HF Torque Wrench...Is it any good?

[03protege]

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/ccrp_1304_torque_wrench_testing/

That is not the full article unfortunately.

 

[Farmall450]

I got one, (along with my new 44"!) will use it next time on the Hyundai or truck and test it vs the one (s) we normally use. (SO, Proto)

Thanks for all the advice!

Anyone wanna test it for me though?!

 

[Farmall450]

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/ccrp_1304_torque_wrench_testing/

Very nice! Thanks!

 

[Farmall450]

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!

My 3/8 crapped out on me a few weeks ago... I forgot to run it up and down before using it, which I usually do.

Why do you guys run them up & down?

As long as they're stored at ~0 ft lbs, shouldn't they be fine?

 

[SMKS]

Why do you guys run them up & down?

As long as they're stored at ~0 ft lbs, shouldn't they be fine?

You don't store them at zero, you store them at the lowest setting, never below the lowest setting.

Also, most torque wrench manufacturers recommend you cycle the wrench several times at a high torque setting before using them.

My HF torque wrench benefits significantly from being cycled first. After cycling it's pretty darn accurate.

Another thing, I would recommend you buy one of the torque adapters available from HF or another brand. They'll let you check your torque wrench and they'll show you how much your pulling method can affect the final torque.

 

[Farmall450]

Is the lowest setting not 0?

I thought twisting it as low as possible (below #s) was bad?

 

[SMKS]

Is the lowest setting not 0?

I thought twisting it as low as possible (below #s) was bad?

Twisting it below the lowest setting is bad, which is why I said don't do that.

I've never seen a clicker torque wrench where the lowest setting was zero. Perhaps they exist, but I've never seen one. All of my torque wrenches have a lowest setting that's around 10 - 20% of full scale.

Again, it doesn't matter what the lowest setting actually is, you turn it down to the lowest setting and never below that. Of course, that exempts split beam wrenches that don't need to be turned down.

 

[SMKS]

That is not the full article unfortunately.

What else are you referring to that isn't included? I looked at it in the magazine and I don't remember seeing anything that isn't in this link:
http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/ccrp_1304_torque_wrench_testing/photo_04.html

I suppose I could be misremembering.

 

[Farmall450]

Twisting it below the lowest setting is bad, which is why I said don't do that.

I've never seen a clicker torque wrench where the lowest setting was zero. Perhaps they exist, but I've never seen one. All of my torque wrenches have a lowest setting that's around 10 - 20% of full scale.

Again, it doesn't matter what the lowest setting actually is, you turn it down to the lowest setting and never below that. Of course, that exempts split beam wrenches that don't need to be turned down.

Let me take a peek!

Yeah 10 even is the lowest. Duh.

 

[Farmall450]

Cycling before every use?

Or just a few times, without using.

 

[nissan_crawler]

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?

My two hf torque wrenches passed calibration every six months. One if my craftsman, and one of my snap-on did not. You were saying? There are quite a few hf torque wrenches at work, and very few that did not pass calibration.

 

[Farmall450]

My two hf torque wrenches passed calibration every six months. One if my craftsman, and one of my snap-on did not. You were saying? There are quite a few hf torque wrenches at work, and very few that did not pass calibration.

Impressive!

 

[Farmall450]

Cycling before every use?

Or just a few times, without using.

So?

 

[Farmall450]

Watch it be dead on with a SO...