Lets talk torque wrench

JohnUSA · Post by **JohnUSA** » Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:40 am

I'm working on the front end, and am at the point to assemble and torque to spec.

This is a one time event. Everything except wheel bearings have been replaced: Triple tree, head bearings, rebuild forks, etc, etc.

I've got a couple torque wrenches, but nothing that will work for the lower hex head bolts on the triple tree. My inch pound wrench doesn't go high enough, and there isn't enough room for my big 1/2" drive torque wrench. I need to get a 3/8" drive torque wrench.

Considering the +/- variance, what is the popular opinion to get a Harbor Freight torque wrench? It's thirty bucks less than Lowes.

Thanks.
JohnUSA

AZgl1800 · Post by **AZgl1800** » Sat Aug 17, 2019 5:56 am

I would give the accuracy of a HF torque wrench about +/- 10% maybe, if not worse.

Your bare hand is that good, stick with a good torque wrench.

YouTube · Post by **WingAdmin** » Sat Aug 17, 2019 6:35 am

I got a couple HF "clicker" torque wrenches as a stop gap many years ago. I periodically calibrate them against my very accurate beam torque wrench, and they are dead on, every time. I've never had the need to replace them!

tamathumper · Post by **tamathumper** » Sat Aug 17, 2019 7:09 am

Get the HF wrench.

If you're worried about its accuracy, there are plenty of videos on YouTube that show you how to calibrate a torque wrench with a bench vise and a known weight hanging off the handle.

Tynker · Post by **Tynker** » Sun Aug 18, 2019 8:03 pm

WingAdmin wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2019 6:35 am I got a couple HF "clicker" torque wrenches as a stop gap many years ago. I periodically calibrate them against my very accurate beam torque wrench, and they are dead on, every time. I've never had the need to replace them!

I have all 3 From HF 1/4" 3/8" and 1/2'. Have had the for several years, and never had a problem. I have had the measured with Craftsman, and they are about 0-3% off. Great deal for me.

C-dub · Post by **C-dub** » Sun Aug 18, 2019 8:51 pm

Since I am also in the market for some torque wrenches I checked these HF wrenches out. This cracked me up. There's a warning from Cali.

WARNING. This product can expose you to chemicals including Diisononyl Phthalate (“DINP”), which is known to the State of California to cause cancer.

Is there anything that Cali doesn't think will cause cancer?

PoolDude · Post by **PoolDude** » Sun Aug 18, 2019 9:09 pm

Yeah California is a bit over board, I keep waiting for them to outlaw mono oxygen dihydrate.

Wing--Man · Post by **Wing--Man** » Tue Aug 20, 2019 7:22 pm

JohnUSA wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2019 12:40 am I'm working on the front end, and am at the point to assemble and torque to spec.

This is a one time event. Everything except wheel bearings have been replaced: Triple tree, head bearings, rebuild forks, etc, etc.

I've got a couple torque wrenches, but nothing that will work for the lower hex head bolts on the triple tree. My inch pound wrench doesn't go high enough, and there isn't enough room for my big 1/2" drive torque wrench. I need to get a 3/8" drive torque wrench.

Considering the +/- variance, what is the popular opinion to get a Harbor Freight torque wrench? It's thirty bucks less than Lowes.

Thanks.
JohnUSA

Set your 1/2 inch torque wrench to desired pounds and mount it in a vise.
Then connect your 3/8 ratchet to that 1/2 inch via sockets, etc..
Take several practice pulls on the 3/8 and get the feel.
Like others said, + - 10% you are good.

JohnUSA · Post by **JohnUSA** » Wed Aug 21, 2019 9:31 am

I have to take it back...will not click at specified torque setting.

2003Cobra · Post by **2003Cobra** » Wed Aug 21, 2019 9:48 am

Thanks for this thread. I have an old craftsman 1/2 drive torque wrench and it's accuracy was called into question recently when we broke a pulley bolt while installing the pulley. After reading several of the posts I went out to YouTube and found several videos on how to celebrate a torque wrench, Might be able to save the old girl.

BadJack · Post by **BadJack** » Sun Sep 01, 2019 2:14 am

Harbor Freight has several different brand torque wrench's: icon, Quinn and Pittsburgh. I don't think I trust a 20 dollar Pittsburgh torque wrench, but I would have not problem using a Icon or Quinn wrench. Also, the more you are in the middle of a torque wrenches range, the more accurate it is.

