Torque wrench storage settings

[TheClaw]

I inadvertantly left my Tekton 24330 click type torque wrench sitting in the drawer all wound up to 75 ft-lbs. It's a pretty new wrench. On the handle it says to store at 10 ft-lbs. I'm hoping I did not mess up the calibration.

Does anybody have an idea if I have caused some internal damage to the springs or calibration?

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[Overboost44]

It is very likely. Here is a great video about torque wrenches. Skip to 13:10 to see why it might not be good. Assuming that yours has the spring in the handle.

 

[LopezBart]

It's a function of time and temperature.... left set to a high value, stored at high temperatures for months or years you'll have calibration issues. Left set at oom temp for a few weeks - don't worry about it, just remember to reduce the setting next time.

 

[tarmy]

Send it in to get calibrated and see…

 

[4xdog]

The instructions for my 40+ yo Craftsman Digi-tork wrench say to back off the wrench to the lowest setting and leave it for four hours before using if one has inadvertently left it under tension.

 

[BillK]

How long did it sit for ?

 

[BurtEggley]

^^^^ What Bill and others wrote. According to the Torque Channel, his testing of wrenches left on higher settings shows that the calibration will be off. The longer it was left, and the higher it was set to will both weaken the spring. If we are talking 10 days, the change would be minor. If talking six months to a year at half-scale or more, there is a noticeable difference.

The people I use for calibration are here at this link. https://www.teamtorque.com/ Their skill level, pricing, and turn around time are outstanding. They also repair. I had a Craftsman wrench that was about 25 years old, the plastic scale lock finally broke. They had a new part and did a wonderful job fixing it. Another larger Utica wrench ($500 range used these days) of mine failed about 20 years ago. Two local places looked at it and said non-repairable. The third local place said they could fix it, but three months later they sent it back in pieces. I put it back together and sent it to these people - it came back fully functional, accurate, and remained that way until I treated myself to a new one last Christmas. https://www.teamtorque.com/

 

[Renegade1LI]

I have to get wrenches & gauges calibrated every 12 months with a legit certificate, but for a home gamer this me work.

The DIY Weight & Scale Test (Budget-Friendly)
Using the laws of physics (Torque = Distance × Force), you can test your wrench using items like a luggage scale and an object of known weight.

1. Measure the length: Measure the distance from the center of the square drive to the exact point on the handle where your hand rests (or where you will hang the weight).
2. Mount the wrench: Secure the square drive of the torque wrench horizontally in a heavy-duty bench vise.
3. Calculate your force: Use a known weight (e.g., 20 lbs) and hang it at your measured distance (D) to find the target torque value (T).
4. Example: If your hand point is exactly 1.5 feet away and you use a 25 lb weight, your target torque is 37.5 ft-lbs (25 lbs × 1.5 ft).
5. Test it: Set your wrench to this calculated value. Hang the weight or pull horizontally with a luggage scale at the measured point. The wrench should click at the exact moment the weight or pull force is fully applied.

Best Practices & Adjustment
If your torque wrench is inaccurate, most click-style wrenches can be manually recalibrated. Remove the cap at the end of the handle to find the internal adjustment screw or nut.

• Small adjustments: Turn the screw in small increments (1/4 turn or less). Tightening the internal spring usually increases the torque, while loosening it decreases it.
• Storage: Always back off the tension on your click-style torque wrench to its lowest setting (or about 20% of its max capacity) for storage to avoid prematurely wearing out the internal spring.

 

[Stuart in MN]

If you can borrow another torque wrench from a friend you can compare the two and least see if yours is in the ballpark.

 

[jubilee]

Another reason I like the beam style.

 

[tak1313]

I switched to split beam wrenches a few years ago specifically because of this - I would periodically forget to reset my clickers too (though not for too long).

Depending on how accurate you REALLY need them to be (most people naturally over/undershoot anyway because it's near impossible to stop torquing at EXACTLY the right time in relation to the click), I would just get a digital torque adapter (like a Quinn from Harbor Freight) set on "peak mode" and test it.

If it's way off, clickers are pretty easy to adjust for any reasonable do-it-yourselfer.

 

[jayemm]

If you can borrow another torque wrench from a friend you can compare the two and least see if yours is in the ballpark.

This looks like a good place to start. And as far as damage from dropping, check out this video. Some of us treat a clicker as a delicate, precise instrument yet what really is inside to get damaged from a fall to the ground/concrete. We want that last little bit of gnat's *** accuracy while real world conditions can entail dirty/rusted threads and rough mating surfaces. No sense in outright abuse or neglect but makes no sense to me to unnecessarily coddle it either by freaking out and sending out for (expensive) calibration for a simple drop. Flak jacket on.

 

[TheClaw]

If you can borrow another torque wrench from a friend you can compare the two and least see if yours is in the ballpark.

Winner winner, chicken dinner! Good idea.

 

[richfinn]

I've used a Norbar clicker for 20 years, forgot to wind it back down numerous times over the years from 100-150 nm ranges.

It passes the compulsory annual calibration check every year without fail, I wouldn't worry about it too much, I can guarantee you every Mechanic that uses these type of torque wrenches has done exactly this multiple times during a career