Norbar torque wrench problem

[fizzy]

My lovely old Norbar torque wrench has gone faulty on me
It has a clear handle with a pointer type scale - you screw the end cap to adjust.
Goes up to 160 ftlbs.
I was removing a towbar - it clicked as I was undoing it on max torque but only just.
The pointer jumped down to zero and the end cap doesn't se3em to adjust anything any more. It was starting to feel a bit dodgy on the screw adjustment before this. Hardly ever gets used.
Any ideas? Maybe tighten something back up until it clicks so I can reset?
New ones are not cheap!

 

[rhubarb7]

It's knackered, time for a new one.

Don't ever use a torque wrench for loosening.

 

[mtt.tr]

Halfords torque wrenches are a good price plus are norbar.

I also like digital ones now, 5 saved settings means you can assemble multiple assemblies just switching between saved torque

 

[Pete.]

It's knackered, time for a new one.

Don't ever use a torque wrench for loosening.

I've heard this many times but I had one of mine apart. The torque setting worked equally well in either direction (remember, some fateners need torquing anti-clockwise) and once clicked - in either direction - the torque-sensing pawl is up against a hard stop and no amount of pulling would make any difference to the setting mechanism. Short of stripping the teeth from the pawl or ring wheel you could not do it any further harm.

I'm not saying that it's not true for some torque wrenches but it's certainly not a universal truth.

 

[Brad93]

Why use a torque wrench for undoing bolts? That's what a breaker bar is for

 

[winchman]

MHH engineering made that here they are now, they still repair them

Home - Gedore Torque

Gedore Torque, formally Torqueleader are a leading UK manufacturer of Industrial Torque Tools. We produce a high quality range of Torque Wrenches, Torque Screwdrivers and Torque Calibration Analysers.

gedore-torque.com

 

[rhubarb7]

I've heard this many times but I had one of mine apart. The torque setting worked equally well in either direction (remember, some fateners need torquing anti-clockwise) and once clicked - in either direction - the torque-sensing pawl is up against a hard stop and no amount of pulling would make any difference to the setting mechanism. Short of stripping the teeth from the pawl or ring wheel you could not do it any further harm.

I'm not saying that it's not true for some torque wrenches but it's certainly not a universal truth.

Yes mine works well in either direction for torqueing up, but I'd never use it for anything else other than that.

It's a Norbar, used it daily in my work for 12 years and it's now about 20 years old.

The correct tool for the job is a breaker bar, and they are only 20 to 30 pounds for a decent one.

 

[Pete.]

Yes mine works well in either direction for torqueing up, but I'd never use it for anything else other than that.

It's a Norbar, used it daily in my work for 12 years and it's now about 20 years old.

The correct tool for the job is a breaker bar, and they are only 20 to 30 pounds for a decent one.

I'm not arguing that it's not the correct tool - it certainly isn't. But "never ever" suggests under no circumstances, as if using it once will ruin it never to work properly again and that simply isn't true. If you need a bit of leverage an there's nothing else to hand, it might be your only option.

 

[8ob]

Bottom line here is throwing parts labour and recalibration into the mix it's probably going to be beyond economical repair.

Bob

 

[tigdlo]

It was starting to feel a bit dodgy on the screw adjustment before this.

Not much use as a torque wrench if there is no certainty of it's condition.

Needs taking apart, repairing then calibrating, probably not worth it. Even if you can somehow get it to appear to work again, how would you know it's accurate?

 

[Pete.]

I keep an un-used torque wrench for checking other torque wrenches against. it's about all the calibration I need I should think.

 

[fizzy]

Why use a torque wrench for undoing bolts? That's what a breaker bar is for

I have a halfords Pro and a snap on one. They both flex like hell not man enough. I suspect their name says it all

 

[fizzy]

I'm not arguing that it's not the correct tool - it certainly isn't. But "never ever" suggests under no circumstances, as if using it once will ruin it never to work properly again and that simply isn't true. If you need a bit of leverage an there's nothing else to hand, it might be your only option.

Definitely. My breaker bars are really flimsy and bend too much.
The Norbar has a push in bit of square bar. Pull out and flip over to reverse direction so the mechanism is obviously the same whichever way.

 

[fizzy]

Not much use as a torque wrench if there is no certainty of it's condition.

Needs taking apart, repairing then calibrating, probably not worth it. Even if you can somehow get it to appear to work again, how would you know it's accurate?

I assume its just a spring? Should be ok if the spring isn't broken?

 

[daleyd]

If it was flexing a breaker bar then I’d either look at a better breaker bar, or some other method (torque multiplier?) rather than using a torque wrench.

If needs must I guess, but then the outcome probably shouldn’t be overly surprising!

 

[fizzy]

If it was flexing a breaker bar then I’d either look at a better breaker bar, or some other method (torque multiplier?) rather than using a torque wrench.

If needs must I guess, but then the outcome probably shouldn’t be overly surprising!

Snap on and Halfords Pro are supposed to be quite good!
I find them very flimsy and you lose force by them flexing so much. Maybe I should modify a large crowbar

 

[daleyd]

Snap on and Halfords Pro are supposed to be quite good!
I find them very flimsy and you lose force by them flexing so much. Maybe I should modify a large crowbar

I’m not overly keen on the forked end type, my facom one has a sliding round head with a hole through - which seems a sturdier design. I’m not 100% sure it is really stronger but I’ve never broken it even with poles over the end.

Never mind, weld the head up on your torque wrench and you’ve got a perfect home made one now

 

[sako243]

I have a halfords Pro and a snap on one. They both flex like hell not man enough. I suspect their name says it all

I'm fairly sure I've put more abuse through my Halfords breaker bar than you Vince and not broken it yet. Yes it bends a little bit but if it bends it's less likely to snap (slightly). There may or may not have been a situation recently with a 24ft scaffolding pole on the end of it...

 

[fizzy]

I'm fairly sure I've put more abuse through my Halfords breaker bar than you Vince and not broken it yet. Yes it bends a little bit but if it bends it's less likely to snap (slightly). There may or may not have been a situation recently with a 24ft scaffolding pole on the end of it...

I have more weight to lean on it
Maybe that's the answer. Slip some tube over it you don't notice the flex

 

[Brad93]

I have a halfords Pro and a snap on one. They both flex like hell not man enough. I suspect their name says it all

So the bolt was flexing a breaker bar and you thought i'll use a torque wrench on it...