Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Torque Wrench

Being somewhat stupid and having a fairly non equiped garage, I am slowly trying to acquire the right tools to own. Recently I installed the gaiters and when putting the bike back together I needed a torque wrench which I did not posess. I managed to get the local bike shop to check my work afterwards and it was spot on. Anyway I would like to purchase one for myself but I am amazed at all the different ones available. Could someone experienced here advise me on which type or size I should buy?
Or do I need multiple ones in different sizes?

Ideally you should have 1/4,3/8, and 1/2 inch drive sizes ( Is that what you guys call the various drive sizes down there?) rated in (1/4 and 3/8)inch/pound and (3/8 and 1/2)foot/pound or in metric kc/cm or Nm respectively. Realistically, you should be able to do most anything to your bike with 1/4 and 3/8 drives just look at the torque range spec for the wrench. I'd recommend a look at the torque specs listed in the tech vault to get an idea of what sort of range you'll need. Don't buy the cheapest you can find but there's no need to break the bank either. I'm not familiar with Aussie tool brands or I'd recommend something more specific.
I have 1/4 and 3/8 beam type in/lb, kg/cm. They are old Honda dealer service tools, 30 + years old and S&K 3/8 and 1/2 micrometer style in ft/lbs, Nm.
Here a link to torque unit conversions. Handy info.
http://www.vcoa.org/700-900-faq/ImagesSpecialTools/TorqueSpecs.htm

I have a 3/8" drive deflecting beam type (invented by an Aussie, I believe) rated in inch pounds (kc/cm)




and a 1/2" drive click type in foot pounds (Nm).

Works for everything on my bike. You need the foot pounds for the biguns. Axles, sprockets, etc.
The inch pound for most everything else.

I like the beam type for smaller measurements as it starts at "0".

I have both like Bill but both mine are click. With the small click type you have to be sure it goes down far enough for doing the valve adjustment because some don't.

I have a KD brand (Lancaster, PA) that I bought 30 years ago. It is a deflecting beam type. Seems to work pretty well. It's a half inch drive, but I have some step down adapters to bring it down to 1/4, when I need to.

I remember from when I was in the Navy, there was a calculation you would use to to allow for extensions from the main drive.
In that case you could just lay a piece of transparent tape on the gauge, and mark the derived torque on that. Then just bring the needle up to that.
We only used the blade or the dial type wrenches when working on the birds. The mullahs above felt the click type were too hard to keep calibrated correctly.

But that was in the 70s. Things might have changed with them.

Ive got this one from Harbor Freight Tools:


Someday I'd like to get a digital torque wrench: