My apologies in advance if this has been covered recently/frequently, but I am wanting to get a foot-pound torque wrench to do some occasional tinkering on my bike. I know they go from Harbor Freight to Snap-on and perhaps beyond. What should a person expect to pay for a serviceable wrench and what are good brands? Thanks, JD

 

Like everything else it comes down to how much you want to spend. Ive used Snap On, Mac, and Matco digital ones. I borrowed them from a friend when I was putting my motor together.
The big thing is that they are calibrated correctly. If it says 20 ftlbs, it is.
For me, I like the ones that click when you reach the set value.
If you are not using it all the time, get one that you can afford and take it some where and make sure it is calibrated correctly. Store it correctly and you should be fine.
Someone recently posted a link to a craftsman that was on sale. Home Depot and Lowes sell decent ones also

 

I have a Craftsman 3/8 drive that cost me 35 bucks that works great on the smaller stuff and a Snap On 1/2 drive that was 150 bucks for the bigger stuff. All kinds of makes and prices. You can buy one for 10 bucks or spend over 500.

 

The tool truck brands are probably a little excessive in price for what you're doing. Sears brand would be fine. I like the click type, app they have served Generations well.

Get it calibrated or do it yourself. Don't use it after dropping on the concrete without calibrating again. Use 90* extensions if need be or do the math if you're lengthening the arm to compensate. Some people purporting to be mechanics don't know that.

The inch pound I have came from o'Reilly's. My foot pound is a matco. When it clicks stop torquing. And don't believe anyone that says they can feel how much torque there is without a torque wrench

 

https://www.norbar.com/en-gb/Home/To...ion-Calculator

 

Don't get one from from Harbor Freight. I've made this mistake. Was doing a top end rebuild on my Toyota, trying to torque the head down. While doing so I kept saying to myself...thus doesn't feel right. But hey i was using a torque wrench, triple checked I had it set correct. then....SNAP. there goes my head bolt.

Find something with a happy medium. High end stuff like snap on matco, mac, etc is probably overkill unless your using it frequently. I went with Craftsman and haven't had any issues. Digital click type. I have 3/8 and 1/2.

 

If you're only getting one then get an inch pound torque wrench but eventually you end up needing both.

 

Matco 3/8" drive for $295 vs the Pittsburgh model from Harbor Freight for $20 for a DIY guy working on a Harley TC motor? Come on, no brainer. Check out the attached article from a few years back When Car Craft tested several torque wrenches for accuracy.

http://blog.harborfreight.com/car-cr...torque-wrench/

 

I like CDI torque wrenches. They're reasonably priced and they're made by Snap-on.

 

you do know that head bolts fail?!? even brand new ones!!! if it is a critical fastener, do not get junk!!!
the hf wrench is actually pretty good but like all clickers, the accuracy is mid scale and sags low/high. beam is pretty good especially in the inch/pounds but a strain gauge is probably the best but $$$$$.
sears is closing stores left and right so i do not know if craftsman will hang but for now, you can get online cheaper.
yes, you can calibrate at how with a known weight.