Torque Wrench Advice Needed

Discussion in 'The Workshop' started by Waldo, Feb 26, 2014.

  1. SeanC

    SeanC Active Member

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    How does one go about getting a torque wrench re-calibrated???
     
  2. RustyIron

    RustyIron Rob S.

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    There's nothing wrong with a beam type. They're accurate and they're the most economically priced.

    However, for general purpose work, a click-type will serve you best. It's not quite as accurate and a little more expensive than a beam, but it's a convenient tool to use. If it's convenient, you'll use it more often

    A dial-type is very accurate, more expensive, and probably exceeds your needs. And it's less convenient to use.

    I would avoid the Harbor Freight. The act of using a torque wrench implies that you're doing precision work. Harbor Freight and precision are mutually exclusive. A more legitimate brand that's manufactured in a developed country will serve you longer. Craftsman makes a reasonable torque wrench. Also check Amazon. I consider bike tool manufacturer's products to be priced a little high. They're ok, but the price is jacked up because they're "bike specific."

    So my recommendation would be a quarter inch drive clicker that has scales for both inch-pounds and newton-meters. Check the range so that it matches what you're trying to do on your bike.

    Calibration is overrated for the casual user. I set up a test of my own and friends wrenches many years ago, and the variation I found between all the wrenches I tested was negligible. The key to maintaining accuracy is proper care of your tools. Torque wrenches should remain in the box when not in use, and never be allowed to get banged around with other tools. For clickers, the adjustment should be set to zero before storage, so there is no pressure on the spring.

    My own torque wrenches are 1/2" Craftsman clicker, 3/8" Snap-On dial, and 1/4" Utica clicker. Even though the dial is by far the most expensive and accurate, I like the clickers best and use them most often.
     
  3. socal_eric

    socal_eric New Member

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    You can buy a cheap torque wrench and it may or may not be accurate, and if you're getting a 3/8" ratchet and using it on a bike a lot the torque specs are generally on the lower end where accuracy can be more of an issue. That's why I usually suggest spending a little bit more for a quality torque wrench from a reputable manufacturer. As mentioned, a dirt cheap Harbor Freight one may come from the same Chinese factory as the newest Craftsman wrench but to get it calibrated you can either do a bunch of math, create a jig and use precision weight to verify it's good or spend a decent amount of money to have the calibration checked, at which point you're in it for the cost of a better wrench.

    I always use the ratcheting/click type and had an S-K one for many years, Craftsman before they gutted the warranty from a year to 90-days and quality became spotty, as well as an OTC. If you want a good quality wrench that is likely to be accurate and tested from the factory the CDI wrenches are a pretty popular choice. They're owned by Snap-on and likely building all the Snap-on wrenches but are much more reasonable. Just make sure to purchase one that covers the torque range of the fasteners on your bike (inch-pounds/foot-pounds or newton-meter (N-m)) as some have a minimum torque range that might be too high for most bikes, especially many 1/2" wrenches. By the way I think Amazon still sells the CDI wrenches and prices were decent last time I looked.

    http://www.cditorque.com
     
  4. Giddy

    Giddy Member

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    Torque is click type is great I have 3, 1/2 50-250 foot lbs 3/8 5-80 foot lbs and 3-8 inch lbs all Snap-On Unless you plane on taking care of this precision tool, putting back to zero when your done using it and don't forget to warm it up first before every use and one more thing you need to get it calibrayted every couple years so for the guy just needing one for bicycle stuff get a beam type is my suggestion its much easier to use don't need to zero calibrate or warm it up and your don't spending $100-$400 plus they use a beam type to calibrate most of them anyways
     
  5. bing!

    bing! Active Member

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  6. F.A.D.

