torque wrenches

[diovol]

hey guys i am looking in investing into a good set of torque wrenches from snap on and I already have a 3/8 drive torque wrench now I want to get a 1/4 and 1/2 inch drive....... Do you guys prefer digital or click type or? I work on american and some metric motors from time to time aswell so....

 

[trainwreck]

I believe that Snap On gets their torque wrenches from CDI (for click type) or Precision Instruments (for split beam.) It may be cheaper to look at those brands, and cut out the middleman. (Or rather, cut out the marketing. I think Snap On owns CDI now?)

 

[48548]

Precision Instruments all the way, I think the beam are a better design and don't have to be turned back to zero when you are done.

 

[mixxmstrmike]

Precision Instruments all the way, I think the beam are a better design and don't have to be turned back to zero when you are done.

+1

VERY difficult to find a better torque wrench for the PRICE. Plenty of online stores offer the PI line for a great price AND free shipping.

-Mike

 

[shampoop]

Precision instruments are awesome. Just make sure you get ones with the round handles. The square handles ****.

 

[diovol]

how accurate can the beam type be thought in hard to reach areas... like motors in frame and also what are the increments... like for odd range numbers

 

[rjohnson]

Click-type. I have seen screens crack in cold weather, and also you never want to be screwed if the battery expires.

 

[pipsters]

how accurate can the beam type be thought in hard to reach areas... like motors in frame and also what are the increments... like for odd range numbers

This is what they are talking about

http://www.tooltopia.com/precision-instruments-c2fr100f.aspx

They really raised the price, a month ago it was $95.

 

[lowrider gmc]

nothing beats a snap-on tech wrench digital for torque to yield fasteners.the only thing i use my 1/2 clicker on now is wheels.

 

[diovol]

nothing beats a snap-on tech wrench digital for torque to yield fasteners.the only thing i use my 1/2 clicker on now is wheels.

why do you say this... the reason i ask is I have a 3/8 digital but without the degree.

 

[diovol]

This is what they are talking about

http://www.tooltopia.com/precision-instruments-c2fr100f.aspx

They really raised the price, a month ago it was $95.

how do you set these.... are they like a micrometer type or do you simply look at the number the arm points at?

 

[diesel research]

A good dial type is nice in the lower torque ranges, maybe even inch pounds. Used for establishing turning torque on various rotating parts and even establishing various bearing preloads for parts that may not have specifications available.

For example:
In the performance engine building arena you may measure turning torque of a rotating assembly to find parasitic drag. My old teacher would go so far as to use a electronic fish scale attached to con-rod/piston assemblies to measure drag through bores.

Maybe you are not building a performance engine but are doing ring and pinion work. Or working with saginaw style gearboxes or tapered wheel bearings without available specs.

Or maybe just doing precision torquing below the range of standard torque wrenches, as in the case of dodge rwd transmissions from early 2000s-back. Same goes for setting lash adjusters on certain solid lifter engines (some engines still use solid flat tappets to this day)

 

[trexdoink]

I use a TQFR250E Snap-on and love it. The dealer said i don't need to put the setting at 0 after use. I also own and use a Craftsman 1/2 and 3/8 and they both work fine. The Snap-on dealer tested my craftsman after 3 years of use and it was still within spec.

 

[Ohio Auto]

You stated you wanted to purchase a 1/4 drive torque wrench..my guess would be for inch pounds.

Personally, I like Snap On's 3/8 drive inch pound torque wrench better.

 

[MN BIANCHI]

Do the PI torque wrenchs also measure in the 3-15 Newton Meter range?

 

[Lotek]

I have a 3/8 Techwrench, 1/2" and 3/8" snapon split beam, 3/8 snap on inch/lb dial type, 1/4" snap on round click type, and a couple of others. For someone who is using it regularly or doing torque to yield, the techwrench can't be beat, for someone who gets it out once a year, probably not so much. For most work a good split beam is fine, but as Dieselresearch said, there are some things that you need a dial type for, get a 3/8" with a 1/4 adaptor and an inline ratchet adaptor. But the dial types can go out of calibration if you aren't really careful with them. So, it depends...

 

[littletoes]

I've got a 3' long PROTO, 1/2" drive, a 1/2" Craftsman, 3/8" Craftsman, and another PROTO 1/4" drive inch pounds.

Love 'em, and use 'em.

Don't think I'd trust a mechanic that doesn't use a Torque Wrench.

 

[lowrider gmc]

why do you say this... the reason i ask is I have a 3/8 digital but without the degree.

torque to yield,you have to torque then turn to a specified degrees.

 

[anythingfastxxx]

I just bought a Precision 1/2" beam style and I love it. The only drawback is that it doesn't have a reverse so I can't check how tight something WAS. Not a huge deal though. Bought it for about 170 off toolwarehouse.

 

[Lotek]

I just bought a Precision 1/2" beam style and I love it. The only drawback is that it doesn't have a reverse so I can't check how tight something WAS. Not a huge deal though. Bought it for about 170 off toolwarehouse.

That's why there isn't a reverse, you never use a torque wrench to break something loose.

 

[littletoes]

There are fasteners that have reverse threads, all mine are reversable.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Precision split beams are not capable of reverse. The mechanism cannot accommodate it, and basically would be destroyed if it were turned LH, that is why the ratchet will not reverse. Minor issue, while it is possible to need a LH turning torque wrench, its not very often, and usually a beam or dial type will suffice when that is the case.

Charles

 

[wesmamyke]

I have been wondering why they don't make a split beam with a pass through style ratchet head, where you would push the square drive plug through to the other side to use it in reverse. Did anybody ever make something like that?