Torque Wrench

[Splosh]

Hey Peeps....

Need to start saving money, so thinking of buying a torque wrench to assist in the maintainance of my beloved SV650s!!!!;)

Can anyone reccommend a good one? Not too pricey please..

Jon

[Mike2165]

Got one from screwfix that seems to do the job ok

[the_lone_wolf]

halfords professional ones are meant to be good, i have the 8-60Nm and 40-200Nm versions and they've both been used to save me overtightening bolts (which i would certainly have done had i not been using the torque wrench)

[Luckypants]

halfords professional ones are meant to be good, i have the 8-60Nm and 40-200Nm versions and they've both been used to save me overtightening bolts (which i would certainly have done had i not been using the torque wrench)

+1 on the Halfords Professional ones, seem good enough for the home mechanic.

Be sure to use it correctly as I stripped the threads from my alloy gearbox on a cage despite using a torque wrench. User error is the mother of all screw ups.

[Hockeynut]

Does anyone know which rating ones are needed for use on a a 2000 curvey?

[the_lone_wolf]

Does anyone know which rating ones are needed for use on a a 2000 curvey?
you should be able to do everything with an 8-60Nm and a 40-200Nm

[Hockeynut]

Hm, so I need 2? :P

I got bought this one for xmas (along with a socket set), not sure if it's right yet though.
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7013887/Trail/searchtext%3ETORQUE+WRENCH.htm
Operating range 28 to 210 Newton metres.

[the_lone_wolf]

yes, you can't buy a wrench that'll be accurate for all the bolts on your bike

even the 2 i have say to try and use them from 25-75% of their quoted range for maximum accuracy

[jambo]

Yep, but the smaller of the 2 ranges is the most important, you're unlikely to over torque an axel nut with a standard socket, but it's dead easy to shear a little bolt ;)

[Hockeynut]

Damn, so the one I have only does the upper range? :(


http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7013887/Trail/searchtext%3ETORQUE+WRENCH.htm
Operating range 28 to 210 Newton metres.

[the_lone_wolf]

Damn, so the one I have only does the upper range? :(
tbh, i wouldn't trust a £15 torque wrench to be accurate at any part of it's range, it's about the only tool that people recommend you spend as much as you can afford...

[Hockeynut]

Damn, Dad bought it me at xmas, might feel bad telling him to return it as it's crap. :(
But in theory, that range should do the upper end anyway. :) I'll just tell him I need one that does the lower part. (Afaik Argos don't do one in tht range. ;))

[jambo]

tbh, i wouldn't trust a £15 torque wrench to be accurate at any part of it's range, it's about the only tool that people recommend you spend as much as you can afford...

It looks a lot like the one I was given for free, I trust it for the heavy stuff, if a 110Nm nut is done up to 95 or 125 it'll be fine. But I would want to spend more on the lower torque values one.


Jambo

[Ceri JC]

The 8-60 and 40-200 Halfords pro ones are really nice. Between them, they've covered all settings I've come across so far on the SV.

[yorkie_chris]

Draper expert IMO.

Got one from them and it does the job, seems well put together, smooth adjustment unlike the cheapos.

It's a 3/8ths drive one so it does the lower ranges, and isn't too big and bulky to use on cam caps and such.

[embee]

I've checked a couple of cheaper ones in th epast and they aren't all that bad.
Top notch ones will be certified to 2 or 3% accuracy, the worst I saw was about 10% over-reading at most, generally around 5% optimistic (i.e. the scale showed a higher figure than the wrench clicked at, which is the generally safer direction).

10% might sound a lot but if it's actually 22.5Nm when it ought to be 25Nm it's not going to make any difference in most instances, unless you intend to do big-end bolts etc.

Best cheap ones are Draper IMO, you can get a 10-80Nm 3/8" drive one for around £20. As an example, look here (http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Tool-Shop/3-8-Drive-Torque-Wrenches-Tools).

Have a look here (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/59647/torque_wrenches.html) too.

[northwind]

That Argos one is, I think, the exact same as the Machine Mart one... It's OK, overreads a wee bit compared to the identically sized Teng one I compared it with but it's perfectly good for the job (big nuts). I have 2, I use the other one as an oversized ratchet/breaker bar.

I've got one of the Halfords ones for light work... Seems decent enough, and it's nice to use. Don't use one as an alternative for brains though.

[yorkie_chris]

Don't use one as an alternative for brains though.

+1 just because haynes specify a torque it doesn't mean that bolt will hold that torque.

[lukemillar]

+1 just because haynes specify a torque it doesn't mean that bolt will hold that torque.

Eh? How can following a the torque values in a Haynes book be a bad thing? I'd rather go by that, than a completely uninformed 'Ooo that feels about right!'

I think if people shear bolts after following specified torque settings then it is due to them over-tightening (you can still tighten with a torque wrench after it clicks) rather than the wrench being out or the book being wrong.

I know there have been genuine errors in haynes books with regards to torque settings, but generally they're pretty good. I have yet to shear a bolt anyway, following them.

[the_lone_wolf]

...(big nuts). I have 2...
me too;)

[Spanner Man]

halfords professional ones are meant to be good, i have the 8-60Nm and 40-200Nm versions and they've both been used to save me overtightening bolts (which i would certainly have done had i not been using the torque wrench)

Morning all.

I second that! You definitely need at least 2 wrenches to cover all the fasteners on your bike.

Halfords pro are pretty good. Alternatively, Draper Expert, & Laser make good alternatives. If you wish to spend a little more, Teng Tools make very good quality Torque wrenches.

Cheers.

[the_lone_wolf]

Morning all.

I second that! You definitely need at least 2 wrenches to cover all the fasteners on your bike.

Halfords pro are pretty good. Alternatively, Draper Expert, & Laser make good alternatives. If you wish to spend a little more, Teng Tools make very good quality Torque wrenches.

Cheers.
hey spanner man, while you're on here talking about tools, i need to start a tool set from scratch, i already have the 150pc socket set and the two torque wrenches but as i'm about to go and dismantle the carb on the drz i need to get hold of screwdrivers and pliers and the like (don't ask why this house doesn't have any, long story) - any brands you'd recommend or not?

[Spanner Man]

Morning all.

When it comes to tools it pays to buy from the 'professional' ranges that the like of Halfords, Draper etc do. They're affordable, & of reasonable quality.

Bikes use Phillips screws, & not Pozi-driv. You need numbers 1,2,& 3 Phillips to cover all the screws you're likely to come across. Of course you end up needing a variety of lengths in each size, but to start I would suggest blades of 3 to 6 inches in length would be adequate for most tasks. With the longer blades for the larger sizes of screw.

Cheers.