HF 3/4" Torque Wrench

[mercman86]

Hello All:

Does anyone own this wrench?:

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-quarter-inch-drive-click-stop-torque-wrench-808.html

Or has anyone used one? I have never been a fan of cheapo tools but I need this to torque the spindle nuts on my F150 to 295 ft lbs. The local auto zone and other rent a tool places do not have one this heavy duty in stock to rent and I need it this weekend. Price is ok but just want to know if it is of decent quality. There is one negatve review out of 4. I guess for what it is there may be a bad one or two floating out there on the store shelves. I would prefer an honest review from the garage journal gang vs one on the store's site.

All advice is appreciated,

Thanks in advance!

 

[metaleltr]

Hammer em on with an impact, be done.

 

[mercman86]

Thats what I did before and why I think the bearings failed. I think they were overtightened.

 

[KinzeMech]

^^ what he (metaleltr) said.

I have a torque wrench, but I don't think I'd dig it out for this. I definitely wouldn't buy one.

295 (round it to 300) ft-lbs is 100 lbs of force on the end of a 3 foot lever. Get a piece of pipe to put on the end of your ratchet/breaker bar. Whatever length you need to reach 3 feet from the center of the socket to the center of the point of application of force. Apply 100 lbs of force to this point, until such time as it stops turning.

Another option. If you are an average adult male of 200# body weight, and your 3/4 ratchet handle has a length of 18 inches (1.5 feet), stand on the end of it. 200lbs X 1.5feet also = 300 ft lbs.

 

[metaleltr]

Thats what I did before and why I think the bearings failed. I think they were overtightened.

That wouldn't make a difference, the cv shaft has movement in the inner joint allowing it to come out closer to the hub.

 

[joedodge]

what metal said no need to bother torque them when i replace them at work i never torque them

 

[O_M_Jeep]

I have that torque wrench for doing axle nuts to 175lbs (saves unit bearings to have them right). it's worked really well, easy to use and the torque was 2 lbs off on a friends machine shop wrench (he assured me it would be 'extremely inaccurate')

 

[joedodge]

Before I had my matco I had a ace hardware its the same as the harbor freight it never let me down never stupefied it loosened anything with it and never left it set it did just fine for a long time proper torque is important for most applications this one as stated isnt as important but all fastebers have a torque the torque wrench can be your freind treat it good and it'll treat you good

 

[mercman86]

I have that torque wrench for doing axle nuts to 175lbs (saves unit bearings to have them right). it's worked really well, easy to use and the torque was 2 lbs off on a friends machine shop wrench (he assured me it would be 'extremely inaccurate')

Thank you for the review,

I should have been more specific in my description of my truck. It is a 2004 2wd. The wheel bearings are pressed into the rotor. Not 4wd with cv axles or standard tapered wheel bearings. I have installed axle nuts on cv axles with an impact before and have never had a problem like others stated, on 4wd trucks and fwd cars. The reason why I want to torque them correctly on my truck is to eliminate my doubts about hammering them on with an impact causing them to fail. In the past I have tried to stand on a breaker bar while on a fastner only to fall off and almost break my neck. Im not that coordinated!

 

[joedodge]

I've actually done a couple sets of those impacting them wont hurt it are you replacing the nuts there also one time use

 

[greasemonkey44]

A moog instructor told me that not properly torquing cv axle nuts and using an impact to tighten them will measurably shorten their life span
i have replaced axle bearings where someone zipped it on with an impact and it wasnt snug enough and walked off

i would torque it on my car or truck, and highly recommend you do the same
also i use some blue loctite
The HF wrench will get you into the right torque and the blue loctite is just insurance
those rotor and bearing assemblies are expensive

 

[mercman86]

I ended up purchasing this tool and using it on my truck. Overalll it seems very well built and worked perfectly as far as I can tell. With my 20% coupon it was 68 bucks. Not bad and Im glad I used it. When I torqued the lug nuts with it, I compared it with a snap on 1/2. they both clicked at 150 lbs so I think its pretty accurate.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Now this is how the GJ is supposed to work, IMHO. A guy asked a fair question. A bunch of folks gave varying opinions based on individual experience. Then the OP acts on the opinions and gives follow up info on how his decision worked. This is a pretty cool place to hang out. Thanks everybody.

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

I also have it, only used it a few times, but seems to function just fine... I think they redesigned the 3/4 TW, I think the new one is shorter; can anyone confirm this?

 

[mercman86]

I also have it, only used it a few times, but seems to function just fine... I think they redesigned the 3/4 TW, I think the new one is shorter; can anyone confirm this?

The one I purchased is 33 1/2" long.