Torque wrench recommendation?
- Thread starter Magnum440d100
- Start date
Swazeytrain
Member
CDI click type gets my vote, we have some at work and they are a pleasure to use, if you can swing it then maybe a Techangle, I have not owned one myself because they are not worth the money for my needs, but they are really nice.
2Busy
Well-known member
My 3/8 torque wrench is a PI split beam, 20-100 ft-lbs. Several others have recommended it, I think it’s great.
about 10yr ago i inherited a old skool craftsman (15-150ftlb if i recall) that was 20yo when i got it. i used it until about a year ago but there was two things i always hated about it. 1> the low tooth count screwed me over on numerous occasions. 2> turning the dial handle up and down had got on my nerves for the last time. i set out looking for a new torq wrench and swore it would have many more teeth and absolutely no dial handle under any circumstance. for me it was clear i should go to stahlwille. i know theres some nice dial handle versions out there but never again will i have one. not even for free
CDI manufactures micrometer torque wrenches for W&B based off their website. It looks like W&B only manufactures their deflecting beam torque wrenches in house.
javyLSU
Well-known member
Got by just fine with some old school Craftsman clickers until a few years ago when I was installing a turbo and couldn't get the ratchet head into the spot I needed. When I cobbled up a solution with some crows feet, there wasn't enough room to swing the ratchet due to low tooth count (all my clickers were 36 tooth heads). That's when I bought my first TechAngle, the 3/8" drive. I've been so happy with them I've since added the 1/2" and 1/4" drives:
visionguru
Well-known member
Nice looking set!Got by just fine with some old school Craftsman clickers until a few years ago when I was installing a turbo and couldn't get the ratchet head into the spot I needed. When I cobbled up a solution with some crows feet, there wasn't enough room to swing the ratchet due to low tooth count (all my clickers were 36 tooth heads). That's when I bought my first TechAngle, the 3/8" drive. I've been so happy with them I've since added the 1/2" and 1/4" drives:
I was going the Black + Off-red theme, but was sidetracked by knurled handles.
I would avoid a CDI and just get a Snap-On. I had a screw fall out of the head of the CDI 250 ft lb torque wrench after three months of use and Suncoast Precision Tools were d**ks to me. Good thing I purchased an warranty on Amazon.
OP
Magnum440d100
Well-known member
Just want to update the thread. Ordered a tech angle from snap on, just waiting for it to be shipped. I have some more time until I need it, so not too immediate of a need (I’ll need it when it shows up though).
Thanks for the recommendations guys!
Thanks for the recommendations guys!
nadogail
Well-known member
My personal Torque Wrench is a flexible beam model, while in High School my employer purchased a Sunnen Clicker in 1956.
OP
Magnum440d100
Well-known member
Guess what showed up today??
I was about to disparage snap on after a little clusterf@ck when I ordered it. I was on a jobsite, ordered it on my lunch break, but got an error message “unable to process your order” or something similar. Checked my bank account, and sure enough the money was taken out. Called snap on, and they had no record of my order.
But… went ahead and ordered one over the phone. Got an order number, but couldn’t find it under my account.
No email stating it was shipped, no anything. Then it showed up! Just in time, as another tool also showed up for Saturday work…
I was about to disparage snap on after a little clusterf@ck when I ordered it. I was on a jobsite, ordered it on my lunch break, but got an error message “unable to process your order” or something similar. Checked my bank account, and sure enough the money was taken out. Called snap on, and they had no record of my order.
But… went ahead and ordered one over the phone. Got an order number, but couldn’t find it under my account.
No email stating it was shipped, no anything. Then it showed up! Just in time, as another tool also showed up for Saturday work…
Attachments
For the record, none of those posts were really that relevant to the OP's question. He wanted recommendations for a quality wrench that he can use on an engine.
One post you listed was about Harbor Freight, another about cheap options, and another about using a torque wrench. Responding to a post with "do a search" is not great advice, responding with a snarky comment about three not useful posts is actually counter-productive and a little troll-y. Just don't respond if you don't like the question. If you are good at finding stuff, do a good search and help the OP find what they are looking for.
Otherwise let people who want to contribute contribute
BigLeagueSmoes
Well-known member
How do you like the 1/2” flex head split beam precision? Looking at buying one soon.. $180 on amazonI 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 ToolDiscounterwww.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
89MustangGX
Well-known member
I haven't tried mine yet, but I'd put it on alert with CCC and wait. I just recently picked it up off Amazon for about $135 - it was bouncing back and forth in price from $135ish to $185ish. I absolutely do not think you can find a better deal than this wrench for that price. Even $185 I think it's likely worth it over some of the new competitors.
