Torque wrench stored with a few pounds set... chances it's usable?

[67carl]

I took out my torque wrench, which hasn't been used in a few years, to find I put it away without resetting it to zero. I think it was on 10lbs. *******. I don't have a calibration tool or another wrench to test it. I will ask friends who may have one and see, but in the meantime, what do you think the odds are it is off? It's an inexpensive Pittsburg click wrench, so I wouldn't be out a lot of $.

1/2 in. Drive 10-150 ft. lb. Click Torque Wrench

Amazing deals on this 1/2In Dr Click Type Torque Wrench at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[T45]

At 5x that thing is only good 30-150 range, so spending some time at 10 lbs isn't going to kill it, instantly. The bigger problem is letting it sit for years, which increases the risk it could take a set. also the grease could dry...you never really know. Definitely work (in) the mechanism before testing it. Friendly reminder time--This is why theres a good rationale for keeping around a few dials and split-beams and older style wrenches.

 

[tamaraw]

That is basically the cheapest torque wrench you can buy and probably wasn't too accurate to begin with. Most decent mechanical wrenches are only rated for accuracy between full scale and 20% of full scale. (In your example, 30-150 lb⋅ft)

With it being set so low, I probably wouldn't worry about it too much, I just wouldn't use it on anything critical.

 

[Kuma601]

Likely negligible. Many applications have a range that are acceptable and for less critical applications not to worry if off a few percentage.

 

[Terra Nova]

Most directions say to return to the minimum spec, not to zero.

If it was set at 10 pounds then you're good to go.

 

[redwrench60]

Keep in mind most torque wrenches don’t have a “zero”

The recommendation has always been to store the wrench at the minimum scale setting whatever it is.

 

[Komet]

It's fine. As mentioned, it's supposed to be returned to the minimum torque spec.

 

[uart]

Most directions say to return to the minimum spec, not to zero.

If it was set at 10 pounds then you're good to go.

^ This.

The specs on that wrench are 10 to 150 ft.lbs. At 10 the spring will be barely even compressed, so no chance of causing any issues. I've got one similar and the spring doesn't even engage below about 7 (like when you rotate the handle there's no resistance below 7) so that's where I usually store mine, but at 10 the amount of strain on the spring would be negligible.

 

[bcradio]

10 is where you want to store it

 

[KnurledNut]

If you have an accurate bathroom scale, you can weigh an object within range weight, hang it from your torque wrench, and figure the math to check it.

It's a HF torque wrench. It may never have been completely accurate.

 

[merkyworks]

Would not worry about it.

 

[bb29510]

mine is sitting on the shelf with 450 lbs on it, been there 30 years. Im not worry a bit

 

[gearhead1]

Probably fine to be honest.

You could check it with one of these:

1/2 in. Drive 25-250 ft. lb. Digital Torque Adapter

Amazing deals on this 1/2In Drive Digital Torque Adapter at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com