Snap-On Torq-O-Meter 150

[thehorse13]

I ended up getting this old Snap-On torque wrench for free. If you look at the attached pictures, you'll immediately see why the PO didn't want it anymore.

Has anyone ever opened one of these up to try and calibrate the wrench? I really don't like hand tools to be decorations. I have signs and other stuff for that purpose. I'd love to get this wrench back to work so if anyone has an idea or insight, I'm all ears.

Thanks!

 

[Farmer J.]

How about trying your friendly local Snap On franchisee? Mine says he can repair and calibrate S O torque wrenches but not other makes, and the Torque-O-Meters are still sold. These are a development of the original beam type wrench with a dial added, a robust design and more accurate than most click types and no electronics to go wrong. I have been using 2 of them for years it's nice to watch the dial as the torque builds..

 

[thehorse13]

We only have the trucks around here. I will ask my buddy to see if they repair them. It would be a shame to let this sit as is.

 

[markhm]

If you find a manual or any other info on these, please share. I have one of these torque wrenches and have been looking for a manual without success.

 

[thehorse13]

My mechanic pal tells me that the Snap-On truck guy takes them and performs calibration services. Looks like Farmer J has lead me to pay dirt.

I will keep everyone updated.

 

[notlob]

My mechanic pal tells me that the Snap-On truck guy takes them and performs calibration services. Looks like Farmer J has lead me to pay dirt.

I will keep everyone updated.

Please do! I've got an old Torq-O-Meter that needs some love.

 

[vabasscat]

Those work great for getting rotating torque values . Perfect for setting pinion preload . I have a 1/2 drive in inch pounds.

 

[pi_guy]

Those work great for getting rotating torque values . Perfect for setting pinion preload . I have a 1/2 drive in inch pounds.

How much preload? the 1/2 drive units are in 20 inch pound increments
I use a 1/4 inch drive as it gives me in 1 inch pond increments when I do preload.

Snap On will only repair or calibrate units that are only x number of years old, my driver is calling SO to get me the age limit.

 

[F124C]

I opened mine up and re-calibrated it while working in a jet engine overhaul shop. Wasn't hard to do.

See if you can find someone working in a precision engineering environment, lots of workshops, labs, toolrooms etc. have suitable testing/calibration equipment.

Iirc, Snap-On and others used to sell torque wrench calibration equipment. There are also labs which calibrate measuring equipment incl. torque wrenches. Some tool factors/suppliers can calibrate a torque wrench.

If you want to do a quick check on it's accuracy, you could connect it to a known(!) accurate torque wrench using a short length of square tubing that is 1/2" x 1/2" inside or a 1/2" square drive 12pt socket that fits 1/2" AF to join the two squares together.

AL>

 

[Stuart in MN]

See if you can find someone working in a precision engineering environment, lots of workshops, labs, toolrooms etc. have suitable testing/calibration equipment.

AL>

That's the whole trick - finding a calibration source that you can trust. If the local Snap-On guy can get it done for a reasonable price I'd hit the easy button, and then I'd know it was done right.

You may also want to check for independent calibration services in your area, there are usually a couple in most any city of any size.

 

[LryFx1]

I have a TQ-12-B inch pound model of the same era. On mine the dial face is able to be rotated to zero it. See if yours has that feature. It may be gunked up from sitting unused ?

That does not help the calibration problem of course, with your needle being considerably off center. But it is a feature of those -I would think the 1/2" is designed the same way.

Regards, Larry

 

[rlitman]

...If you want to do a quick check on it's accuracy, you could connect it to a known(!) accurate torque wrench using a short length of square tubing that is 1/2" x 1/2" inside or a 1/2" square drive 12pt socket that fits 1/2" AF to join the two squares together.

AL>

I use a 1/2" drive 8 point 1/2" socket for this. I could see a 12 point triple square working, but I've tried this with a regular 12 point double hex socket, and had serious concerns about damaging things with any real torque.

