & opinions shared here.
I'm looking for an inch/lbs mechanical, clicker-type torque wrench for working on our John Deere GT225 garden tractor w/Kohler CV15S engine. The only torque wrenches I've ever had are 1/2" & 3/8" - ft./lbs Craftsman's (USA Made; one in the 70's, the other in the early 80's).
So I ordered and picked-up a Craftsman:
[ sears dot com /craftsman-micro-clicker-torque-wrench-3-8inch-drive/p-00931423000P ], even though I knew they were no longer USA made, without really thinkin' about it, or reading any reviews, as my 1970's/1980's Craftsman torque wrenches always worked great and never gave me any reason to wonder if they were out of calibration.
Haven't used it yet. But since picking-it-up @ the Sears Kiosk, I have noticed there's a very large amount of [1 star] negative/critical reviews (re: the ratchet head/teeth/pawls breaking, jamming, slipping; no audible clicking/or discernible release; etc-etc).
Yet, as with most user reviews, there's three times as many [5 star] reviews, so there's that I guess. :~\ Nevertheless contemplating returning it.
Wondering if many here would rate/or think that, e.g. the CDI 3/8" drive [20~150 in/lbs] wrench would be a considerable upgrade? And worth the extra $60 more than we paid for the Craftsman abv^.
Thanks very much for any suggestions or opinons.
I'm looking for an inch/lbs mechanical, clicker-type torque wrench for working on our John Deere GT225 garden tractor w/Kohler CV15S engine. The only torque wrenches I've ever had are 1/2" & 3/8" - ft./lbs Craftsman's (USA Made; one in the 70's, the other in the early 80's).
So I ordered and picked-up a Craftsman:
[ sears dot com /craftsman-micro-clicker-torque-wrench-3-8inch-drive/p-00931423000P ], even though I knew they were no longer USA made, without really thinkin' about it, or reading any reviews, as my 1970's/1980's Craftsman torque wrenches always worked great and never gave me any reason to wonder if they were out of calibration.
Haven't used it yet. But since picking-it-up @ the Sears Kiosk, I have noticed there's a very large amount of [1 star] negative/critical reviews (re: the ratchet head/teeth/pawls breaking, jamming, slipping; no audible clicking/or discernible release; etc-etc).
Yet, as with most user reviews, there's three times as many [5 star] reviews, so there's that I guess. :~\ Nevertheless contemplating returning it.
Wondering if many here would rate/or think that, e.g. the CDI 3/8" drive [20~150 in/lbs] wrench would be a considerable upgrade? And worth the extra $60 more than we paid for the Craftsman abv^.
Thanks very much for any suggestions or opinons.
Qualitytools
Well-known member
CDI is several steps up from the Craftsman. If I am not mistaken they make the Snap-On torque wrenches
1cargarage
Well-known member
You are not mistaken. Snap On owns CDI Torque Products. Both are made in the same facility in southern CA. Snap On also purchased Norbar (UK) in 2017.
Thanks very much for those confirmations. So probably worth the extra $60 then. However there are many 'critical' reviews of the CDI's as well, on amazon, related to the ratchet heads failing, and the direction selector lever not staying in position— but continually falling to the center of the ratchet head, rendering it useless— unless the selector switch is held to one side or the other with a finger.
bwringer
Well-known member
Park used to sell a very nice 1/4" drive beam type torque wrench. There are a few off-brand versions on the Brazilian River, but it looks like everyone has gone clicky or digital now.
Thanks very much. Yes, I was checking into ParkTool last week, but could only find 'not available' (on the TW-5.2 & TW-6.2) everywhere I checked; 'cept for one place that showed a few in CA + more for shipping than I'd want to pay.
And I'm just looking for the 'clicky' old-style. So currently trying to decide if that CDI (mentioned abv^) would prolly be worth the extra $60., considering it's at least assembled in the U.S., notwithstanding the 10% bad reviews....on 'the Brazilian River.'
Grant Gunderson
Well-known member
Thanks very much. Yes, I was checking into ParkTool last week, but could only find 'not available' (on the TW-5.2 & TW-6.2) everywhere I checked; 'cept for one place that showed a few in CA + more for shipping than I'd want to pay.
And I'm just looking for the 'clicky' old-style. So currently trying to decide if that CDI (mentioned abv^) would prolly be worth the extra $60., considering it's at least assembled in the U.S., notwithstanding the 10% bad reviews....on 'the Brazilian River.'
I own just about everything Park tool makes. I feel like there has been been a steady decline in the quality the last few years. So my advice would be CDI over park for TW’s. I like the Pedro vise grip cassette tool way better than anything Park makes and Abbey Tools does a great job for suspension sockets (parks are sloppy) Abbey also makes the best crombie tool on the market hands down. I like PB Swiss for all of my torx, hex, flat and Phillips drivers. Chris King makes the best BB sockets. Parks pro stand is about as good as it gets unless you spend the $$$ for EVT. Hope that helps.
ptgarcia
Well-known member
So I've been using my CDI torque wrenches the past few days and they're great, and I'd definitely recommend them. In fact, they make me see how bad my 1/2" drive Taiwan brand is. Time to buy a new 1/2" drive!
