Torque Wrench

cyclonebri1

Get the cheapest, or even second hand.

The 1 I bought 40 years ago is still going strong, Japanese, Kamasa, not expensive, and cars where my hobby at 1 time.

You really don't need to spend much at all, sunday market, the tool stalls are full of them.;);)


(I mean a market not a car boot, too much "dodgy" stuff floating around them for me)

System

I got a couple from a garage sale about 4 years ago, for 5 quid! still going strong!

Hintza

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg//SID-B79CA5E5-586C4234/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_39220.htm?offerdate=&idcheck=true&ar2=&id=1264&country=GB&zipcode=KA24+4LA&city=Dalry&district=Ayrshire&street=Kilwinning+Road&ar=11&nf=TRUE

londonTiger

Hintza wrote: »

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg//SID-B79CA5E5-586C4234/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_39220.htm?offerdate=&idcheck=true&ar2=&id=1264&country=GB&zipcode=KA24+4LA&city=Dalry&district=Ayrshire&street=Kilwinning+Road&ar=11&nf=TRUE

yes, linked to this earlier, but I think the 28nm minimum rules out some delicate car work like gearbox sump plug, steering rack etc. Not sure if there is a big difference between 25nm and 28nm and if there is sufficient margin of error in torque settings for a 25nm screw to allow for 28nm,

Stooby2

Whatever one you buy, make sure you wind the setting gauge fully back in or the springs will stretch and go out of calibration.

I have a 20 year old Draper one that still works fine.

cyclonebri1

Stooby2 wrote: »

Whatever one you buy, make sure you wind the setting gauge fully back in or the springs will stretch and go out of calibration.

I have a 20 year old Draper one that still works fine.

Or rather fully out to take the weight off the springs;);):D

Crabman

Heads-up that LIDL are selling a Torque Wrench from Thursday 21st Feb 2013:

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg//lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_39220.htm

• Made from robust steel
• Reversible ratchet for clockwise or anticlockwise use
• Includes ½" extension, length (cm): 12.5 and 3 sockets, sizes (mm): 17, 19 and 21
• With quick-release mechanism
• Torque range (Nm): 28 - 210
• Measuring tolerance: +/- 4%

Wig

Looks like the screwfix one. It will probably be accurate at the top end and no good at the lower end, unfortunately on cars it's the sub 90Nm range that will be most commonly used.

I advise don't touch it with a barge pole, unless you undo your hub nuts regularly.

TrickyWicky

Crabman wrote: »

Heads-up that LIDL are selling a Torque Wrench from Thursday 21st Feb 2013:

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg//lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_39220.htm

Have you ever seen their torque wrenches for real? They're cheaper quality than the Halfords trash. Halfords TWs at least have a proper easy to read scale so you can see exactly what you've set it at but even then they are utter crap.

I wouldn't touch the LIDL ones with a bargepole. I had a cheap draper one too and that wasn't great - first one had to go back as the handle / adjustment mechanism fell apart :eek:

Don't buy cheap torque wrenches for precision work.

Crabman

I stand corrected

Had planned to get one of these (but will stay away now), though the only time I've needed one was for replacing spark plugs.

In the absence of a torque wrench I followed the NGK guidance which was to turn it 1/3 to 1/2 of a turn after the spark plug was finger tight.