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Help, need a cheaper torque wrench 1/4

48548

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I am working on my transmission installing a transgo HD2 shift kit and would like to use a better torque wrench, but I need an inch pounds... I have an HF, but wanted something better with out spending 300-400 dollars.... Any ideas? The range might be 6-16 feet pounds.... Or maybe 50-150 inch pounds.... Doesn't have to be a 1/4, 3/8 would work also... Thanks. All of my snap on are 1/2 and I do have an old plomb needle that shows 5 pound increments, but don't know if I would trust that. It doesn't have to be a clicker, but that would be better and easier to use.
 
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OP
4

48548

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Here are the ranges I am working with. Not all of them but you get the idea.

Accumulator Cover to Case Bolt 6-10 lb ft
Case Extension to Case Bolt 31-35 lb ft
Case Extension to Case Bolt (4WD Shipping) 8.3-16.7 lb ft
Converter Cover Bolt 89 lb in
Converter Housing to Case Screw 48-55 lb ft
Cooler Pipe Connector 26-30 lb ft
Detent Spring to Valve Body Bolt 15-20 lb ft
Floor shift Control Bolt 89 lb in
Flywheel to Torque Converter Bolt 46 lb ft
Forward Accumulator Cover to Valve Body Bolt 6-10 lb ft
Heat Shield to Transmission Bolt 13 lb ft
Line Pressure Plug 6-10 lb ft
Manual Shaft to Inside Detent Lever Nut 20-25 lb ft
Negative Battery Cable Bolt 11 lb ft
Oil Level Indicator Bolt 35 lb ft
Oil Pan to Transmission Case Bolt 97 lb in
Oil Passage Cover to Case Bolt 6-10 lb ft
Park Brake Bracket to Case Bolt 20-25 lb ft
Park/Neutral Position Switch Screw 27 lb in
Plate to Case Bolt (Shipping) 20-25 lb ft
Plate to Converter Bolt (Shipping) 20-25 lb ft
Plug Assembly, Automatic Transmission Oil Pan (C/K) 22.1-29.5 lb ft
Plug Assembly, Automatic Transmission Oil Pan (Y) 20.7-23.6 lb ft
Pressure Control Solenoid Bracket to Valve Body Bolt 6-10 lb ft
Pump Assembly to Case Bolt 19-24 lb ft
Pump Cover to Pump Body Bolt 15-20 lb ft
Shift Cable Grommet Screw 15 lb in
Shift Control Cable Attachment 15 lb ft
Speed Sensor Retainer Bolt 7.7-10 lb ft
Stud, Automatic Transmission Case Extension (Y-car) 13-16 lb ft
TCC Solenoid Assembly to Case Bolt 6-10 lb ft
Trans Mount to Transmission Bolt 18 lb ft
Transmission Fluid Pressure Manual Valve Position Switch to Valve Body Bolt 6-10 lb ft
Transmission Oil Cooler Pipe Fitting 26-30 lb ft
Transmission Oil Pan to Case Bolt 7-10 lb ft
Transmission to Engine Bolt 35 lb ft
Valve Body to Case Bolt 6-10 lb ft
 

Stick

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Givl Reggin

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Are you seriously going to use a torque wrench or torque screwdriver on each of those bolts/screws? Just make them guedantite and be done with it... those torque values were set by some engineer sitting at a desk trying to justify his job. In the real world use you brain to tell your hand when it's tight enough.
 
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4

48548

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Are you seriously going to use a torque wrench or torque screwdriver on each of those bolts/screws? Just make them guedantite and be done with it... those torque values were set by some engineer sitting at a desk trying to justify his job. In the real world use you brain to tell your hand when it's tight enough.

In the real world I used a f731 ratchet last time and stripped out some because I never want anything to be loose, steel bolts in aluminum isn't hard hard to do at 10ft lbs to make them tight... Since I bought this truck new I didn't want to do the same thing. I am just installing a shift kit not every bolt needs to be checked just the ones I take out. Taking an extra hour to do that is nothing compared to the cost of a new 4L60E, and the fact that I paid 33,000 for the truck 5 years ago and it has almost 18000 miles on it.
 
