Torque Screwdriver

[Wamsutta]

The plastic carburetors on Briggs & Stratton push mower engines will warp real easy if the screws are over tightened, or not tightened evenly.

I need a torque screwdriver that'll do 15 inch pounds. What you guys recommend?

 

[ronkz650]

CDI 151sm for 3 to 15 in/lb or Proto J6106A from 7-36 in/lb. I have both of these and recommend. CDI 401SM 5-40 in/lb another good one. Of course Snap-on Qdriver3 or 4 that are CDI as well.

 

[Wamsutta]

CDI 151sm for 3 to 15 in/lb or Proto J6106A from 7-36 in/lb. I have both of these and recommend. CDI 401SM 5-40 in/lb another good one. Of course Snap-on Qdriver3 or 4 that are CDI as well.

Thanks. I forgot to mention that the screwdriver will probably need to be able to take a 6-inch Phillips #2 bit in order to clear the airhorn.

 

[Monte]

1-6 NM

 

[Wamsutta]

What about this one from Wera ?

 

[oldschoolcraft]

Here you go my friend:

Wheeler gunsmithing screwdriver. I looked into upgrading mine recently into something nicer. I came across the Proto but it was $350 and listed as discontinued on Zoro.

Amazon.com

Two of the protos are US and the rest are France.

 

[gtae07]

Wheeler gunsmithing screwdriver

+1 for this, works great for lots of fasteners.

 

[Ricky Joe]

.

 

[ricleh]

Tohnichi

 

[BrandonV]

+1 for this, works great for lots of fasteners.

And their warranty is fantastic...

 

[KnurledNut]

 

[jimf]

PB Swiss offers several different options. Here are a couple. On my wish list...

 

[oldschoolcraft]

PB Swiss offers several different options. Here are a couple. On my wish list...

Is that a metal end cap in case you need to hammer a few more fractional newton-meters of torque into the piece?

In all seriousness the right one looks amazing, even if I will have to convert maths to inch-pounds when I use it.

I have been buying Knipex, Wera, and Wiha on Amazon.de recently for huge savings. PB Swiss will not allow Amazon.de to ship to the US though. KCTool is very expensive especially since they eliminated their GJ discount code.

If you have a good source of getting this at a good price in the US, please let us know.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I have a MAC TOOLS TSM2-36 TORQUE SCREWDRIVER. I have had it for two decades. It works perfectly.

 

[Wamsutta]

PB Swiss offers several different options. Here are a couple. On my wish list...

Oh I didn't know PB Swiss made torque screwdrivers. I'm a huge fan of the "Swiss Grip". The preset 2.0 Nm would be perfect.

 

[BrandonV]

Oh I didn't know PB Swiss made torque screwdrivers. I'm a huge fan of the "Swiss Grip". The preset 2.0 Nm would be perfect.

News to me too. I want a couple for some gun parts I put on and off frequently.

 

[neophyte]

Is that a metal end cap in case you need to hammer a few more fractional newton-meters of torque into the piece?

In all seriousness the right one looks amazing, even if I will have to convert maths to inch-pounds when I use it.

I have been buying Knipex, Wera, and Wiha on Amazon.de recently for huge savings. PB Swiss will not allow Amazon.de to ship to the US though. KCTool is very expensive especially since they eliminated their GJ discount code.

If you have a good source of getting this at a good price in the US, please let us know.

The one “end cap” that looks like metal, actually has a translucent cap, that I think can be turned to adjust the torque setting, or at least to see the set torque.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

News to me too. I want a couple for some gun parts I put on and off frequently.

What gun parts are you putting on and off frequently that require torquing them? I think I've just torqued scope rings and that's not something generally changed often. Are you re-zeroing each time?

 

[Cruzan80]

How often do you need one? An old fashioned beam torque wrench is cheap. Add a 1/4hex adapter, and good to go.

 

[pizza]

In all seriousness the right one looks amazing, even if I will have to convert maths to inch-pounds when I use it.

i have the full set of pbswiss digital ones for that reason. you can switch units.

0.1–0.5 N⋅m
0.4–2 N⋅m
1–5 N⋅m
3.4–16 N⋅m

 

[oldschoolcraft]

i have the full set of pbswiss digital ones for that reason. you can switch units.

That's real interesting. I've been skeptical to consider a digital torque wrench because I perceive mechanical technology is more robust and resilient. And then I realize my main set of calipers is electronic. And so are my multimeters. I haven't even seen an analog dial multimeter in over 20 years.

Maybe a digital torque screwdriver is the way to go? Any downsides compared to mechanical other than cost? One concern I have with digital devices is they might **** out eventually. And in 20 years can't be repaired since all the circuit boards have changed. You can say "yeah but you got 20 years of life out of it" though I dont need to torque many small fasteners, so the cost per torque will be very high.

Then again, mechanical old style torque wrenches use springs, and those are eventually going to wear out too, right? It's not how I could take a pair of pliers and put them in some oil to prevent rusting and bury them in the ground and in 500 years, they'll still be functional pliers. If I put either an electronic or a mechanical torque screwdriver in the ground for 500 years, neither one is likely to work.

 

[pizza]

tbh, i remember the digitals being similarly priced to the mechs.

i'm no expert, but i didn't perceive any downsides. i guess maybe they could go bad faster like if a SMT cap on the board goes bad or something.

on these, you twist the back to adjust the torque. i think you do the same on the mechanical gauge ones. probably same mechanism just different gauge, idk.

 

[BrandonV]

What gun parts are you putting on and off frequently that require torquing them? I think I've just torqued scope rings and that's not something generally changed often. Are you re-zeroing each time?

Trijicon RMR. I use the thing so much when the battery dies you have to remove the optic. The screws & threads are pretty easy to accidently tweak.

 

[KnurledNut]

Imagine buying a screwdriver that costs more than your mower is worth...to fix it.

 

[Steve_P]

I've always kinda wanted a torque screwdriver, not because I've ever really needed, it, but just because I don't have one, and have a full set of torque wrenches. The cost of something like the CDI has made it impossible to justify, but there are so many low-cost choices now that I will probably reconsider.

 

[BrandonV]

I've always kinda wanted a torque screwdriver, not because I've ever really needed, it, but just because I don't have one, and have a full set of torque wrenches. The cost of something like the CDI has made it impossible to justify, but there are so many low-cost choices now that I will probably reconsider.

The Quinn one at HF seems pretty good for the ranges I've tested it at.

 

[bpwoodworking]

Imagine buying a screwdriver that costs more than your mower is worth...to fix it.

Just have a look at mountz

This one was setup and bagged for laboratory use, so god knows what it originally cost.

 

[KnurledNut]

A couple suggestions that would normally go against my grain but will get you close in a pinch:

-If you havent pulled the screws out yet, use a cordless drill on the lowest clutch setting and increase the torque until it removes one. Leave it set there and re-install to that same torque. On mine it was in the higher range to get to 15 in-lb.

-Using only a 6” smooth chrome 3/8 drive socket extension (no ratchet or driver), I was able to comfortably but firmly get around 17 in-lbs before my hand slipped, consistently. I consider myself fairly strong, but the average Joe should have no issue getting 13-14 in-lb using this method.

-If you have a luggage or fishing scale, a 15 lb pull 1” from the center of a ratchet anvil will get you close. Or 7.5 lb from 2”.

 

[pizza]

Just have a look at mountz

This one was setup and bagged for laboratory use, so god knows what it originally cost.

damn, that looks incredible

 

[Iron Horse]

Oh boy, another tool I don't have and might never use but seems like I need it anyway.

 

[RPH]

Wera set but the insulated ones. Required under ISO standards to prove electrical connections are properly torqued.

 

[jimf]

If you have a good source of getting this at a good price in the US, please let us know.

I've bought PB Swiss most often from these two US-based companies:
DRPD - https://drpd.cc/brands/pb-swiss/?_bc_fsnf=1&category=36
The Tool Lady - https://toollady.com/store/Torque-Tools-c17876056

Always had great service from both so I consider each to be a reliable "good source".

Yep, PB Swiss does tend to be pricey so a "good price" is relative. I'm not seeing any substantial discounts on these at the moment -- but, in general, there are deals out there. Amazon or eBay most frequently. Amazon.de and Amazon.co.jp are hit and miss; some PB Swiss items do ship to the US. I think DRPD had sales in February and March... maybe again for Memorial Day or July 4th?

 

[pizza]

i got mine from werk10

 

[oldschoolcraft]

Oh boy, another tool I don't have and might never use but seems like I need it anyway.

Better to have it and not need it.