Buying a secondhand torque wrench

[pozidriv]

I've got the opportunity to buy a Wera 7003 (made by norbar) secondhand for €60. However, some are opposed to buying torque wrenches secondhand, what's the reasoning behind that? If it looks good and almost unused, isn't that a safe bet? Or is there something special to look out for?

Thanks!

 

[bcradio]

Look to see if it is calibrated correctly. I would not buy used unless I had a way to check calibration.

 

[dpaton]

If it seems reasonable, give it a shot. Torque wrenches, if not massively abused, are usually just fine. If you're worried, check it against a known good one, or have it calibrated.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I bought a used torque wrench in the past and I took it to a friend who has wreches that are certified.. I connected mine with his and compared the settings on the two.. It was dead on (with his certified wrench), so I felt good about the purchase...

 

[pendragon1998]

It is a gamble. If it was taken care of, you can get a deal. If it was abused, you own a crappy new breaker bar.

 

[Dirty Diesels]

Have to agree with others on buying used, if it's been looked after, you'll be okay, if it hasn't been looked after, your wasting your money.

 

[motoretro]

I would look into calibration costs + calibration certificate for the wrench you're considering before making a purchase. It might be more feasible to buy new.
Motoretro

 

[pozidriv]

Thanks for the tips! I'm just a DIY'er, so I'm not really interested in a certificate. On the pictures it looks almost unused and in good condition, so I think I'll take the risk. Maybe I can get the seller to take it back if the calibration is way off. He seems nice enough, tells me he just used it to torque his wheels once.

 

[Rickster]

Whenever I see a torque wrench to buy for resale I always look to see how its stored. If it's tossed in the tool drawer then I pass. I look for ones that are stored in their plastic case or in some home-made box that looks like the guy treated it right.

 

[Davefr]

Whenever I see a torque wrench to buy for resale I always look to see how its stored. If it's tossed in the tool drawer then I pass. I look for ones that are stored in their plastic case or in some home-made box that looks like the guy treated it right.

I'd also make sure it was set at 0. (or the bottom of the scale)

If so, the previous owner probably knew how to store it properly. If it's set at the last setting then the spring could have lost some of it's compression and render the torque wrench inaccurate.

 

[gte718p]

Thanks for the tips! I'm just a DIY'er, so I'm not really interested in a certificate. On the pictures it looks almost unused and in good condition, so I think I'll take the risk. Maybe I can get the seller to take it back if the calibration is way off. He seems nice enough, tells me he just used it to torque his wheels once.

Even for a DIYer having a calibrated wrench is important. At least in the US, calibration is not that expensive.

 

[FriendOfYours]

If he ever left it for more than even a day on something above 10ft-lbs, it could very well be off

Bring a cheap dial torque wrench with you and compare the two on your lugnuts

 

[PBCampbell]

10 ft lbs would be a problem as the bottom of the scale on that wrench should be 30 ft lbs. As long as it hasn't been wound all the way up and left that way for months there should be no problems.

 

[APEowner]

Frankly I don't think there's any point in having a torque wrench if it's not of decent quality and in calibration. Mine get sent out every couple of years now that they're not used daily. When I was a tech I sent them out every 6 months. I'd have no issue with buying a used torque wrench (as I recall one of mine was) but I'd get it calibrated right after purchase.

This thread reminds me that I need to send mine out soon.

 

[FriendOfYours]

10 ft lbs would be a problem as the bottom of the scale on that wrench should be 30 ft lbs. As long as it hasn't been wound all the way up and left that way for months there should be no problems.

Excuse me for not looking at the model

I left a brand new SK torque wrench at 35ft-lbs over the weekend and when I came back it was off 10ft-lbs no matter how I ran it up and down. Months? Ha

 

[Nekit]

I went to a class this summer by Sturtevant Richmont who make high quality torque wrenches for many companies and OEM manufacturers. The instructor said that an old fashion beam type will never be off, unless it has been visibly damaged. Click type stay accurate as long as they are returned to 0, otherwise you are compressing the spring in them and weakening it. He also stated that the digitals stay pretty accurate too.

If it is cheap it will always be off. I have wondered how accurate those $9.99 Harbor Freight ones are? I'm sure it's a **** shoot.

 

[whitetrash1]

I went to a class this summer by Sturtevant Richmont who make high quality torque wrenches for many companies and OEM manufacturers. The instructor said that an old fashion beam type will never be off, unless it has been visibly damaged. Click type stay accurate as long as they are returned to 0, otherwise you are compressing the spring in them and weakening it. He also stated that the digitals stay pretty accurate too.

If it is cheap it will always be off. I have wondered how accurate those $9.99 Harbor Freight ones are? I'm sure it's a **** shoot.

I read an article on torque wrenches awhile back and they were within a ft lb I believe. But would lose accuracy quickly if not returned to 0