[Vintage-race] Torque wrench recommendations?

[Carl McLelland]

I don't think it's covered since it has "moving parts". They won't replace
things like broken taps and dies either that have wear parts..

If you got 20 years out of ANY torque wrench you were lucky and lived on
borrowed time for a number of years.

If your highest torque value is 95# then I would recommend a 1/2" drive, 150#
wrench. I would not use it for value less than 50# or more than 100#. For
smaller torque values get a 3/8" drive torque wrench. Again, I recommend
staying within the middle third of the range for the best accuracy. And if you
are really serious about the small stuff, add a 1/4" drive "inch pound" torque
wrench to the toolbox.

If I were a Snap-On dealer I'd say get Snap-On. Same thing with Mac, Proto or
any other major toolmaker. I use a Craftsman click type. Just stay away from
Harbor Freight and the cheap ones. This is a precision tool; not just another
wrench thrown in the box. Lastly, whatever one you get, find out what your
machinists favorite "mouthwash" is (beer, booze, etc). Take your new wrench
down to him along with a modest supply of "mouthwash" and if he's any good at
all he will gladly calibrate the new wrench for you and recheck it
periodically.

I think Craftsman and others 'guarantee' accuracy within 5%. At 100 pounds
that's a range of 95# to 105#. That's not good enough for me... I want to know
(as an example) that 70# is really a reading of 68.... or 73... whatever.
Calibrating the wrench will enable you to be more accurate.

Carl    Lotus 61 FF
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: John.Desantis at Inficon.com
  To: vintage-race at autox.team.net
  Cc: vintage-race at autox.team.net ; vintage-race-bounces at autox.team.net
  Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 7:18 AM
  Subject: Re: [Vintage-race] Torque wrench recommendations?


  Sounds like the Craftsman served you well - why not get another.  I like
  mine as well.

  Are they covered by there lifetime tool guarantee?  Ya might get on for
  free.


  John DeSantis

  Rick Gurolnick <NeotoyRick at comcast.net>
  Subject
  [Vintage-race] Torque wrench recommendations?

  After 20+ years of tightening everything on a vintage racecar from
  head bolts to literally hundreds, if not thousands of brake bleeding
  accessed lug nuts, the end of my Craftsman Click type torque wrench
  broke off and went flying across the garage. An appropriately dramatic
  end to an incredible tool career.

  Any recommendations and/or links for a new updated torque wrench?
  Typical usage has been for the notorious 95 ft/lbs lug nuts.

  Thanks in advance,

  Rick Gurolnick