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Icon Torque Wrench Problem, or not?

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texasprd

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Yesterday I bought HF's Icon 5-75 ft/lb torque wrench, and noticed something concerning. The handle has about 1/32" axial play, no matter the torque setting. It does get slightly more difficult to turn while increasing the setting, as expected. I have three other micrometer click wrenches and none do this, but they don't have the pull-down lock ring - I don't know if this normal for a pull-down collar torque wrench and if it affects accuracy/repeatability. Who else has an Icon "Professional" micrometer/click style wrench with the pull-down locking collar (all drive sizes in the "Professional" click wrenches seem to be the same style), or any other brand with a pull down collar - and do any of yours do this? (Note - only asking about Icon or others pull down collars)

There is a calibration cert with the wrench, so supposedly mine meets the accuracy spec. But after reading once that someone with another certified brand returned a failed unit and the replacement had same serial or unit number on its cert - in light of that, I don't know that I trust the cert sheet since no serial number is visible on the wrench. Just for grins does anyone else with certified Icons have serial # 202410020320237?

I do plan to call Angle Repair and ask them, but I want to see if anyone else has encountered this.


Thanks, all!
 
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woody 73

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Sometimes every company at one time or another has a few slip ups, take it back to them and get another one, but do it asap and don't wait too long.

I have found they are very good at replacing tools without much hassle, kind of reminds me of the old craftsman warranty program but again get another one if you are not happy.
 
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merkyworks

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I have this torque wrench and my serial number is different than yours.
IMG_3242.jpeg

Mine has a little bit of axial (in and out) play at the handle when locked at 5 ft-lbs but when you change the setting to 70 ft-lbs there is zero play. This little bit of play is normal and I would not be concerned.
 
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texasprd

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Thanks for your reply, merkyworks! I see yours had the same inspector as mine.

The axial play in mine remains pretty much the same throughout the range. I've been looking at exploded drawings of Protos and others with pull-down collars - while I can't identify how the handle connects to what compresses the spring, the fact that turning resistance increases throughout the range is so far convincing me that (as you said) the play is not a problem,
 
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texasprd said:
There is a calibration cert with the wrench, so supposedly mine meets the accuracy spec. But after reading once that someone with another certified brand returned a failed unit and the replacement had same serial or unit number on its cert - in light of that, I don't know that I trust the cert sheet since no serial number is visible on the wrench. Just for grins does anyone else with certified Icons have serial # 202410020320237?
Click to expand...
Some posted this issue several years ago. Where multiple HF wrenches had the exact same photocopied cert sheet packaged in with them, range, signature, date, etc.

If it doesn't have a wet ink signature on it, I don't believe it, living in a world where calibration is everything, from timers to measuring sticks. Pressure, temperature gauges, etc etc etc.
 
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vjquan

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If there's no serial number on the wrench itself, the cert is worthless. The serial number is probably nothing more than a date and batch. Even if there was a number on the wrench, you'd have to compare with others and make sure they are indeed unique.
 
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sightbike

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Buy with Confidence. Combining tool truck quality, unbeatable value, and a lifetime warranty….

Joking aside, I’d take it back and swapped out for something you’re comfortable with. They should take care of it without issue.
 
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texasprd

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vjquan said:
If there's no serial number on the wrench itself, the cert is worthless. The serial number is probably nothing more than a date and batch. Even if there was a number on the wrench, you'd have to compare with others and make sure they are indeed unique.
Click to expand...
I did finally find the serial number - it's etched(?) in a color I just had trouble seeing (******* me!) on the metric side. I used an allthread union nut to do a direct comparison against my Tekton at the same torque settings - while I'm sure there are factors affecting that direct comparison (the length difference between them is certainly one), they seemed to click almost simultaneously.

I'm feeling better about this.

I mentioned previously that I would call Angle Repair and ask them about the axial play - all they would say was to say send it to them.
 
