Torque Wrench recommendations

jimcos3 · Post by **jimcos3** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 4:08 pm

Hey everybody,

I just stripped 2 cylinder bolts on my XR600 as I was rebuilding it (It's not all my fault, they may have been bad before I got there - I swear!). I have decided that my old craftsmen torque wrench may have seen a few too many Seattle winters and could be getting a little sticky. What do you guys recommend for most of my bike needs. I find that I use my air gun when I get much above 100 ft./lbs. so I figure I need something accurate for the those little chores. Do you guys agree or is a pair of torque wrenches (big and little) the best advice? I've been happy with my current wrench until now but I think it's time to upgrade to a Snap-on, Mac, Matco or ? There are quite a few brands available on Ebay I haven't seen so some advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jim

yamaweezle · Post by **yamaweezle** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 9:30 pm

snap-on, hands down...they're the only tools i buy...

Post by **Hooligan** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:33 am

FWIW, i think the new electronic torque wrenches that are sold by the major players (mac, snap-on, cornwell, etc.) are all made by the same company.

hell, i have read most of the american made tools are all made in the same foundries on different lines.

hotcam · Post by **hotcam** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:32 am

I think you're on the right track with 1 big, 1 little. There's no way you can torque an m5 or m6 bolt accurately with a 10lb foot-and-a-half-long 1/2"drive wrench. If you find a nice smaller one, tell us what brand it is.

dragracer1951 · Post by **dragracer1951** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:25 am

Let me say this about Craftsman torque wrenches.
I had two of them. Plastic adjuster handle. The lock ring on both of them broke about three months after I purchased them. Right at the mold line. No replacement on either. Called it abuse of a precision instrument. That's right. it's not a "wrench"

haunter · Post by **haunter** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:24 am

my dads newer one did the same thing

Post by **Hooligan** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:54 pm

i think jim is talking about the commonly available craftsman versions that are sold in any of their stores four about 50 bucks. they have new versions that are only available in their catalog that are a completely different design.

sickle44 · Post by **sickle44** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 1:12 pm

You guys probably don't have Canadian tire down in the states I imagine, and not that their tools could or would ever surmount to SnapOn or Mac stuff, but they've got lifetime warranty, "No Questions asked" and you can't beat the price either.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/produ ... 5537064602

The 1/2 inch is on sale for 47.99.

I've also got one of those little dial guys for much lower torque settings, kinda hokey but nothing's ever failed that's been put together with it's use.

Sorry for speaking such sacrilige Jim. Their tools have served me well for the most part even for my professional 12V installing days. I would have liked to have owned SnapOn or Mac and do have their odd tool, but for the backyard hack, I think they are complete overkill and overpriced. If tools are your livelihood, then buy all means, you want the best, but....

Post by **Hooligan** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 1:27 pm

mac and snap-on and any of the overpriced brands are definitely nice, but for the convenience factor that craftsman offers they can't be beat.

djalbin · Post by **djalbin** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 12:39 am

I have three torque wrenches. One big one for the 100+ ft/lbs jobs, one for the delicate jobs, and one for the jobs in between. I would have to go out to the tool room to see what the torque ranges are on them. I'm not sure what brand they are either. I buy the best they have at New Harbor Freight; which is still inexpensive. No more often than I use them, they last forever.

jimcos3 · Post by **jimcos3** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:52 pm

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I'm going to bite the bullet and spend the money for a Snap on or two. I've been bidding on a couple on ebay but just missing out. They aren't selling for too much used (less than $100 for a 10 ft./lbs to 80 ft./lbs wrench) so I'll go for a large and a small; that should keep my helicoil bills in control!