Torque Wrench Advice Needed

I'm way overdue to get a torque wrench for working on my bikes, but I've never used one and I could use some input.

1) What are the pros and cons of the "click type" (like the Park TW-5) versus the kind with a needle and scale (like the Park TW-2)?

2) I can't pop $300 for a Snap-On brand wrench. For occasional use by a home mechanic, would something like a Spin Doctor (Performance Bikes' house brand) or some other lower-cost option (approx $70 for click type) be sufficient? Or is it worth to spend more for a Pedros or Park brand (around $120)? Or are they really the same thing with a different label? I'm fine with investing a little more for something that will last, but I don't want to overspend either.

3) Suggestions are always welcome for where to find a good wrench at a decent price.

Thanks in advance! :wave:

 

I have always liked the click type torque wrenches. Now on the cost side generally the more you pay gets you better quality obviously. Better wrenches will hold it's calibration longer and better, but eventually you'll have to get it recalibrated. Even the snap on ones need recalibration unless it's the electronic one. Hope that helps.

 

Strangely, I'm seeing good reviews for the Spin Doctor one, and some bad reviews for the Park. Then again, that happened to be on the Performance web site.
The reviews for the Park TW-5 on Amazon are generally good, though several people commented that it's made in Taiwan and the quality isn't the best. But hey, my bike was made in Taiwan, so...

I never thought about that, though I noticed a user comment somewhere that torque wrenches should be stored on the lowest setting to prolong their life. :?:

 

Subscribing because I've been in the market for one but haven't pulled the trigger yet..

 

I prefer the click type also. I got one from Harbor Freight for 20 something bucks. Spec sheet says it is +/- 4% accurate. 20-200 inch pounds, 1/4 drive. I don't use it allot so not too worried about breaking it or wearing it out from over use. They do say to store it at the zero setting.

 

My harbor freight wrench is pretty accurate. You don't want to strip threads and unbind glue anchor points. HF will be more than enough.

 

Waldo you're correct about putting it back to it lowest setting for storage. I do that with all my torque wrenches. I have snap on ones and I also have a Harbor freight one that I use at home on the bike. That should be good enough as others have said. Now if you're rebuilding an engine, then I would get a snap on wrench or matco or mac. If you're not in a hurry, look on ebay for a used snap on one and get it recalibrated. You might be able to score a sweet deal. A friend of mine did that and got one for under 100 bucks total.

 

At Sears, they have a crsftsman 3/8"-drive "inch-lbs" torque-wrench for 39.99, its a sale price, so I dont know how long it will last.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-micr...p-00931423000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

 

+ 4......hard to beat for $20.

 

Harbor freight 3/8" drive 21.99 and use a 25% off coupon you get in the weekly mailers or news papers and your all set

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-8-eighth-inch-drive-click-type-torque-wrench-807.html

-=Jason=-

 

I have these two torque wrenches and they work pretty good:

http://www.nashbar.com/webapp/wcs/s...ltView&ddkey=http:PBSearchTermAssociationsCmd

and

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-8-eighth-inch-drive-click-type-torque-wrench-807.html

 

To bad FAD isn't around anymore he would have a field day here.

 

Another happy Harbor Freight torque wrench user, here.

 

Any Tq wrench is only reliable if you get them calibrated. How you handle them (do not drop), use them and store them are all factors in accuracy. Working in the calibration and aviation business (35 plus yrs) where annual calibration is mandatory. I've had cheaper Sears wrenches that passed calibration for year an years and expensive Snap On's that fail very other year, you just never know. No real difference between dial,click or electronic in accuracy and reliability for wrenches in the same category. It is pretty much user preference and task accessibility for which one to use. The post above saying to store them at or below the lowest setting is correct. Not real sure about the post saying that electronic ones need not be calibrated, the FAA has a different position an ours our checked annually. Bottom lines is whatever you choose if you do not keep it calibrated you might as well not use one.

 

Pro: it clicks when you reach setting. Easy to apply stepped torque to bolt circles. Does not wobble when you are applying 150 lb/ft.
Con: not as accurate as beam. Cannot be used for locking element torque measurement. Poor results for breakaway torque measurements. limited to 50-80% of range for accuracy. If I was measureing lb/in and oz/in I would not be using a click style.
Happy Trails

 

I have two beam torque wrenches. It's no big deal to watch the scale as the torque increases. Incidentally the bigger one is the longest handle I have for leverage in high torque situations.

 

You need an high quality torque wrench if say you were building an aircraft engine. When 12 or so bolts holds the top of a motor that heats up and cools down necessitating the need for equal and replicable torque on all bolts to keep the engine from warping on itself.

You need a average quality torque wrench if you need to avoid stripping bolts. As long as the ratings are withing a reasonable amount of the settings, your good

 

I have the Spin Doctor version and like it. Comes with all of the common bits you will need as well.
I'm not so worried about calibration. If it's within 4%, 5%, or 10% - that's fine. Most of my bike applications give ranges that are 25% to 50% wide.

 

+1 I use a Harbor Freight on the bike, and it certainly is a lot more accurate than "guessing", which I have successfully done for too many years.

I also have a Ritchey Mult-Torqkey, http://www.bikeradar.com/us/road/ge...h/product/review-ritchey-multi-torqkey-47499/ which I find most convenient and easy to use, and I find I use this a lot.

 

Damn...I just spent $20 bucks more on that same one. It works very well.

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