Torque Wrench

[WindyCityPilot]

I'm looking at getting a torque wrench. I've been looking at the Craftsman wrenches. Any reason not to go with one from them? What torque range would you guys recommend? It looks like I may need 2. One for things that require smaller torque settings and one for the more heavy duty settings. Or is there one out there that will cover most of things I'll need?

 

Let me know what you guys think!

[Landowner]

I've been using the Craftsman 1/2 inch digitorque for 5 years and it's held up great. It reads from 25 to 250 and you can dial in every two pounds. I haven't had a need for the 3/8 yet, I just kinda tighten until it feels right.

 

Jeremiah

[Dana_15]

^^I have a Craftsman also, this one actually

 

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?...UseBVCookie=Yes

 

Probably had it 4 years, never had a problem and it gets constant use.

[MS3DALE]

Probably more money than you want to spend,but I use nothing but Snap-On Tools.

I've had mine for almost 13 years and no issues at all,I use it just for rotating the tires or anytime I have to remove the wheels/tires.

I think I paid around $275 bucks for it in '94.

The Craftsman should be just fine for you though.

[juliedean]

Probably more money than you want to spend,but I use nothing but Snap-On Tools.

I've had mine for almost 13 years and no issues at all,I use it just for rotating the tires or anytime I have to remove the wheels/tires.

I think I paid around $275 bucks for it in '94.

The Craftsman should be just fine for you though.

 

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Completely agree with all that has so far been said.

 

 

Love Snap-On tools; used their torque wrenches in a shop setting. Awesome and if you can afford to spend about $250 for one, you will not regret it.

 

At home we have three Craftsman torque wrenches and completely satisfied with each. One is a simple deflecting beam type with three-eighths drive. Not as convenient as the ratcheting type and one certainly needs a lot more open space, but it was only about $20. Very simple and it does come in handy from time to time.

 

Now, about serious torque wrenches, we got a Craftsman Digi-Torque (same as described in the earlier response) 25 ft-lbs to 250 ft-lbs range. Originally got it when we were replacing the timing belt on a passenger car, on which the front pulley bolt had to be torqued to 180 ft-lbs. Also, use this one regularly for torquing lug nuts (as once you have the torque wrenches, use them for all critical applications where torque settings are specified). This one was about $100. The neat thing about this tool is the way one dials in the torque setting; much easier and quicker than the traditional torque wrenches.

 

The third one we have is a three-eighths drive torque wrench with a range of 25 in-lbs to 250 in-lbs. Very nice and compact enough to use.

 

All in all, you will not go wrong with any of the Craftsman torque wrenches. Over time if you end up doing all different kinds of work on your truck, cars, boats, planes, etc., you'll probably need at least two different torque wrenches: a three-eighths drive at the lower end of the torque specs and a half-inch drive for the middle to high end of torque specs. A third one in the middle of the torque specs with a three-eighths drive will (or at least would) also come in handy once or twice.

 

Can definitely recommend the Digi-Torque series; worth the extra money. My advice would be to buy them as and when you need them -- or if you see them on sale, of course -- because you will use them maybe three times a year on average.

[CapitalTruck]

I also have the 1/2 Digi-Torque Craftsman wrench. the 25-250 variety. Has worked fine, can't go wrong.

[Wingnut]

Both of mine are Snap-On, but if I had to buy them today...I'd probably just buy the Craftsman ones.

 

The cool thing about mine is, you just spin the bezel to the desired torque setting, and there's a bright-a**ed light that lights up when you hit it. No feeling for a little click, listening for a beep, etc. It's pretty bright.

[WindyCityPilot]

Great info guys! Thanks!

[lancer1991]

I have the large 1/2" non digital already, but also picked up the 3/8" in/lb one. I was going to return the 3/8 and get the 3/8 in ft/lbs, but it sounds like the in/lb is the one that will get more use, is this correct? I may have done my calcs wrong, but was thinking the in/lb didn't go high enough for drain plugs, etc. while the 1/2" was too high on the scale.

 

Sorry to pirate the thread, just hate to multi post.

[juliedean]

I have the large 1/2" non digital already, but also picked up the 3/8" in/lb one.  I was going to return the 3/8 and get the 3/8 in ft/lbs, but it sounds like the in/lb is the one that will get more use, is this correct?  I may have done my calcs wrong, but was thinking the in/lb didn't go high enough for drain plugs, etc. while the 1/2" was too high on the scale.

 

Sorry to pirate the thread, just hate to multi post.

 

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Actually, ideally you would want to have all three. Especially if yo also do some work on passenger cars. While the three-eighths drive with a range of 5 ft-lbs to 80 ft-lbs will cover 80% to 90% of torque values specified, the wrench itself may prove too big to be effectively used in many places.

 

Even though the in-lbs wrench comes with the same drive, the overall size of the tool makes it easy to use in the often confined spaces around the smaller bolts that call for the low torque values, such as water pumps, oil pumps, or thermosthat housing. A lot of these applications tend to have rubber O-ring seals, which don't last very well if over-tightened or unevenly tightened, and with front wheel drive cars (especially if a V-6), you may not have much room because of the firewall or other parts of the chassis.

[OnyxMAX]

most are great the key is getting one that will have a range were what you torque the most is in the middle of the range (if you torque mainly 100 the range should be x-100-200. all torque wrenches have more error at the extreams of the range low or high.

 

as for snapon quality dad passed his click type from the 60's down to me and it will prolly last till my son (if i had one) needed one. any of your major brands will work craftsman mac matco. just none of that discount store stuff. i bought one for my first one and prolly 3rd tire rotation it stopped clicking.

[cmoore74]

Sorry about resurrecting an old post, but I bought a Craftsman digi-torque based on this post's favorable responses about them. It's the 25-250 ft-lb range model.

 

When I torqued a prop bolt on my outboard (I recall it was about 60 ft-lb) there was ni audible click. In fact it was very difficult to tell when I hit the torque at all. It felt like it gave, but very difficult to tell.

 

I haven't tried to torque something with higher specs, such as lug nuts, yet.

 

I'm just wondering if this is normal for this wrench to do that at the lower end of the torque range or do you guys think I have a bum wrench and should return it before the warranty is up?

[ken1mod]

the main advantage of the bending beam type of wrench is that they stay accurate forever. the snappy ones should be recalibrated avery so often (the air force does it every 30 days). the snappy ones are much easier to use in tight places. I replaced the rod bearings in my now defunct ford and the bending beam one was unusable under the vehicle.

 

Ken

[lpetersonjr]

Sorry about resurrecting an old post, but I bought a Craftsman digi-torque based on this post's favorable responses about them. It's the 25-250 ft-lb range model.

 

When I torqued a prop bolt on my outboard (I recall it was about 60 ft-lb) there was ni audible click. In fact it was very difficult to tell when I hit the torque at all. It felt like it gave, but very difficult to tell.

 

I haven't tried to torque something with higher specs, such as lug nuts, yet.

 

I'm just wondering if this is normal for this wrench to do that at the lower end of the torque range or do you guys think I have a bum wrench and should return it before the warranty is up?

 

Cmoore74, you might want to take that wrench back. I've had the Craftsman Digitork 1/2" drive for many years and never a moments problems. It clicks at all ranges for me.

 

Lynn

[GMCMAN06]

I'm looking at getting a torque wrench. I've been looking at the Craftsman wrenches. Any reason not to go with one from them? What torque range would you guys recommend? It looks like I may need 2. One for things that require smaller torque settings and one for the more heavy duty settings. Or is there one out there that will cover most of things I'll need?

 

Let me know what you guys think!

 

Snap-on