Flex head torque wrenches...I don't get it.

[L.Cheapo]

Hmmm, I don’t know man.

I’ve always used a fixed torque wrench and extensions have always made everything possible. Yet flex heads make up a big portion of the market. I’ll probably get one just to see what it’s all about. Probably Cornwell split beam, flex head.

Scott knows what he's talking about.

Curious...how do you feel about flex head ratchets in general?

 

[Chipm]

Then how do you put it back in it's protective case?

I always crack up at those protective cases. You watch the toolbox tours and the torque wrenches are always was down in some dusty drawer that is obviously never used. My torque wrenches get used constantly.

 

[mikey03]

I know I personally consistently under torque. Make no mistake about it; The skill to torque something without a torque wrench usually takes years of using a torque wrench.

I consistently overtorque tbh so my left hand drill bits and extractors get some use

but haven’t overtorqued any small fasteners since I got the 1/4 techangle. Planning on getting the 3/8 later this year just wanting to get any imported tools first in case prices go up.

 

[mikey03]

I always crack up at those protective cases. You watch the toolbox tours and the torque wrenches are always was down in some dusty drawer that is obviously never used. My torque wrenches get used constantly.

True I always wonder about how real people use these I’m guessing some might just keep the case flipped open in their box or even cut the lid off and use the bottom half of the case like a tray for it in the drawer

 

[Chipm]

Make no mistake about it; The skill to torque something without a torque wrench usually takes years of using a torque wrench.

I torque every oil drain plug, no joke. I know a lot of guys think I must be crazy, but in my mind it adds maybe two minutes of work per day and is a lot easier than using a time-sert or dropping a subframe to replace an oil pan

 

[Chipm]

True I always wonder about how real people use these I’m guessing some might just keep the case flipped open in their box or even cut the lid off and use the bottom half of the case like a tray for it in the drawer

My 1/2 is right next to the tire gun and wheel sockets, with a 6" extension and set usually to 90 ft lbs. I have a 5-75 that sits with a 3/8 ratchet and rail of 13,14,15,17,8mm hex, 10mm hex for drain plugs in the oil change box. Neither of them ever goes in a case, both are used multiple times daily. Another 5-75 flex head is in the ratchet/socket drawer. I don't think I even own the cases any more.

 

[ChefRex]

I always crack up at those protective cases. You watch the toolbox tours and the torque wrenches are always was down in some dusty drawer that is obviously never used. My torque wrenches get used constantly.

Mine gets used, I spent a lot of $$$ on them, it's a precision tool, it goes back in its case.
I never latch the case unless it's being transported.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I always crack up at those protective cases. You watch the toolbox tours and the torque wrenches are always was down in some dusty drawer that is obviously never used. My torque wrenches get used constantly.

I do keep all the cases in case I need to ship a wrench for repair or calibration.

My tech angles look like **** - all dinged up, button markings rubbing off, grease/grime that I can't clean in the seams of the plastic. But they sure do get a lot of use! I probably have 2k wrapped up in those wrenches, but they sure are great. I got a nice slab of foam online with cutouts to nest all the wrenches in. Sort of like what snap-on sells a set in, but I couldn't order just the foam from them at the time. Front and center in the main drawer.

 

[bkdc]

Does a non-flex ratchet with extension make access to every bolt possible? Slight flex is a happy compromise. For lug nuts, I don’t understand why an extension is required. Most dedicated lug nut sockets I’ve ever encountered are extra long and designed for impact tools. Unless you’re using standard sockets to torque lug nuts.

My Precision Instruments torque wrenches sit uprotected in my drawer holding my extra-long ratchets, breaker bars, leveraging extension tools, and pry bars. It’s a precision instrument, but a split-beam type is not going to go out of calibration from getting knocked around. One day I decided that the hard plastic case takes up way too much space in a tool cart.

I wish every mechanic would use a torque wrench for oil drain plugs. Overfilled oil and overtorqued drain plugs are #1 and #2 on the list of frequent ”mistakes” at any dealership.

 

[mikey03]

I got a nice slab of foam online with cutouts to nest all the wrenches in. Sort of like what snap-on sells a set in, but I couldn't order just the foam from them at the time. Front and center in the main drawer.

I always worry foam on car tools would keep oil and grime in it, how’s it working for you Scott?

 

[impactims]

Curious...how do you feel about flex head ratchets in general?

I have about 8 of them.

I never seem to run into a situation that their use is preferred over a fixed ratchet. Every once in a while i pull one out just to use it, but then I end up going back to the fixed ratchet because the flex feature becomes a nuisance.

On rare occasion I start with the flex ratchet in the straight position then bend it and use it as a speeder.

Once in a while i pull out the “spark plug ratchet” that has a flex head and a bent handle. And again, back to the fixed ratchet i go.

I can’t tell if they are a gimmick, if coincidentally I don’t run into an application for it or if I am using them wrong.

 

[mikey03]

On rare occasion I start with the flex ratchet in the straight position then bend it and use it as a speeder.

that’s the whole point of a flex head ratchet 🫣

 

[DAWrench]

I have about 8 of them.

I never seem to run into a situation that their use is preferred over a fixed ratchet. Every once in a while i pull one out just to use it, but then I end up going back to the fixed ratchet because the flex feature becomes a nuisance.