FredWanaker
Well-known member
old thread but I use a 40 year old clicker, a 25 year old clicker, and several 40 year old beam units from inch lbs right up to a larger one like I used 50 years ago. Send the clickers to team torque every few years. They go thru them, recalibrate and I get a chart of what is really what. Put those numbers into an excel spread sheet, cut it out, laminate it and have very accurate numbers. If I needed a new torque wrench today it would be a used American one that I sent off to TeamTorque after buying it. http://www.teamtorque.com/?gclid=Cj...v4CNEkFq7v8QzjIn9Zs3q2srj5gGwVfhoC8RgQAvD_BwE
I bought a 250 ft-lb PI split beam about 10 months ago. Not happy about the 12% accuracy. I am not a fan of PI split beams.
Precision Instruments new 'FX' wrenches out of calibration
I've had very good accuracy out of their standard M line F series micrometers, within 1.5% accuracy. But PI's new FX series (X = extended range) have fallen short. Advertised range is 3%, I was consistently getting up to 7+% at multiple settings that were tested in the 20-100% range on...
www.garagejournal.com
89MustangGX
Well-known member
Send it in for warranty? How did you test and find 12% accuracy?I bought a 250 ft-lb PI split beam about 10 months ago. Not happy about the 12% accuracy. I am not a fan of PI split beams.
Precision Instruments new 'FX' wrenches out of calibration
I've had very good accuracy out of their standard M line F series micrometers, within 1.5% accuracy. But PI's new FX series (X = extended range) have fallen short. Advertised range is 3%, I was consistently getting up to 7+% at multiple settings that were tested in the 20-100% range on...
I haven't tried mine yet but hopefully it is within spec.
The warranty is only 90 days. I sent the wrench to Team Torque in North Dakota for testing, after reading the linked thread about poor accuracy in the PI "FX" torque wrenches. With some adjustments, Team Torque brought the accuracy to within +/- 1.0%. It cost me $93.50 for the calibration check and adjustments. My 600 in-lb PI 3/8" drive split-beam also failed to meet its specified accuracy of 4%.
89MustangGX
Well-known member
Their website indicates a 1-year warranty. Unless I'm reading it wrong? This is really the first negative I've heard about PI, so I'm definitely interested in knowing more.
For things that are critical, I rely on my Repco (now Warren & Brown) split beam, dual signal 3/8 drive (5 to 80 lb/ft). By far the best torque tool I have ever used. I run things down with a hand, air or 12V electric ratchet, so don't want the ratcheting feature of most torque wrenches. I have a few low buck ones to cover that. Also: the error range of of thread fits, lube and surface condition is so broad, it is really pointless to expect a torque wrench to give you anything really precise, so more of an exercise in futility. If I EVER need something modern, I will spring for Stahlwille digitals, but when things actually matter within elastic limits, I go back to micrometer where possible. For TTY bolts, I have a digital torque angle attachment that snaps onto breaker bar handle or extension that easily fills that bill for less than a C-note.
AirMech#406
Well-known member
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Any of the tool truck brands are reliable, as well as CDI, and ICON from HF.
I would not recommend the Tekton click-type.
EIDT: Nice snap-on! that will serve you well for years to come.
I would not recommend the Tekton click-type.
EIDT: Nice snap-on! that will serve you well for years to come.
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toddmorr
Well-known member
anybody know the rough tooth count of the Central Tools 97351A 25-250 in.lbs wrench?
other than the Norbar I'm not finding wrenches with higher tooth count, not including the Tekton class of wrench.
other than the Norbar I'm not finding wrenches with higher tooth count, not including the Tekton class of wrench.
ricleh
Well-known member
Newer heads have a high tooth count and older heads have the lower tooth count. Interchangeable head torque wrenches are valuable because you can use various wrench heads on them. They are a waste if all you are doing is using a ratcheting head on them. It that is what you are doing then you are better off with a regular non interchangeable head torque wrench.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
I disagree with that. At worst they're the same as a fixed head ratchet torque wrench and they open the possibility of using open end and flare nut heads for stuff a normal socket only torque wrench will not work on. For example hydraulic lines. I find no downside to the interchangeable head models and I've got several of them.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
If you don't need angle. And in today's world you sort of do. Norbar is the way to go due to their easy to read setting scale. Compared to the damn near impossible to read chrome on chrome numbers used on common torque wrenches the Norbar system is really nice. eTork makes a very good Chinese copy of the Norbar and they're cheap and in my experience very good.
richfinn
Well-known member
I've used Norbar Clickers and a dial type angle gauge with reaction post for most of my career, had great service from them and very affordable.
I would probably stump up for an electronic Torque wrench nowadays just to save time but they didn't exist when I bought mine (it's rare I have to use one to be honest as I mostly do diagnostic work)
Hopefully they will see me out until I retire, before they were taken over by Snap-On they made torque tools for British Automotive tool Brands like Sykes Pickavant.
Good brand
