Torque Wrenches: How to use them, when, and why! (Video)

[WingAdmin]

We've got a brand new video online: everything you ever wanted to know about torque wrenches! What they are, the different types available, the correct way to use them, when and why to use them, and the expensive results that happen if you don't use them! Extra bonus: how to convert ANY wrench or ratchet into a torque wrench for $10!



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[wingryder]

Hi,
Very nice movie about the torque wrench.
Only one very important thing was not told.
That is: NEVER use a torque wrench to loosen a bolt or nut. The thing can be damaged and Will be useless.
I have seen people doing it because "it is possible" they say
I always use a normal wrench untill almost there and do the last part with the torque wrench.

Greetz

Jan

[WingAdmin]

Hi,
Very nice movie about the torque wrench.
Only one very important thing was not told.
That is: NEVER use a torque wrench to loosen a bolt or nut. The thing can be damaged and Will be useless.
I have seen people doing it because "it is possible" they say
I always use a normal wrench untill almost there and do the last part with the torque wrench.

Greetz

Jan

That's not entirely true. Both the beam type and click type torque wrenches are perfectly capable of operating backwards - otherwise they could not be used to torque left-hand threaded fasteners.

The danger is in using the torque wrench on a stuck fastener and applying more torque than the wrench is rated for. That can damage the wrench.

[Asphaltmaniac]

Its been said "every tool has a hammer end" and that may be true.
But not for torque wrenches.

[wezx]

I commented on the video… Great work as usual Scott. I’ve had very good success with the Harbor Freight torque wrenches as well. I check the calibration fairly regularly and they are quite accurate. I also mentioned in my video comment something that isn’t especially useful on GoldWings but it’s definitely useful on V-Twins such as rocker cover bolts. In some situations you can’t get the head of the torque wrench onto the fastener because of clearance issues. This is where a “Dog Bone Extension” comes in handy. They make them commercially but I just made one out of an old socket, a piece of steel, and an old Allen wrench. As long as the dog bone extension is at a 90°angle to the torque wrench you’re getting an accurate torque reading. Another thing I often do, especially when dealing with aluminum, is to torque in stages to make sure I don’t overtorque a fastener. A lot of procedures, like engine rebuilds, call for staged torqueing and a specific torque sequence. I also tend to stay in the middle of torque ranges and not go to either extreme. Loctite 243 can be your friend when it comes to keeping fasternwes in place and yet having easy removal later.

[Wildwilly018]

I love my HF torque wrenches. And I am in Canada. We don't have HF. I get friends who go to the US to go to HF for me or I send my wife with a list of stuff I need when she went to Florida. Love HF tools. I have 3/8's and 1/2 in drive wrenches. Some things that take lighter torque and tighter spots I use 3/8 drive cuz it is a smaller shorter wrench. As Scott said, I do my nuts on my vehicle also. Shop will tell you to bring it back in 3 days and we will re-torque. Nope I can do it myself. Here in Can. we have Canadian Tire. A good Mastercraft torque wrench can run upwards or more than 100 bucks. Sure they are guaranteed for life, but so are the HF ones. And the 2 of them cost me 30 something dollars Canadian. They are solid good working wrenches. That's my 5 cents. We don't have pennies anymore so no more 2 cents