Torque wrenches
Discussion
I recently bought a nice Teng 1/2. Before that I was using a standard Draper/Sealey/Clarke whatever generic cheapo that I got for about £25.
I usually used the cheapo for wheels, because I wasn't bothered about leaving it out of the case etc, whereas I use the Teng for proper jobs. A few months ago I had the Teng out for a job and needed to do the wheels on a car, so I used that and found that the cheapo was WAY, WAY off; showing maybe 10-20 NMs OVER accurate readings, so the wheels were under-torqued.
The reason I bother to share this boring story is that people usually say that the cheap ones are OK to use at higher torque levels, but are inaccurate at low levels, but my experience implies that they can be badly off at ANY Torque level.
The Teng one is very nice; would recommend.
I usually used the cheapo for wheels, because I wasn't bothered about leaving it out of the case etc, whereas I use the Teng for proper jobs. A few months ago I had the Teng out for a job and needed to do the wheels on a car, so I used that and found that the cheapo was WAY, WAY off; showing maybe 10-20 NMs OVER accurate readings, so the wheels were under-torqued.
The reason I bother to share this boring story is that people usually say that the cheap ones are OK to use at higher torque levels, but are inaccurate at low levels, but my experience implies that they can be badly off at ANY Torque level.
The Teng one is very nice; would recommend.
I am a home mechanic not a pro,
I would recommend getting maybe one or two from the British brand Norbar.
I have a low range one to do spark plugs and it is really a pleasure to use.
I bought a higher range Tekton one as well but I do not like it as much as the Nm divisions are in strange amounts as it is primarily designed to be imperial.
I think it is hard to avoid using more than one of the ½”, ¾” and ¼” socket sizes.
It is too easy to give too much torque to a small bolt with a ½” wrench that is not a torque wrench though.
I would recommend getting maybe one or two from the British brand Norbar.
I have a low range one to do spark plugs and it is really a pleasure to use.
I bought a higher range Tekton one as well but I do not like it as much as the Nm divisions are in strange amounts as it is primarily designed to be imperial.
I think it is hard to avoid using more than one of the ½”, ¾” and ¼” socket sizes.
It is too easy to give too much torque to a small bolt with a ½” wrench that is not a torque wrench though.
Edited by Aluminium on Sunday 8th September 16:21
Home user here with norbar and beta 3/8 and a snap on 1/2in. There’s a calibrated torque tester at work i’ll Check them on occasionally, all 3 within a couple of percent which is good enough for me.
I’ve only ever needed the snapon for hub nuts really, mainly gets used for wheelnuts when racing due to the increased speed at which you can go round the car.
I’ve only ever needed the snapon for hub nuts really, mainly gets used for wheelnuts when racing due to the increased speed at which you can go round the car.
I’d spend more money on a good 3/8 drive with a 100-110Nm upper limit. The vast majority of situations will be covered using this. Only ones that may exceed are things like wishbone/body mount bolts and hubnuts.
For the 1/2 drive, 200Nm should be fine. I can recall maybe 1-2 times I’ve ever needed more than this ever.
For very small torque applications (e.g caliper sliding bolts, sub 20Nm) just ‘feel’ by hand or else get a 1/4 torque wrench. I have a pretty neat little wurth one for this which is mainly used for my pushbike but has its occasional use on the car.
I really would focus on 3/8 drive for home use. Short and deep socket rails, Allen’s, torx etc. 1/2 is best saved for impact tools and 19mm+ bolt heads.
Also bear in mind your Japanese car does not have any 13mm bolts. They’re all either 12 or 14. Double up on these spanner sizes as they’re everywhere.
For the 1/2 drive, 200Nm should be fine. I can recall maybe 1-2 times I’ve ever needed more than this ever.
For very small torque applications (e.g caliper sliding bolts, sub 20Nm) just ‘feel’ by hand or else get a 1/4 torque wrench. I have a pretty neat little wurth one for this which is mainly used for my pushbike but has its occasional use on the car.
I really would focus on 3/8 drive for home use. Short and deep socket rails, Allen’s, torx etc. 1/2 is best saved for impact tools and 19mm+ bolt heads.
Also bear in mind your Japanese car does not have any 13mm bolts. They’re all either 12 or 14. Double up on these spanner sizes as they’re everywhere.
Just looked at halfords prices and the ones you’re considering are £90-95
I would stretch to this instead
https://www.ffx.co.uk/tools/product/Wera-050756110...
Wera make very nice tools. For a value set i’d Go halfords sockets and spend on ratchets / torque wrenches.
I would stretch to this instead
https://www.ffx.co.uk/tools/product/Wera-050756110...
Wera make very nice tools. For a value set i’d Go halfords sockets and spend on ratchets / torque wrenches.
steveo3002 said:
learn to tighten stuff like by feel ...only really need a torque wrench for engine internals
no doubt someone will be along to argue , but no garage is using a torque wrench on stuff like that
I agree. I use mine only for very specific things . Certainly not wheel nuts etc. I'm very surprised someone above is using one for spark plugs. Nip them up, then a touch more :-)no doubt someone will be along to argue , but no garage is using a torque wrench on stuff like that
The best digital torque wrench I've come across is an AC Delco that lights up when you get close to your set torque and beeps when it's at it, makes it a lot easier and going back to a normal one is a chore.
Ranges in price from £75 to £150 on Amazon so worth keeping an eye out.
http://www.acdelco-tools.com/index.php?route=produ...
Ranges in price from £75 to £150 on Amazon so worth keeping an eye out.
http://www.acdelco-tools.com/index.php?route=produ...
The OP wants a wrench in the range 10-80lbs/ft
For that I'd say, don't discount a 'beam' wrench.
See (purely as an example): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Beam-Torque-Wrench-3-8-...
They lack that 'click that tells you you're there - you have to look at the scale - but are cheap andthey never go out of adjustment.
John
For that I'd say, don't discount a 'beam' wrench.
See (purely as an example): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Beam-Torque-Wrench-3-8-...
They lack that 'click that tells you you're there - you have to look at the scale - but are cheap andthey never go out of adjustment.
John
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