On rare occasion I start with the flex ratchet in the straight position then bend it and use it as a speeder.

Once in a while i pull out the “spark plug ratchet” that has a flex head and a bent handle. And again, back to the fixed ratchet i go.

I can’t tell if they are a gimmick, if coincidentally I don’t run into an application for it or if I am using them wrong.

I would think if you have 8 of them you would have figured out if you needed them or not about 7 of them ago.
I don't think of them as a gimmick but as more of a necessity

 

[dchawk81]

I have about 8 of them.

I never seem to run into a situation that their use is preferred over a fixed ratchet. Every once in a while i pull one out just to use it, but then I end up going back to the fixed ratchet because the flex feature becomes a nuisance.

On rare occasion I start with the flex ratchet in the straight position then bend it and use it as a speeder.

Once in a while i pull out the “spark plug ratchet” that has a flex head and a bent handle. And again, back to the fixed ratchet i go.

I can’t tell if they are a gimmick, if coincidentally I don’t run into an application for it or if I am using them wrong.

I find them useful but still only have like 3.

Why would you have 8 if you don't find them helpful?

 

[impactims]

I find them useful but still only have like 3.

Why would you have 8 if you don't find them helpful?

I came across them at prices I couldn’t pass up. One here one there over the years.

 

[dchawk81]

I came across them at prices I couldn’t pass up. One here one there over the years.

Kept buying more of something you don't need just because they were cheap?

 

[DAWrench]

I came across them at prices I couldn’t pass up. One here one there over the years.

I understand not passing on a good deal but if you don't like or see the usefulness I wouldn't buy anymore of them. The way you say you use them I think you would be better off finding a roto head ratchet to try instead of buying more flex head ratchets

 

[M635_Guy]

Double checking, what you and others are saying, is that the flex head on a torque wrench makes it so that you don’t need to use an extension or perhaps a wobble extension? That’s it?

I don't think wobble extensions are suitable for use with torque wrenches.

But yes.

 

[impactims]

Kept buying more of something you don't need just because they were cheap?

YES….I think I have a problem…

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I always worry foam on car tools would keep oil and grime in it, how’s it working for you Scott?

You need to clean the tool before it goes back in the foam. There's some mild staining where the drive anvil area is, and the largest part of the plastic body. They're doing okay, they'll be grimey in a decade.

I don't think wobble extensions are suitable for use with torque wrenches.

But yes.

Ford IIRC has a service bulletin about wobbles being acceptable for torque wrench use. Not sure I'd use one for TTY head bolts, but a lot of stuff is "close enough". Valve covers, an intake, a wheel hub bolt, etc.

 

[M635_Guy]

Ford IIRC has a service bulletin about wobbles being acceptable for torque wrench use. Not sure I'd use one for TTY head bolts, but a lot of stuff is "close enough". Valve covers, an intake, a wheel hub bolt, etc.

For something like a caliper carrier I'd probably worry less about it, but for something like a spark plug I wouldn't use a wobble. That's mainly just me being paranoid and cautious more than anything.

 

[johninct]

The whole point to a flex head ratchet is to break loose with the ratchet straight then bend the ratchet to use it as a speeder. Thats my experience anyways. No good way to break loose when flexed. The socket wants to jump off of the fastener. Maybe I'm missing something or doing it wrong.

Anyways, many torque wrenches have a flex head. I personally have never had one. Mine have always been with a fixed head.

So, what is the purpose of a flexing head on a torque wrench?

Seems to me that torquing down to, let's say 100 ft lbs, with the head flexed being would be very wonky. I see no good way to do that. Flexing the head then applying torque makes no sense to me. What am I missing?

You have been lucky if you never had to break something loose with the handle bent or have enough room to use the handle like a speeder.

 

[Two Speed]

Thats the only point to it that I have ever seen.

Take this for instance.

What is all that flex in the head going to do for me @ 250 ft lbs?

Thats why you are supposed to apply constant pressure. You take up the slack in the flex and you keep steady pressure until torque achieved. That thing could be a ujoint with a screw driver jammed through the holes, once the slack is taken up it isn't going to change the behaviour of the torque measuring part.


(to any significant amount cause somebody will call out any length changing slop).

 

[rust in the eye]

They only flex a few degrees, but in engine bays it often makes the difference in not being able to get on the fastener.

This^.

 

[rust in the eye]

I torque every oil drain plug, no joke. I know a lot of guys think I must be crazy, but in my mind it adds maybe two minutes of work per day and is a lot easier than using a time-sert or dropping a subframe to replace an oil pan

Thank you for that in case one of your patients ever finds its way into my hands.

 

[stillnostrebor]

Kept buying more of something you don't need just because they were cheap?

This is Garage Journal. Buying tools we don't need because of "bargain" is a requisite of membership, best I can tell?

 

[stillnostrebor]

And to stay on context, I prefer non-flex torque wrenches, but have zero issues with flex ratchets. No reason really... just what I am used to. If someone were to offer me a nice new flex version, I would gladly accept!

 

[richfinn]

It's like most combination wrenches having a 15 degree bend at the box end, it saves the knuckles and makes access a little bit better in most instances.

We get issued non-flex torque wrenches at work, having a good selection of short extensions and deep/semi-deep sockets can help with access.