[Shotimes] RE: (OT) Cheap Torque Wrenches

[Donald Mallinson]

I have a nice Sears torque wrench that I like very much. 
Click type.

After about a year it broke and I took it in, and 
complained, and even though they demonstrated to my 
satisfaction that the warranty was only 90 days, they 
replaced it!

Replacement has worked great for about four years or more now.

BTW, I ordered three of those cheap Harbor Freight ones, for 
Xmas gifts for the kids/grandkids.

Don Mallinson

Ron Porter wrote:
> Sounds like it has been reduced from the past. Anyway, the general consensus
> was not to get Sears torque wrenches.
> 
> Ron Porter 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Weinrich [mailto:stevwein@swbell.net] 
> Sent: Friday, October 03, 2003 7:22 PM
> To: Ron Porter; 'Shotimes'
> Subject: Re: [Shotimes] RE: (OT) Cheap Torque Wrenches
> 
> 
> Ron,
> 
> FYI
> 
> Craftsman TQ wrenches only have a NINETY (90) day warranty, not one year.
> 
> Steve "Part-timer at Sears Hardware" Weinrich
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ron Porter" <ronporter@prodigy.net>
> To: "'Rich Larsen'" <rlecads@xmission.com>; "'Shotimes'"
> <shotimes@autox.team.net>; "'V8List SHO'" <v8sho@v8sho.com>
> Sent: Friday, October 03, 2003 5:06 PM
> Subject: [Shotimes] RE: (OT) Cheap Torque Wrenches
> 
> 
> 
>>As the original poster said, and as I stated, we are using it for lug
> 
> nuts.
> 
>>In fact 99%+ of my torque wrench usage is for lug nuts. I have an older
>>beam-type that I have used for engine stuff for the last 30+ years.
>>
>>BTW, (there have been a bunch of interesting posts on the whole subject!!)
>>apart from getting click-type torque wrenches calibrated occasionally, the
>>procedure is supposed to be to set the wrench to it's lowest setting when
> 
> in
> 
>>storage, and not leave it at the last setting that you had used. This is
>>supposed to keep it calibrated longer by not stressing the internals.
> 
> Also,
> 
>>don't do things like remove bolts/nuts with the torque wrench
>>
>>Another interesting point is that Sears will recalibrate a wrench, but the
>>cost is virtually as high as getting a new wrench. Apparently the "trick"
> 
> is
> 
>>to return it to Sears before the 12-month warranty expires, and claim it
> 
> is
> 
>>"Out Of Calibration". This is supposed to be enough reason to justify an
>>exchange.
>>
>>Also, most wrenches are not supposed to be guaranteed accurate in the
> 
> lowest
> 
>>20% of their scales, so it is better to get a lower-scale wrench for lower
>>torque settings.
>>
>>Ron Porter
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Rich Larsen [mailto:rlecads@xmission.com]
>>Sent: Friday, October 03, 2003 5:53 PM
>>To: 'Ron Porter'; 'Shotimes'; 'V8List SHO'
>>Subject: RE: (OT) Cheap Torque Wrenches
>>
>>
>>I have this particular torque wrench because I figured it would be cheaper
>>than getting my old Craftsman recalibrated.  I soon learned the trade off
>>for the low price.  For torqueing lug nuts it should be fine, but forget
>>using it in the engine compartment.  It takes about a 45 degree swing to
> 
> get
> 
>>a click.  That might be a bit exaggerated but not by too far.
>>
>>Rich Larsen
>>Substation Designer
>>Engineering CAD Solutions, Inc.
>>801-561-3396
>>
>>
>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: Ron Porter [mailto:ronporter@prodigy.net]
>>>Sent: Friday, October 03, 2003 3:38 PM
>>>To: Shotimes; V8List SHO
>>>Subject: (OT) Cheap Torque Wrenches
>>>
>>>We have had a discussion of torque wrenches on the 911 for the last few
>>>days.
>>>
>>>Anyway, this guy mentioned the $10 Harbor Freight wrench below. Sounded
>>>great, and I ordered one for each car, just to use for lug nuts. If you
>>>enter the p/n online, you can see the picture & info, plus it's $19.99.
>>
> Do
> 
>>>as he says and "order from printed catalog", and it's $9.99!! For the
>>>catalog, enter as 239 - 3 - vga in the three p/n windows.
>>>
>>>Yes, it is a 1/2" drive, but it is good to 150 lbs/ft. They have a 3/8"
>>>drive for $17.99, but it's only good to 80 lbs/ft.
>>>
>>>Ron Porter
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: Kevin Schwall [mailto:kschwall@bellsouth.net]
>>>Sent: Friday, October 03, 2003 8:10 AM
>>>To: 911/993/996
>>>Subject: [911] Torque wrenches
>>>
>>>After reading a similar account regarding a very successful test of the
>>>Harbor Freight click-type torque wrench a year or so back, I picked one
>>
> up
> 
>>>for the princely sum of about $10.  For a ratcheting CLICK-type torque
>>>wrench!  Anyhow, while I haven't tested it against anything more precise
>>>than my old Craftsman beam-type torque wrench, it has done its job
>>>perfectly.  Fit and finish is not Snap-On quality, but for 1/20th the
>>>price
>>>it's a STEAL.  Disclaimer:  I use it for lug nuts, not commercial jet
>>>landing gear bolts.  For the latter I might go the Snap-On route.
>>>
>>>If you go to www.harborfreight.com and enter part number 239-3VGA in the
>>>"order from printed catalog" window, you'll get it for $9.99 now.
>>>
>>>Kevin
>>>$10 wrench, $60 lug nuts
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Shotimes mailing list
>>Shotimes@autox.team.net
>>http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Shotimes mailing list
> Shotimes@autox.team.net
> http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes
> 
> .