Decent 500+ ft/lb torque wrench

[cgrutt]

Looked at them. I'd need to buy a 3/4" ratchet too. I only have 3/4" and 1" impacts, have never needed a ratchet, even on heavy equipment.

1/2 breaker bar with adapter?

Just using HF as example but any brand would work. They sell an ICON 3/4 breaker bar for $100 I bought one and use it with a 1/2 adapter all the time it works so much better than my 1/2 Snap On breaking stubborn lug nuts/suspension bolts/axle nuts etc. I even used it for the bearing retainers on my boat's outdrive (the tools are 1/2"). Love it. If you don't have one I'd recommend it anyway regardless of the torque need. That and the torque adapter is $170 new with warranty. Solves your immediate problem and gives you another useful tool for future projects. Just saying.

HF also has an ICON 3/4 100-600 clicker but it's $400.

Anyway good luck whatever you decide to do.

 

[Sumboodie]

Unless you find a used one in a pawn shop what you are asking isn’t going to happen. You have to pay to play in the big leagues. If you can afford big trucks then you can afford the tools to fix them. Get over it and go to harbor freight and get a cheap *** piece of ****. Do you take care of your trucks like you don’t want to spend anything on tools?

I have less than 15k into both trucks.

 

[bcradio]

 

[Steve_P]

The 3/8 drive HF Icons are $100+; the 1/2 Icons are $140+; the 3/4 Icon is $400 but only goes up to 600 lb-ft.

You seem to want 3/4 drive heavy equipment tools at the 3/8 drive $100 price point. I personally would like a smoking hot woman that's 10+ years younger, low maintenance, funny, great cook, loves to make squishy.... but I know it'll never happen.

 

[1320]

The HF Quinn digital torque adapter and a 3/4" drive breaker bar is going to be about the least expensive option short of a great deal on a used wrench.

 

[KnurledNut]

@Sumboodie
If it’s mainly for lug nuts, how about getting a torque stick rated for your application?
Probably the cheapest option.

 

[pizza]

what is this 'foot per pound' you speak of?

 

[Firebrick43]

This is what I have:

AME Break-A-Way Torque Wrench - 1" Drive - Reversable (200-750 ft/lbs), Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XTQX939?tag=atomicindus08-20

Does it actually help? Every container trailer I see on 65 has wheels that wobble and hop?

 

[dutchgray]

I got real lucky with the Amazon algorithm a few years ago and got a brand new Wera 3/4" for £66, or basically free as the list price at the time was over £500

 

[txvwnut]

I got my Proto 3/4" drive torque wrench from a pawn shop close to 30 years ago and paid $200.00, sent it for calibration which I think was another $100 or so and was still in way under for what retailed for. A torque wrench is one tool you don't want to skimp on especially when your torquing wheel lugs on commercial vehicles.

 

[reader2580]

I haven't seen any with reasonable shipping. Most want $65-100 or won't ship.

You're in Alaska. Shipping is going to cost more to Alaska. I shipped a couple of 4"x6" headlights to Anchorage about a decade ago and about fell over when I saw the price for UPS ground or Fedex ground. Priority Mail was not cheap either, but it was 25% of what the other two wanted.

 

[reader2580]

I have one of the break-away style 3/4" torque wrenches that is designed specifically for tightening heavy duty lug nuts up to 600 ft lbs. You know when it is torqued without having to look at anything.

They are expensive new. I found one made in the USA at a pawn shop website for $80 and had the calibration tested locally. I was under $200 all in. Obviously, no guarantees you can ever find a used one.

 

[dchawk81]

Does it actually help? Every container trailer I see on 65 has wheels that wobble and hop?

Not if you don't use it.

 

[1320]

Does it actually help? Every container trailer I see on 65 has wheels that wobble and hop?

Container trailers usually have Dayton wheels, which wobble and hop if not trued, which is a different story...

 

[dchawk81]

Container trailers usually have Dayton wheels, which wobble and hop if not trued, which is a different story...

This too. Although Dayton's have largely been phased out, at least at the rail depots.

 

[PoorUB]

CDI makes Snap On torque wrenches. I just bought a 250 ftlb for $180. They have a 600 ftlb clicker, but it is $600!

I was torn as I really don't use a large torque wrench that much any more. I had a 250 ftlb Proto I bought in 1978, but it needed to be disassembled, reworked and calibrated. It went into the scrap steel bin. I looked at al the less expensive brands, but I am a cry once kind of guy and would rather buy a quality tool and not worry about if it is correct of not, and if I will need to replace it again.

 

[dchawk81]

CDI makes Snap On torque wrenches. I just bought a 250 ftlb for $180. They have a 600 ftlb clicker, but it is $600!

I was torn as I really don't use a large torque wrench that much any more. I had a 250 ftlb Proto I bought in 1978, but it needed to be disassembled, reworked and calibrated. It went into the scrap steel bin. I looked at al the less expensive brands, but I am a cry once kind of guy and would rather buy a quality tool and not worry about if it is correct of not, and if I will need to replace it again.

