$12 Harbor Freight torque wrench

berettafan · 06-12-2009, 02:55 PM

Picked one up today; 1/2" 10-150lbs or so. Thought it'd be nice for lug nuts as my fancy arsed Snap On digital torque wrench tops out at 100lbs.

Haven't tested it for accuracy but it surely is nice to have handy.

Also picked up a pair of galvenized steel (i know, heavy! but i won't use them much) pickup ramps for $49 so i can get the bike and possibly the lawn mower into the back of the truck every once in a great while.

Messy stores in depressing locations w/ lots of non-merikun junk but darned if HF doesn't serve a purpose.

cashflyer · 06-12-2009, 03:02 PM

I have a HF torque wrench. It works well as a hammer.

Skytrooper · Skytrooper's Garage

I see many skinned knuckles in your future.....

Seriously, I have worked with torque wrenches every day of my adult life (aircraft mechanic). You get what you pay for. I have seen these inexpensive torque wrenches strip their internal gear at the least opportune moment, leading to smashing your meathook against something you wouldn't consider punching. Save yourself the aggravation and buy a decent tool that will last. You own a Porsche for gods sake....money and price is a foregone conclusion.

berettafan · 06-12-2009, 03:09 PM

yikes, i'll certainly try not to put my hand in a position to smash into the concrete if she lets go!

i'd be curious to see somebody take one of these HF wrenches apart next to a Craftsman wrench.

i will be sure to post up if it gives up on me in the future.

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

I have two Craftsman torque wrenches. One has served me well (I think, I've never had its accuracy checked) for many years. The other broke after about the second go-around of tire rotation. Unfortunately, that was beyond the 1 year warranty. I now have a nice $70 paperweight.

Zeke · 06-12-2009, 03:44 PM

Since we are talking Craftsman, mine broke. I had the 3/8th model. My HF sees tire duty and that's it. I think it's accurate enough in the 100 ft lb range for lug nuts. I paid 2wice as much for the smaller 3/8ths Craftsman and I would never buy another Craftsman tool except for common hand tools. Seriously, HF is every bit as good. It's all Chinese junk anyway.

I have a 3/8ths beam torque wrench from before the Craftsman. It's worked for me for 30 years. That can't be a bad thing.

sailchef · sailchef's Garage

A few years ago I worked for two days with normal sized tools to break loose the wheel bearing nut on my 9000 SAAB, didn't budge.

I ordered the biggest torque wrench harbor freight had, about 4 feet long, 1 inch drive I believe, cheap , maybe $69.

Picked up the appropriate socket and walked out to the car with this puppy in hand.
I hooked her up, leaned on it a little, and the darn thing broke loose with hardly any preasure.
After wards I put the wrench up on my wall and its been there since. $69 well spent.

For those DIY once in a lifetime use kinda tools harbor freight is the place to go.

Now if you're a Pro I'd expect you to buy better costlier tools, for me I was in 7th heaven when a local HF opened up in Delaware.

TimT · 06-12-2009, 04:42 PM

Lug nuts on your 911? Spec is something like 95 ft/lbs..

Does another one of your vehicles have lug nuts with higher torque requirements?

berettafan · 06-12-2009, 04:54 PM

yup, spec is 94 IIRC. i have read these things are less accurate in the last x% of their range and figured for the outrageous money i spent on that thing (thinking engine rebuild one day) i'll get something cheap for lug nuts. saw the tech guys at pca autocross using the HF unit to check lugs and the lightbulb went off.

Sailchef the HF i went to today was in Dover. Been to the one in Christiana many times but that is a haul from OC. when my b.i.l. told me a HF opened in Dover i couldn't believe it!

Zeke · 06-12-2009, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimT

Lug nuts on your 911? Spec is something like 95 ft/lbs..

Does another one of your vehicles have lug nuts with higher torque requirements?

You talkin' to me?

I said "in the 100 ft lb range. That would be +- 5 lbs. Frankly, after reading here for 6 1/2 years about oil, no oil, anti seize, brake heat, etc., I don't worry a bit about 5 ft lbs.

VincentVega · 06-12-2009, 05:06 PM

Spec on my truck was over 100, but I let the impact do that job.

Spend a few extra dollars and get a nice torque wrench, something like a Precision Instruments. You'll have it forever.

I do however have the HF POS too, it's great for the track tool box.

berettafan · 06-12-2009, 05:09 PM

yes, mine will be going in my travel tool bag.

VaSteve · 06-12-2009, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Martin

I do however have the HF POS too, it's great for the track tool box.

Bu we never see you a the track.

Need to get off that boat thing!

sailchef · sailchef's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by berettafan

Sailchef the HF i went to today was in Dover. Been to the one in Christiana many times but that is a haul from OC. when my b.i.l. told me a HF opened in Dover i couldn't believe it!

Yep, Dover, thats the one. Christiana is a truck for tools. Been there once or twice, I've used the catalouge for 10 years, kinda cool to actually have a store to walk into.

For us lower slower Delaware types its like going to Graceland and seeing Elvis hanging on the wall.

I used to work in O.C. Maryland. 67th street.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

How about this one

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/TOOL/POR_TOOL_CAT198_pg2.htm

berettafan · 06-12-2009, 06:35 PM

Reflections?

TimT · 07:26 PM

My post was directed at the op.

Quote:

I don't worry a bit about 5 ft lbs.

I don't either... especially after watching the guys on the tech line get the wrench to click and continue to rotate the nut ...

All a click wrench tells you is that you have satisfied the torque requirement...

The wrench click will never tell you a fastener is tensioned to near failure. You could for example, torque a lug nut to say 500 ft/lbs... and "check" the torque with a click wrench set at 95 ft/lbs and everything would be peachy... The wheel stud may is probably about to fail... but the click wrench says its ok..

Glad I can self tech and not have the techies turn the lug nuts a quarter turn past the required torque..

Every time I change wheels.... or check or bleed brakes.. I do the following when I put the wheel back on...

rattle the lug nuts up with my impact until the nut turns maybe a quarter turn after it snugs up..

Lower the wheel onto the ground, and finish tensioning the wheel stud using the torque wrench @ 95 ft/lbs... if I wasn't distracted while using the impact.. the nut just starts to rotate then the wrench clicks..

LOL hows that for going off on a tangent...

TechnoViking · TechnoViking's Garage

Harbor Freight allows you to buy the same crappy Chinese quality of a Craftsman wrench at a fraction of the cost.

Since I was brought up using Craftsman, I now buy HF. They work fine until they break, and then I go buy another one. Never tried one of them fancy Snap-On types. Maybe after this recession....

Pazuzu · 06-12-2009, 08:30 PM

I have the 1/2 inch drive HF torque wrench. It's been quite good over several years.

He bought it for $12. I bought it on sale for $25. It used to go for $50. It's not crap. It came with an excellent blow-molded case, good instructions (in English), and has been quite stable when respected (you can tell when a wrench set for 75lbs is popping sooner...).

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Around our shop we have Snap-on, Armstrong, and Blackhawk torque wrenches. I prefer the Armstrongs for lugs as they are smaller. The Snap-on has a handle extension and will get 6ft long.

Check on Ebay. I think my dad only gave $40 for the Armstrongs.