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OP
4

48548

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Look no further than this Gearwrench model.
http://www.tooltopia.com/gearwrench-85050.aspx

30-200 in lbs, US made, fine 60 tooth ratchet action. I use mine almost everyday and like it.:thumbup:

Gearwrench also has some nice 3/8 fixed ratcheting and flex head ratcheting models in the 5-75 foot pound range.

That might be more of what I am looking to spend, as I can get 30-35% off snap on but still I don't use it enough to spend the money, but this I can go for. Thanks for the info.
 
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Merkava_4

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That might be more of what I am looking to spend, as I can get 30-35% off snap on but still I don't use it enough to spend the money, but this I can go for. Thanks for the info.

So it seems like my recommendation lost out to Fedwrench's recommendation; why do I even bother? :confused:
 
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Charles (in GA)

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Are you seriously going to use a torque wrench or torque screwdriver on each of those bolts/screws? Just make them guedantite and be done with it... those torque values were set by some engineer sitting at a desk trying to justify his job. In the real world use you brain to tell your hand when it's tight enough.

Depends entirely on what kind of work you happen to be doing.

Getting torques even and somewhere in the proper range are quite important in an auto trans valve body. Easy to warp something and have valves hanging up, or cause a leak at a joint. Small steel screws in aluminum...... sometimes the best thing to do is to use common mechanical sense, and in this case, that tells me that a torque wrench is called for.

OP is quite smart to stop and ask, I think.

Charles
 
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4

48548

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So it seems like my recommendation lost out to Fedwrench's recommendation; why do I even bother? :confused:

I was going to go with that, but for half the money it is a no brainer... I really love pi and snap on, but don't have the money to spend on something I don't use all the time... Sorry Merkava didn't mean to offend.
 
OP
4

48548

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Look no further than this Gearwrench model.
http://www.tooltopia.com/gearwrench-85050.aspx

30-200 in lbs, US made, fine 60 tooth ratchet action. I use mine almost everyday and like it.:thumbup:

Gearwrench also has some nice 3/8 fixed ratcheting and flex head ratcheting models in the 5-75 foot pound range.

Thanks got it from Amazon for 91.99 brand new with free shipping... I don't need it if a couple of weeks so slow shipping is fine with me... Thanks again for the info Fedwrench.
 

RbrtAWhyt

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Are you seriously going to use a torque wrench or torque screwdriver on each of those bolts/screws? Just make them guedantite and be done with it... those torque values were set by some engineer sitting at a desk trying to justify his job. In the real world use you brain to tell your hand when it's tight enough.

First off, isn't "guedantit" the German word for "virgin"?

Anyway, I would answer the above questions "Yes". They have torque specs for a reason. Besides, most things were designed by an engineer sitting at his desk...
 

DHCrocks

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definitely get a good torque wrench, espically for those low torque situations into aluminum. it's so easy to over torque and snap a bolt or strip the hole. I'm constantly supprised how low 120 in-lbs is, it doesn't feel right, I would never guess that that was enough.

Even in non critical applications, like the inner door cover where the manual says 140 in-lbs, I've used a 1/4" ratchet (the short 4" SO) and have snapped the bolt. Since then I've gotten a better feel for it but it still feels like i'm only finger tighening the bolt head, but that's just what's specified.
 

BlindViper

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I used a HF 1/4 in and 1/2 ft lb while building my transmission. I checked the bolts with a snapon torque wrenches and they were good.
 
OP
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48548

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I can't complain for the price of the gearwrench and made in USA keeping hard working americans at work. Also ordered this from tooltopia... Precision Instruments (PREC2FR100F) for 100 shipped to my house... 20-100 feet poounds 3/8. That combined with my snap on 40-250 split beam and I am now covered for everything along with the 1/4 gearwrench. I really like the split beams best, but didn't see anything in the 1/4 range.
 
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