Torque wrench.

[The Pastor]

With a torque wrench, must you wind it back to a low reading if you are storing it?

also what can break a torque wrench? I lent mine to a mate and now it dosent go click when it reaches the setting, and as a result i snapped a bolt.

[Motu]

I hate clickers,just too many things to go wrong.Get a Warren & Brown - the most rugged torque wrench ever made,there are many over 30 years old in everyday use...mine is 35 years old.They are a beam type with a button clicker.Bullet proof.

[The Pastor]

Thanks motu, i'll look into it. Not really helpful atm tho.

[Ixion]

I'll second the endorsement for W&B. And so easy to use, you don't have to watch it, just listen. Mine is not as old as Mr Motu's some bastard stole my first one and I had to by another a quarter century or so ago.I'm not so keen on the break back type.


I assume that is the sort you are having problems with. If the wrench is used as a power bar, ie for tightening high torque nuts with the torque setting set low, you can bend or break the internal gizmo thing (technical term). Ditto if used for loosening , when it doesn't have a 'reverse' mode .Impossible on a W&B , but not too hard on the breakbacks.


It's good practice with any thing of that nature to lossen any settings. But not doing so wouldn't bust a torque wrench, maybe just affect the accuracy.

Bear in mind that a torque wrench is a precision device, it's not for gorilla work.

[glice]

yea store it at the lowest you can and when you go to use it again after it has been sitting for a while put it on a really low setting and get it to click and do its thing to make sure the internal gizmo thing is going.

[TLDV8]

With a torque wrench, must you wind it back to a low reading if you are storing it?

also what can break a torque wrench? I lent mine to a mate and now it dosent go click when it reaches the setting, and as a result i snapped a bolt.

I have two Falcom torque wrenchs which have the clicking head. (You would need a minimum of two for working on motorcycles)(i have four in total)
You need to wind them off after use (imo) to preserve the internal spring.
I also have a Warren and Brown (mentioned in this thread) 20 to 200 ft/lb which i have also had for a long time.
If i am not mistaken the W&B type wench will not do left hand threads unlike the Falcoms which also have a rachet head.

[Madness]

Warren & Brown are the best. Even brands like Norbar & KD are surpassed in terms of accuracy & reliability.

Save up, they're not cheap.

[Ixion]

Correct. The W&B is one way only. OTOH , how often in reality d' y' encounter a left hand thread.

I have a 1/2" drive W&B and a 1/2 drive summut else (dunno unless I go look which I can't be bothered, quite a good one though ) and a Teng tools 1/4". Usually use the W&B , and it's been around for 25 odd years, still as good as. Compare the three every so often just to check.

The other thing I liek about the W&B is you can see how near you are to the correct setting by watching the angle bit approaching the clicker.

[Madness]

Teng are probably one of the better "budget" options. I'd buy one if I needed one. They have a huge range of models and are pretty good quality for the price. Cream of the Taiwanese crop, so to speak.

[TLDV8]

... how often in reality d' y' encounter a left hand thread.

Fwiw
The first two that spring to mind are TL1000 primary drive nut and Ducati camshaft upper bevel gear retaining nut.

[Subike]

I hate clickers,just too many things to go wrong.Get a Warren & Brown - the most rugged torque wrench ever made,there are many over 30 years old in everyday use...mine is 35 years old.They are a beam type with a button clicker.Bullet proof.

agree %100 cant go past them for best of the best

[Ixion]

Teng are probably one of the better "budget" options. I'd buy one if I needed one. They have a huge range of models and are pretty good quality for the price. Cream of the Taiwanese crop, so to speak.

Yeah, I wanted a 1/4" because so many bike bolts and nuts are small/low torque, and trying to dial up 7lb/ft on the W&B was a hit and miss business. The Temg seems to be OK for what it is.

[The Pastor]

I dunno wtf my mate did to it, but it dont go click no more.

As a result i overtightend a bolt, and it sheared off.

and track day is on friday :O

[Ixion]

So, replace the bolt? Bolts break tis a fact of life, even with torque wrenches
(or indeed torque wenchs, but then who cares)

[riffer]

I'll endorse the Warren and Brown that Motu and Ixion were saying. I inherited my dad's W&B (c. 1970s) and it's still fine.

Having said that, I also have a Facom that's just lovely too. I don't appear to be able to break them, and I'm rough as on tools.

Use a pry bar or a drift if you want to bend stuff. And don't lend your tools out. Let people use them at your gargre is the best idea.