Clicker torque wrench - set AT minimum, or slightly BELOW minimum?

[tak1313]

So I just bought a new CP8905 1/4" clicker (50-250 in lbs). I noticed that out of the box, it was set at 47 in lbs.

Now I've always learned and practice that such torque wrenches should be set at the minimum torque setting (50 in lbs in this example). It is also what it states in the instructions that came with the wrench - not specifying 50 in lbs, but stating that it should be stored at minimum setting.

So if Chicago Pneumatic, despite what the instructions say, stores and distributes their torque wrench set slightly BELOW minimum, what's really best? I know one shouldn't go TOO far below minimum simply because it may cause problems with the mechanism, but I can see how keeping it AT minimum COULD affect the spring pressure long term when at the low end of the instrument.

I have to say, it is a nice unit. All black with silver and red accents, and claimed to be good for 25,000 clicks. Individual calibration sheet shows all test not more than 1.3% with most under 1%.

 

[dnschmidt]

Much ado about nothing. Do you actually think the 10 year old child who set the wrench in the box in Taiwan or China worried about 3 in-lb. What if, god forbid, he had set it to 53 in-lb. Com-on Man.

 

[charbar]

There was a discussion about this not very long ago. General consensus and words from people that calibrate torque wrenches was to store it at the minimum number on the scale, not under.

Ive stored my torque wrenches as low as they will go (under minimum torque value) all my life and have never had a problem though.

 

[tester19]

I have always stored my TR at the minimum setting. BUT I have also had them calibrated and I was told that it really does not matter. Never have seen any differences in the results.

But I still think it's a good work habit.
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[nh_yota]

What's a torque wrench?

 

[rlitman]

There are good reasons to not go beyond the minimum of the scale. As for storage, you're not going to see any spring creep so long as you store it in the lower third of range.

 

[AldeanFan]

How many ugga dugga’s does 3 inch pounds equate to??

 

[4xdog]

The instructions for my 40-year old Craftsman DigiTork clicker torque wrench say to leave it stored at less than 25% of capacity. I set it to minimum on-scale for storage.

 

[tak1313]

Much ado about nothing. Do you actually think the 10 year old child who set the wrench in the box in Taiwan or China worried about 3 in-lb. What if, god forbid, he had set it to 53 in-lb. Com-on Man.

No, I don't believe 3 in lbs is relevant in the grand scheme of things. My question wasn't really regarding this torque wrench specifically, I just used it as the example of the manufacturer storing the wrench slight below minimum threshold and found it interesting - especially considering it's Chicago Pneumatic and not Xiajiwrench company.

The fact that CP would store it in such a state just got me thinking if I had the wrong perception of the best way to store a clicker torque wrench. I apologize for appearing disingenuous in my question.

 

[visionguru]

Torque wrench is basically a calibrated spring. Lowest setting is the least stressful position for the spring.

For a very accurately made/calibrated torque wrench, you should NOT be able to screw down below the minimum. If somehow you can, then that's obviously the least stressful position.

 

[Mechtech]

For the click type wrench running the handle below the minimum can result in the ball bearing detent getting misaligned. They require a minimum pressure to stay in the correct position/orientation. This would cause the wrench to break at the wrong torque (low or high depending on which side the bearing ball ended up on).

 

[dnschmidt]

No, I don't believe 3 in lbs is relevant in the grand scheme of things. My question wasn't really regarding this torque wrench specifically, I just used it as the example of the manufacturer storing the wrench slight below minimum threshold and found it interesting - especially considering it's Chicago Pneumatic and not Xiajiwrench company.

The fact that CP would store it in such a state just got me thinking if I had the wrong perception of the best way to store a clicker torque wrench. I apologize for appearing disingenuous in my question.

Just because it has Chicago Pneumatic's name on it how can you be so sure that it isn't made by Xiajiwrench company?

 

[garfunkle24]

I was taught, and have seen advised elsewhere, to store at 20% or less of full range.

 

[tak1313]

Just because it has Chicago Pneumatic's name on it how can you be so sure that it isn't made by Xiajiwrench company?

As stated, the specific wrench and the actual manufacturer was not my point/question. The wrench used as the example, marketed by CP (regardless of the actual manufacturer) made me question if it's best to store a clicker torque wrench at minimum, or slightly below.

I'm not sure what's hanging you up about the CP part of it.

Let me rephrase the question at hand. Forget about the the CP wrench entirely.

Is it best to store a clicker torque wrench at minimum, or slightly below minimum setting?

 

[darkzero]

What's a torque wrench?

It's the tool you use when your ratchet with a pipe on the end or breaker bar won't get that nut/bolt loose. When you need more torque, use the torque wrench. (I have actually encountered people that thought this was true)

 

[javyLSU]

I learned the hard way to not unscrew a clicker below it’s lowest value - as mentioned above, it literally started coming apart. Had to put it back together, then get it recalibrated because it was way off.

 

[tak1313]

Yeah - I would never go TOO far below minimum, but I can see the theoretical advantage of going SLIGHTLY below minimum setting so that no "memory" forms in the spring at its lowest expected compressive value. That's why I questioned my practice of setting at minimum value (which I learned many years ago).

 

[dnschmidt]

Seriously, the only time I think retuning to minimum value matters at all is when you store it at higher than half range. I've had a 150 ft-lb torque wrench from Harbor Freight stored in my trunk for 10 years set to 75 ft-lb and each year when I put it on my torque calibrator it's dead on the money. If you get toward the maximum compression of the spring's design then I think it matters. If you're not in that range I don't believe the spring cars at all. Hell, it's a spring.

 

[msharley]

It's the tool you use when your ratchet with a pipe on the end or breaker bar won't get that nut/bolt loose. When you need more torque, use the torque wrench. (I have actually encountered people that thought this was true)

 

[msharley]

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