Snap on torqometer needle isn't on zero, can I fix it?

[signcrafter]

I started looking at a dial type torque wrench a couple weeks ago to do pinion preload measurements, wanted something a little nicer then my cheap beam type I have used in the past. Have a pinion seal to do coming up so figured it was an excuse to get one, I don't like counting the turns like many do. I want to be able to see a measurement when tightening the pinion nut. After talking to Mike(ZMotorsports) I started looking for proto or snap on dial torque wrenches with the 0-75 in/lbs scale with marks for each inch.

Found a used one on ebay that looked in good condition and got a little excited so shot a couple best offers back and forth and the seller accepted. When looking at the pictures it looks to be in good shape with clear lens on the scale and the scale is what I was looking for. But wasn't until after I won it that I noticed the needle was not resting at 0 on the dial. Guess I got too excited I had found what I was looking for and overlooked that part.

Is there a way to reset or recalibrate it so the needle is resting at zero? Or would it have to be sent in to snap on or precision instruments who made these for snap on? It looks like the needle is held on by a screw, is it as simple as loosening that screw and adjusting the needle so when resting it's at zero on the dial? I'd like to do whatever I can myself before I would have to send it in since this is a tool I may use once or twice a year at the most. But also need it to be accurate. Anyone ever adjust their torqometer before? I was googling and saw a bunch of info about calibrating it by taking the back cover off and adjusting a nut on the rod going from the head to the dial. But my limited knowledge thinks that the needle being off isn't a calibration issue. When resting zero is zero and should be able to just adjust the needle to rest at zero. Calibration would be for accuracy as you apply torque turning the nut. But I may be wrong on that. I may end up sending it in anyway because if the pointer is off while resting I'm not sure I would trust it to be accurate. Anyone ever send one of these off to be calibrated before? I'll have to contact snap on and precision and see how much it would cost to get it calibrated.

Depending on price to calibrate I probably should have just bought new but it is what it is now. Don't worry I'm not going to start a rant thread about getting scammed on ebay and amazon because I tried to get a deal!

 

[Beerhippie]

Rotate the knurled bezel ring? That's how my APCO Mossberg works.

 

[KnurledNut]

Anyone ever adjust their torqometer before?

Yes.
Mine are older than yours and have a different stem, but I can adjust the pointer by turning the dial until the pin bears against it and then turning/pushing it roughly a quarter turn past the desired setting and then backing it off until it stops moving to see where it lands. It may take a few times to work it up to where you want it. If you go too far, just reverse the procedure.
Maybe someone else can confirm the models like yours still work this way.

 

[Superdavey]

I don’t have experience with these meters but if the bezel comes off easily , you could probably pull the arm out and reinsert it at the zero mark

 

[signcrafter]

Rotate the knurled bezel ring? That's how my APCO Mossberg works.

I have dial indicators that work like that but from all the other torqometers I saw the zero is lined up with the head and the pointer also lines up pointing straight to the end of the head. So don't think the bezel is meant to be adjusted to the needle like that.

Yes.
Mine are older than yours and have a different stem, but I can adjust the pointer by turning the dial until the pin bears against it and then turning/pushing it roughly a quarter turn past the desired setting and then backing it off until it stops moving to see where it lands. It may take a few times to work it up to where you want it. If you go too far, just reverse the procedure.
Maybe someone else can confirm the models like yours still work this way.

Looking at my picture more it almost looks like the pointer is just held onto the stem by spring friction, it has that fancy shape with a little cut out. So I'm guessing I need to do like you said and the pointer should just rotate on the stem. I'll play around with it when I get it and see. Thanks.

Any way to check accuracy at home? I wouldn't mind spending a few hundred dollars on something if it can do all my torque wrenches. Be nice to have peace of mind by testing them every so often.

 

[1320]

You can rotate the bezel and use the pin inside to drag the pointer back to the front if you wish. Or you can move the bezel to where zero is where the needle points at rest. Or you can move it to whatever reading you'd like and "torque to zero" if that is preferable to you.

The user manual talks about how this all works, and, having taken them apart before, the resting location of the needle isnt an indicator that something is wrong.

https://torqwrench.com/content/user_manual/dial/IN1202-PI.pdf

 

[KnurledNut]

I have dial indicators that work like that but from all the other torqometers I saw the zero is lined up with the head and the pointer also lines up pointing straight to the end of the head. So don't think the bezel is meant to be adjusted to the needle like that.

Looking at my picture more it almost looks like the pointer is just held onto the stem by spring friction, it has that fancy shape with a little cut out. So I'm guessing I need to do like you said and the pointer should just rotate on the stem. I'll play around with it when I get it and see. Thanks.

Any way to check accuracy at home? I wouldn't mind spending a few hundred dollars on something if it can do all my torque wrenches. Be nice to have peace of mind by testing them every so often.

It is but it has greater resistance than the clutch. It won't slip until it exceeds that quarter turn past. This allows the user to torque to full capacity and bounce off the pin without it adjusting the pointer setting.