90Blazer · Post by **90Blazer** » Sun Sep 01, 2019 7:48 am

I do calibration for a living. You'd be surprised how many big companies use Pittsburgh torque wrenches. They are spec'd + 4% - 6% like 99% of the torque wrench is out there. They really aren't that bad of a torque wrench. I think for the home mechanic they will work just fine. I wouldn't use them everyday in a shop without checking them every 6 months.

alces · Post by **alces** » Sun Sep 01, 2019 8:38 am

Something one has to understand with the click wrenches is that the click comes from a toggle piece that the spring keeps under tension as required. I have an inexpensive model and if I back the wrench off completely the toggle piece drops out of position and then I have a wrench not a torque wrench. If you have any doubts clamp a bolt in a vise and give it a heave. Does it feel like a 10 pound bag of potatoes or a 50 pound.

magnajohn · Post by **magnajohn** » Sun Sep 01, 2019 9:01 am

I did torque wrench calibration years ago. Always thought the snap on wrenches were trash. Very non linear readings. Nothing wrong with an old fashioned dial deflection, as long a you have a straight view of the dial, you can get good accuracy.

musinger · Post by **musinger** » Sun Sep 01, 2019 9:44 am

I have all 3 HF wrenches and I brought my into work to check calibration against a master and they were within a tenth of the master.

rneal55555 · Post by **rneal55555** » Sun Sep 01, 2019 3:29 pm

Just a note about the click type wrenches Navy procedures required us to actuate them at 80% of there full range at least 6 times prior to use each day

Richard Edward · Post by **Richard Edward** » Sun Sep 01, 2019 8:23 pm

Post by PoolDude » Sun Aug 18, 2019 9:09 pm

"Yeah California is a bit over board, I keep waiting for them to outlaw mono oxygen dihydrate.

"

PoolDude your expectation is all washed up (In deep water)

khspe2 · Post by **khspe2** » Tue Sep 03, 2019 2:10 pm

This thread eerily reminds me of a scene in "My Cousin Vinny".......

C-dub · Post by **C-dub** » Tue Sep 03, 2019 11:24 pm

khspe2 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2019 2:10 pm This thread eerily reminds me of a scene in "My Cousin Vinny".......

Dead on balls accurate!

seelyark1 · Post by **seelyark1** » Fri Sep 06, 2019 9:42 am

California doesn't think that illegal aliens can cause cancer. Just everything else in the world. Obviously the wrong torque on their brain housing group.

CrystalPistol · Post by **CrystalPistol** » Sat Sep 07, 2019 8:10 pm

C-dub wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2019 11:24 pm
khspe2 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2019 2:10 pm This thread eerily reminds me of a scene in "My Cousin Vinny".......
Dead on balls accurate!

Covington, Ga.

Fun movie every time!

C-dub · Post by **C-dub** » Sat Sep 07, 2019 8:17 pm

PoolDude wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2019 9:09 pm Yeah California is a bit over board, I keep waiting for them to outlaw mono oxygen dihydrate.

I was poking around looking at boots online today and noticed the same Prop-65 warning. On a pair of TCX Airtech EVO gortex boots. BOOTS

SMH

Wildwilly018 · Post by **Wildwilly018** » Mon Sep 09, 2019 6:39 pm

I have 2 HF Pittsburgh Pro torque wrenches and I think they are great value for the money. I have a 3/8's for mostly bike work and 1/2" one for vehicle work. Did a lot of work on my bike using the 3/8's drive one. Re-torqued tires on vehicle with 1/2 " and they clicked right at the 100 ft lbs the garage torqued to.

Wildwilly018 · Post by **Wildwilly018** » Mon Sep 09, 2019 6:40 pm

WingAdmin wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2019 6:35 am I got a couple HF "clicker" torque wrenches as a stop gap many years ago. I periodically calibrate them against my very accurate beam torque wrench, and they are dead on, every time. I've never had the need to replace them!

That's what I use and I find them perfect.

tamathumper · Post by **tamathumper** » Mon Sep 09, 2019 9:38 pm

There's not much to calibrating a torque wrench.

Lock it in a vice, hang a known weight a foot out along the handle (or do the math if the handle is longer)... Voila.

Lets talk torque wrench

Lets talk torque wrench

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