inch lbs torque wrench Beam or Click?

[Kev442]

Which do you prefer for inch lbs? Finally gonna do a GM intake gasket and get an inch lbs torque wrench to do it right.

 

[signcrafter]

I have a gearwrench clicker I really like. Made in USA and just under 100 bucks, http://www.tooltopia.com/gearwrench-85050.aspx. I bought it to do the intake on an impala also.

 

[dirtmister16]

i prefer beam, the "click" one i used i could never be sure of when it was at the torque i set it to.

a beam style will almost alway be accurate and somewhat more so then a click type. thats just my experiance.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Whats the torque spec of the manifold?

Depends on how much money you want to spend, and how well you will be able to read a beam type if you were to use it.

Clickers really need to have the calibration checked every so often, even if you don't use them, they really need to be checked. Beam type, well, they are almost always accurate unless they have been abused and pulled past their limits.

¼" drive is horribly expensive, no matter what you go to. If your need for it is limited and it won't get used once a year or less, I would not waste the money on a clicker. (I have clickers, but I also bought them used and have access to a calibration room to have them checked).

Charles

 

[vssjim]

As a side note when doing intake gaskets on GM engines always try to buy the Fel Pro "T" suffix gaskets as they are much inproved and will last for a real long time. Any "T" suffix gaskets from Fel Pro are "repair gaskets" to fix problem areas for many type of cars.

 

[LEVE]

I do agree that the beam style is more accurate. I've used both and I like a "click" style.

So why use a click style?

It depends on where the bolt is at. I may not be able to use a beam style and still see the scale... it's happened to me more than once. That's when I switched to a click style. At least I can hear/feel when I get to the torque setting. As for the accuracy of the click style, I've yet to have a problem with one. Every time I've used one it's done it's job.

 

[zkling]

Depends on how many inch pounds and the orientation at which the wrench will be when in use.

As others have mentioned, the beam style are more accurate in the tool. The clicker can be more accurate in use. If you can't see the beam scale UNDER STRAIN, then you are just guessing and checking with the max val indicator.

For bench work I like a nice beam. For "rougher" out of position work I like the clicker (ex. lug nuts).

 

[Inkncraig]

I would get a 3/8 dr. That's a clicker. More versatile in use. A beam type you have to keep removing the head from the extension to reset it.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Neither, for inch/lb, use a dial face TW

 

[Leadberry]

Neither, for inch/lb, use a dial face TW

+1

Precision Instruments is putting together a dial type with an indicator light for me as we speak. Extremely accurate, reliable and repeatable, plus the light acts like the audible click on micrometer/split-beam wrenches.

However, If I didn't do a lot of work on motorcycle engines I would probably go with something cheaper. For anything over 10 lb-ft I use split-beam clickers. If you couldn't tell, I'm not really a fan of micrometer torque wrenches.

 

[NHBandit]

I use a beam type because the most I've used it was for checking "rolling torque" on pinion gears when setting up rear ends. Pretty hard to do that with a clicker.

 

[texchappy]

Slight hijack. Most of what I see now is clicker; where do you find a good beam style?

 

[Kev442]

Amazon where I started looking has beam by Park and KD.
I've been too lazy to pop the hood in the crummy weather to see if beam is going to fit every bolt under there. I'm not doing this job until it's nice out, which may be August this year.