Torque wrenches

[CookMySock]

Did this bit "quickbuck NCO i/c Team Air Force Racing" Give it away??

No, but it was a big hint!

Steve

[Logpot]

I had to wait for some new caliper bracket bolts from Japan as my current ones looked shagged.

I've managed to borrow 2 wrenches - a Warren and Brown which is about 15 years old similar to this:
http://www.warrenandbrown.com.au/Use...ge/323500a.jpg

And a more modern Powerbuilt 3/8 drive wrench.

Let the fun begin.

[UberRhys]

I had to wait for some new caliper bracket bolts from Japan as my current ones looked shagged.

I've managed to borrow 2 wrenches - a Warren and Brown which is about 15 years old similar to this:
http://www.warrenandbrown.com.au/Use...ge/323500a.jpg

And a more modern Powerbuilt 3/8 drive wrench.

Let the fun begin.

Wow, that likes like a nice piece of kit...

[Ixion]

Doesn't get much better than W&B for torque wrenches. Mine's more like 35 years old , but same as.

[neels]

Doesn't get much better than W&B for torque wrenches. Mine's more like 35 years old , but same as.

I used to calibrate them, if they're good they're good, but they can be horribly wrong. Same applies to any torque wrench.

The other thing to bear in mind is that the accuracy is quite often 4% of full scale value, if you're setting them for bugger all on the scale you might as well use a calibrated wrist.

[Flip]

I have an old 1/2" sidchrome clicker torque wrench that I have owned for 30 years and I have just brought a nice new 1/4" one for all those fiddley little things on modern bikes. The front primary sprocket bolt on my HD is tightened to 250ft/lbs which is a bit of a bugger as my 1/2" stopped at 180.

[Ixion]

I used to calibrate them, if they're good they're good, but they can be horribly wrong. Same applies to any torque wrench.

The other thing to bear in mind is that the accuracy is quite often 4% of full scale value, if you're setting them for bugger all on the scale you might as well use a calibrated wrist.

Yes, that's why you need two for bikes, 1/2" and 1/4"

[neels]

The front primary sprocket bolt on my HD is tightened to 250ft/lbs which is a bit of a bugger as my 1/2" stopped at 180.

That's about the same torque as the axle nuts on the SAAB 900 I used to own. I worked out my weight x 1.5 ft bar = stand on the end of the thing and call it about right.

[sinned]

You don't really need a torque wrench for doing up wheel nuts and other larger things.

What you mainly need a torque wrench for, is not destroying little things by over-torquing them - particularly important if you are working on bike engines, as the tiny little M4 and M6 bolts will just twist right off or else strip their little alloy housing.

So it depends what you are doing. Take a look at what range torque settings you require, and that will tell you what to buy. Most torque wrenches have an upper and lower useful limit, so one size definitely does not fit all.

Steve

BTW at Beaurepaires a month ago they set the wheel nuts on the car with a torque wrench. The benefit of this is the nuts will not be over tightened so if I get a flat the wrench in the tool kit will undo the nuts.
Unfortunately one torque wrench will not cover the range required on a bike.

That's about the same torque as the axle nuts on the SAAB 900 I used to own. I worked out my weight x 1.5 ft bar = stand on the end of the thing and call it about right.

You have just answered the question on how to calibrate/check a TW.

[Flip]

Thats exactly how I did it in the end. Just by a fluke my weight x the length of my 3/4" socket set strong arm = 250 ft/lbs

[SS90]

You don't really need a torque wrench for doing up wheel nuts and other larger things.

What you mainly need a torque wrench for, is not destroying little things by over-torquing them - particularly important if you are working on bike engines, as the tiny little M4 and M6 bolts will just twist right off or else strip their little alloy housing.

So it depends what you are doing. Take a look at what range torque settings you require, and that will tell you what to buy. Most torque wrenches have an upper and lower useful limit, so one size definitely does not fit all.

Steve

Steve, that is dangerous advise you are giving there.

Every single "home mechanic" needs to know that a torque wrench is critical for correct tension of wheel nut, suspension components etc.

Particularly on late model sports bikes, a too loose/too tight axle nut will have a massive effect on handling/safety.

I wonder, when you remove your front suspension, then refit it, do you leave all the fasteners slightly loose, and bounce the front end up and down slightly to alighn everything before correctly torquing all the bolts down?

I challenge that if you did, your bike will handle just that little bit better.

[Owl]

Yes, that's why you need two for bikes, 1/2" and 1/4"

Perhaps more emphasis on torque range, rather than drive size.

[CookMySock]

Steve, that is dangerous advise you are giving there.

Every single "home mechanic" needs to know that a torque wrench is critical for correct tension of wheel nut, suspension components etc.

Particularly on late model sports bikes, a too loose/too tight axle nut will have a massive effect on handling/safety.

I wonder, when you remove your front suspension, then refit it, do you leave all the fasteners slightly loose, and bounce the front end up and down slightly to alighn everything before correctly torquing all the bolts down?

I challenge that if you did, your bike will handle just that little bit better.

Points taken and conceded.

I know I should use a torque wrench on everything, but I don't, and I've broken my share of things as I tend to err on the tight side. So I'm economising and not using the expensive tools - probably until it's cheaper to do it the expensive way. Ah well..

Steve

[davereid]

I know I should use a torque wrench on everything, but I don't, and I've broken my share of things...

I never used a torque wrench for anything, except critical things like head bolts. But one or two things worked their way lose, or stripped, so I started to use one a lot more.

Its like a GPS in the car. Before you had one, you could find your way most anywhere, with the odd incorrect turn. Once you get GPS, if it doesnt work, you get lost straight away.

So, I have to use a torque wrench all the time now, I don't have even remotely calibrated hands anymore !

It slows me down, and nuts still come off or strip, wish Id never picked the bloody thing up really !

[sil3nt]

I've always wondered if mechanics actually torque everything. They certainly didn't when reattaching my rear light assembly as i found out when it smashed all over the road!