Need a torque wrench

[ASEguy]

I need to get a better 1/2 inch torque wrench. I do 1 or 2 engine overhauls per year. I had a cheap one and no longer trust it. Would you buy new mid grade or used Snap-on? What other brands? See some Matco and Proto on Ebay. I woulds spend $200 for one. What do you use or recommend? Thanks Tom

We have both manual and electric in our shop. The Snap-on electric does the converting for ft. lbs to inch lbs. to Nm and so forth. I really like it because it also does turning angle for head bolts "etc". It lets you know you have reached your torque visually (LEDs), vibration in the handle and it buzzes. Drawback is the batteries and it can be a bit pricey. If I did not get that on , I would get a dial type.

 

[wsmm]

I need to get a better 1/2 inch torque wrench. I do 1 or 2 engine overhauls per year. I had a cheap one and no longer trust it. Would you buy new mid grade or used Snap-on? What other brands? See some Matco and Proto on Ebay. I woulds spend $200 for one. What do you use or recommend? Thanks Tom

You may want to look into a torque adapter. Allows you to turn any breaker bar or ratchet into a torque wrench.. I have one and am mow looking into another one that also includes the angle torque function. Search Amazon for Torque Adapter and or Angle torque adapter.

 

[Russ from MN]

I have 2 torque wrenches, a newer Craftsman clicker, and an old beam type one. I have put a coupling nut and appropriate sockets between them, and rotating on a clean axis, checked the calibration, and the clicker seems fine. Anyone else ever do this? You could even fabricate a jig with a known weight out 2 feet and use it to calibrate a clicker, it's not rocket science!

 

[Texasmark]

I have the snappers and the torsion bar indicator. I like the torsion bar over the snapper because I can see when I am getting close and there is no spring involved. On the clicker I just hope its going to snap at the preset pressure.

 

[NDIHC]

I have a Mac 1/2 click type, a Husky click 3/8 that I use for nothing but torquing oil drain plugs, a Snap On inch pound Torque-O-Meter dial type that works great for checking bearing preload on pinion bearings, a half inch foot pound Snap On Torque-O-Meter and for most of my work like torque to yield head bolts and such I use a Snap On digital. The angle feature beats the heck out of using an angle gauge. My Snap On dealer has a torque wrench tester on his truck that I check my wrenches on every so often.

 

[chuck machinist]

The key to keeping a torque wrench in good shape is to bring it back to 10ft pounds, Click her, and wipe her down with light oil. Treat them right and they will serve you well for years. Chuck Machinist