Newbie Torque Wrench Question

[uart]

I bought the these ...

Wow, that's a heck of a lot of kit for doing a sump plug.

Just joking, I'm sure you'll have other uses.

 

[Memory Leak]

Well, as I read more and more about the torque wrenches, I realized the digitals are the way the go and the $40 ones can only go so much. They go out of calibration very easily (this really applies to cheap brands like tekton, I'm sure CDI is different). Not to mention, for something like an oil drain plug, there is no cheap mechanical wrenches that are good. Anything that is more precise (like the one I bought which goes from 7 NM to 50 NM) is so expensive already. There was one mechanical wrench I found that was $50 that covered the 10, 18, and 40 NM range effectively, but if you factored the whole %20-100 accuracy, you would lose 10 and 18 NMs.

Everything else is just secondary (the extensions and the breaker bar) and cheap anyways.

I already had a wrench I used for bolts in the wheels but I now realized its extremely low quality and most likely out of calibration already. I do change my tires quite a lot as where I live temperatures swing (in fall and spring) wildy from 65s to 35s in a few days. I just didnt want to use an el cheapo for something that I do frequently and always worry about calibration going bad.

 

[djb2]

Thanks a lot for very helpful responses. I had no idea about not using a torque wrench to loosening lug nuts. I did this several times I guess I may have thrown the calibration off. How can I check to see if the calibration is not off?

Don't worry about it.

Using a common click-style torque wrench to loosen and randomly tighten fasteners is perfectly OK. Unless you actually wear it out (which won't happen with casual use), using the wrench will not negatively affect the calibration.

Once the cam mechanism clicks, the force is entirely transmitted through the case of the wrench. The parts involved with the click calibration are unaffected. You'll break off the square drive before you bend the critical parts.

I always use a torque wrench for oil plugs, because I'm the one that has to deal with leaks and failures. If a shop screws up, they'll just put in a oversize bolt or charge the customer to put in a new pan.

 

[fxgmech]

What would happen if i used a 3/8 adapter to the 1/2 breaker bar to loosen the drain plugs?

I recommend it. 40 years from now your elbow may thank you.

 

[Travisnd]

Ok, I'm in the market for a torque wrench as I don't currently own one. I've got $75 to use at Sears...does anyone have any input experience with the following two? My main purpose of use will be small automotive stuff at home, putting wheels on/off, etc...

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-1-2-...p-00913919000P?prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3


http://www.sears.com/craftsman-micr...p-00931425000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

 

[krdiesel03]

I have the digital click one, It is easy to use and accurate. I would recommend it.

It does not come with batteries though.