What does this mean? Help...

[Richi]

What he said. The size of the drive should be able to handle the specified torque. Don't worry about step up and step down converters handling it or not - stay to the specified torque and BOB'll be your favourite Aunt's lover while your Uncle's out of town.

Oh and one comment about tools - you get's what you pays for - I've found that to be especially true of tools. As a rule I stretch to the best I can buy - haven't regretted it once...

Yea buying the more expensive tools is always the best, but if u cannot afford it then sometimes cheaper ones do the job (even if u only use it once). Should be able to borrow a torque wrench pretty easy?? You MUST know an engineer or mechanic?

[Richi]

And for gods sake... if it has been a little stiff, and it starts to get easier... STOP

Taken a few bolts to realise when I am taking the head of a bolt, and normally, I still realise to late. At least I get to practise my language

If you overtighten bolts this is the better of the 2 things to go wrong... Stripping the thread from the engine is the worst!!! At least if u rip the head off u can still get the bolt out

[Madness]

Warren & Brown torque wrenches have always had a reputation of quality and accuracy. I used to deal with a guy who calibrated torque tools for the NZ Army and TranzRail amongst others. He swore by W&B for repeatability over many years of use.

Here is a 3/8" W&B wrench (branded Sidchrome) for under $300. (Note the Australian Standard #).

The cheaper brands IMHO are good to use as a "guide". The Calibration Certs that come with many of the cheaper brands are usually printed by the Taiwanese manufacturer, using dubious test equipment, if any. I've seen brand new Taiwanese wrenches tested here in NZ "straight out of the box" and it's amazing what variations you'll get using certified test equipment compared to a Taiwanese Cert.

[Ocean1]

The cheaper brands IMHO are good to use as a "guide".

I've got a 1/2" wrench like that, simple and hard to kill. And I agree, torque wrenches are one of the class of tools where cheap is better than nothing.

Sockets also, if you just use them occasionally and avoid the utter crap the cheap ones will do all you need. With spanners and screwdrivers otoh I've learned the best value is the best you can buy, nothing fucks your day up quite like damaging a critical screw or bolt head.