Torque Wrench recommendation

[flombe]

What is best for home/road use? $40-50 type? The Park TW-1 or TW-2 for example. Or, is it worth it to spring for a $125-150 +/- model?

[soupboy]

Sears baby. F Park - they mark up the wrench for giving it a blue handle and their logo. You can two Craftsman covering different load ranges for the price of one high end Park.

What is best for home/road use? $40-50 type? The Park TW-1 or TW-2 for example. Or, is it worth it to spring for a $125-150 +/- model?

[flombe]

Sears baby. F Park - they mark up the wrench for giving it a blue handle and their logo. You can two Craftsman covering different load ranges for the price of one high end Park.

Ha, what is it about that blue color? Nice tools are nice tools and I have no problem with Craftsman mixing with the park in my bag.

Recommendation on load ranges, por favor?

[berrywise]

Torque wrenches? We don't need no stinking torque wrenches. Just turn the bolt until it feels like the heads about to snap off then back off a turn :D

I'm with Flombe and Soup. Can't be Craftsman when it comes to non bike specific tools.

[soupboy]

I'd have to look at my tool, err, tools. I've got one lighter weight one for stems and bars and one heavier one for crank bolts, BBs and lug nuts. There is maybe a 5-10in/lb overlap.

Recommendation on load ranges, por favor?

[funky-funky-chicken]

I know that it is overkill, but I searched for a while on ebaY and eventually found one of these slightly used with the certification from Snap On for its accuracy: http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=8530&group_ID=964&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

The price was right (<$100) and I really like the dial type reading.

[Fast1]

I've got two craftsman torque wrenches.

on 3/8" drive with a 25 to 250 inch pound range

http://s7.sears.com/is/image/Sears/00944593000?rgn=0,0,640,640&scl=2.56&fmt=jpeg


Also a 1/2" drive that goes from 20lb to 150lbs

They are available here for $59.99

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@2102279270.1156949083@ @@@&BV_EngineID=ccegaddijlfifejcefecemldffidflk.0&vertical=SEARS&sid=I0093600100004900085&pid=00944593000

[danger!]

Recommendation on load ranges, por favor?

The biggest thing is making sure it is an inch pound wrench vs foot pounds. Unless, of course you like doing conversions. The Craftsman Mike posted above looks good, but I swear I've had stuff that needed less than 25 inch pounds in the past. I wonder if there are any that go lower? (other than the Park wrenches)

[Pete Hamer]

Craftsman Torque Wrench, 3/8 in. Drive
$59.99 plus shipping
Save $15.00

Park Tool TW-2 Torque Wrench
$34.99

Park is a good value, just not as fancy as the craftsman ratcheting type but that's not necessary for working on bikes. The Park beam style is ust as accurate if used correctly.

[soupboy]

How many Ft/LB wrench options are there? Themz would be some pretty serious bolts/nuts.

The biggest thing is making sure it is an inch pound wrench vs foot pounds. Unless, of course you like doing conversions. The Craftsman Mike posted above looks good, but I swear I've had stuff that needed less than 25 inch pounds in the past. I wonder if there are any that go lower? (other than the Park wrenches)

[soupboy]

Killjoy. ;)

I trust Bob Villa. He da man.

Craftsman Torque Wrench, 3/8 in. Drive
$59.99 plus shipping
Save $15.00

Park Tool TW-2 Torque Wrench
$34.99

Park is a good value, just not as fancy as the craftsman ratcheting type but that's not necessary for working on bikes. The Park beam style is ust as accurate if used correctly.

[Pete Hamer]

Killjoy. ;)

I trust Bob Villa. He da man.

I know, sorry. I still like the ratcheting type better though. For bike specific wrenches the ITM torque wrench is my choice. It's short and is set up for the range of torque for small fasteners on bikes.
http://www.itm.it/catalogo/inglese/sc_ne.asp?id=167&tab=news

[danger!]

How many Ft/LB wrench options are there? Themz would be some pretty serious bolts/nuts.

