Torque Wrench Test

[2001ZR2]

I have access to calibrating torque wrenches at work so I had the tech test my Craftsman Mircotork 44595 1/2" 20-150 ft/lb and the Pittsburgh Pro 1/4" drive click type Torque Wrench.

No there two wrenches were purchased based on price point with the Craftsman coming home with me from the Sears Outlet and the Pittsburgh a Sunday Afternoon Oh Sh*t! moment for getting an intake torqued to 11 ft/lbs yes 132 in/lbs.

The Craftsman passed with flying colors to our +/- 4% standard

50 ft/lb was 48.5 ft/lb
100 ft/lb was 98.5 ft/lb
150 ft/lb was 150 ft/lb

Now the Harbor Freight didn't pass even though I got a calibration certificate
50 in/lbs was 44 in/lb four percent is 2 in/lb
100 in/lbs was 91 in/lbs not +/- 4 in/lbs
150 was 140 not 6 in/lbs diff
200 was 186 not 8 in/lbs variance

The torque wrench is consistent and repeatable which means my intake bolts are torqued down evenly. I have a heavy hand so I think the bolts are tight enough and know the intake is sealed. No massive vacuum leak, no oil in the water and no water in the oil.

Just heads up that the Harbor Freight certs in not reliable in this case.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

That's cool you have access to a calibrating equipment. I've had two of mine done once and they were fine.
Not too surprised a cheaper model is not accurate. Torque wrenches are a tool I like to spend a little extra on. I bought a 3/8" 150 in/lbs and 1/2" 250 ft/lbs Torqometers from Snap on back in the 80's. I don't use them as much as I used to but they still provide reliable service after all these years. I also have an older beam wrench laying around that collects dust.

 

[6PTsocket]

I have access to calibrating torque wrenches at work so I had the tech test my Craftsman Mircotork 44595 1/2" 20-150 ft/lb and the Pittsburgh Pro 1/4" drive click type Torque Wrench.

No there two wrenches were purchased based on price point with the Craftsman coming home with me from the Sears Outlet and the Pittsburgh a Sunday Afternoon Oh Sh*t! moment for getting an intake torqued to 11 ft/lbs yes 132 in/lbs.

The Craftsman passed with flying colors to our +/- 4% standard

50 ft/lb was 48.5 ft/lb
100 ft/lb was 98.5 ft/lb
150 ft/lb was 150 ft/lb

Now the Harbor Freight didn't pass even though I got a calibration certificate
50 in/lbs was 44 in/lb four percent is 2 in/lb
100 in/lbs was 91 in/lbs not +/- 4 in/lbs
150 was 140 not 6 in/lbs diff
200 was 186 not 8 in/lbs variance

The torque wrench is consistent and repeatable which means my intake bolts are torqued down evenly. I have a heavy hand so I think the bolts are tight enough and know the intake is sealed. No massive vacuum leak, no oil in the water and no water in the oil.

Just heads up that the Harbor Freight certs in not reliable in this case.

You had the HF wrench checked, not recalibrated. Calibration of a clicker involves picking an adjustment setting so that a number of selected points all fall within the calibration spec., which is usually 3 or 4% for a clicker. They are checked at 100%, and some mid and low setting. If a torque wrench is stored at a high setting the spring will take a set and recalibration will be required. All your readings on the HF wrench were low. I cannot prove that it was ever adjusted to spec or know if it was stored improperly, but clearly, with all low readings, an adjustment to the tension spring (calibration), would bring it into or at least much closer to spec. If you had readings that were above and below spec by more than 4%, then I would consider it defective. Figure out how to get to the adjustment screw or nut and have your friend try and adjust it to spec. Then again, what can you expect for what HF sells those torque wrenches for?

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[2001ZR2]

They were both stored in the same place and in their cases at the lowest setting.

the HF torque wrench was purchased over last Thanksgiving weekend but the Sears is several years older and has been used for more than one job.

I did expect the HF to use the full range but not be out of it.

I probably need to keep my eyes open for a better one to cover the lower torques as needed.

 

[gungatim]

curious how you store the Cman at the lowest setting in it's case? All the craftsman microtork's i've got must be adjusted to a certain setting to fit in the included case--a gripe I've had about those for years...

 

[guy48065]

Every HF torque wrench I've tested new has been in spec. Obviously used old ones perhaps fared a little worse than name brand clickers--but usually come back in spec easily.

Right or wrong my assumption has been that old HF wrenches failed because the owners don't treat them as well as those that own expensive tools. Of course nobody has EVER admitted they leave the setting cranked up, or over-ranged the tool, or used it CCW to break loose lugnuts.

I personally don't have a HF torque wrench in my collection so these are just my findings on the job.

 

[Ji m]

I have my own torque wrenches,
but the shop I work for bought one for a job a year or so ago.

Another crew on a different job needed it recently and when they sent it over it was still cranked up near the max torque from a year+ ago.