Old Torque Wrench Accuracy

[jives]

I'm hoping to start refurbishing my Kohler small engine this spring, and of course, it has many torque specs. My only torque wrench is an old (30+ years) beam style wrench that banged around in tool boxes from the West coast to the East coast. The beam and needle seem straight, but how can I be assured it is accurate? Or should I even worry about it?

 

[gdocktor3]

Go to auto zone and rent one. Then torque a bolt down and compare it with the rented click type torque wrench. Then return it and get your money back. Easy.

Or, just go buy one from Sears. Their torque wrenches are always on sale and no matter what the coo, they work.

 

[JimRB]

You can do math. If your torque wrench is 18" long, think of it as 1.5 feet long. Hang a 20 pound weight from the handle and you should make 30 lf/lbs of torque. Read pointer to see if it reads 30.

I need to check my wrenches. I think I have 5. At least a few are not correct.

Also someone may have mentioned that many torque wrenches read better/more accurate in the middle of the scale, not as well at the low and high end. A 3/8" wrench is probably better for bolts 10-40 lb/ft than a 1/2" wrench.

 

[betsy325e]

You can do math. If your torque wrench is 18" long, think of it as 1.5 feet long. Hang a 20 pound weight from the handle and you should make 30 lf/lbs of torque. Read pointer to see if it reads 30.

I need to check my wrenches. I think I have 5. At least a few are not correct.

Also someone may have mentioned that many torque wrenches read better/more accurate in the middle of the scale, not as well at the low and high end. A 3/8" wrench is probably better for bolts 10-40 lb/ft than a 1/2" wrench.

This. Just go the math route. Isn't complicated, doesn't take long at all, and will set your mind at ease way more than comparing your torque wrench to whatever they loaned you at the parts counter that was last used by johnny-torque-wrench-breaker-bar.

 

[469 runner]

Those beam style torque wrenches are often more accurate than the click style or dial type.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Unless the beam style has been abused by over-torquing, it is most likely still accurate. The metal doesn't change its strength or consistency just by sitting for a few years.

Given the fact that Sears and others sell beam types for about $20 or so, you could just as easily go buy another one.

Charles

 

[kd3pc]

I did a torque certification program with SnapOn and took in my 30 year old craftsman beam style wrench. It was, and many scoffed, within 2 or 3 ft pounds at 100ft pounds test - of all the SnapOn high tech units.

It has torqued tons of small block chevy and 70's Mopar stuff, way back when - just fine.

 

[sberry]

I would use it. It doesnt need to be space shuttle accurate.

 

[MShaw]

In the real world the important thing is not whether the fastener is torqued to 58 or 62 ft. lbs. but that all the fasteners are torqued to the same value. Uniformity is the prime reason for torquing.

 

[sberry]

I use a t wrench on bottom ends and head bolts on cars, some on small engines but can feel them up on those about as well.