Yeah in the semi world you gotta pay to play unless you're one of those guys who doesn't care, and just hammers the **** out of the wheels with a 1" gun with no regard for potential consequences.

500-600 bucks really isn't all that much in the grand scheme of things.

It's almost impossible to leave a shop with a repair bill under $1000 these days. Heck my SCR (think catalytic converter) alone was over 5 grand just for the part. Thank goodness I installed it myself.

 

[bb29510]

proto. check the pawn shops, I bought three out of pawn shops

 

[PoorUB]

You guys are lucky to find any deals in a pawn shop. In this area they want 3/4ths new price and don't haggle. It is pretty rare that I find a deal.

I have noticed that it depends on the area. The Denver area prices are decent compared to here. Perhaps due to the large military presence in the area and guys just flat out getting rid of stuff when they move?

 

[Rabid Badger]

@Sumboodie
If it’s mainly for lug nuts, how about getting a torque stick rated for your application?
Probably the cheapest option.

Those only work reliably with air impacts.

 

[cannuck]

Those only work reliably with air impacts.

They only work AT ALL with impact tools. When used with a constant torque handle to drive them the only thing limiting about a "torque stick" is when they break.

 

[dchawk81]

They only work AT ALL with impact tools. When used with a constant torque handle to drive them the only thing limiting about a "torque stick" is when they break.

Read again. They don't work with electric/cordless impacts.

 

[reader2580]

Yeah in the semi world you gotta pay to play unless you're one of those guys who doesn't care, and just hammers the **** out of the wheels with a 1" gun with no regard for potential consequences.

I had to have a tire on a coach bus replaced on a weekend and Love’s Tire Care was the only place open. I had just replaced all of the wheel studs and the tire guy snapped one of the studs off with the 1” impact. I was pissed. The guy also had a really bad attitude. A torque wrench doesn’t tell you if the lug nut was over torqued.

Tire shops can often replace wheel studs, but they are a very uncommon size.

 

[dchawk81]

I had to have a tire on a coach bus replaced on a weekend and Love’s Tire Care was the only place open. I had just replaced all of the wheel studs and the tire guy snapped one of the studs off with the 1” impact. I was pissed. The guy also had a really bad attitude. A torque wrench doesn’t tell you if the lug nut was over torqued.

Tire shops can often replace wheel studs, but they are a very uncommon size.

Yes you do have to use a torque wrench properly for it to be effective, which includes correct lug nut installation.

 

[Pinemarten]

I just looked on Ebay, found a UYECOVE 3/4 Inch Torque Wrench, 48 Tooth Torque Wrench 3/4 Drive 100-600FT

The seller wants $187.99 with free shipping.
That looks like it would do the job for your needs.

 

[bb29510]

i got two proto, i always find them in pawn shops, i use them for structural steel bolted connections. there always will be one pawn shop in the area that ask no questions, there will have items that the local labor not going to own. there a real good chance its stolen, but will check out because somebody never wrote the serial number down. those are the shop you keep an eye on

 

[Sumboodie]

Got one for about $110 off Amazon.

 

[Jeff]

These have worked for all my needs.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08V8R9SD8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[bcradio]

Got one for about $110 off Amazon.

#GetSome guy!

 

[Sumboodie]

These have worked for all my needs.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08V8R9SD8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I already have a couple torque wrenches that go to 250 ft/lbs. Needed something for double that.

 

[Sumboodie]

I picked up the Carlyle 250ft lb unit a while back, basically a Tech Angle.

Works ok, but the buttons don't lock out that I can find. If you push the units by accident, have to cycle through and it goes to torque angle which takes a minute or two to I guess calibrate and let me cycle through.
Talk about irritating!

And it's sensitive. It got pushed a few times just setting it down or picking it up.

 

[Cruzan80]

So in Feb, you told us you had "a couple" 250# torque wrenches, and a month later, you came back to say you bought another 250# wrench, but don't like it because of certain options/settings? And nothing about the original idea of 500+# wrenches?

 

[Sumboodie]

So in Feb, you told us you had "a couple" 250# torque wrenches, and a month later, you came back to say you bought another 250# wrench, but don't like it because of certain options/settings? And nothing about the original idea of 500+# wrenches?

I already have the one in this thread too. It works fine.

And yes.

 

[WhataTool]

Would a torque adapter work?

This is one sold by HF but I'm sure there are others.

These work surprisingly well with a stout enough bar

 

[cgrutt]

These work surprisingly well with a stout enough bar

I actually have one only used it once with ICON 3/4 bar seemed to work great. Of course have no idea how accurate it actually is lol.

 

[Sumboodie]

These work surprisingly well with a stout enough bar

That's the thing, need something to hold the bar. Not possible on some stuff.
Would imagine the torque error be magnified too.

Ie +-5% more like +-20% on a 4:1 multipler.