Torque wrenches

kkelly77

Looking for some recommendations for a torque wrench capable of measuring tightening force for the likes of an axle nut. Up to 200Nm I think should do it.

dan_ep82

Depends on what you want to spend.

Aldi do some but they break after a few months.

The likes of the draper expert/teng tools/snap on would be the best but very expensive. Halfords probably do an in between

maidhc

dan_ep82 wrote: »

Aldi do some but they break after a few months.

Evidence of this? I have an Aldi one that I use regularly as a breaker bar and have swung off it and jumped on it. Great thing!!!

dan_ep82

maidhc wrote: »

Evidence of this? I have an Aldi one that I use regularly as a breaker bar and have swung off it and jumped on it. Great thing!!!

I've two of them at home. One took the knuckles off me on a wheel nut when the mechanism failed. The other was on a stubborn subframe bolt and took part of my poor elbow with it

mullingar

I found they break when they are used for as a breaking bar for torques >200Nm. Used correctly, the Aldi one will give years of service, especially with their 3 year warranty! (but the accuracy is debatable)

biko

The accuracy is good except for the range limits. Using them as breaker bars or wheel nuts is pushing them a bit too far. For other use, fine.

For OP probably not the best buy as he will use them for wheels.

jimgoose

I have one of these "Torq" brand 210Nm jobs - €41.10 from B&Q the last time I checked. Nice bit of kit, and excellent value:

Torq 1/2'' torque wrench - 42-210Nm

listermint

Why not use a breaker bar as a breaker bar ??

jimgoose

maidhc wrote: »

Evidence of this? I have an Aldi one that I use regularly as a breaker bar and have swung off it and jumped on it. Great thing!!!

Don't do that.

dan_ep82

mullingar wrote: »

I found they break when they are used for as a breaking bar for torques >200Nm. Used correctly, the Aldi one will give years of service, especially with their 3 year warranty! (but the accuracy is debatable)

Both times were well under 200Nm, wheel nuts only need to go to around half that.

* And honestly,if a torque wrench has debatable accuracy its not a torque wrench anymore,it becomes a breaker bar.

kkelly77

Here's the Halford's WRENCH.

Looks like it's a decent tool from the reviews and torque range.

Any reason to purchase a 3/4" over the 1/2"?

galwaytt

dan_ep82 wrote: »

I've two of them at home. One took the knuckles off me on a wheel nut when the mechanism failed. The other was on a stubborn subframe bolt and took part of my poor elbow with it

Why are you using a Torque wrench to open something, let alone a 'stubborn'/seized fastener ?

A torque wrench is a measuring instrument, and should be treated as such.

Fwiw, when LIDL did them first here, 10+ years ago, I bought one and tested on a torque calibration rig and ouside of the top & bottom 10%, it was no worse than any other wrench I had access to at the time: Norbar, Torqueleader, Gedore, Britool, Utica.

But using it as a breaker bar is guaranteed to fubar it anyway.

jimgoose

kkelly77 wrote: »

..Any reason to purchase a 3/4" over the 1/2"?

Not really, unless you're working on 'dozers. You'll find with the 1/2'' drive you have a much greater range of sockets/fasteners available to you, without futzing around with adapters. Plus, a 3/4'' drive wrench will be properly heavy.