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HF Torque Wrench...Is it any good?

Farmall450

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I have the $9.99 coupon, and it just seems like a steal.

The real question however is, is the torque wrench any good? Like worth buying, just to have one? :bounce:


Thanks.
 
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zkling

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:D



On a serious note, they are surprisingly precise for what they cost, key word there is precise. I probably wouldn't use one on an engine rebuild without calibration first. One of these days I am going to get around to finishing my torque wrench calibration machine. After I finish my tire gauge calibrator. And that seems to be the common theme with low cost torque wrenches. They are pretty repeatable, just not always right on the indicated setting.
The issue is they can be pretty hit and miss. I would much rather have a precise torque wrench than an accurate one.
 
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03protege

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They have proven to be accurate, dunno how long term durability is. I would imagine for most (home) automotive work it would be just fine unless you are building race engines.
 
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Farmall450

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Can I get some?! :D

No but really, any experience with it?
 
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Farmall450

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Did someone post a US made link on ebay for NOS SK?
Can't find it but think I remember it...Didn't they offer custom engraving for free??
 

zkling

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So one could be spot on, another off by 5 ft lbs?

Exactly.

Precise meaning it is repeatble, but not always on the mark. So you set it to 100ft.lbs and really get 90ft.lbs, (note just an example, not real numbers) you will always get 90ft.lbs when set to 100ft.lbs

Accurate being the selected value is being applied to the fastener. So I set it at 100ft.lbs and I get 99.9ft.lbs.

I have an older great neck (Taiwain) 1/2" clicker that I got in a lot of tools I purchased. I would put it up against any of the higher end wrenches. WHY? It has been through calibration and proven itself many a times.

If I needed a torque wrench and was **** about accuracy and precision. I would buy 3 of the HF ones. Find someone that could calibrate them for the price of a hot lunch or the like. Reserve the best one for precision work, other for general rough work, and return the 3rd. :D

A place I use to work at did this with their digital calipers. Purchased ~100 of the HF calipers on sale. Had them calibrated and picked the best ones. Surprisingly a very high percentage turned out to be spot on. When you buy a high priced measuring tool (which is what a TW really is) what you are really paying for is the performance guarantee.
 
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zkling

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Wish I knew someone who could test them!

As soon as I find a cheap, calibrated force transducer I will be able to in my own garage.

Until then, call around to your local calibration labs, usually they will do a off the record calibration for a home shop type guy. A box of donuts or other usually will you get pretty far. ;) You need to find the person that does the actual calibration. Not some HR or other desk jockey that will worry about legal B.S.
 
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Farmall450

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As soon as I find a cheap, calibrated force transducer I will be able to in my own garage.

Until then, call around to your local calibration labs, usually they will do a off the record calibration for a home shop type guy. A box of donuts or other usually will you get pretty far. ;) You need to find the person that does the actual calibration. Not some HR or other desk jockey that will worry about legal B.S.

I'll have to cruise the web.

I don't know about the HF torque wrench but if you are looking for a decent torque wrench you might look into the following one on sale at lowes:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_337333-2232...urrentURL=?Ntt=torque+wrench+lowes&facetInfo=

I'm looking at 1/2"! :)
 

NC-Fordguy

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I have/had a HF torque wrench. It was accurate--within the spec on the sheet it came with.

I used it for several years and one day and all the internals fell out when I was unloading it.

The drawback to its use was it was only rated to 150 pounds.

For what it cost and the years I used it I reallt can't complain

Hiball had a thread a while back rating several torque wrenches...good reading
 

ElectroLight

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The HF clickers have been covered pretty well on GJ, do a search. FWIW, they have been proven to be accurate and a smoking deal for 10 bucks.
 
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Farmall450

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I have/had a HF torque wrench. It was accurate--within the spec on the sheet it came with.

I used it for several years and one day and all the internals fell out when I was unloading it.

The drawback to its use was it was only rated to 150 pounds.

For what it cost and the years I used it I reallt can't complain

Hiball had a thread a while back rating several torque wrenches...good reading

I believe I read that one...not sure.

The HF clickers have been covered pretty well on GJ, do a search. FWIW, they have been proven to be accurate and a smoking deal for 10 bucks.