I have pretty much that same torque wrench, and mine is a wall hanger for the most part. Try as I might, I find that it varies too much between readings (i.e. the standard deviation is unacceptable).

 

[F124C]

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I have pretty much that same torque wrench, and mine is a wall hanger for the most part. Try as I might, I find that it varies too much between readings (i.e. the standard deviation is unacceptable).

Mine stays cosy in it's original box (does this mean it's worth more? because I find it easier to use a pre-set click type torque wrench. It can be hard to watch the gauge properly because of it's position while pulling a torque smoothly, if you stop, then you have to back off the fastener and retighten again or risk an unintentional low setting (breakaway torque is greater than rolling torque).

I'd be concerned about the OP's torque wrench, the needle position might be an indication of previous overtightening.

AL.

 

[Farmer J.]

The click type are quicker and easier, and so have become more popular. I originally got my dial type for setting tension on a rubber timing belt, but I just love the traditional feel and the look of the thing! The dial can be hard to see in some places, SO do make a 'signal light' option of these with a light that comes on when the pre set torque is reached, it lights up when the dial needle contacts the pin on the dial.
The OP's one may well have been abused and over tightened but unfortunately the needle position won't show that if it's like mine, as the needles are designed to be moved around by pushing them with the pin inside the the rotating dial.
If whilst tightening a fastener it doesn't do up smoothly and grabs and 'jumps' then the needle is designed to slip on it's axle, this prevents damage to it and the dial.
Operating instructions state to check for this and that the needle hasn't moved whilst in use.

Standard deviation on these things should be within 1% or 2% depending on the model (and how much you paid for it!)

 

[Farmer J.]

If you find a manual or any other info on these, please share. I have one of these torque wrenches and have been looking for a manual without success.

Snap On manual has the number IN1202 at the bottom of it, and address Kenosha, WI 52140-1410. It's only a printed sheet but lots of information on both sides of it, why not ask and see if they will send you one?

 

[F124C]

The click type are quicker and easier, and so have become more popular. I originally got my dial type for setting tension on a rubber timing belt, but I just love the traditional feel and the look of the thing! The dial can be hard to see in some places, SO do make a 'signal light' option of these with a light that comes on when the pre set torque is reached, it lights up when the dial needle contacts the pin on the dial.
The OP's one may well have been abused and over tightened but unfortunately the needle position won't show that if it's like mine, as the needles are designed to be moved around by pushing them with the pin inside the the rotating dial.
If whilst tightening a fastener it doesn't do up smoothly and grabs and 'jumps' then the needle is designed to slip on it's axle, this prevents damage to it and the dial.
Operating instructions state to check for this and that the needle hasn't moved whilst in use.

Standard deviation on these things should be within 1% or 2% depending on the model (and how much you paid for it!)

Thanks for the info. I must dig out mine and see if the needle can be moved by the pin inside the rotating dial. I recall being able to rotate the dial but not the needle....Iirc the operating instruction leaflet is still in the storage box with my wrench.

AL.

 

[thehorse13]

I wish I had better news. Turns out that the Snap-On truck won't touch it. I also called Snap-On directly and they told me that if the beam is bent, it's toast. If the beam is ok and the needle is the issue, I have to separate it, recenter the dial and then crimp it back on the shaft.

Looks like I'm in for a Torqometer resto if the beam checks out. If not, I have a decoration.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

If not, I have a decoration.

Since I prefer to use modern equivalents, feel free to send that decoration to me, Sonny. It would look great sitting next to my 3/8-drive Snappy Torq-O. He lost his calibration years ago. They can sit there telling old service stories together!

 

[MShaw]

Don't let them fool you. The beam has nothing to do with the accuracy. It just indicates the amount the plug with the square has twisted. If you don't get equal readings in both directions just bend the beam until the readings are balanced. I did that with my 3/8" drive and then gave it to the local Snap on man and he checked it out. He said it was so close it was not worth recalibrating.

 

[thehorse13]

I figured that there is a way to fix it but I found a better home for it than my shop.