"Click" Torque Wrench Accuracy

[kbuhagiar]

Hello, Folks,

I was wondering if I could get some thoughts on the accuracy of "click style" torque wrenches. I have been using my Craftsman 1/2" click torque wrench for twenty years now, and I always thought they were fairly accurate. However, after reading a post on another board which criticized their accuracy, I'm having second thoughts.

I still have an old "deflection beam" style wrench also, but I hated using that thing because of the hassle of trying to sight the beam while wrenching on a nut.

Should I be concerned? Are they really that bad?

Thoughts? Comments? Opinions?

Thanks, and Merry Christmas!

 

[TNToy]

My Snap-On at work states +/- 4 percent on accuracy, when new. At the max setting of 250ft/lb.. that means I'm actually torquing to between 240 and 260 foot pounds.

Unless you build racing engines, though, it's probably fine. And it beats the hell out of guessing.

But like I said, that's their out-of-the-box guarantee. Since mine was last calibrated when it's previous owner sent it back to Snappy in 1992, I'm not sure where it really lies.

 

[bmwpower]

I believe Craftsman is the same accuracy. I've torqued a bunch of critical bolts on several engines with mine, including the aluminum head on my 535i.

 

[Mandres]

Clicker wrenches are usually extremely accurate from the factory. They get a bad rap because they have to be recalibrated periodically depending on usage and environment. Beam style don't generally need recalibration.

 

[GRX]

Clicker wrenches are usually extremely accurate from the factory. They get a bad rap because they have to be recalibrated periodically depending on usage and environment. Beam style don't generally need recalibration.

That is pretty much it. A clicker will not hold it's accuracy near as long.

A few more points to ponder.

Forget to set your clicker back to zero after a job and leave it in your toolbox for a few months? Will not be accurate.

Loan your clicker to a friend who used it to loosten bolts or as a breaker bar? Won't be accurate.

Furthermore, a clicker is only accurate in the middle of it's range. Do not expect a 20-200 lb/ft clicker to be accurate at 20 and 200.

With above said, there are a few things to remember about Beam types.

1] - you must hold the handle at the pivot. In other words, do not let the handle rest against the beam. Will not give accurate reading

2] - use a steady swing motion. No jerking. Goes for any torque wrench really.

3] - The dreaded "Parallax" effect. You must read the scale on a beam type straight on. When viewed from an angle you will get false reading. The very reason many like a beam type. When working on a car you cannot always see the scale from straight on.

What do I use? A beam type whenever possible. And an old swing arm type when necessary. Yes it's old as the hills, but has been calibrated and is still very accurate. Plus I like the feel of the swing arm. Affords a better feel than many clickers when the desired torque is getting close.

 

[toms73novass]

These are my personal favorite:

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

A friend took his in to be calibrated (FAA required). As I wouldn't take anything for some work I did, he took mine in. One brand new out of the box one, was WAY off, one that hadn't been used in a number of years, was less then 1% off, from specs. As a joke, I asked him to check a pos HF one, it was within range. I thought that was sad, considering the new one that was off was a Proto.

 

[Rickster]

I sometimes see torque wrenches at garage & estate sales. I have walked away from most of them because of the way they were stored; either laying in the tool box with other tools piled on them or the clicker type not reset to zero.

 

[bmwpower]

Everyone keeps mentioning "resetting to zero". I believe mine (Craftsman) recommends anything below 20%. There is no "zero".

 

[TNToy]

Setting to bottom of the scale. Whatever.

You know what they mean.

 

[kartracer55]

Theres only like 10 torque wrench threads in the "directory sticky"

 

[bmwpower]

Setting to bottom of the scale. Whatever.

You know what they mean.

This is a thread about accuracy, correct?