Torque Wrench Questions

[jcrawford]

Hello Everyone,

I just put in an order for my service manual and the torque wrench that I bought last time was not only HUGE but defective so I have trashed it.

I am looking to buy another torque wrench and had a few questions. Do you guys know of one that is the proper size for motorcycles? I went to pep boys and all they had were like 18" large torque wrenches.

I also took a trip to home depot and they only had large one's as well. I was also asking the tool area employee if they made an electric torque wrench where you could adjust the torque and he was not aware of any.

Is a powered torque wrench a bad idea? If so please explain why rather than just saying it's another shitty thing coming out of my brain as I would like to know why.

I have to go over my bike and make sure EVERY bolt is tight to spec because last Thursday when I was headed to Pigman's house to do my oil change my bar end just fell out of the bike. The bike only has about 800 miles on it and after contacting Suzuki and the dealer I am told by Suzuki that it is not their responsibility nor the dealers. However I was able to persuade the dealer into doing a warranty claim and Suzuki was OK with that being that the dealer pushed it through.

Once the bar end fell out the grip just slid off the clip-on (not all the way but 3/4 and enough to make me say WTF and pull the bike back up from the lean.

I just want to go over everything and make sure it is tightened to spec because obviously if things are falling off they need tightening

Appreciate any information, advice, feedback you guys could provide on this.

[Dip Dungles]

You would need two versions. The electric are nice but too expensive in my eyes. I have one that ranges from 5 ft lbs to around 60 ft lb if I remember correctly. The other one is for bigger jobs that has a range of 20-150 ft lb. That way you can get almost any bolt on without having to worry about snapping anything. Beware of red loctite.

[OreoGaborio]

I found an electronic wrench that goes from somethin like 10ft/lbs to 100ft/lbs on sale for a great deal... lemme see if I can get a link. Should cover you for all critical bits.

[Kazinator]

In the market for a torque wrench also

[FalArAk]

Get a 3/8" drive 5-75lbs wrench,90% of your bolts require torque under 50 lbs..The only bolt where you need a 1/2" drive is the axle nut,and on my bike is around 75lbs.Just get a 3/8-1/2" adapter.Obviously check your manual for proper torque specs.I would stay away from the digital ones unless it's an upper end one,get a manual one.

In the world of torque wrenches,you get what you pay for...So if proper torque is important to you,don't cheap out.

[jcrawford]

I found an electronic wrench that goes from somethin like 10ft/lbs to 100ft/lbs on sale for a great deal... lemme see if I can get a link. Should cover you for all critical bits.

Appreciated... That's what I have been searching for and all I can find are extremely high torque such as 100-2000 ft lbs.

[DucDave]

Other that HD and Pep boys, anyone have any opinion about Craftsmen? I have one...works good...as far as I know!

Oh...and I don't know if all Torque Wrenches have both Foot Pounds and Newton Meters....but mine does...and I use the NM more than the FP...

[The Snowman]

Search is your friend:

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...-wrenches.html

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...-wrenches.html

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...ue-wrench.html

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...-wrenches.html

[OreoGaborio]

I was just about to post a link to my thread.


Found the one I got, but it's no longer available.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...rfno=200365177
Try googling for that make/model. Might be able to find it elsewhere.

I've purchased from this site a few times. Good source for tools.
Example: Here's the same one I got but in a 1/2 inch drive version for a mere 50 bucks Same exact wrench as other makes but under a different name.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5178_200365178

[DucDave]

Appreciated... That's what I have been searching for and all I can find are extremely high torque such as 100-2000 ft lbs.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/PRO...e-Wrench-1ARR7

[DucDave]

see...all you have to do is ask a simple question about a tool and everyone becomes all helpful!!!

[The Snowman]

Other that HD and Pep boys, anyone have any opinion about Craftsmen? I have one...works good...as far as I know!

Oh...and I don't know if all Torque Wrenches have both Foot Pounds and Newton Meters....but mine does...and I use the NM more than the FP...

I have a Craftsman 3/8" drive 10-80#ft click type and it works very well. I've had it for a few years and haven't had any issues with it.

[jcrawford]

I was just about to post a link to my thread.


Found the one I got, but it's no longer available.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...rfno=200365177
I've purchased from this site a few times. Good source for tools.

Try googling for that make/model. Might be able to find it elsewhere.

Thanks I will search around. Looks like the just changed the part #: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5178_200365178 incremented it by one so probably a replacement model.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/PRO...e-Wrench-1ARR7

LOL that's the same cost as a used bike

[OreoGaborio]

Thanks I will search around. Looks like the just changed the part #: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5178_200365178 incremented it by one so probably a replacement model.

