I recently picked up a used torque wrench and I was wondering what is the best way to check its accuracy without sending it out to be calibrated. I feel as though calibration would be a bit cost prohibitive due to the torque wrench being just a cheapie. I also do not have another accurate torque wrench to check it against. Any ideas?
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Checking the Accuracy of a Used Torque Wrench
- Thread starter mike7
- Start date
lock up the head in a vise, put a socket on it if you prefer, put it out horizontal, and get a weight, something you know the exact weight of (weigh it if you have to, or use something like a workout weight).
20-30 lbs should be enough, or more i fyo uare looking for a higher end torque.
measure the distance from the center of the torque wrench head, to the center of the handle, that is your length
then do the math.
torque = length x weight
^in/lb = inches x weight(lbs)
or ft/lb = inches x weight(lbs)/12
so hang the weight on the end. and set the torque wrench to what it should be.
if it's off. its not a big deal, you don't NEED to get it calibrated, you can adjust it yourself if you have a thin enough socket, mostly there is a hole or a cap on the bottom of the handle, with a nut around an allen screw. losen the nut and you can tighten or losen the screw. i believe tightening will cause the click to come at a higher torque. so if you had an 18 inch handle length, and put 50 lbs on the handle, it should be 75 ft lbs of torque. and if it clicked at 70. you could tighten the allen screw a little bit and get it to the right reading.
you really want to go through and check the low all the way to the high in 25-30 ft lb intervals to be sure there isn't something wrong internally also
20-30 lbs should be enough, or more i fyo uare looking for a higher end torque.
measure the distance from the center of the torque wrench head, to the center of the handle, that is your length
then do the math.
torque = length x weight
^in/lb = inches x weight(lbs)
or ft/lb = inches x weight(lbs)/12
so hang the weight on the end. and set the torque wrench to what it should be.
if it's off. its not a big deal, you don't NEED to get it calibrated, you can adjust it yourself if you have a thin enough socket, mostly there is a hole or a cap on the bottom of the handle, with a nut around an allen screw. losen the nut and you can tighten or losen the screw. i believe tightening will cause the click to come at a higher torque. so if you had an 18 inch handle length, and put 50 lbs on the handle, it should be 75 ft lbs of torque. and if it clicked at 70. you could tighten the allen screw a little bit and get it to the right reading.
you really want to go through and check the low all the way to the high in 25-30 ft lb intervals to be sure there isn't something wrong internally also
Last edited:
Murphy4570
Well-known member
Hook a beam torque wrench to it, compare readings.
lock up the head in a vise, put a socket on it if you prefer, put it out horizontal, and get a weight, something you know the exact weight of (weigh it if you have to, or use something like a workout weight)...
Hook a beam torque wrench to it, compare readings.
Thanks for the help guys. It's greatly appreciated.