Torque Wrench

[Slick]

My new set of Mezler ME880's for the V-Rod are sitting in the garage. I will now begin destruction of the bike for purposes of putting on new tires, the updated slipper clutch and an oil change. I find myself in need of a decent torque wrench to put it all back together again, hence this post.

I've looked on-line at Sears, Home Depot (Husky brand), Lowes (Kobalt brand), Northern Tool (house brand, Titan brand and KD brand).

Snap-On wants 4X what the above places want, but no doubt it is better quality. I just don't work where a truck stops by weekly any more.

Can anyone give me any insight on the best cost/quality choices?

[DaSkip]

My new set of Mezler ME880's for the V-Rod are sitting in the garage. I will now begin destruction of the bike for purposes of putting on new tires, the updated slipper clutch and an oil change. I find myself in need of a decent torque wrench to put it all back together again, hence this post.

I've looked on-line at Sears, Home Depot (Husky brand), Lowes (Kobalt brand), Northern Tool (house brand, Titan brand and KD brand).

Snap-On wants 4X what the above places want, but no doubt it is better quality. I just don't work where a truck stops by weekly any more.

Can anyone give me any insight on the best cost/quality choices?

How about I loan you mine. I'm off this week, I could swing by the hangar and hook you up. I've got you covered from 5 in/lbs to 100 ft/lbs.

If you want your own, I would go with Craftsman first then the others.

Mine are calibrated yearly and you're welcome to them.

; ^ )

[Slick]

How about I loan you mine. I'm off this week, I could swing by the hangar and hook you up. I've got you covered from 5 in/lbs to 100 ft/lbs.

If you want your own, I would go with Craftsman first then the others.

Mine are calibrated yearly and you're welcome to them.

; ^ )

I appreciate the offer, but I'm gonna take my time with this over several weeks. I know you can't be without yours for as long as I'm likely to take on this little project. I really need to invest in one or more TQ wrenches, what with the turbo project on this bike in the spring.

[SafetyMan]

If you're making your living with it, go SnapOn or Mac...

If you're going to use it once in a while in your own garage,
and take care of it, ie, loosen it and store it in a proper case,
Then go with Craftsman

[Fe Butte]

I too would vote for the Craftsman brand for at home stuff.

Just don't ask them about a valve spring compressor. "Is that like a air compressor"?

They had to escort me from the store to make me stop banging my head on the wall and sobbing.

[SafetyMan]

My cousin owns 3 SnapOn routes and is a ASE Master Mechanic.
I called him to get a deal on a TQwrench, even he told me to go to Sears.

[Dippsy]

Where would it get my sears calibrated? Since I am putting the low rider back together it would be no if it was calibrated

Sent from my droidilicious

[Dinero]

If you're making your living with it, go SnapOn or Mac...

If you're going to use it once in a while in your own garage,
and take care of it, ie, loosen it and store it in a proper case,
Then go with Craftsman

Good advice.

[KD5CQT]

I have several different sized Craftsman torque wrenches and have used them without a problem for years. Definitely time for me to have them calibrated...never did know if I could bring them back to Sears for this or had to find someone else.

[Dippsy]

I have a dilemma my cylinder studs start torque at seven lbs but my wrench starts at 10....

Sent from my droidilicious

[Infidel!]

Slick, if you're going to buy, either Sears Craftsman, or the Home Depot Husky you can't go wrong. Additionally Lowes sells Cobalt brand which is made by Snap-on. In either case, I prefer the clicker type. Tighten till it clicks and you're done.

[Infidel!]

I have a dilemma my cylinder studs start torque at seven lbs but my wrench starts at 10....

Sent from my droidilicious

Use an inch lbs torque wrench and use 84 inch lbs (12 x 7)

[Dippsy]

Thanks

Sent from my droidilicious

['05Train]

I really need to get my Craftsman wrench calibrated. Where can I get that done?

[DaSkip]

I really need to get my Craftsman wrench calibrated. Where can I get that done?

Google a local Metrologist, or something like that. I think your money is better spent on a nice date with your baby.

