SO Techangle longevety...

[Marc Benjamin]

I'm looking on getting one, most likely the 3/8 flex but I'm wondering about how long they last. Has anybody owned one for at least 5 years? Would they make it to 10 under regular use barring a severe drop?

Not doing engine work right now but who knows if/when the need comes.

I already have a SO clicker in 1/2 50-200 and I figure it's time to add a 3/8 so might as well go for yhe fancy one.

**wish we can edit titles**

 

[Skin]

If you want robust and longevity you don't want electronics. The biggest problem is battery contact wear over those 5 or 10 years. Its basically a **** shoot but because of the increased complexity your chance of failure goes up. Get a mechanical if you want that unquestionable decade worth of service, especially if you don't need the angle torque option.

 

[Adam.C]

Bad advice. The electronic one is way more reliable over time if you factor in accuracy. If you want a torque wrench that consistently does the same job, you want an electronic one.

The problem with the old models has been fixed. If you are worried, you can send in an old TECHWRENCH or TECHANGLE and they will calibrate it, and replace the old end cap with the new one for $70 or $90 (can't remember the cost). So factor that into the price you pay for used.

I would buy a 3/8" in a heartbeat, but I think you should probably hold out for a TECHANGLE (i.e. not the red handled one). We will see more and more angles specified in the future outside of the engine bay.

 

[Skin]

Its not bad advice, the electronic ones are more fragile and have more things to fail. Its a fact. Meanwhile most shops have mechanical torque wrenches 15-20 years old or more. But whatever.

 

[newspeed]

I tend to agree with avoiding electronics if you are looking for longevity. I wouldn't rely on a digital torque wrench to last a decade or more and still be accurate.

Go with a split beam style torque wrench if you want something that will last basically forever and never need calibration.

 

[hautpot]

The only digital torque wrench I like is the Steel Body TechAngle. That's it. The other Snap-On torque wrenches have all this ***** rubber on the on the grip.

For click type you just gotta remember to loosen to keep it alive. The digital has a screen that can break, batteries, internal electronic components, rubber grip falling apart. etc.... just so many things to go wrong. You only get accuracy with the electronic, mechanical for longevity.

 

[robe5000]

I live in North East Canada and work out of a Van, My tools live in the van year round, It gets really hot, and REALLY cold, tools bounce around all day long. It would be a treat to have one of the latest tech wrenches, but Im too fearful of it not holding up in the severe storage conditions.
Havent had am issue with my clickers!

 

[wrnchmonkey]

4 years on my tech angles with near daily use and only thing that has failed are batteries.

 

[Adam.C]

The electronics inside a techwrench are very simple. I think the problem here is, we are thinking because a clicker still clicks, it's working correctly. But clickers are actually more complicated than that. They have a limited range of accuracy. Any industrial users have to have them yearly calibrated because the springs set. They have to be exercised before use to ensure there is no corrosion or dryness effecting their mechanism. They also require a good bit of skill to torque something correctly. If you pull through the release or even into it, you are over torquing.

Its almost like carburetors vs fuel injection. Old guys think carbs are easier to understand and diagnose because they got good at them, and weren't comfortable with diagnosing computerized fuel injection. Fuel injection is by far the simplier system.

All the big industrial users I have seen have switched to electronic torque wrenches and usually Snap On. I think that tells you something. (But feel free to quibble)

 

[blown94conv]

If it is stored in the case and used properly, I don't see any issues. If you just throw things around, drop it in the ground after using it, and generally abuse tools you will have a problem. I have the 3/8 techangle, only thing I do is remove the batteries when I am not using it.

 

[brewster55]

i use my 3/8 techangle regularly as a professional tech, its coming up on 10 years old. its the first version. i had the 475 upgrade done after a few years, and ive had it calibrated recently, its a great piece. i take care of mine though. keep it as clean as possible, store in its original case with batteries removed.

the shop i work in has a 1/2 techangle for all 35+ techs to share and its also holding up great. im not sure on age for that one.

 

[SS5150]

I think I got my 1/2" techangle in about 2006. Sent it out about two years ago to get updated/calibrated/etc. I've had no problems with mine. I'd love to have a 3/8 to go with it.

 

[Marc Benjamin]

Hmm, good sign that people who actually own the techangle have theirs for at least over 5 years.

While I'm certainly not expexting a 20-40 year product, I'd at least hope that such an expensive ne will make it to at least 10 with a calibration or two sometime in between.

 

[wrnchmonkey]

I do like that I can see the final torque value it has helped me learn how to torque properly. I just laugh when I see guys slam there wrench to get to the torque value they want.

 

[dr_clyde]

I have only had my 3/8" techangle for about a year, so I can't comment on longevity. I bought it for working on motorcycles because my old 1/2" clicker won't go low enough. I will say it's an excellent wrench and prefer it over my 1/2" SO clicker. I like the stoplight buildup to the torque value as you can't always see the display or hear a beep but you can see the lights and the handle buzzes when you reach your torque. It continues to flash red if you over torque.

My clicker is 20+ years old, had it calibrated recently. Still goin good. Unfortunately I can't justify an electronic 1/2" TW to replace it, so I'll probably hang on to it for a while longer.

 

[Adam.C]

Just asked my Snap On rep about his opinion on longevity: He said the older models had a host of problems involving the end cap. Said also there was a battery lead solder joint that cracked loose right under the end cap. He said the new wrench with the motorcycle grip is a game changer (but he would say that). Apparently mroe rugged, less damage prone, better handle and grip.

So maybe it would be better to get the new model if you are concerned about reliability.

 

[guy48065]

... will last basically forever and never need calibration.

As a pro I bristle at these words. The only users of ANY type torque wrench who don't regularly have them calibrated are hacks that don't give a **** about maintaining specs.

