Torque Wrench
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 106
From: Colorado Front Range
Do NOT buy a cheap torque wrench! I use snap-on because I have them in my tool box....I'd recommend craftsman or any "name brand" for accuacy reasons! Especially if you're gonna do any work on the engine....spend the $$$ to get some quality torque wrenches! You'll be surprised how often you need them....once they're in your toolbox.
Here's a review form WebBikeWorld. Scroll to the bottom and they talk about the Precision Instrument Torque Wrench. Great mid-priced tool that you'll have forever. http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/torque-wrench/
My .02
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 168
From: Potsdam, NY
If you have a 3/8 inch socket set (most are) get the same size torque wrench. The other thing to pay attention to is range. Most bolts you find on a bike will be in the lower ft/lb range or higher in/lb range. You can convert from ft/lbs to in/lbs by dividing by 12.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 658
Likes: 23
From: South Florida
I would never use a $30 click type torque wrench on critical areas like oil & transmission bolts. Maybe axle bolts, but not much else. Buy yourself a quality, calibrated torque wrench. Below is the torque wrench I use. It's a Precision Instruments that goes from 0-50 Ft. Lbs/ 0-70 nm. That range covers just about everything you'll need to torque down, outside of the heavy duty bolts. Less than $200
Last edited by djkolp; Aug 4, 2011 at 07:09 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 702
Likes: 16
From: Zebulon, NC
I Have been in Metrology/Instrumentation for a number of years now and we purchase and calibrate torque wrenches regularly.
For foot/lbs - buy a used Armstrong (or new) 0-150
For inch pounds - Snap-on or Armstrong 20-200 or 0-600 or 0-75
I don't care if it's dial or click, It can still fail our calibration here at our plant. (yes ....Snap-ons fail our cal's too)
For cheap and accurate rebuild and calibration (usually under $75.00) send your wrench to http://www.anglerepair.com/ in Beckley, WV.
They are NIST certified.
So:Buy a used one cheap on Ebay and send it to Beckley. Call Angle Repair and make sure it's a brand/model they work with, which are many.
hope this helps out....
For foot/lbs - buy a used Armstrong (or new) 0-150
For inch pounds - Snap-on or Armstrong 20-200 or 0-600 or 0-75
I don't care if it's dial or click, It can still fail our calibration here at our plant. (yes ....Snap-ons fail our cal's too)
For cheap and accurate rebuild and calibration (usually under $75.00) send your wrench to http://www.anglerepair.com/ in Beckley, WV.
They are NIST certified.
So:Buy a used one cheap on Ebay and send it to Beckley. Call Angle Repair and make sure it's a brand/model they work with, which are many.
hope this helps out....
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,905
Likes: 66
From: Hartford, AL
Craftsman quality has gone down in the last few years. Their wrenches, combination, sockets, etc. are top notch, but stuff with moving parts just are not what they used to be. I won't waste any more money on sears drills and such and not the torque wrenches either. Go on line, read some of the user comments about the torque wrenches and then decide. Since I don't "wrench" for a living, the HF or Northern tool will work for me. And as said earlier, a beam type, mine is Craftsman, doesn't need calibration. As long as you don't drive over it and bend it, it will work just fine. It does take a bit more care in it's use to get accurate torque setting, but just take your time.