['05Train]

Google a local Metrologist, or something like that. I think your money is better spent on a nice date with your baby.

You have heard about my mechanical exploits, right?





I need all the help I can get.

[Dippsy]

Stay away from my garage

Sent from my droidilicious

[Infidel!]

Google a local Metrologist, or something like that. I think your money is better spent on a nice date with your baby.

What's a weatherman know about torque wrenches?

['05Train]

What's a weatherman know about torque wrenches?

Cloudy with a chance of stripped threads?

[Dippsy]

50 percent chance of broken parts

Sent from my droidilicious

[Scabbydoo]

Craftsman in my tool chest.


As far as the caliber thing, think mine's a 3/8's

[DAK47]

I get mine calibrated at my bud's helicopter hangar, makes a guy feel right about delicate work and a good torque wrench is a lifetime addition to the shop.

Cheers,
Dirk

[BluesFan]

I just haul mine to the office too.

[MegaGlide]

I have a calibrtion sticker on my 24 oz ball-peen hammer.
I was a lot of fun as a tool & die maker, too. :DD

[Slick]

Lowes sells Cobalt brand which is made by Snap-on.

Apparently not so. I've done a little digging and learnt some interesting stuff. Seems that since 2003 Kobalt is made by Danaher Corp. Here are some of the brands of tools made by Danaher:
Craftsman
GearWrench
KD Tools
Kobalt
Jacobs Chuck Mfg.
Matco Tools

and many, many other subsidiaries.


Husky is made by the Stanley Works, which also makes:
Black and Decker
Bostitch
Delta
DeWalt
Mac Tools
Proto
Porter-Cable
Stanley Hand Tools
Husky (now transferred to Home Depot)
Kobalt (now transferred to Danaher Corp.)
Craftsman (until the mid-1980's)


It turns out the Craftsman tools have been made by the following companies over the years:
New Brittain
Moore Drop Forge
Stanley Works
Easco Tools
Danaher Corp.

Clear?

[MegaGlide]

Pivoting head GearWrenches are the best thing since sliced bread overall, and the 5/16 one in particular for backing out Allen or Torx screws in odd locations with a bit removed from its socket.

[Dippsy]

Apparently not so. I've done a little digging and learnt some interesting stuff. Seems that since 2003 Kobalt is made by Danaher Corp. Here are some of the brands of tools made by Danaher:
Craftsman
GearWrench
KD Tools
Kobalt
Jacobs Chuck Mfg.
Matco Tools

and many, many other subsidiaries.


Husky is made by the Stanley Works, which also makes:
Black and Decker
Bostitch
Delta
DeWalt
Mac Tools
Proto
Porter-Cable
Stanley Hand Tools
Husky (now transferred to Home Depot)
Kobalt (now transferred to Danaher Corp.)
Craftsman (until the mid-1980's)


It turns out the Craftsman tools have been made by the following companies over the years:
New Brittain
Moore Drop Forge
Stanley Works
Easco Tools
Danaher Corp.

Clear?
as mud

[KD5CQT]

Just pased through Sears tool department. Torque wrenches at 80 bucks.

[Dippsy]

Just pased through Sears tool department. Torque wrenches at 80 bucks.

I was there too, I didn't see you.....

[DaSkip]

What's a weatherman know about torque wrenches?

Cloudy with a chance of stripped threads?

You two kill me...........................:laugh:

Dan, read this...............http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrology


I got your weatherman right here................:badmood:

['05Train]

I was there too, I didn't see you.....

http://184.72.239.143/mu/a689091b-bc44-52a6.jpg

You were in the hatchet aisle.

[Dippsy]

oh yeah

[susqy]

Next question: can one size wrench handle most of a bike's applications or do you have to have two different sizes? If I only buy one size which is best choice?

[MegaGlide]

I recommend vise-grips if you're only gonna have one wrench.

[DaSkip]

http://184.72.239.143/mu/a689091b-bc44-52a6.jpg

You were in the hatchet aisle.

Dave goes by Molly on a different forum.

[MegaGlide]

Google a local Metrologist....

I think it'd be cool if the guy turned out to be a gnome when you got there.

