Hi,
I am looking for a good quality 3/8 drive torque wrench. Torque range of 0 to 500 inch*pounds or so.
Recommendations? comments?
TIA,
Rog Smith
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Sept. 26, 2011 9:50 a.m. emodspitfire Reader
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Sept. 26, 2011 10:03 a.m. 914Driver SuperDork
One ft. lb. = 12 inch lbs.
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=torque+wrench&hl=en&prmd=imvns&am...
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Sept. 26, 2011 12:50 p.m. emodspitfire Reader
Hey,
Thanks for the Pittsburgh reference. Do you have one of these wrenches ?
Rog
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Sept. 26, 2011 1:01 p.m. Joshua HalfDork
914Driver wrote:
One ft. lb. = 12 inch lbs.
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=torque+wrench&hl=en&prmd=imvns&am...
Wow that's much cheaper than a Craftsman, are they reliable? I have an old Craftsman that is busted, they won't warranty it cause their torque wrenches only have a 1 year...
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Sept. 26, 2011 1:18 p.m. failboat HalfDork
i have had one of those pittsburgh wrenches for at least 5+ years now.
(it is only used occasionally when the need arises, i am not a mechanic by trade or anything so really only a few times a year.)
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Sept. 26, 2011 1:20 p.m. Taiden Dork
I got a snap on 3/8" click type torque wrench with a swivel head at a garage sale for $15
I also got an old dial type craftsman 1/2" torque wrench at a garage sale for $1 and a polaroid picture of me using it to make spaghetti.
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Sept. 26, 2011 1:51 p.m. mndsm SuperDork
Got a Kobalt 1/2" clicker at Lowes. Love it. Lifetime warranty too. Would buy the 3/8" without hesitation.
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Sept. 26, 2011 4:33 p.m. Basil Exposition Reader
All depends how much you are going to use it. Personally, it is one of those tools that I use a lot and want a quality piece. If you are just torquing lug nuts with it, then you can get away with a cheap one. Honestly, you might find the old beam style cheaper and more accurate than a clicker.
A Craftsman would probably be OK, or any of the major quality tool makers.
If you buy a used one, get it calibrated right away.
In any case, be sure to release the tension on the spring (turn it down to the lowest torque setting) when you are not using it, and get it calibrated regularly.
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Sept. 26, 2011 4:48 p.m. pres589 Dork
Pittsburg is a Harbor Freight brand, right?
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Sept. 26, 2011 5:15 p.m. Josh Dork
I thought the old trick was to get a good beam type (they're still pretty cheap) and use it only to calibrate the cheap clicker type once a year or so. A $20 Craftsman beam type plus a $20 HF clicker is still cheaper than a $60 craftsman clicker, and you come out even further ahead if you leave the clicker at the track or break it trying to use it as a ratchet.
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Sept. 26, 2011 7:48 p.m. Taiden Dork
I'm not even sure how to calibrate them. I never really attempted to find out.
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Oct. 21, 2011 12:40 p.m. emodspitfire Reader
Folks,
So I liked the Kobalt wrench for its lifetime warranty, but it's torque range didn't go low enuf.......20 ft*lbs was the lowest, if I recall.
Bought the Pittsburgh model at HF. ($16 on sale !!) Kinda no risk at that price.
Today I bench tested the Pittsburgh wrench against my 3/8 drive Craftsman beam wrench. It appears to be very comparable for accuracy and repeatability.
Thanks to all.
Rog
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Oct. 21, 2011 1:03 p.m. Ranger50 Dork
If you get the coupon from one of the motorcycle mags, the 3/8" TW is 9.99 plus tax. Just like the 1/2" model. I bought two of them for someone who needs to borrow mine......
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Oct. 21, 2011 1:11 p.m. Dr. Hess SuperDork
Who was it on here that did lab testing of torque wrenches and stuff? I think the posting was on one of the older versions of The Board here. Anyway, the conclusion was that the HF torque wrenches were very accurate, as measured on professional calibration/measurement equipment. And you can use them as a hammer.
1 foot * lb * (12 inches / 1 foot) = 12 inches * lb. It's dimensional Analysis, doodz.
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Oct. 21, 2011 1:25 p.m. Ranger50 Dork
I saw a test in the TireRack column about 1.5 yrs ago in the mag.....
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Oct. 21, 2011 1:46 p.m. bigbens6 Reader
I have a craftsman, its pretty good, i like it, but i have thought about HF/pitt brands for something bigger....
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Oct. 21, 2011 1:59 p.m. EvanR Reader
As always, if you're torquing fasteners on a Space Shuttle airlock, go buy a fancy torque wrench.
If you're doing lug nuts, or even head bolts, the main issue is consistency, not absolute value. Most people, the sort who do amateur work, are just fine with the HF/Pittsburgh torque wrenches.
If you're worried about recalibration, it's probably cheaper to go buy a new one every few years than to get an HF wrench re-calibrated :)
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Oct. 21, 2011 2:08 p.m. ThePhranc Reader
My HF torque is +/- a bout a pound from my Snap on.
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Oct. 21, 2011 3:28 p.m. Hocrest HalfDork
And the HF clickers have a lifetime warranty.
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Oct. 21, 2011 3:48 p.m. Hal Dork
I have a couple Craftsman's that I have had for at least 10 years. A 20-150 ft/lb 1/2 drive and a 25-250 in/lb 3/8 drive. I get a friend to check them every couple years and they have always been right on.
I have used the 3/8 as much if not more than the 1/2. First on motorcycles and now on newer cars. The plastic cam cover on my Focus requires a two step process, 4 ft/lb then 7ft/lb. If you don't do it that way it is guaranteed to leak.
