Torque wrench

[Moflash]

Craftsman 1/2 digital normally $179.00 is currently on sale $69.00.Set desired torque up to 250 ft lbs and it beeps when reached.Simple to use.

[perryg114]

I would get an old school bending beam type. They are not as easy to use but they stay accurate and don't need to be calibrated. The ones that click have to be calibrated.



Perry

[strangepod]

+1 on the Harbor Freight, I think I paid something like 10-15 bucks for mine on 'sale' with coupon.

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by tjdonahoe

Napa...snap on..

I realize this is the Airstream forum, but I'd have trouble justifying a SnapOn torque wrench to tighten lug nuts. Maybe if I was building race engines for a living.
I made it 60+ years without a torque wrench and guess what? No wheels fell off.

[brokeboater]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

I'd have trouble justifying a SnapOn torque wrench to tighten lug nuts. .

Anything worth doing is worth overdoing. In the RV world no truck is big enough nor is any torque wrench adequate. You do realize our species darn near went extinct when lug wrenches were the standard?

[Julie-Bob]

Originally Posted by Shiny16

If you were going to get a 1/2 drive torque wrench for Christmas which one would you want. It’s only use would be for the Airstreams lugnuts.

Torque wrench don’t like to be missed used or dropped. Drop the torque setting down to almost “0” store in the carrying case not just in tool box. You want the best ? Snap On want one the will work and will not cost a leg and a arm? Fright Harbor. When torquing wheels use the cross torque system as shown in manual.

[Julie-Bob]

Originally Posted by Julie-Bob

Torque wrench don’t like to be missed used or dropped. Drop the torque setting down to almost “0” store in the carrying case not just in tool box. You want the best ? Snap On want one the will work and will not cost a leg and a arm? Fright Harbor. When torquing wheels use the cross torque system as shown in manual.

[ATTACH]. On sale.

[rocco52]

I have a 40 year old Craftsman 1/2" click type . I took it in to a Dealership Service Department last year and tested it on their Torque Wrench tester. It was spot on. I never use it to loosen nuts or bolts, I have an impact wrench for that. It has served me well.

[Aerowood]

Man can we drag a subject on and on and on Soooo’s here’s my take. I have multiple torque wrenches, inch and foot pounds from 2 in lbs screwdriver type to a monster 3/4 drive that I use with a torque multiplier. Regardless of the type, beam, digital, or armstrong, they need to be calibrated or at a minimum torque checked.

In regards to digital, check the temperature range, they don’t like really cold temperatures as the LEDs will burn out. Be careful with all types when really cold out, found this out working in Thule Greenland in February. Found out that the temp rating wasn’t even good for the northern US winter without preheating. I no longer have a digital.

[brainwash]

Originally Posted by Caffeinated

This is the one. Precision instruments makes this exact wrench for Snap-On. Snap-On sells it for five or six hundred bucks. You can get exactly the same thing for about $150.00 on Amazon from Precision instruments. It comes calibrated, and does not need to be reset to zero every time. I learned about this wrench from School Bus diesel mechanics in Beaverton OR. I’ve had mine for almost two years now. It’s a great wrench.

Mike

Yes, I have this one as well. I do reset mine to zero each time, as to me, it's not a big deal. Comes with the certificate of accuracy. Mine's been great since I've had it the last few years.

[perryg114]

I don't use the things unless it is something critical like head bolts. I broke and stripped a lot of bolts when I was a kid and learned to tell when they were tight. Never used a torque wrench to tighten lugs and never had one break or come loose. Been doing this for close to 50 yrs. I actually prefer to take loose wheels to the tire store after seeing what punk kids have done with an impact wrench can do to a reverse thread lug. I have also seen lots of frame damage from careless and improper use of jacks. You can actually check a wrench by using a fish scale and measuring the length of the handle. Multiply force in lbs times the length of the arm and you have your torque. There are so many variables even with a torque wrench. Bolt diameter, lube, seat type, rust, etc etc.



Perry

[featherbedder]

AS what torque wrench to buy, pur. one like Harbor Freight or Craftsman clickers unless you are pro. & need better for precision work. I have craftsman 1/2 click type about 40 yrs. still spot on but always return to 0, also have 3/4 and torque amplifier same practice and old craftsman beam 1/2 but vary seldom use any more as clicker much easier. Word of caution w/clicker use strait with bolt or nut and keep one hand on end to keep strait or else will have false reading click or beam type. I use these clickers building motorcycle racing engines & bikes plus other varied uses, & truck & farm equip. haven't used beam for yrs.

[NevadaGeo]

Remember what the theory is here. Torque is pulling down 100 lb bag of cement on a 1 foot long wrench. Or 50 lb bag of dog food on a 2 foot long wrench. You can complicate it up from there.
Note: the wrenches with the swivel in the handles do need you to have one hand on that. handle or it won’t seem to click. Don’t really know why.