Torque Wrench

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by Hockeynut

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...

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]

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf

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

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 .

Have a look here 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]

Originally Posted by northwind

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.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

+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]

Originally Posted by northwind

...(big nuts). I have 2...

me too