Torque wrench recommendation?

[Magnum440d100]

I put in an engine in a friends truck last year. A month or so ago, a head gasket blew. They can’t find anyone to do it, so I’m going to do it. My torque wrench is 2200 miles away. So I’m going to use this time to upgrade (on my dime). I don’t mind paying for quality.

What is everyone’s go-to for torque wrenches?? I grew up on the click type, but have seen split beams for sale.

School me!

Thanks in advance

 

[zmotorsports]

I have a couple of the new Snap-on Torque Angle torque wrenches and really like them. They are nice for the torque angle spec's most manufacturers are using now on critical engine components but they are spendy.

All of my other torque wrenches that I use as my "go-to" torque wrenches for general purpose items that are not torque angle fasteners are either my Snap-on, MAC, Proto or Central click type. I also have a Proto in/lb. dial torque wrench for setting up pinion preloads but all of my others are of the click type or style.

I have a KD and a Gearwrench that I purchased used that I carry in my Jeep and they seem to be decent quality but I don't have much experience with anything else.

 

[Lucid Moments]

We have had a couple of threads on this subject recently.

Look Here
Here
Here

 

[Grant Gunderson]

I’m a big fan of Snapon / CDI these days. For what it’s worth besides being ½ - ⅓ the costs the CDI ones are identical to Snapon (they are owned by Snapon). Only difference is the heads are not quite as compact and the gnurlling on the grip isn’t quite as nice.

 

[jrbpit1]

I was looking at going with CDI, but came across Central Tools. They are made in the US and appear to be reasonably priced. I need a new inch pound wrench for an upcoming transmission rebuild project, and I think I'm going to go with the Central. Current price is ~$110.00. CDI is a bit more expensive. I'd really like the CDI split beam, but cannot justify the price right now. Amazon has them as well as Harry Epstein.

 

[16again]

I have CDI and love them.

 

[Magnum440d100]

We have had a couple of threads on this subject recently.

Look Here
Here
Here

First one linked was about identifying a German one, second one linked was asking if Pittsburgh was good enough, and third was about setting up a service truck with cheap(er) units. I’m asking the opposite. What is the buy once cry once torque wrench…

Yes I read those threads.

Any more links?

 

[Lucid Moments]

First one linked was about identifying a German one, second one linked was asking if Pittsburgh was good enough, and third was about setting up a service truck with cheap(er) units. I’m asking the opposite. What is the buy once cry once torque wrench…

Yes I read those threads.

Any more links?

If you want the buy once cry once option then Snap On is it. Nobody has even questioned their quality just their value.

 

[kngelv]

I'm a big fan of Precision Instruments. CDI are nice too.

James

 

[2ndGearRubber]

First one linked was about identifying a German one, second one linked was asking if Pittsburgh was good enough, and third was about setting up a service truck with cheap(er) units. I’m asking the opposite. What is the buy once cry once torque wrench…

Yes I read those threads.

Any more links?

Is it just torque, torque and angle, is the angle easy like 90 degrees or stupid like 22.5 degrees?

 

[16again]

I'm a big fan of Precision Instruments. CDI are nice too.

James

Can't go wrong with either of these.

 

[seber]

Split beam and protractor work just fine for occasional use. Nice thing about the split beam is they never lose their setting.

 

[brownbagg]

i like proto, got me one for my present last year to me

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

I usually use a beam or clicker and a torque angle gage. My last head gasket job was on my 03 ram with the motor tucked up under the cowel. What a huge pain!! Think im going with the digital flex head gear wrench with built in angle gage

 

[corn chip]

What is the buy once cry once torque wrench…

stahlwille without a doubt. most people only know american names like snap. not that theres anything wrong with cdi (snapon) but use a stahlwille once and youll not want to see american torq wrenches again.
kctool and transcat both sell them

 

[nafterclifen]

My first 1/2" torque wrench was a Craftsman Microtork clicker, 20-150. Worked great but it only went up to 150 and I often needed more. Now I use a Precision Instruments spilt beam with a flex head, 40-250. I like the flex head, ALOT, and enjoy not having to adjust it back to 0 everytime I use it.

