Torque Wrench?

[steviec_lj]

Whilst on with upgrading and replacing worn front suspension parts on my ‘93 Pajero I have discovered that my Britool Torque Wrench doesn’t cover what I need.

The 1/2” goes to around 68Nm which is a long way short of the 150Nm the bottom pivot bolt wants. The 3/8” will probably go to about 45Nm.

So, I’m on the hunt for something with a little more grunt. 1/2” preferred, maybe a 3/4” too. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Getting a fair bit of Agricultural to sort out too, so I’ll be needing the grunt for that too.

 

[Ashley Burton]

I've had a Halfords one for many years which has been good. All depends on how often your going to use it & how much you want to spend

 

[dcocks]

I have a couple of Halfords ones
the big one 60 - 300 N.m and the small one 12 - 60 N.m pretty much covers all I need used most week will last for ever if you back them off after use

 

[Hitch]

Are you sure, 68 sounds very low for a 1/2" wrench...
Ive got a Draper one i use occasionally, goes to 210NM i think, 1/2" drive. Had it years, not been calibrated for a long timemind, so not sure how accurate it is nowadays.

 

[anto44]

I have a snap on half inch, 70 to 350nm, have it about 6 years now and it's tested for calibration every 6 months never a problem. Was only tested during the week.
Dogs paw for scale.

 

[Justme]

Youngest bought me this for Christmas

140-980nm range

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-4-Revesrible-Commercial-Torque-Wrench-140NM-980NM-Van-Truck-Tractor-HGV/162981133700?hash=item25f26ebd84:g:mnIAAOSwv7ZaxOQW:rk:3f:0&fbclid=IwAR0zhMBX1Vinkjo6bQCHk6xc478dIdzhmGqDPmB2zblztl7F1rmMISJYXSM

 

[Hog-Rider]

I needed one so I could tighten up my new rear Hub Nuts on my Transit which needed 300Nm,I went into Halfords, I said I need a T/W that goes up to or beyond 300Nm the young female staff took me to the area and said here you are Sir £100 I said thanks paid and left. Now I have 3,, a 3/8 a 1/2 both did not get anywhere near the settings I wanted. And now my new one.

 

[Jlg]

Get a half inch drive teng not overly expensive but very accurate and a lifetime garantee

 

[Justme]

much over 300nm & 1/2" will shear off.

 

[daleyd]

much over 300nm & 1/2" will shear off.

You can get 1/2” to go higher than 300nm...

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/laser-torque-wrench-12d-80-400nm/

 

[mr haynes]

I always preferred 3/4 drive when it comes to hub nuts, lost far too much skin over the years

 

[earthman]

much over 300nm & 1/2" will shear off.

You can get 1/2” to go higher than 300nm...

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/laser-torque-wrench-12d-80-400nm/

100Nm seems a big difference, is 400Nm the very max/fingers crossed that it doesn't shear moment?

 

[daleyd]

100Nm seems a big difference, is 400Nm the very max/fingers crossed that it doesn't shear moment?

400nm is what that is rated up to, so you’d think there should be some safety margin above that - I can’t imagine they would make something that would fail at 401nm. I think I’d probably go for a 3/4 inch model once you get up to those figures though

 

[anto44]

Had the square drive of a torque wrench snap off in the socket up around 350nm, nearly hospitalized myself when it happened.

 

[steviec_lj]

I’ll probably end up getting both 1/2” and 3/4” at the same time. I just can’t believe how ridiculously low the limit on my current Britool 1/2” one is. I’m sure I had a “better” one, but for the life of me can’t find it, doubt I’ve lent it out either, I don’t do daft things like that.

On a side note, I’ve had a 1/2” breaker bar snap the knuckle off at an extremely low abuse rate. I’ve split 3/4” sockets at 250Nm too.

 

[steviec_lj]

You can get 1/2” to go higher than 300nm...

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/laser-torque-wrench-12d-80-400nm/

+/- 4% too!!

 

[addjunkie]

Think with those high torques Id be steering clear of the lowcost brands and going norbar, or a premium brand.

 

[jerrytug]

I once made a bar, same length as a torque wrench (which didnt go up to the torque I needed.)

One end had a 1/2" square hole, to insert the t/wrench. The other end had a 1/2" square bar, to engage in the socket. Welded from broken tools etc.
The theory was that doubling the length, would double the torque which had been set on the torque wrench.
Thus double at the nut to be tightened. That was my cunning theory.

It caused endless discussion ranging from 'how could it not work, double length must = double torque, simples' , all the way to " it can not possibly work, it's dangerous" etc.

I'm sure the nut didnt come undone..but I still don't know the rights and wrongs of it, fries my brain a bit

 

[Justme]

You can get 1/2” to go higher than 300nm...

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/laser-torque-wrench-12d-80-400nm/

My mistake 300ftlb not nm.

Most break just over 300ftlb.