I have been doing oil changes on my bike and wanted to expand to doing the primary. I know I will need an inch-lb torque wrench, but all I find in the stores are cheap ones. I bought a Tekton 20-200 inch-lb, and it feels like a piece of junk, I am going to return it.

Is there a decent wrench under $150?

And if you were only going to have one inch-lb torque wrench, which range would you get? Would you get 1/4" drive or 3/8?

I have a Craftsman 3/8 in Ft-lb 10-75ft-lb, which seems to work OK.

Thanks for any help.

 

I have been looking for one myself! My torque wrench is the tension bar type it can go to 2.5 ft lbs and up . I know its no very accurate, when im trying to get let say 80 inch pounds. But it is close enough. I would like to find a reasonable inch lbs torque wrench.

 

the Craftsman ones I have seem decent.

 

For a quality tq wrench you might be looking at a little more money. Proto makes a pretty decent one for $250ish but that's the cheapest I would go. This is one of those tools you don't want to cheep out on. I chose 3/8 drive but it doesn't really matter. The craftsman ones are terrible IMO. The snap on ones are great but prohibitively expensive. Another option if you have the time is find a used snap on for cheep and go have it re-calibrated.

 

I only buy snap on. Good and cheap don't exist in tools.

 

Agree with snap-on. We use the electric ones at work and they are great. Accurate and dependable. Take care of it and you'll be able to pass them on to your kids.

http://store.snapon.com/Standard-Mod...e-P644451.aspx

 

A tq wrench to put back in o ringed drain plug? Don't bother, save yourself the money. Just use the correct combination wrench. You will be fine. If you can't do it correctly without a tq wrench, put a lock on your toolbox and lose the key, LOL.

 

I have a Craftsman in-lb torque wrench that I have used for years. The quality is very good and it is essential when doing extensive engine work.

 

Oil changes are now considered "extensive engine work" ? that's news!

 

don't go cheap! half the money for a p.o.s. is not smart......jmo