That's a 1/2 inch drive. Mine's 3/8ths.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/PRO...e-Wrench-1ARR7

HA! 40lb increments.

[jcrawford]

Wow they add some electronics (not even electric powered) and the price of the tool goes from 50-80 to .....

http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_101...1&blockType=L1

what a joke there Also reviews say stay away from it.

[OreoGaborio]

It's not electric powered because torque wrenches aren't used to put the bolt ON or take it OFF, they're used to torque it.

Use a regular wrench, socket, airgun or whatever to put the bolt on or take it off... Then use your torque wrench to get it to spec.

[jcrawford]

yea I think I am going to go look at the stores and pick one up today rather than dealing with online.

I thought craftsman hand tools were guaranteed for life, sounds to me like people are having trouble with the electric torque wrench above according to the reviews.

[OreoGaborio]

They are guaranteed for life, but Craftsman has kinda gone downhill. Still good quality, but a lot of people feel it's a little overpriced for what you get these days.


I bought that 100 dollar electric version because it covers the whole range I needed, was cheap and I don't need surgical precision.

[aldend123]

yea I think I am going to go look at the stores and pick one up today rather than dealing with online.

I thought craftsman hand tools were guaranteed for life, sounds to me like people are having trouble with the electric torque wrench above according to the reviews.

Most of their hand tools are, but pretty sure they have some exceptions.

Don't worry about all these fancy 'features' like electric display. It really doesn't matter. Just get one that works. And, thinking about the way an electronic one would work, I'd think the traditional style ones are going to be less likely to fail.

[jcrawford]

Most of their hand tools are, but pretty sure they have some exceptions.

Don't worry about all these fancy 'features' like electric display. It really doesn't matter. Just get one that works. And, thinking about the way an electronic one would work, I'd think the traditional style ones are going to be less likely to fail.

yea same thoughts, I won't be throwing that much coin at a torque wrench anyway. I know someone above said not to cheap out on them but with the reviews on that $200+ is way too much for me I will go compare some at the store today and pick one up.

3/8 is the suggested size right? 1/2 in would be overkill?

[Dip Dungles]

Yes 3/8 is good for what you want except for the axle bolt. That needs to be torqued to around 70-80 if I remember correctly. I don't feel comfortable torquing something down that tight with a 3/8. Other people may feel differently though.

[Rambunctous]

Wow they add some electronics (not even electric powered) and the price of the tool goes from 50-80 to .....

http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_101...1&blockType=L1

what a joke there Also reviews say stay away from it.

I have this same tool in the 15-200 foot pound range. I will sell it for $100. Its in nice shape. At the track I sometimes can't hear it beep and outside in the sun its tough to read. I wanna replace it with a Craftsman clicker.

[Evadd]

both my torque wrenches are Craftsman; one is the ratchet-type, and one is the cheaper beam-type (i bought that one first, but almost always use the ratchet one now). i've had them both for years without a problem; no digital display on either. they're also both 1/2" drive. if i need to do something smaller, i just put on a 1/2" to 3/8" adapter. i don't do much in the way of torquing tiny bolts, so they work out just fine, and will still work on the smaller brake caliper bolts without going to bottom of their range. most of the 3/8" drive ones i've seen don't go above 80 ft-lbs, which isn't enough for my rear axle. from what i've been taught, you don't want to be using a torque wrench at the limit of its capability b/c it's less accurate at its extremes and you can cause it to more quickly go out of spec.

if i'm not mistaken, JC was looking for an electric-powered torque wrench where he could push a button and it would tighten a bolt to spec, not just one with a digital display. IMO, that's way overkill, and will cost you a lot more than the $200 you already don't want to spend. for the occasional bolt on a bike, i see zero reason for it.

[Rambunctous]

Yes 3/8 is good for what you want except for the axle bolt. That needs to be torqued to around 70-80 if I remember correctly. I don't feel comfortable torquing something down that tight with a 3/8. Other people may feel differently though.

Your right I do feel differently. I always use the smallest wrench for the job for more accuracy. For instance I use the 1/4 drive torque wrench when doing my sparkplugs. Its in inch pounds so I multiply 12(inch) X 14 (required foot lbs). With a 3% accuracy rating plus the safety factor I go this route. My axle bolts only require 58 ft lbs though but even if it was higher I would still use the 3/8. Though sometimes during raceday I use the 1/2 torque wrench because I can feel it click.

[Trouble]

Craftsman torque wrenches only have a 1 year from date of purchase warranty unless it's the beam type.