I tryed a few searches. Harbor Freight comes up a lot. :eyecrazy:
 
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ev2mopar

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I don't know how comfortable I would be using HF anything for something so precision that it needs a specific torque setting.
To me, a torque setting is extremely critical. What would you trust to verify this... a budget tool that may or may not be correct? Or a known quality tool that you don't have to question?
I have some HF tools...the impact sockets are pretty darn good...but there are no moving parts in them.
If I need something torqued, I am going to use my Snap-on clicker.
I trust it will do what I ask of it. I don't want to assume that my rod caps are tight, or that my intake gasket is properly squashed.
On a side note, about 3 or so years ago, my wifes grandfather gave me an old torque wrench he had. I happily took it. I had brought it to work to show the boys what I had gotten.
all gathered around to inspect the nice King torque wrench as we proceeded to test it on the
One always assumes a nice shiny item in a clean plastic protective box.
The poor wrench was out by about 40lbs.
I say this because, well, the tool was in spectacular condition, the case was clean. One would assume it was ready for work. If I used it in the real world, it would have overtightened near everything to the point of pulling threads, snapping studs, what have you.
 

toolaholic

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Jul 26, 2012
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PA
I have a power built 1/2 drive digital torque adapter I put in a vise to test torque wrenches. I tested a 3/8 and a 1/2 drive HF torque wrenches. They are accurate in the midrange. Below say 30lb ft setting they are off. Less accurate the lower you go. My gearwrench flex head that is rated from 5-75lb ft is accurate down to about 15lb ft.
 

JJThrasher

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Different strokes for different folks.

I have both HF and SO torque wrenches.

Last time I checked all the box store brands were rated for the same 4% accuracy. HF does have an honest no questions asked warranty on theirs though. Plus as mentioned, they are the cheapest.

Really it just depends on what you're doing. I wouldn't use one on an airplane. However they're fine for torquing in most home automotive situations.
 

Haveblue

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I have the 3/8" and 1/2" and have been using them at work for years. They are very accurate. I think using them frequently actually keeps them consistant. I will say, however, that you need to check them to be sure. I have beam type 1/2" and 3/8" that I use to test them. Ive also borrowed snapon torque wrenches to compare test results..im sure its possible to get a bad one, but the ones I have are accurate, and work very well. Ill also add, that I store them set at around the lowest setting, just a bit of tension on the spring, and I sometimes will run them up to the highest setting and back a few times. I say go for it. They have worked out quite well for me!
 

Loscaldazar

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Feb 23, 2013
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I bought a 1/4 drive one to just test it out (and I don't have a 1/4 torque wrench...). I got about 5% accuracy via 2 different methods. Accuracy was more of 30%-100% of scale versus the standard 20%-100%. For the price, it's great. Improper technique is going have a greater variance in the actual torque applied versus the wrench. That being said, I trust my split beam PI torque wrenches for more important work (accuracy on them was tested to be about 1%, pretty damn good!).
 

Dusty61

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Jan 10, 2011
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Cincinnatus New York
i have the 1/2 and 3/8 ones, and they are pretty damn accurate, my uncle who is a CNC machinist took them to the calibration lab were he works, the 1/2 one was dead accurate down to like 20 ft/lb, the 3/8 was good to 10. i don't think i ever need better then that, and this uncle works at an aircraft plant. apparently the calibration lab guys have checked a bunch of these too and most are +/- 5% or so. plenty good for most stuff ill work on here. unless someone want to bring me an F-16 to work on...
 

skulldrinker

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Dec 25, 2011
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Bolingbrook, IL
For the first 2 weeks on my new job I used the HF torque wrench daily. The other tech followed me around a car and doubled checked all the lugs and they were spot on. He had a Snap-on split beam. About the 3rd week I got tired of twisting the handle and bought the Snap-on Copy made by Precision Instruments. It's much more efficient in a shop setting. But the HF is just as good if you want to deal with it on a daily basis.

http://tinyurl.com/muzk6lr
 
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ChevyEFI

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Phoenix, AZ
I bought the 1/4" to do something in the 20 to 30lb-ft range if I recall correctly.

Then I figured the 3/8" and 1/2" for 9.99 each was too silly not to have.

I figure it this way:

The wheels, assembly bolts, flywheel bolts and other things with torque values that I had assembled with out a TW for a decade and more were always fine. I'm not too much of a ham-fist that I over or under-torque anything to lead to a failure.

I guess if I was going to do head-bolts, I'd consider getting a digi. tq. adapter as mentioned by toolaholic and use my HF TWs for that too.
 

chris142

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Dec 19, 2011
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apple valley,ca
The 5 I looked at on the shelf all had problems. The ratchet would not grab or the handle would not turn. Yes I had the jam nut loose.
I ended up buying a usa one on sale at sears for $60ish
 

peteco

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Feb 23, 2008
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I use my beam torque wrench to check the Harbor Freight clicker torque wrench. Just use a 12-point 15 mm socket to link the two torque wrenches together. THe 1/2" drive end fits in the 15 MM 12-point end. Set the clicker and apply torque and measure when it clicks on the beam wrench. I have 3 HF clickers and they all check out good when compared to the beam torque wrench.

Unless extreme accuracy is needed, the check should be good enough.
 

johnnie5

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Jul 20, 2012
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Wish I knew someone who could test them!

you can test them yourself easily , just google and you will find out

very easy and useful with all test equipment you test before use to make sure it works and you test again after use to make sure it works
 
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