A lot, since most non-bike wrenching uses Ft/LB. I seem to remember having a hard time finding inch pund torque wrenches at sears as little as 2 years ago. Maybe I was hallucinating again.

[danger!]

Craftsman Torque Wrench, 3/8 in. Drive
$59.99 plus shipping
Save $15.00

Park Tool TW-2 Torque Wrench
$34.99

Park is a good value, just not as fancy as the craftsman ratcheting type but that's not necessary for working on bikes. The Park beam style is ust as accurate if used correctly.

I didn't know the Park was that affordable. Nice choice that is 0-600 inch pounds.

[Morrie]

In all my years going into and out of bike shops, I've never seen a shop use a torque wrench to assemble a bike. All of the mechanics have the touch to know when a bold is tight enough. Also, I've traveled all over the world with my bike and have never carried one to reassemble the bike and have never had a problem either.

Unless you are a weight junkie and are using ultra light components or in the clydesdale class, I wouldn't worry about it.

[Crash]

In all my years going into and out of bike shops, I've never seen a shop use a torque wrench to assemble a bike. All of the mechanics have the touch to know when a bold is tight enough. Also, I've traveled all over the world with my bike and have never carried one to reassemble the bike and have never had a problem either.

Unless you are a weight junkie and are using ultra light components or in the clydesdale class, I wouldn't worry about it.

I sure hope you don't use carfon fiber. Of if you do, your health insurance is paid up.

[soupboy]

:jumpy: :jumpy: :jumpy: :jumpy: :jumpy: :jumpy: :jumpy:

Or when the bolt is unhappy or just having a bad day...

All of the mechanics have the touch to know when a bold is tight enough.

[Pete Hamer]

In all my years going into and out of bike shops, I've never seen a shop use a torque wrench to assemble a bike. All of the mechanics have the touch to know when a bold is tight enough. Also, I've traveled all over the world with my bike and have never carried one to reassemble the bike and have never had a problem either.

Unless you are a weight junkie and are using ultra light components or in the clydesdale class, I wouldn't worry about it.

A lot of shops use torque wrenches. Every bolt on every tune up that I do gets tightened with a torque wrench The torque that I used is recorded on a checklist that the customer gets. This isn't because I keep breaking bolts, I have "the touch". It's because at a shop we have liability concerns and using a torque wrench and recording the information helps protects us. If a bolt was damaged before we work on it and it snaps while tightening we wouldn't be able to prove that it wasn't our fault unless we were using a torque wrench. If your paying a professional to work on your bike you should expect them to use a torque wrench, it's not that hard.
At home there are many bolts that I tighten on my bike without using a torque wrenchthough.

[danger!]

I never used one on a bike until I got disc brakes.

[soupboy]

Huh? Where do disc brakes necessitate a torque wrench over the balance of a bike?

I never used one on a bike until I got disc brakes.

[danger!]

Huh? Where do disc brakes necessitate a torque wrench over the balance of a bike?

Rotor to hub connection. I see an opportunity for warpage if not properly torqued.

[jjrsds]

Hey Ken, the torque-o-meter wrench your looking at is a good buy and the most accurate one your going to get on a budget. I have the 1/4 inch version 0-75 inch pounds and I spent a small fortune. I use a 3/8 5-85 ft-lb for the high torque applications. Look at the snap on electronic torque wrench if want the best, virbrating handle, beeps when proper torque is attained and can be set in various readings (ft-lb, inch-pound, KgF, N.M). Other wise go to sears and get them there, good price and they are a click type when torque is acheived. The park one can be hard to read and isn't that accurate.

I use a torque wrench at work, keeps from breaking and not securing expensive items securely and is the proper way to service the customers.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=68395&group_ID=17226&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

[soupboy]

I've never seen that being an issue having run discs for 5+ years. If any warpage were to occur it would be on the outer, not inner, portion of the rotor. Outright loose rotor bolts could be an issue but you should notice that audibly and physically (disc shudder).

Blue locktite.

Rotor to hub connection. I see an opportunity for warpage if not properly torqued.

[danger!]