 

[Magnum440d100]

I usually use a beam or clicker and a torque angle gage. My last head gasket job was on my 03 ram with the motor tucked up under the cowel. What a huge pain!! Think im going with the digital flex head gear wrench with built in angle gage

That’s what I’m doing the head gaskets on. 2003 ram 1500 with a 4.7, and I know exactly what you’re talking about, the engine being under the cowl.

Is it just torque, torque and angle, is the angle easy like 90 degrees or stupid like 22.5 degrees?

Easy like 90° I believe

 

[Qualitytools]

Have a look at NORBAR

 

[signcrafter]

I have a gearwrench flex head digital with angle that I picked up this year. Love it so far.

 

[BroncoAZ]

I bought these two a couple years back. I liked the idea of them not being damaged by not turning them down.

Precision Instruments C3FR250F 1/2" Split Beam Torque Wrench, 40 - 250 Ft Lbs | ToolDiscounter

1/2" Split Beam Torque Wrench, 40 - 250 Ft Lbs. Shop Precision Instruments 1/2" Split Beam Torque Wrench, 40 - 250 Ft Lbs at ToolDiscounter

www.tooldiscounter.com

Precision 3/8 in. Drive Split Beam Torque Wrench with Flex Head PREC2FR100F - The Home Depot

Requires only fingertip force to adjust. No need to reset the tool to the bottom of the scale after use. There is no spring under tension.

www.homedepot.com

 

[Notbn]

I bought these two a couple years back. I liked the idea of them not being damaged by not turning them down.

Precision Instruments C3FR250F 1/2" Split Beam Torque Wrench, 40 - 250 Ft Lbs | ToolDiscounter

1/2" Split Beam Torque Wrench, 40 - 250 Ft Lbs. Shop Precision Instruments 1/2" Split Beam Torque Wrench, 40 - 250 Ft Lbs at ToolDiscounter

www.tooldiscounter.com

Precision 3/8 in. Drive Split Beam Torque Wrench with Flex Head PREC2FR100F - The Home Depot

Requires only fingertip force to adjust. No need to reset the tool to the bottom of the scale after use. There is no spring under tension.

www.homedepot.com

I was looking for a 3/8" wrench and passed the PI one up because of its weird torque range. 100ftlbs is well into 1/2" wrench range. I wish they made a 5-75ftlbs. Ended up getting a used snap on clicker.

 

[Jeepster04]

I bought these two a couple years back. I liked the idea of them not being damaged by not turning them down.

Precision Instruments C3FR250F 1/2" Split Beam Torque Wrench, 40 - 250 Ft Lbs | ToolDiscounter

1/2" Split Beam Torque Wrench, 40 - 250 Ft Lbs. Shop Precision Instruments 1/2" Split Beam Torque Wrench, 40 - 250 Ft Lbs at ToolDiscounter

www.tooldiscounter.com

Precision 3/8 in. Drive Split Beam Torque Wrench with Flex Head PREC2FR100F - The Home Depot

Requires only fingertip force to adjust. No need to reset the tool to the bottom of the scale after use. There is no spring under tension.

www.homedepot.com

Ive had the 1/2" drive for a year and it seems like a nice unit. Need get the 3/8" version.

I remember reading the snap on unit is made by precision, no idea if its true.

 

[BroncoAZ]

I was looking for a 3/8" wrench and passed the PI one up because of its weird torque range. 100ftlbs is well into 1/2" wrench range. I wish they made a 5-75ftlbs. Ended up getting a used snap on clicker.

Much of the stuff I was working with was in the 50-65ftlb range when I purchased it, so I liked that that was the middle of the range. Under 20ftlb and I’m using the 1/4”.

 

[ptgarcia]

I needed a couple lower torque units for my motorcycles so I picked up a couple CDI unit to cover the likely range of torque specs. I can say they are excellent tools and I'm happy with my purchase.