    F.A.D. POWERED BY MUSUBIS

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  7. H2oChick

    H2oChick Active Member

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    ^^ That's all you got Ken? Thought you'd have Varaxis response with multiple paragraphs
    (maybe your sitting on the freeway and not able to type) :)
     
  8. Varaxis

    Varaxis Trail Ninja

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    Same here. I got one just for the 0-8 Nm range, and another for ~40 Nm range jobs (for cassette and centerlock lockrings, crankarms, etc.). To calibrate, you just bend the pointer to zero when it's at rest, if needed. Don't need to "zero out" the torque wrench for storage either, though you don't want to bury it under a load of other tools. Works with left-hand threaded stuff (and doesn't care if you loosen a bolt with it either), and much less worry if you accidentally drop it. Main downside is that you have to be able to see the "gauge" to determine how much torque your putting out, which means bending over and around stuff sometimes.

    Beware that 0-200 in lbs torque wrenches are not going to be very accurate, compared to a 0-80 in lbs one, for tightening things to 55 in lbs. Accuracy isn't very critical for mtn bikes though.
     
  9. Pho'dUp

    Pho'dUp Spam Musubi MasherSS

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    I've always used two torque wrenches.

    Both beam types. Sure the click wratchets are easier to work with but I know I would never bother checking that the calibration is still good.

    I use this for Cassettes, Crank arm bolts etcs.

    http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-...p-00932999000P?prdNo=6&blockNo=6&blockType=G6

    And then I use this for smaller bolts like stem bolts, handlebars, carbon stuff.

    http://www.parktool.com/product/torque-wrench-tw-1

    Really though hand tight plus another 1/4 turn, and some common sense usually works for most applications. But a torque wrench takes the guess work out of it.
     
  10. Pho'dUp

    Pho'dUp Spam Musubi MasherSS

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  11. hav77

    hav77 Member

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    I have the Spin Doctor wrench, and it's served me well. You probably know this already, but if you get the click type torque wrench, don't loosen nuts or bolts with it. It'll just increase the chance of throwing it off calibration.
     
  12. Waldo

    Waldo Lebowski Urban Achiever

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    Thanks, everybody - lots of great info!
     
  13. vamaro

    vamaro Member

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    I have always used a torque wrench on my bikes. I own both dial and click. Most things on a bike dont require a lot of torgue so I prefer a dial simply because I can feel the screw getting tighter and see a reading on the dial at the same time. The only time I use a clicker on my bike is for bottom brackets and cassettes.
     
  14. RustyIron

    RustyIron Rob S.

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    I just spotted a Harbor Freight coupon for either a 1/4", 3/8", or 1/2" torque wrench for only $9.95. You can't beat that with a stick. If I needed another torque wrench, I'd be over there in a minute. Hell, I might even go over there anyway just because they're so cheap. If you're thinking about bike work, the 1/4" is probably going to be what you're looking for.

    The ad was in the latest Shotgun News. Harbor Freight seems to have only a couple ads every month that they publish in a variety of publications, as well as online and in their own flyers. If you can't find this coupon elsewhere, you're welcome to have this one. The coupon is valid until 12/20.
     
  15. Roostthrower

    Roostthrower Member

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    whatever brand you chose.... do not use it like a ratchet. torque wrenches are for setting/checking torque only. If you want to get prolonged life and stay more accurate, only use it to tighten. AND ALWAYS SET IT BACK TO THE LOWEST SETTING, IN THE LOCKED POSITION.
     
  16. CarbonLegs

    CarbonLegs Search for ultimate ride.

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  17. RustyIron

    RustyIron Rob S.

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    That's the one. $9.99 with the coupon.
     
  18. mfoga

    mfoga Intense Whore

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  19. herzalot

    herzalot Well-Known Member

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    Dayummm two pages and 40 responses on torque wrenches brings STR to life! Discussion of the world's best riders and unbelievable mountain bike competition is lucky to make it to a second page, and that's with me supplying ten of the posts.

    Who knew?

    EDIT: Whoops - never mind. Just noticed it was started in February
     
  20. bing!

    bing! Active Member

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    Leave the tool heads alone! :)
     

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