Electronic ones have great accuracy specs (±2% of setting CW & CCW typical) and the ones not made in asia are reliable and can be easily brought back into spec. The straingaged beam inside has no moving parts and no lubrication--2 big points in favor of a long life. By comparison a clicker is simple in concept but relies on precise hardening of the internals so quality control is more important.

Dial-type wrenches are just as accurate as electronic but are fragile and difficult to use--especially for a novice.

Split-beam wrenches have great specs--but some of that great accuracy is lost by having a TINY hard-to-read dial. Biggest advantage to this type is no internal spring--so no need to dial it back to minimum after use.

Clickers are easy to set and use and are the only ones that truly let-off the applied force at the setting. This makes them great for working in odd positions where you can't see the tool; in noisy environments where you can't hear the beep; and for novices who don't know to sneak steadily up on a torque setting. Accuracy is typically ±4%CW, ±6%CCW (if rated for CCW use).

 

[redwrench60]

I have one of the Snap On Techangles in 1/2" drive with the dreaded end cap. It started screwing up about a month in but my dealer got it repaired quickly with the updated cap and reinforcement ring and has been 100% right since. I'm about three years in with it and it's a game changer for torque+turn fasteners especially in cramped areas of the engine bay.

Something to keep in mind though is it only takes one set of ************* Energizers to leak out and ruin a $500 torque wrench so best use high quality lithium AA batteries in it. They're far less likely to leak out so you can leave them in the tool instead of wearing out the cap and contacts installing and removing the batteries every time you use it.

 

[Strouty]

Good point about the batteries, I only use lithium in things I care about. I have had way too many electronics killed by batteries than by anything else.

 

[cleeny]

Are lithium primaries definitely ok to use in the TechAngles?
Haven't read much into this, but something about the slightly higher initial voltage causing possible damage or accuracy becoming inconsistent.
May not be relevant, but Fluke advised that I shouldn't use lithium primaries in my 87V because of possible accuracy fluctuation.

 

[ricleh]

I have 8 Techangles and 7 of them are more than 10 years old. I check the calibration every year and have only had a problem once. I got an error on one of the 1/2" Techangles and sent it in to Snapon for repair. They upgraded it and fixed the problem for $90. That was about 4 years ago. All of them still work fine. I do always remove the batteries when the wrenches are not being used.

 

[cleeny]

I have 8 Techangles and 7 of them are more than 10 years old. I check the calibration every year and have only had a problem once. I got an error on one of the 1/2" Techangles and sent it in to Snapon for repair. They upgraded it and fixed the problem for $90. That was about 4 years ago. All of them still work fine. I do always remove the batteries when the wrenches are not being used.

Which one do you reach for the most?
3/8" 5-100lb-ft?

Thinking of trying one out.

 

[Fly YX]

I guy at work had a new Snap-on electronic torque wrench I'll have to ask him what the actual part number is but it failed calibration and the company will use can I calibrate and said he had to send it to snap on. Ended up just getting a regular torque wrench after that.

 

[cleeny]

I guy at work had a new Snap-on electronic torque wrench I'll have to ask him what the actual part number is but it failed calibration and the company will use can I calibrate and said he had to send it to snap on. Ended up just getting a regular torque wrench after that.

I'm sure that was a rare defective unit as many can attest to the accuracy of these wrenches.

 

[ricleh]

Which one do you reach for the most?
3/8" 5-100lb-ft?

Thinking of trying one out.

The 1/2" and the 3/8" both get about the same amount of use. The 1/4" doesn't see as much use. For the click style torque wrenches that I have the usage is the opposite. The 1/4" clicker gets used the most.

 

[Formula]

I have both the 3/8 and 1/2 techangles. The 1/2 was about 7 years old when it started to flake out. My snap on dealer gave me a good deal on trade in for a new model. The new one is about 2 years old now. My 3/8 is five years old now and still by going strong.

I do have a 1/2 gearwrench version for home use and it flaked out after 3 years with much less use. The snap ons have been worth it to me.

 

[m96ag]

Are lithium primaries definitely ok to use in the TechAngles?
Haven't read much into this, but something about the slightly higher initial voltage causing possible damage or accuracy becoming inconsistent.
May not be relevant, but Fluke advised that I shouldn't use lithium primaries in my 87V because of possible accuracy fluctuation.

Yep. They even have a setting in the menu for them, and NIMH rechargeables, so that battery gauge reads correctly

 

[SkinnyG]

My TechAngle has to be over 10 years old now. I'm pretty sure I bought it right when the "angle" version came out. I used it daily for about half of that (no longer a trade mechanic) and I still use it fairly regularly. I've never had any issues at all with it. In fact I think I even have the "old style" end cap that's supposed to have problems. I've never seen whatever those problems were supposed to be. Maybe I got lucky.

 

[mobiledynamics]

I've got clickers are the digitals. From my understanding since the last time I pulled up specs, the digitials are still subject to the 20% rule....

 

[guy48065]

I've got clickers are the digitals. From my understanding since the last time I pulled up specs, the digitials are still subject to the 20% rule....

That "rule" is an ASME spec (B107.14-2010) that clickers are calibrated at 20, 60 & 100% of scale. A digital torque wrench uses a straingage sensor that's more linear than a spring so they CAN be just as accurate below 20% but still must be compliant to the ASME spec so they often don't rate them below 20, or they de-rate the accuracy.

International specs are intended to level the playing field, but sometimes they hold you back, too.

 

[L.Cheapo]

I've got clickers are the digitals. From my understanding since the last time I pulled up specs, the digitials are still subject to the 20% rule....

http://www.snapon.cz/wp-content/uploads/catalogue/momentove-klice2.pdf

Rated down to 5%. AFAIK, TechAngles have always been that way.