Torque Wrench recommendations

[MingtheMerciless]

My very old torque wrench is getting a bit tired, any recommendations for replacing it?

1/2 drive and must go up to at least 130Nm (rear spindle nut).

[cheb]

In what way tired? You can home calibrate them with a known weight, a ruler and a suitable length of string.

[KungFooBob]

<Thread Hijack>

What scale of torque wrench is best for bike stuff?

12-60
20-100
40-200
60-300

Or a combination of the above, would you just buy the 12-60 and the 60-300?

[MingtheMerciless]

In what way tired? You can home calibrate them with a known weight, a ruler and a suitable length of string.

At its higher torque settings (over 100Nm), it'll click to let you know that its hit the desired torque, then after you take the wrench off the bolt/nut, after a few seconds it clangs as the click resets itself rather than clicking off immediately you release the tightening pressure (it never used to do that).

[cheb]

Strip it down for cleaning and lubrication?

[Dodgy69]

I got this a few years back when I had to tackle the ktm rear axle nut. 60mm. Brilliant piece of kit.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174404463180

[MingtheMerciless]

Strip it down for cleaning and lubrication?

Ha ha , me and something with springs, that’s a recipe for a “sprang” fuckit moment!

[Mr. Dazzle]

What brand is the current one? Half decent ones can be rebuilt and reset by a man in a flat cap.

We used to use Norbar ones - they're dead good. Made in Banbury of all places. I have no idea how much they cost

[PitaNaanRoti]

Norbar or Teng

[v8-powered]

I'd normally say Norbar but we are having loads of problems with them in regards to quality and service support.

Just this morning I've came in to work and a big Norbar wrench that is only just over a week old has failed, thats 3 now away for repair and they take ages to turn around. A critical component within the mechanism is made of plastic, just not built to last anymore - perhaps sourcing components from overseas and quality has slipped?

I use a mixture of Snap-On and Britool at home and have all served well....

[Kneerly Down]

I got this a few years back when I had to tackle the ktm rear axle nut. 60mm. Brilliant piece of kit.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174404463180

That does look to be the exact same as the Halfords one...which is £84 with Trade Card.

[weeksy]

Just bought one of these for MTB



I'm not convinced my draper on is 100% accurate... so like to have a check.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

How would you know which one is right and which one is wrong?

And why have you resurrected a 2 year old thread?

[KungFooBob]

I bought one from lidl months ago for £20 and I still haven't used it.

I noticed my local one has them back in stock.

[weeksy]

How would you know which one is right and which one is wrong?

And why have you resurrected a 2 year old thread?

I suspect new ones are calibrated and come with a Cert of calibration

Where else was i supposed to put it other than a thread about torque wrenches ?

[KungFooBob]

Maybe the what new tools have you bought recently thread?

[v8-powered]

If you use them properly you'd calibrate with each use on a torque tester, boys at work do (should!) this at all times. Calibration on an adjustable tool is pretty pointless.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I see them as more of a rough guide than being very accurate, it's not as though anything most of us are using them for needs to be that accurate.

[cheb]

All you need is a known weight, a measuring stick and a firm place to clamp one of the wrench. A bit of maths and you're done.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Since the OP I've actually had Norbar in at work to torque ( ) about...well, doing bolts up

Chatting to the guy, found out they're owned by Snap On now. If you buy a Snap On, Halfords, Draper, Norbar or about a million other brands they're all actually Norbar. Either made directly by Norbar or "engineered" by 'em and made in a far east factory.

I see them as more of a rough guide than being very accurate, it's not as though anything most of us are using them for needs to be that accurate.

This, 100%.

Brand new known bolt in a brand new known hole with known lubricants done up under known method/conditions; yeah pretty good. The rest of the time they're +/-25% at best and more like +/- 50% on a gawd knows how old bolt/hole/wrench combination.

Indication at best. And as your man says, very unlikely to actually matter.