I've never seen that being an issue having run discs for 5+ years. If any warpage were to occur it would be on the outer, not inner, portion of the rotor. Outright loose rotor bolts could be an issue but you should notice that audibly and physically (disc shudder).

Blue locktite.

Actually, I've not had a problem either, and I've only torqued one of my sets of wheels. I noticed that the only place I've seen a recommendation for torque values is on rotors, haven't noticed it for anything else.

[Fast1]

While on this subject... another important issue. Almost as important as selecting the correct torque wrench for your application.

Where do you guys take your torque wrenchs to get calibrated and ensure that they are accurate?

A cheap inexpensive torque wrench may just provide a cheap inexpensive
result if it is not accurate.

[Pete Hamer]

While on this subject... another important issue. Almost as important as selecting the correct torque wrench for your application.

Where do you guys take your torque wrenchs to get calibrated and ensure that they are accurate?

A cheap inexpensive torque wrench may just provide a cheap inexpensive
result if it is not accurate.

The beam style can be calibrated by making sure that the pointer lines up with zero, one reasn why they are a good choice for home use. The beam wrenches are very accurate if used properly . You can then use the beam wrench to check the ratchet/click type wrenches.
The Snap-On TECHWRENCHes that I use recalibrate themselves everytime you turn them on. That's part of the reason why they are worth the $300 each. Snap-On can recalibrate their ratchet style wrenches for you.

[Fast1]

The beam style can be calibrated by making sure that the pointer lines up with zero, one reasn why they are a good choice for home use. The beam wrenches are very accurate if used properly .

First you would have to assume that the beam style was accurate from the start which may or may not the case. You could have it line up with zero torque to 30 inch pounds and in reality be torquing to 25 inch pounds because the tool was never accurate from point of purchase.

[Fast1]

The Snap-On TECHWRENCHes that I use recalibrate themselves everytime you turn them on.


Which model number Snap On torque wrench are you referring to?

[Pete Hamer]

Which model number Snap On torque wrench are you referring to?

TECH1FR240 the red one in the picture

http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=1885&cat=all&ppuser=1348

http://buy1.snapon.com/products/torque/pdf/techwrench/Internet%20CAL%20Procedure%20NON-MEM.pdf

http://buy1.snapon.com/products/torque/pdf/techwrench/TECHWRENCH%20INTERNET%20SITE.pdf

actually looks like ther is a simple process to calibrate it-errr maybe not. but it is supposed to "self check" when you turn it on nd if it's messed up it displays "error"

[Fast1]

actually looks like ther is a simple process to calibrate it-errr maybe not. but it is supposed to "self check" when you turn it on nd if it's messed up it displays "error"


Thats what I thought.. All the Snap-on ones I've used have never had that feature. In fact, I dont' think you would find one that automatically recalibrates itself.

That was the point behind my question about calibration, accuracy and where you can have your torque wrench checked for a reasonable fee.

[soupboy]

This is OT and quite NASCAR, but when I perish I wanted to be buried in a Snap On tool chest. Custom blue would be nice.

[flombe]

I picked up a Park torque wrench (TW-1, I think) and was at Sears picking up the hex head sockets when I came across a Craftsman torque wrench model. So I picked that up too. I will be tinkering this weekend and will try out both to see how they compare and I will post up if I find any meaningful differences. They both seem to be good quality by all appearances.

[flombe]

This is OT and quite NASCAR, but when I perish I wanted to be buried in a Snap On tool chest. Custom blue would be nice.

That sounds alright, but I think I would prefer to be cremated and have my ashes dumped into whatever frame I am riding at the time and be placed on the fireplace mantle.:crazy2:

[Pete Hamer]

Thats what I thought.. All the Snap-on ones I've used have never had that feature. In fact, I dont' think you would find one that automatically recalibrates itself.

That was the point behind my question about calibration, accuracy and where you can have your torque wrench checked for a reasonable fee.

Good job! :fool:

[4Screws]

pete, you check this out?
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/fix/?id=torque

[Pete Hamer]

pete, you check this out?
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/fix/?id=torque

I hadn't seen that one yet. Thanks