I don't really know where to post this but, Im looking for a good torque wrench and looking to see what size would be good for use on engines, 3/8 or 1/2? I was thinking 1/2 was a little to big but have no idea. Also what brand have you guys found that is consistant? Thanks guys!!

 

depends on your application.

i use all three sizes personally.

1/4, 3/8, 1/2

snap on truly makes a great tq wrench

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MrJParks &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">depends on your application.

i use all three sizes personally.

1/4, 3/8, 1/2

snap on truly makes a great tq wrench</TD></TR></TABLE>

very true

I use 3/8" and 1/2" Craftsman Tq Wrenches

 

My 3/8 snap on does just about everything engine wise, I have the TQFR100B 26471

 

right on. i like to torque everything. lol

8mm and 10mm need love too. and that 3/8 wont be accurate to that small of a tq #

ie: oil pump, pick ups, pan, w pump etc etc.

 

haha, no but really I have 3/8 and 1/2....most of the 8mm and 10mm bolts are just hand tight

 

My good snap on one goes from 15ft/lbs to 100, I rarely come across anything under 15, anything over 100 I use a friends wrench that goes to 250, which is also rare.

 

I have a 3/8" dial indicator. I use this one for flywheel bolts and measuring turning torque when I rebuild transmissions. Then I have a click type and deflection type in 1/2". Deflection type is used for stretch bolts found on most German cars. This is because you can torque the bolt to a set torque, then hold it there and watch it go down as the bolt stretches. Click type is obviously for bolts that dont stretch ie. wheel lugs.

 

here is some advice for those of you just getting into needing torque wrenches:

if you dont torque many delicate things (ie 8-10mm bolts) and are only going to be using the torque wrench occasionally get a craftsman click type....they have actually been tested to hold thier torque specs better than snap-on or matcos (referring to the click type).

If you want something that can do smaller, inch-lb torques, and arent going to be using it that much, the smaller craftsman click types will work fine.

I have a large craftsman 1/2" click type for lugs and other large torques that arent extremely precise. I have a snap-on digital 3/8" torque wrench for building engines and doing other things needing a little more precision. The nice thing about the snap on is that you can choose between ft-lbs, in-lbs, and Nm (which comes in handy for german stuff, which many times require newton-meter torques).

The last torque wrench i have is an old snap-on dial type 1/4" for valve cover studs, cam tower bolts, etc.

I think that pretty much sums it up, but there are many opinions on torque wrenches, you just gotta find what works best for you.

 

Well we have 5 or 6 torque wrenches, Snap on and Craftsman brand and our snap-on dealer has a torque wrench tester on the truck so yours should too. Have all of your torque wrenches tested for accuracy

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by k24em2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

haha, no but really I have 3/8 and 1/2....most of the 8mm and 10mm bolts are just hand tight</TD></TR></TABLE>

2 clicks works everytime...........even with SPECIFIC CLEARENCES JK

1/2" and if it needs an adapter to 3/8" and an extension i just add 2-5 lbs for each adtional thing

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ninethree-civic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
1/2" and if it needs an adapter to 3/8" and an extension i just add 2-5 lbs for each adtional thing </TD></TR></TABLE>

This is wrong. You only need to change your torque value when you are an adapter that takes the socket off the perpendicular axis from the ratchet. You can even use something like a crow's foot if you place it at a 90 degree angle from the torque wrench handle. In other words, you can use 20ft of extensions and not need to change your torque setting on the torque wrench. I'm not sure if this is clear, but if it isn't I'll try looking for some pics to prove my point.

crow's foot for those who don't know what it is (and the picture explains my point):


BTW, the person in the image should have taken into account how much the crow's foot is lengthening the torque wrench since he is now going to apply more torque for any given value.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TurboSI56 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well we have 5 or 6 torque wrenches, Snap on and Craftsman brand and our snap-on dealer has a torque wrench tester on the truck so yours should too. Have all of your torque wrenches tested for accuracy </TD></TR></TABLE>

well i agree with this however, what i was referring to, is the time between needed calibrations

ie. the snap on may need to be recalibrated only after 75 uses where the craftsman may be after 100 uses (i was just using those numbers as examples...but you get the idea)

 

i have a snap on digital 3/8 with torque angle (use the most, great for doing head stuff), however i just bought a matco digital 1/2 for doing wheels and big stuff.

i'm a retard, so i like bells, lights and vibrators. its nice though having the vibration and/or lights, especailly if your working anywhere near a dyno that gets used a lot.

 

THis is a good thread cuz im looking into buying a new torque wrench for doing random things under the hood.

I was iffy about buying a craftsman at first, but it seems that they are still suitable for the job.

I used the digital matco 3/8" when building my friends motor, anything else seems like crap when im using it now.

 

I have used several different brands and several different types and the one I have pictured here is IMO by far the best I have ever used. You can get this exact same wrench from Snap-On but the wrench is really made by Precision instuments. I have both 3/8 and 1/2 inch. FYI the beam type Snap-On models are also made by Precision instruments. For engine assembly I dont care if it lights up, clicks, vibrates or what ever the expletive. I just want something that is very accurate.

You can find these wrenches http://www.toolsource.com for a bit cheaper than they have them on the Snap-on trucks.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PPLH8R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have used several different brands and several different types and the one I have pictured here is IMO by far the best I have ever used. You can get this exact same wrench from Snap-On but the wrench is really made by Precision instuments. I have both 3/8 and 1/2 inch. FYI the beam type Snap-On models are also made by Precision instruments. For engine assembly I dont care if it lights up, clicks, vibrates or what ever the expletive. I just want something that is very accurate.

You can find these wrenches http://www.toolsource.com for a bit cheaper than they have them on the Snap-on trucks.</TD></TR></TABLE>

that is exactly what my 1/4 drive snap on is...it seems good, i just need to get it checked for accuracy, as its been pretty used