Torque wrenches

[bakerhillpins]

Time to upgrade the toolbox and get rid of the old bar style torque wrenches. So what 2 wrench sizes (ratchet/range/increment) do you all find you use the most on your old Mopars?

[Bobs69]

Use German torque.  Goood en Tight!

[Musicman]

I have a set of clickers for ease of use, but I always calibrate them with my Sturtevant flat beam wrenches first to ensure accuracy.

[Cooter]

I commonly use the 3/8 and 1/2" drive Strap-On...One for the little bolts and one for the big bolts.

[bill440rt]

All depends on what fastener you're tightening.
I have a set of Crapsman clickers, 1/2" drive for ft-lbs and 3/8" drive for inch-lbs. I use each accordingly.

[Dino]

I have the cheap Pittsburg thing from harbor freight.  I wouldn't touch an engine with it but it's good for the other stuff.

[Ghoste]

I have a variety in clicker and dial indicator styles in 1/2 and 3/8 drive and ft and in increments.  Big believer in properly torqued fasteners.

[bakerhillpins]

What torque ranges are we talking about here or are they all basically the same based upon the drive size?

All depends on what fastener you're tightening.
I have a set of Crapsman clickers, 1/2" drive for ft-lbs and 3/8" drive for inch-lbs. I use each accordingly.

Well, yea, I was kinda trying to get a feel for what folks got the most use out of.

I was thinking of picking up the Craftsman ones as they are all on sale right now. Is any of this stuff any good anymore? Looking at 3 ranges since it seems a decent sale.
10-75 ftlbs
20-150 ftlbs
25-250 inlbs

[Ghoste]

   (imo)

[bill440rt]

Typically a 1/2" drive will be  ft/lbs, and 3/8" drive will be inch/lbs.
My 1/2" Crapsman is about 15 years old maybe?       My 3/8" drive is roughly 5 years old.

I guess I use the 1/2" drive more, I've just encountered more ft-lb torque specs in my bolt-tightening lifetime.
But, I have used the 3/8" one quite a bit too, doesn't hurt to own one. Especially since they are on sale!  
I'm thinking you're gonna get more use out of the ft-lb one with the 20-150 range vs the 10-75.  

[Dmichels]

I like the beam type 1/2 drive. I use that 99% of the time.  The clicker type scare me as I could see they could go out of tolerance easily. THe beam ones are cheep and simple. I have had it for 20  years and know it is just as accurite as the day I bought it. Now if I did this for a living I would get a fancy clicker one and send it out for calibration once a year.  I would spend your money and buy another tool or go fast goodie that you may need. Your beam type wrenches are just fine.
Dave

[Cooter]

The Strap-on wrenches start out at like 50 -250Ft Lb. for the big one, and like 0-50 Ft. Lb for the smaller 3/8 drive one.

[Troy]

I bought one of these during the first sale/group buy a while back:
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,96620.0.html

So far I like it.

Troy

[68 RT]

I use my 1/2 inch drive drive snap on click type wrench the most. It is 200 ft/lbs. Also have an inch/lbs 3/8 drive beam type.

[bull]

IMO click-type is a given but I hate the kind where you have to crank the handle for 45 seconds to get to the proper setting. So although I rarely buy SnapOn tools I'm in love with their quick dial reversible torque wrench in either 1/2" or 3/8" drive. They still make them but they no longer offer the reversing head... so I bought a used one off Ebay. Like this:

[Musicman]

Afew words concerning Torque Wrenches from the Navy's Joint Fleet Maintenance Manual. There's more obviously, but this is good enough...

5.2.2 Torque Wrenches.

a. Selection. Torque wrenches should be selected in such a manner that the required final torque falls within 20% to 90% of the torque wrench range. For example:

(1) A torque wrench with a scale range of 0-100 ft-lbs can be used for a maximum torque of 90 ft-lbs and a minimum torque of 20 ft-lbs.

b. Calibration. 

c. Micrometer adjustable torque wrenches. To ensure acceptable performance of micrometer adjusted torque wrenches, users must adhere to the following requirements:

(1) Exercise the wrench (apply pressure until snap mechanism activates) six times at approximately 60 percent of the rated maximum value before each use. This procedure minimizes the erratic readings often experienced with this type of wrench during the first few activations.

[69rtse4spd]

I have the cheap Pittsburg thing from harbor freight.  I wouldn't touch an engine with it but it's good for the other stuff.

Bought one of those when my seldom used crapsmen handle would not adjust. Took to work & had small tool repair fix the crapsmen & calibrate it. For sh*ts & laugh took the Pittsburg in to see how close it was. On the calibration machine was really close, but being brand new, time will tell. Will use as stated above, for 20.00 bucks. In answer to your ?, 1/2 inch, & 3/8 drive, but will get a Harbor Freight 3/4 drive for the 1 ton dump lug nuts, 140 ft. lbs.

[bakerhillpins]

 

All great info guys! The reviews are not kind to the craftsman stuff. Apparently the locking ring is plastic and breaking on lots of them.

Bull,

Used on eBay is a great idea. Tons of them to choose from. Is the one you show a 50-250 ftlb?

Troy,

Totally missed that. I guess I need to visit that board every once in a while.   

[Bobs69]

Something else to keep in mind.  I had an old 3/8 drive proto.  I had it compared for accuracy and it was dead on.  When it finally broke I called someone about fixing it.  Not worth the effort or money, I just went out and bought a Canadian Tire one.

If you were to buy a good mechanics brand do they calibrate it and check it for you for life?  Or something.....................

[Ghoste]

I think the Snap On guys will sometimes do it but it likely depends on the franchisee.  No matter for me they never come around to our workplace anyway.

[lukedukem]

Typically a 1/2" drive will be  ft/lbs, and 3/8" drive will be inch/lbs.
My 1/2" Crapsman is about 15 years old maybe?       My 3/8" drive is roughly 5 years old.

I guess I use the 1/2" drive more, I've just encountered more ft-lb torque specs in my bolt-tightening lifetime.
But, I have used the 3/8" one quite a bit too, doesn't hurt to own one. Especially since they are on sale!  
I'm thinking you're gonna get more use out of the ft-lb one with the 20-150 range vs the 10-75.  

    i agree. i've only used my 3/8" on for my tranny bands on my cummins auto transmision so far. but yeah, never hurts to have one.

luke

[Silver R/T]

All of mine are from HF, granted I don't assemble engines all day long but for the money they do the job just fine.