Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Metric torque wrench

Anyone know where you can purchase a metric torque wrench at a reasonable price?

The Sears flex style reads both scales. I have the 3/8 and 1/2". For normal use, they work fine. I've used the 1/2" with an adaptor to tighten the front sprocket nut to 132 nm!

Same as ramsound. Got the Sears flex (beam) style and the 1/2" to 3/8" adapter and it reads both newton meters and foot Lbs. So much easier to use then the craftsman click type i have and never worked right anyways. Plus works from 0 Lbs unlike the other which won't read under 25 lbs where many if not most of our bolts are ! I think i paid $24.

Thanks a lot! I haven't seen any prices near that but I haven't been to Sears yet either!

I use the old fashioned, seat of the pants, method:

Tighten the bolt until it snaps off, then back off
a 1/4 turn.

But seriously folks, I did impulsively buy a Husky,
click type, torque wrench from home cheepo. When I
looked at it at home, I realised that it only reads
in ft/lbs, not n/m. I also have one of the bar type
deflection ones that has both scales.

What I need is a conversion table from n/m to ft/lbs,
so I can use the clicky one. Any ideas?

Uncle Charlie

look in the tech section and there is a complete list with both metric and sae. I've always had trouble reading the beam type wrenches..... old eyes....

Damn but I'm handy with this compyooter- http://mdmetric.com/tech/tech4/torqcalc3.htm
Cipher away, Mr. Man.

A torque wrench should be the one tool that you spend top dollar on, the extra money you spend will be justified by the fact that it will not stuff up and strip any bolts costing you $$$ to fix. I have a 3/8 Sidchrome beam type, it measures all scales that range from 4Nm to 120Nm. I use a 3/8 to 1/2 inch adaptor for the big stuff...

Unclecharlie, try this: http://outrun.com.au/Simple-Unit-Converter.html

Martin, & Chris,
Thanks for the links, just what I needed.

Warren,
Thanks also, I'll check it out.

Now I'll hafta go thru my manuals, and
write in the converted figures.

Uncle Charlie

I have a Husky big one that reads both... And a sears smaller one also reads both. Both are clicky kind.

Here's something I posted last year:

I finally bought a really nice Craftsman torque wrench from Sears (still have two other beam types). It's the 3/8" one that measures 5 to 80 ft/lb in .5 ft/lb increments. Has a matching Nm scale too. Cost me $75 on sale. Here's the numbers: Sears item #00944596000 Mfr. model #44596

The things that it cannot handle (insignificant considering what it CAN handle):

Ft/lb Item
--------------------------------------------
1.474 Handlebar switch retaining screws
2.211 Front brake caliper pad retaining pin plug
2.211 Front mudguard to bracket bolts
2.211 Airbox cover/airbox wiring cover
2.211 Rear light fixings
3.685 Warning light plinth to tank
3.685 Airbox mounting bolts
3.685 Brake caliper bleed nipple
3.685 Rear brake fluid reservoir mounting screw
3.685 Handlebar end weight screw
3.685 Rear light bracket to mudguard
3.685 Ignition switch screws
4.422 Oil pick-up strainer screws
4.422 Airbox mounting bolts
81.07 Swinging arm spindle nut
88.44 Alternator rotor bolts (M12 bolt)
97.284 Front sprocket nut

I already have a very good SAE torque wrench so I just penciled in the SAE values in my Haynes Manual next to the metric ones.

I looked all over for a low torque wrench. The only one I could find under about $175 was a Craftsman, click-type, for about $70. The beam types are great for the mid and larger torques, but there is not much to choose from for the small bolts/torques. I am very happy with this one, as I already had the Craftsman 3/8th and 1/2 inch beam torque wrenches. I was very concerned about stripping the smaller bolts in the aluminum engine. It would be a pain to try to fix them.

Spending top dollar for a torque wrench is the best way, but also having the wrench calibrated on a regular basis is also advisable. With the click type make sure that you return it to the zero mark when finished, leaving it set at a high setting can affect the calibration. I use my torque wrenches at work, and the company insist that they calibrate it every 12 months. A wrench used occasionally for my own home workshop use I would probably do every 24 months.

Cruser

Also make sure you use the formula for extensions when one is used. A six(6) inch extension can through your reading off.....Angelis

I use to do a lot of tranny work ( not you sick person you not that kind of tranny) and I used a TQ wrench on evry part during reassembly.. I have found that the best for the dollar low setting wrench is made by Snap-on.. Not cheap but well worth the money.. I have rebuilt over 200 tranny's and have yet to have one come back on a workmanship issue..

Mine is a 1/4 drive unit that reads inch pounds.. 12in pounds is equal to 1 foot pound so a little math is in order if your book does not give you a inch pound reading.