 

[ZRX61]

I have 3 Craftsman, 1 Norbar (now owned by Snap On) & just recently bought a 1/4in drive Lexivon (from Amazon) which is the best of the lot. They have a wide range, I kinda like their 1/2in drive 25-250 f/lb

 

[Alpine4x4]

Buy once cry once? Snap-On TechAngle. I recently got into a situation where I needed some low torque numbers, 15-25lbs stuff and just didnt trust my cheapo HF 3/8" to do the job. Grabbed this TechAngle and havent looked back. Great features like digital readout, multiple units of measure, and lights and vibration when torque is acquired. Not to mention once torqued the screen holds the value you torqued to so you know exactly what you did. I'll be grabbing one in the 1/4" flavor next for sure.

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

 

[dnschmidt]

It all depends upon whether you need angle or not. If you do you've got to go digital if you don't I'd prefer a clicker.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I have mostly Snap-on and PI. Can't complain about either one. PI does make a 3/8 one from 5 to 50 ft lbs. My 3/8 is the 20 to 100 range but it's been great. I have two Snap-on ones for below 50 ft lbs. My 1/2" Techangle is the handiest one I have but I use it only on engines. I'm covered from 40 inch lbs up to 600 ft lbs.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

FWIW check tooth count when buying torque wrenches. The split beams from PI are nice, but have like 30 teeth.

 

[tarmy]

CDI…work very well for me…

 

[DemoFly]

The best deal you can find used. Tons of them on ebay 1/3rd the cost of new.

 

[corn chip]

FWIW check tooth count when buying torque wrenches. The split beams from PI are nice, but have like 30 teeth.

nothing worse than being in the middle of a tight job and the torq wrench cant ratchet back far enough. thats why i use only 60t heads

 

[infinite97]

I’d been looking for a new model snap on tech angle in 3/8”. I don’t need the angle, but the newest model goes to 125ft.lbs, so I wanted the biggest and baddest. Found a couple for sale in Facebook groups and picked one up last week.

i need a new 1/2” wrench, too, but don’t need digital for that size, although I want it, since the newest model goes up to 300ft.lbs. May end up with a snap on split beam for a lot cheaper.

 

[corn chip]

i see snapon fails to disclose teeth count of their interchangable heads. it must be a low number if they dont want to mention that important information

 

[Rinspeed]

I agree it's hard to beat CDI for the money.

 

[HomeTheaterMan]

I absolutely love my Snap On torque wrenches. I have both a clicker 1/2" that I've used for years and a 3/8" Tech Angle. I don't do this for a living, but even for home use they are worth the money imo. If mine died, I'd go buy another one right away. That's how happy I am with both of mine. If I was to buy another one now, I'd go with the Tech Angle.

I've used friends an family's Cornwell's, Craftsman, Kobalt, etc. None of them come close. The only other brand I'd even consider at this point is CDI which is owned by Snap On. This is one tool where it's worth the extra money for the peace of mind. Especially if you're doing motor work. You'll also likely want angle torque readings if you're torqueing head bolts, which makes the Tech Angle a great choice.

 

[DemoFly]

Been wrenching for decades and teeth count on a torque wrench has never mattered. Most presets don't even have ratcheting heads.

 

[corn chip]

Been wrenching for decades and teeth count on a torque wrench has never mattered. Most presets don't even have ratcheting heads.

im sure low tooth heads are fine if you have miles of open space to work in like when the vehicle is 7ft in the air on a lift. but working on the ground with only jack stands or wood blocks, high teeth heads meen the difference between getting a bolt torqed correctly or not. ive even had to use 60t heads and 12pt socks in some cases. so just because a person can be fine with 30t in a shop envirnment doesnt meen all of us work in those conditions

 

[visionguru]

Yeah, tooth count matters, flex head matters too, even on a lift, when you have limited swing room, such as the engine bay (e.g. a timing belt job), suspension work ( e.g. swinging among those control arms).

High tooth count and flex head are important features for a torque wrench.

CDI and PI seem industrial brands, more for assembly than repair work. I ended up with Snap On Techangles in 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 drives. Gearwrench digitals are great too.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

For weekend warriors CM 1/2 drive for < $100 and 3/8 drive Capri < $50 from Lowes are not bad for click type. Agree SO tech angles are nice.