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Wamsutta

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vjquan

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Wamsutta said:

"Compare to SNAP-ON QD2FR75B at $468"

How about we compare to Hazet for $229.50 ?

www.kctool.com

Hazet 5111-3CT 3/8" Torque Wrench, 20-100 Nm | Hazet at KC Tool

Hazet 5111-3CT 3/8" torque wrench, 20-100 Nm Tolerance: 3% 30 tooth with a 12 degree operating angle. Adjustable in 1.0 Nm increments. Slim ratchet head - pa...
www.kctool.com www.kctool.com
Click to expand...
Why? Snap-On is a recognized household name and the Hazet looks nothing like it to compare with.
 
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sightbike

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vjquan

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sightbike said:
Ok lets go apples for apples. Here’s a CDI made in USA for $33 more:


OP - sounds like you’re back on track, glad to hear.
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They could use CDI as well, but they would use the list price of $417. The Snap-On would be a better comparison though since they both have similar tooth count.
 
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Wamsutta

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vjquan said:
Why? Snap-On is a recognized household name and the Hazet looks nothing like it to compare with.
Click to expand...
Not exactly. The reason they say "Compare to Snap-on" is because that's who they copied or attempted to copy.

I'm the guy who would find all kinds of things wrong with that ICON. Way more than axial play.

If all their customers were like me, they'd go out of business in one day.
 
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vjquan

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Wamsutta said:
Not exactly. The reason they say "Compare to Snap-on" is because that's who they copied or attempted to copy.

I'm the guy who would find all kinds of things wrong with that ICON. Way more than axial play.

If all their customers were like me, they'd go out of business in one day.
Click to expand...
Agreed, but I'm not understanding why you interjected out of nowhere to compare it to Hazet. Anyway, do share what you find wrong with this ICON so we can know if this is a worthy contender.
 
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Wamsutta

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vjquan said:
Agreed, but I'm not understanding why you interjected out of nowhere to compare it to Hazet. Anyway, do share what you find wrong with this ICON so we can know if this is a worthy contender.
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It's because I watch M539 Restorations on youtube. He uses all Hazet torque wrenches. Those things are sweet.

I'd have to have the Snap-on in my hands for a few minutes and torque something with it. Then I'd find everything wrong with the ICON.

You wanna talk about tool snobs? That guy "Sreten" on the youtube channel turns his nose up at Snap-on. He's snobbish way beyond me.
 
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drokihazan

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texasprd said:
Yesterday I bought HF's Icon 5-75 ft/lb torque wrench, and noticed something concerning. The handle has about 1/32" axial play, no matter the torque setting. It does get slightly more difficult to turn while increasing the setting, as expected. I have three other micrometer click wrenches and none do this, but they don't have the pull-down lock ring - I don't know if this normal for a pull-down collar torque wrench and if it affects accuracy/repeatability. Who else has an Icon "Professional" micrometer/click style wrench with the pull-down locking collar (all drive sizes in the "Professional" click wrenches seem to be the same style), or any other brand with a pull down collar - and do any of yours do this? (Note - only asking about Icon or others pull down collars)

There is a calibration cert with the wrench, so supposedly mine meets the accuracy spec. But after reading once that someone with another certified brand returned a failed unit and the replacement had same serial or unit number on its cert - in light of that, I don't know that I trust the cert sheet since no serial number is visible on the wrench. Just for grins does anyone else with certified Icons have serial # 202410020320237?

I do plan to call Angle Repair and ask them, but I want to see if anyone else has encountered this.


Thanks, all!
Click to expand...
I have a Snap-On QE2FR75MB which is a 3/8 click torque wrench with the pull-down ring. I went out to the garage and checked it for you just now - it also has axial play. I didn't measure it, but 1/32" looks about right. I'd say this must be normal for this design.
 
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texasprd

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drokihazan said:
I have a Snap-On QE2FR75MB which is a 3/8 click torque wrench with the pull-down ring. I went out to the garage and checked it for you just now - it also has axial play. I didn't measure it, but 1/32" looks about right. I'd say this must be normal for this design.
Click to expand...
Thanks! It may be "confirmation bias" on my part, but it's good to know that other brands with this type of lock also have play! That's the kind of info (either way) I hoped to get!

