in-lbs torque wrench
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: The wet side of Washington
I call this method "Air Force Torque". Hasn't failed me yet.
Just make sure you have a calibrated arm.
Just make sure you have a calibrated arm.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
I work as an inspector, part of my job is calibration of gauging equipment. I can tell you that the ratchet style t-wrenches that Harbor Freight sells are terrible. Spend the money to get a quality wrench like a Snap-on etc.
Some auto parts stores will lend, or rent a quality wrench if you're only going to use it once.
Some auto parts stores will lend, or rent a quality wrench if you're only going to use it once.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 8,039
Likes: 1,305
From: Jayhawk Country
Probably real bad advice giving an amateur mechanic advice to go by feel. That comes with years of experience, if even then. So go buy a good torque wrench, because these guys that say go by feel aren't going to be anywhere around when you snap off a bolt. You ever seen those pit crew guys on the NHRA races that tear down and rebuild a top fuel engine in under an hour going by feel? Hell no you don't. About as ridiculous as hand tighten then 1/4 turn, you going to do that on an axle nut? Doubt it. How did Daddy die mommy? Well he was to damn cheap to buy a torque wrench and his wheel came off. Now go get the nanny so I can go out and spend more of Daddy's life insurance money.
Last edited by KCFLHRC; Oct 30, 2012 at 02:42 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 855
Likes: 1
From: Puyallup, WA
In my opinion never buy a precision tool from harbor Freight. Im not a hater of their stuff but the in/lb torq wrench I purchased was useless and did not work. I'm no master mechanic or anything but I try to do all my own work, and have some hit and miss with Harbor Freight.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 521
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
Probably real bad advice giving an amateur mechanic advice to go by feel. That comes with years of experience, if even then. So go buy a good torque wrench, because these guys that say go by feel aren't going to be anywhere around when you snap off a bolt. You ever seen those pit crew guys on the NHRA races that tear down and rebuild a top fuel engine in under an hour going by feel? Hell no you don't. About as ridiculous as hand tighten then 1/4 turn, you going to do that on an axle nut? Doubt it. How did Daddy die mommy? Well he was to damn cheap to buy a torque wrench and his wheel came off. Now go get the nanny so I can go out and spend more of Daddy's life insurance money.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,470
Likes: 4
From: on the road
I know what I would do if I didn't own one-----------------find a garage mechanic that builds automatic transmission and have him torque them for you.As far as the poster saying the snap on being the farthest off torque I would be curious where those fact came from----------------------there are several independent calibration shops and my snap ons have been less than 2% since I bought them in the 70s.Click type on all but the inch lb one and its a dial type .I calibrate it against my small 1/2 drive before I use it as well as send them off yearly for calibration
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,524
Likes: 6,406
From: Honah Lee
Think this calibration is pretty silly for normal work unless you use your wrench as a breaker bar. I build submarines for the last 46 years and cut up so many brand new Snap on torque wrenches I lost count that failed to pass calibration new out of the box. However the tolerance we required was really way too tight. Few lbs here or there makes little difference. The video above looks staged since no one torques a lug nut to 30 lbs and it is actually pretty difficult to break off a stud with the short handle on the 1/2" drive wrench in the photo. That guy would have had to jump on it. Someone who does not know the difference in 30 lbs and the 200-300 it took to break that stud off should pay someone to work on their bike.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 8,039
Likes: 1,305
From: Jayhawk Country
Think this calibration is pretty silly for normal work unless you use your wrench as a breaker bar. I build submarines for the last 46 years and cut up so many brand new Snap on torque wrenches I lost count that failed to pass calibration new out of the box. However the tolerance we required was really way too tight. Few lbs here or there makes little difference. The video above looks staged since no one torques a lug nut to 30 lbs and it is actually pretty difficult to break off a stud with the short handle on the 1/2" drive wrench in the photo. That guy would have had to jump on it. Someone who does not know the difference in 30 lbs and the 200-300 it took to break that stud off should pay someone to work on their bike.
Last edited by KCFLHRC; Oct 31, 2012 at 09:42 AM.