jmsheahan
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 682
Club RR Member Number: 121
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Recommend me a torque wrench?jmsheahan
@jmsheahan
Club Retro Rides Member 121
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Nov 11, 2020 12:34:09 GMT
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Hi all, I'm approaching some minor engine rebuild jobs that are going to require a decent torque wrench (40~200nm, headbolts etc). My choices in the garage are a mahoosive sledgehammer style one which is way overkill, or a cheapo one that hasn't been calibrated in years. so neither is any good for engine work. I don't have a fortune to spend but was looking for something around the £100 mark? My usual go-to is the Halfords pro range as I have a trade card and generally the tools are pretty good with a lifetime warranty. Then these digital style adapters caught my attention. Sceptical but the reviews seem quite promising? Any advice appreciated   |
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Last Edit: Nov 11, 2020 12:34:35 GMT by jmsheahan
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pow
Part of things
Posts: 110 
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Nov 11, 2020 13:16:57 GMT
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I've had to get two for that range, a 1/2 one that came from Lidl that is pretty damn good and then bought a 3/8 one for the lower number settings - Draper.
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Nov 11, 2020 16:18:31 GMT
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The Halfords ones are made by norbar in the UK. And norbar are now owned by snap-on.
That said I faced a similar dilemma to you on calibration, just pop an extension bar in a vice and makes sure the wrench is horizontal. with a bit of care you can check the calibration using some scales and a water container.
Tie a rope to the mid point of the hand grip then apply the load.
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Nov 11, 2020 19:02:14 GMT
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I bought Norbar ones from Toolstop recently, as they do a model above the highest halfords one, but if you don't need to go quite that high I'd get the Halfords one for ease of purchase and warranty
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melle
South West
It'll come out in the wash.
Posts: 1,984
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Nov 11, 2020 22:01:49 GMT
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www.saabv4.com'70 Saab 96 V4 "The Devil's Own V4" '77 Saab 95 V4 van conversion project '88 Saab 900i 8V
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jmsheahan
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 682
Club RR Member Number: 121
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Recommend me a torque wrench?jmsheahan
@jmsheahan
Club Retro Rides Member 121
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Nov 13, 2020 12:30:59 GMT
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I think I'll just plump for the Halfrauds one then. I don't trust myself calibrating the cheapo one I have haha.
Thanks for help everyone.
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ferny
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 984
Club RR Member Number: 13
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Recommend me a torque wrench?ferny
@ferny
Club Retro Rides Member 13
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Nov 13, 2020 18:35:06 GMT
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Any opinions on the digital adaptors? I've always been tempted by one as well.
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,194
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Recommend me a torque wrench?ChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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Halfords ones are good.
If you don't abuse them, they stay in spec as well. Mine are both still within tolerance amazingly!
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Make sure you wind the tension off the spring, always helps to elongate the lifespan. I've got a Magnusson one in 3/8" which is enough for 5-130NM, anything above that gets xbltorque applied.
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Last Edit: Nov 15, 2020 9:43:44 GMT by xbl
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glenanderson
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,109
Club RR Member Number: 64
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Recommend me a torque wrench?glenanderson
@glenanderson
Club Retro Rides Member 64
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Another vote for Norbar here. My 3/4” drive one is a Norbar and it came with a proper calibration certificate. My 1/2” is a Facom, and my 3/8” is a little break action Britool. Definitely worth spending a bit. If the Halfords ones are made by Norbar then they’ll be good.
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My worst worry about dying is my wife selling my stuff for what I told her it cost...
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Make sure you wind the tension off the spring, always helps to elongate the lifespan. I've got a Magnusson one in 3/8" which is enough for 5-130NM, anything above that gets xbltorque applied. better to rtfm actually, i have always done this but the norbar specifically states to leave it on 60nm on the 300/340 models. |
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melle
South West
It'll come out in the wash.
Posts: 1,984
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My 3/4” drive one is a Norbar and it came with a proper calibration certificate. Aldi ones apparently also come with a calibration certificate. |
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www.saabv4.com'70 Saab 96 V4 "The Devil's Own V4" '77 Saab 95 V4 van conversion project '88 Saab 900i 8V
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I have couple of spare Britool ones if you are still looking?
Norbar are also very good and been around a long time
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It will come in handy even if you never use it
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Nov 24, 2020 22:54:28 GMT
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I don't know about the digital adaptors but I've got a snap on digital wrench that can do angles, swap units at the drop of a hat and tell you what you actually just torqued something too after you gave it the last little tug.
I wouldn't go back to a clicker now.
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