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I work for a facility that completes calibrations of different tools. We had an operator bring in his new Harbor Freight torque wrench. It could not be calibrated even when new. I would be cautious of them.
I bet you didn't use the Harbor Freight Torque Wrench Calibration Tool, did you?
I just wanted to throw something in here that happened to me. I crawl around under my bike tightening bolts all of the time but I guess I missed the 2 on the bottom of the Transmission where the exhaust hanger is bolted went on a ride couple of weeks ago came home parked the scoot, when I went out the next morning there was a small pool of oil on the floor. Point is I missed those two bolts so make sure you get them also. Tightened them no more leak.
Anyway you can take a pic of the bolts. I have a small leak and I cant figure it out.
All you roadglide owners out there- the outer fairing torque screws have a value of like 6-12 inch lbs. thats low. I got a torque screwdriver for that. I think its used in automotive applications like dashboards.
I used to use one of those in the Air Force and wish I could afford one now. The cheapest I've found is around $200.
Has anyone tested one of the Harbor Freight inch pound torque wrenches for accuracy out of the box? I picked one up today and am not sure if I'll keep it or shell out the money for a better one.
Used to wrench on cars for a living and would not have dreamt of using a $20.00 torque wrench then but this one looks pretty good for $20.00 for home use. I have one of their $70.00 bike lifts and have had my FLHTC up on it a lot and it's great.
I've had two HF TQ wrenches for about 10 years and about three years ago tested them for accuracy. I also tested a Snap-On I had at the time (since sold) and a very old Thorsen torsion-bar wrench (indicated/actual):
Thorsen: 50/58, 100/104
Snap-On: 50/43, 75/70, 100/95, 150/140
Harbor Freight 1/2": 50/50, 100/101, 150/149
Harbor Freight 1/4": 200/200 in/lbs. (testing device didn't go lower)
The HF wrenches I've seen have a 4% (SAE) accuracy guarantee and all have a lifetime warranty. They're the only TQ wrenches I'm aware of with this level of warranty.
i have all my torque wrenches zeroed, along with the torque screwdriver. yes, they do make those too. i don't know how important it would be to get them calibrated though, unless you're wrenching all day long, i wouldn't think you'd need to.
Thanks for all the input. Looks like the HF's are more good than bad.
I started thinking about what it would be worth to prevent one snapped/stripped bolt so ended up taking the HF back and getting a nice 3/8 drive K-D for 83.00. Looked at the 79.00 Craftsman and it just looked like too much bulky plastic for the price. Won't need to use a 1/4 to 3/8 adapter with this one and probably paid 63.00 extra for piece of mind.
Now I'll probably find that the K-Ds are worse the way it seems to work...
Thanks for all the input. Looks like the HF's are more good than bad.
I started thinking about what it would be worth to prevent one snapped/stripped bolt so ended up taking the HF back and getting a nice 3/8 drive K-D for 83.00. Looked at the 79.00 Craftsman and it just looked like too much bulky plastic for the price. Won't need to use a 1/4 to 3/8 adapter with this one and probably paid 63.00 extra for piece of mind.
Now I'll probably find that the K-Ds are worse the way it seems to work...
That's another element people don't usually realize unless they have read the instructions thoroughly...
When using adapters and/or extensions, you have to add a few more inch/foot pounds to the value you are trying to attain at the bolt/fastener.
That's another element people don't usually realize unless they have read the instructions thoroughly...
When using adapters and/or extensions, you have to add a few more inch/foot pounds to the value you are trying to attain at the bolt/fastener.
This one I did know about regarding loss of torque using adapters and extensions but I agree that probably a lot of people don't.
Oddly enough I spoke with someone a while back at a tool store that said that that school of thought no longer existed and that the loss of torque through adapters and extensions was so minimal it didn't matter. I didn't buy into that knowing that metal will flex (like using an extension) and throw values off.
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