The other day I was torquing down a hub nut on a Ford to 200 ft lbs with a cheapo 3/8'' drive torque wrench. The wrench was actually very good for the price I paid, and it matched up to another craftsman wrench I had in accuracy.

So I'm pulling up on it and something inside the head of the ratchet broke loose. I guess I broke the gear cogs or something. I had to go to advance auto to pick up yet another cheapo 1/2'' drive torque wrench to finish the job, and this thing sucks.

I hate clicker torque wrenches. I want a deflecting beam torque wrench, preferably a 3/4'' drive. I can't find one anywhere. Do they exist?

I am also looking at this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-qua...7-001b2166c62d

Any input?

 

200ft lbs with a HF tool.......

i buy alot from there. a few things i had very disapointing days with....
i bet it would snap like a ****....

 

HF tools are junk!

 

200ft-lbs with a 3/8" drive? Thats probably not a great idea.

Neither is buying cheap torque wrenches.

 

Yeah, it is... I don't know why, but most 1/2'' drives tap out at 150 ft lbs... and Ford hub nuts are 170 ft lbs and up. The only torque wrench I could find that went above 150 was a 3/8''. It doesn't make any sense. But I think I'm going to try out the 3/4'' this time.

 

Where are you shopping? I have a Craftsman 1/2" drive that goes up to 250ft-lbs and I only paid about $100 for it at Sears.