[DaSkip]

I think it'd be cool if the guy turned out to be a gnome when you got there.

If you only had the chance to meet the guy that comes by every year. He's way more like Shrek!

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[MegaGlide]

If you only had the chance to meet the guy that comes by every year. He's way more like Shrek!

:lol: :lol: :lol:
Not a metrognome, then?

[DaSkip]

Nope, he's like a giant older Norwegian dude, that talks in sound bites without saying anything.

It only complicates, any day that I am going through.

:blink:

[Slick]

Next question: can one size wrench handle most of a bike's applications or do you have to have two different sizes? If I only buy one size which is best choice?

I'll (try) to be the adult here: I'm thinking I need a 3/8" drive and a 1/2" drive to handle all the fasteners on the bike.

[orbit]

Next question: can one size wrench handle most of a bike's applications or do you have to have two different sizes? If I only buy one size which is best choice?

I'll (try) to be the adult here: I'm thinking I need a 3/8" drive and a 1/2" drive to handle all the fasteners on the bike.

Yep, what he said.

The larger drive will be for the higher torque value bolts, like the rear axle nut and stuff like that there.

I have three torque wrenches: An old Craftsman Digitorque 3/8" drive, 5-75 ft. lb, and two Snap-On Torquometers, one 3/8" drive in inch pounds (I don't recall the range off hand), the other a 1/2" drive up to 200 ft. lbs.

I use the Craftsman almost exclusively. The Snap-Ons I got offa ebay, both recalibrated and certified, for pennies on the dollar.

[Inspector 12]

I'll (try) to be the adult here: I'm thinking I need a 3/8" drive and a 1/2" drive to handle all the fasteners on the bike.

Not so much 3/8 and 1/2 drive, but make sure one does inch pounds and the other foot pounds of torque. One trick most folks over look is taking the spring pressure on click type wrenches to the lowest setting when not in use. That way the wrench doesn't "take a set" at a high setting (sometimes you have to exert more force than the setting to make the wrench click the first time if the wrench as been laying around not used).

I have Snap on 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 inch drive wrenches, I prefer the "beam" type of torque setting (no springs to crank down just turn a knob to the desired setting), just checked Snap On's web page apparently they have discontinued these. Pivoting drive can also make it easier to get into tight spaces. I have had these wrenches for years from the days when I worked as a mechanic. As expensive as Snap on has gotten (wow, glad I bought mine when I did), Sears Craftsman on sale would probably be a good option, stay away from those stores that say HF over the door for this item though.

[Infidel!]

Apparently not so. I've done a little digging and learnt some interesting stuff. Seems that since 2003 Kobalt is made by Danaher Corp. Here are some of the brands of tools made by Danaher:
Craftsman
GearWrench
KD Tools
Kobalt
Jacobs Chuck Mfg.
Matco Tools

and many, many other subsidiaries.


Husky is made by the Stanley Works, which also makes:
Black and Decker
Bostitch
Delta
DeWalt
Mac Tools
Proto
Porter-Cable
Stanley Hand Tools
Husky (now transferred to Home Depot)
Kobalt (now transferred to Danaher Corp.)
Craftsman (until the mid-1980's)


It turns out the Craftsman tools have been made by the following companies over the years:
New Brittain
Moore Drop Forge
Stanley Works
Easco Tools
Danaher Corp.

Clear?

but I read it on the internet :roflback:

Thanks for the info. Interesting stuff. Slow day at work? :Poke:

[BluesFan]

1/4" pound inches

3/8" pound feet

1/2" pound feet

[MegaGlide]

I've got a Craftsman 3/8 in in.lb and a 1/2 in ft.lb, with 3/8-1/2 adapters. Very seldom do I need anything less than what the 3/8 will go down to, and I just do the math when I have to use the 3/8 for a light ft/lb value. Sometimes the value is given in N-m as well and you don't have to even convert.
Make sure your 1/2 goes up to at least 105 ft/lb for the rear axle nut. I think mine goes to 150.

[susqy]

Thanks for the info. I knew you folks were experts.