Most things I read say to torque xxx to xxx ft pounds. So, looks like a torque wrench is the next purchase.<br><br>Suggestions? / Brands? / torque range of the tool / $$$$

 

Me too. I guess its about time to stop using the &quot;that's about right&quot; torque spec. : I've seen the kind with the pointer, and the ones with a ring that you twist to the setting. What should we look for?

 

I just have one of them 30.00 craftsman torque wrenches. Works great! But my dad picked up a new one down in FL, so I guess I get a new one next month when I go down! Not sure what kind that is?! ??? Max torque on it is like 160 or something... ;D<br><br>Tony

 

Don't buy the pointer type.<br>Get yourself the CLICK or RATCHET ( one in the same ) you can pick up a good one for a weekend mech. at sears for around $100. It will go to 250 lbs. and last you forever.<br> <br><br> : Eddie : 8)

 

[quote author=Gear Poet link=board=10;threadid=6022;start=0#54633 date=1034945512]<br><br><br>Of course, the real hassle is getting these things fitted onto the bolt when it's underneath the injector pump or the fuel filter housing, somewhere in the dark and beneath tangled lines. . . . :P<br><br>GP<br>[/quote]<br><br>Aw Shucks you just took all the fun out of it for all the newbies. ;D<br><br> : Eddie : 8)

 

Trust me. It ain't fun. You try tightening all of the banjo bolts down with a torque wrench on our engines. Talk about a major headache.

 

I've adopted Jetpilot's torque specs. GNT <br><br>Good N Tight ;D<br><br>But then I've spent a few years on the clean end of a wrench, so I've kinda developed the &quot;Calibrated Elbow&quot;.<br>Or maybe it was the &quot;old man&quot; joints causing my elbow to click at 50 ft lbs.

 

As bulthisl has already mentioned. Get the click type. That way you dont have to worry about reading the gauge type while your underneath your truck and the wrench is surrounded by all kinds of obstacles. Craftsman brand torque wrenches are okay. I prefer the non swivel head type. Snap-On, Mac, or S&amp;K. But, I make my living with my tools, so they have to be able to last a long time without any worries. But, for every now and then use, Craftsman is fine.<br>

 

I do use 3 sizes of torque wrenches- 1/4&quot;, 1/2&quot; and 1&quot;- the 1&quot; doesn't get to work on the truck. All of them came in a set of Stahlwille tools. The nice thing about it is that there is a calibration unit with them. This unit is a kind of lever with a weight . I found that many of the cheap torque wrenches were off about 30% on low settings - So if possible check the calibration. <br><br>AlpineRAM

 

Don't forget to have your torque wrenches calibrated annually!

 

Where and how do i calibrate a torque wrench?

 

Its easy- either you go to a good hardware store or any good garage where they have a test stand for the torque wrenches or you make the stand yourself.<br><br>You just need a nut (1/2&quot; for 1/2&quot; wrenches) some Iron bar, a bearing and some weight. Take an Iron bar lenght 2 feet and weld the nut on the center. Mount on a bearing. The arm should rotate freely. Place a weight on 1 arm and lift with torque wrench. If weight is 25 punds the torque wrench adjusted to 25 ft/lbs should click when the bar is coming up to horizontal position. <br><br>AlpineRAM

 

Couple of notes:<br><br>I havea craftsman click type. Its older, so this may not apply to the newer stuff. If I use it so the fastener is above (like main bearing cap installed in the car) the wrench, it won't click. Use it so the fastener is below the wrench (like a head bolt), and its accurate and clicks. Because of this I bought a Snap On click type. <br><br>Second, one person described a method for making a calibration tool. He mentioned a two foot long bar with a weight. Since the calibration should be in foot pounds, the weight should only be one foot from the centerline of the axis of the pivot point. The description left me thinking he had the weight two feet from the axis of the pivot. <br>

 

Max340- I said 2 ft iron bar, mount nut on the center. So the weight of the bar doesn't play because it's balanced. I do calibrate torque wrenches for as low as 2Nm .<br>AlpineRAM