3/8" torque wrench for auto repair

[megafiddle]

Even an extension is not going to twist, not at 80 ft-lbs.

The problem is that it will try to tilt off axis. It is possible to support it so that
it remains on axis with the bolt.

[BogeyBass]

Dude if he is only going to 80lbs a adapter aint gonna change the readings much.
Gonna have to go way over 80 to worry about it.
Even if the dam thing was 5pounds off( which it never will)...oh boo hoo 75 instead of 80 or 85 instead of 80. I have worked at a calibration company and garbage tools usually are not that bad at all. Only the very high rated wrenches used in the aircraft industry is where bad things happen. ( i can tell you exactly which airlines not to fly with, ive tested all their garbage tools and many still insist on using them)

Old school cars hell 40 pounds will keep the dam tires on, Newer cars anything over 65pounds will keep em on. You only need to worry more about over torquing a single bolt and warping the disc brake rotors.
Just go in the normal star pattern in 25pound increments easy.

Most torque wrenches are going to be 1/2 so yes your going to need a adapter. just dont use a cheap adaptor because yes those pieces of junk will for sure twist and break.

Old craftsmen stuff you find at pawn shops, yes good old craftsman. New craftsmen stuff china junk, they just offer the same warranty because they can replace it again and again with the same junk.

Actually one of the best brands that does not break, and uses much better metal. Is the Husky brand sold at Kragen or Orielys. Laugh if you want but ive broken many craftsmen wrenches and striped many sockets and the huskys are still alive

A cheapo harbor freight is gonna keep your tires on.
and yes a cheap breaker bar at harbor freight will also make your life a lot easier.
Also if you want indestructible sockets, i just use the very very cheap black impact sockets from harbor freight. They hold up rather well actually. much cheaper than snap on

[1958Bassman]

Originally Posted by Unprofessional

Right. Adapters and extensions are two totally different animals. I thought we were talking about adapters.

We were talking about both but someone (me) just kept typing about extensions, anyway. Just washed my hands and couldn't do anything with them, I guess.

[1958Bassman]

Originally Posted by BogeyBass

Dude if he is only going to 80lbs a adapter aint gonna change the readings much.
Gonna have to go way over 80 to worry about it.
Even if the dam thing was 5pounds off( which it never will)...oh boo hoo 75 instead of 80 or 85 instead of 80. I have worked at a calibration company and garbage tools usually are not that bad at all. Only the very high rated wrenches used in the aircraft industry is where bad things happen. ( i can tell you exactly which airlines not to fly with, ive tested all their garbage tools and many still insist on using them)

Old school cars hell 40 pounds will keep the dam tires on, Newer cars anything over 65pounds will keep em on. You only need to worry more about over torquing a single bolt and warping the disc brake rotors.
Just go in the normal star pattern in 25pound increments easy.

Most torque wrenches are going to be 1/2 so yes your going to need a adapter. just dont use a cheap adaptor because yes those pieces of junk will for sure twist and break.

Old craftsmen stuff you find at pawn shops, yes good old craftsman. New craftsmen stuff china junk, they just offer the same warranty because they can replace it again and again with the same junk.

Actually one of the best brands that does not break, and uses much better metal. Is the Husky brand sold at Kragen or Orielys. Laugh if you want but ive broken many craftsmen wrenches and striped many sockets and the huskys are still alive

A cheapo harbor freight is gonna keep your tires on.
and yes a cheap breaker bar at harbor freight will also make your life a lot easier.
Also if you want indestructible sockets, i just use the very very cheap black impact sockets from harbor freight. They hold up rather well actually. much cheaper than snap on

I bought Snap-On tools when I did car audio because I got tired of the Craftsman stuff breaking and I don't abuse tools. Harbor Frieght wasn't in Milwaukee at the time, so that wasn't a good option. Flank-drive was still available only from Snap-On at the time, so I paid the price and I don't think it was much more than a year before the patents rant out and EVERYONE had it. The quality of the Snap-On tools is still better than the left over stuff I have- chrome doesn't peel, screwdriver tips don't break, ratchets don't freeze up and sockets don't deform/wear. Impact sockets that are used a lot more than others wear, but that's expected because the hardness is different but overall, the tools are still better. I have even used my 1/4" swivel-head ratchet under water and it has never caused a problem (I didn't have a choice- the boat was still in the water).

[megafiddle]

Originally Posted by megafiddle

Even an extension is not going to twist, not at 80 ft-lbs.

The problem is that it will try to tilt off axis. It is possible to support it so that
it remains on axis with the bolt.

Actually I failed to mention the more important point:

It's not going to matter if an extension or adaptor does twist. If the wrench is indicating
80 ft-lbs, there is 80 ft-lbs at the bolt end of the extension also. No torque is lost in any
twisting that may occur. Not even if it twists like a piece of wrought iron. As long as the
torque wrench drive remains on axis with the fastener axis, it will read the actual applied
fastener torque correctly.

What will happen if the extension twists, is that the wrench will have to rotate through
a larger angle to reach the same torque.

[Mike N]

Originally Posted by megafiddle

Actually I failed to mention the more important point:

It's not going to matter if an extension or adaptor does twist. If the wrench is indicating
80 ft-lbs, there is 80 ft-lbs at the bolt end of the extension also. No torque is lost in any
twisting that may occur. Not even if it twists like a piece of wrought iron. As long as the
torque wrench drive remains on axis with the fastener axis, it will read the actual applied
fastener torque correctly.

What will happen if the extension twists, is that the wrench will have to rotate through
a larger angle to reach the same torque.

Even if that's true I'd still avoid using an extension on a torque wrench if possible.

[megafiddle]

That's reasonable advice. Even with a standard wrench, the top end of the extension
needs to be supported. Some of the ways of doing this could interfere with the actual
applied torque if using a torque wrench.

[steamthief]

Originally Posted by BogeyBass

Dude if he is only going to 80lbs a adapter aint gonna change the readings much.
Gonna have to go way over 80 to worry about it.
Even if the dam thing was 5pounds off( which it never will)...oh boo hoo 75 instead of 80 or 85 instead of 80. I have worked at a calibration company and garbage tools usually are not that bad at all. Only the very high rated wrenches used in the aircraft industry is where bad things happen. ( i can tell you exactly which airlines not to fly with, ive tested all their garbage tools and many still insist on using them)

Old school cars hell 40 pounds will keep the dam tires on, Newer cars anything over 65pounds will keep em on. You only need to worry more about over torquing a single bolt and warping the disc brake rotors.
Just go in the normal star pattern in 25pound increments easy.

Most torque wrenches are going to be 1/2 so yes your going to need a adapter. just dont use a cheap adaptor because yes those pieces of junk will for sure twist and break.

Old craftsmen stuff you find at pawn shops, yes good old craftsman. New craftsmen stuff china junk, they just offer the same warranty because they can replace it again and again with the same junk.

Actually one of the best brands that does not break, and uses much better metal. Is the Husky brand sold at Kragen or Orielys. Laugh if you want but ive broken many craftsmen wrenches and striped many sockets and the huskys are still alive

A cheapo harbor freight is gonna keep your tires on.
and yes a cheap breaker bar at harbor freight will also make your life a lot easier.
Also if you want indestructible sockets, i just use the very very cheap black impact sockets from harbor freight. They hold up rather well actually. much cheaper than snap on

I ended up getting the 1/2" torque wrench and a black 1/2" 19mm socket strictly for lugs, as well as a 3/8" breaker bar yesterday at Harbor Freight. Out the door for twenty-two and change.

If the torque wrench works well, I'll probably go back and get the 3/8" version when the $9.99 coupon for it is published.