And I lied to you earlier. The 50-250 in-lb wrench is 3/8" drive, but the head is really small like a 1/4" drive (see picture below). It's awesome, I love it.
And I lied to you earlier. The 50-250 in-lb wrench is 3/8" drive, but the head is really small like a 1/4" drive (see picture below). It's awesome, I love it.
Attachments
Many thanks for your recommendations!
Those pics & your recommendations are helpful and I appreciate you posting them, ptgarcia. And Grant, many thanks for you sharing your preferences on those different types of tools; that's valuable info—I was unaware of—that I'll save and refer to before purchasing any more of those particular tools. Regarding an inch/lbs torque wrench, I was about to order the CDI [ 30~250 in/lbs ] wrench, via the Brazilian River, but the 3rd Party Seller has very poor reviews, e.g. tools never arriving; tools never being shipped; no replies to inquiry messages/no communication or explanations; used tools arriving—after new were ordered; dishonest replies fr seller, etc, etc. :~\ That, and the reviews relating to the directional lever/switch not staying put, to one side or the other, but falling to the cntr, etc.
Too bad the Seller appears so sketchy, as the CDI [ 30~250 in./lbs. ] wrench would probably be useful, until I needed the lower N-m / in.lbs. ranges.
I purchased this Craftsman TW (Chinese made) a week or so ago, but haven't used it yet (due to finding poor reviews about it not clicking and/or the ratchet head breaking &c, after purchasing it); it has as a primary scale range of: 25 to 250 in.lbs. — in increments of 15 in.lbs., and a secondary scale range of 3.6 to 29.1 N-m — in increments of 0.11 N-m.
So it's looking like there's a lot to learn about inch/lbs. & N-m torque wrenches.
Mainly that more than one wrench will likely be needed— to cover all the common variable (approx 0.5 ~ 29 N-m & 30 ~ 250 ) torque ranges, we'll need specifically, from our John Deere GT225 engine... to our bicycles.. . .Thoughts?
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Qualitytools
Well-known member
^ that's correct, you will need multiple torque wrenches for various applications plus in general torque wrench accuracy is believed to be more in the middle of the scale, so not so much on the lower or upper end of the scale. You will find other discussions to that reference.
Qualitytools
Well-known member
Here is a link about Norbar found here on GJ
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252947&highlight=Norbar+torque+wrench
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252947&highlight=Norbar+torque+wrench
Wow, that's a great thread! Many thanks, Qualitytools !
I've seen the Norbar name, but knew nothing about them, so thanks for that link.
Qualitytools
Well-known member
Wow, that's a great thread! Many thanks, Qualitytools !
I've seen the Norbar name, but knew nothing about them, so thanks for that link.
Glad to be of Help
Wow, that's a great thread! Many thanks, Qualitytools !
I've seen the Norbar name, but knew nothing about them, so thanks for that link.
Alas, can't find any Norbar's in [ lbs-In. ] & [ N-m ] in the [ 20 or 30~250 lbs.-in. ] & [approx 3~30 N-m ] ranges.Glad to be of Help
At least not on the Brazilian River. And the Norbar website—aside from being next to impossible to find what you're looking for—seems to list about everything but those approx. dual scale ranges.
Lassen Forge
Well-known member
I had the opportunity to test-drive one of the new SO electronic beeper styles, sure, they're bells and whistles nice, but I didn't like it as much as my old school clickers... I haven't pulled one of my beam wrenches for work in years... but I checked one on our shop wall calibrator just for grins, and it's as accurate as it was 40 years ago.
Qualitytools
Well-known member
Alas, can't find any Norbar's in [ lbs-In. ] & [ N-m ] in the [ 20 or 30~250 lbs.-in. ] & [approx 3~30 N-m ] ranges.
At least not on the Brazilian River. And the Norbar website—aside from being next to impossible to find what you're looking for—seems to list about everything but those approx. dual scale ranges.
Have a look at the link about NORBAR above, in it there are references about NORBAR being the manufacturer of other names such as WERA and others. You may find the range you need under a different name but still made by NORBAR. Otherwise, it's possible that the range is too wide/spread and you may have to purchase a couple of wrenches to cover that range.
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Thanks again, Qualitytools !
I will do that. And yes, was wondering the same about the range being too wide spread.That's another reason I've been thinking of returning this Craftsman 3/8" MicroTork Clicker-style TW, that and the poor reviews (re: no clicking; head teeth/pawls breaking &c) I found after I purchased it. As it has a 25~250 lbs./in. range & 3.61~29/03 N-m range. Haven't used it yet, but picked it up due to price, and those ranges covering everything on our 03' John Deere GT225 —which is starting to need a lot of love, and maybe an engine rebuild, which I've never done.