Wamsutta said:
For you? Probably nothing. What you don't know won't hurt you.

For me? I have tasted the fruit from the tree of high precision quality and can no longer stand to eat mediocre fruit no more.
Click to expand...
Are you willing to pay the difference in price between Snap-On and whatever "lesser" brand others choose for all the rest of us? If not, please stop hijacking this thread with your irrelevancies and start your own thread. Thank you.
 
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vjquan

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sk farmer said:
that's what old merkava (wamsutta) does. he feels it his obligation to slam any brand other than snap-on.

want to get him worked up? show him a pic of your torque wrench all jammed up with hair!:lol_hitti
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Ah, I get it now. He randomly throws out a why not compare to another brand because he felt insulted (or embarrassed) that the precious name of SO was used, then trash talks ICON without any backup.
 
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Steve_P

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I bought a couple of Icon clicker torque wrenches, and I like them. But per the fantasy calibration sheet they are accurate to 1-2%. I checked them on the Quinn digital tester, and they were more like 5-6% off, which I consider NG. Those calibration sheets are bogus. My CDIs were much more accurate- in the 2-3% range, as expected. My 30-year-old Craftsman was somehow the most accurate of all. So, I believe that the Quinn tester is accurate.

I didn't return the Icons, I can correct for that error, but for sure do not believe those calibration sheets. I bought the Icon because they have 90 teeth and a flex head, which my CDI do not; but the accuracy was very disappointing for something so simple with 50+ year old technology.

I'm not a HF hater; my first tools were from them in the '80s and I still have most of them.

Edit- I tested them on both a 3/8 and 1/2 Quinn tester and the results agreed, within the 100? lbf-ft range of the 3/8 tester.
 
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Daytonaer

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texasprd said:
Thanks, much appreciated!

Now If we could kindly get the thread back on track, that would also be appreciated.
Click to expand...

I bought the split beam icon 57923 and the 59108 because of the big sale and I dislike twisting torque wrench handles with hard to read numbers.

Those are the 1/2 and 3/8 ICON split beam torque wrenches, they have a slight flex head and are non reversible.

Feeling guilty about buying things I didn't need I spent some time and checked them with a strain gauge torque gauge to see their accuracy. Out of the box the 3/8 drive was dead on, sometimes having a variance of less than 1 ft lb (varying 0.2-0.5 ft lbs of set usually), however the 1/2 wrench was consistently reading about 7-10 ft lbs low, across the range, putting it far outside the + - 4 % advertisement. It was consistent at that low reading so I'm sure it was just never calibrated correctly, but I don't want to calibrate a new wrench so I took it back. I never replied to this thread as I wanted to see if this could be fixed and today I can report all is well.

Today I got the replacement and it is dead on. Just like the 3/8 wrench it reads within less than 1 ft lb of being set across the range.

img_1756320384399.jpg

I'm happy with the purchase for the money, I'm sure the wrench can be calibrated (it appears to have epoxy over some type of screws, assuming that is the adjustment).

We all have HF opinions, I am happy with the availability and increased quality they continue to offer, even if some things miss the mark from the start, but they are happy to set it right.
 
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vjquan

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whateg01 said:
How do people check the calibration of a torque wrench with another uncalibrated gauge? Rather, why do people trust one uncalibrated device over another?
Click to expand...
It's a good way to check if it's within reason without having to send it in and spending an asinine amount.
 
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vjquan

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Test with multiple torque wrenches, they can't all be off by the same amount. Every device is assumed to be calibrated, the chances of both being off by the exact same amount would be extremely low.
 
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dnschmidt

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I use a digital torque adapter all of which use strain gauges which are quite accurate by nature as they have no moving parts. Not guaranteed to be accurate but I've found them to be quite close. All torque testers use the same technology so I'm pretty confident that they are the way to go.
 
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