I need a Long Handle Torque Wrench

[Unholy707]

Here is my new $38 digital long handle 1/2 drive torque wrench. Even comes with a cert of calibration! Seems to work pretty good!

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So what's the error rate? That seems low

 

[2ndAmend]

So what's the error rate? That seems low

Not sure what you mean about error "rate". The cal slip, assuming it is not BS, shows the deviation at 3 points. If I had the ambition I could calculate a correction curve based on the 3-point calibration, but I'm not building nuke subs so I'll just have another beer instead!

For $38, a 50y old Craftsman ratchet, and a piece of tube, I think it solves the problem with honors!

On the other hand, who knows what it'll do in the future.. As long as my back is ok and my wheels don't fall off in the time I have left, it doesn't get any better!

 

[Jimmy N.]

Some things are indeed severely overrated.

After enough years on working on things (many/most?) people simply get a feel for what works and what doesn't. Yes, there are indeed places where torque values are critical, but lug nuts....?

With any vehicle that has ever been to a dealer or tire store it's anybody's guess how overstretched those studs have been. Heck, I've found everything between finger tight and over torqued on new vehicles.

 

[Unholy707]

Pull a few threads out of aluminum and you'll eventually learn when to stop turning 🤣

 

[Unholy707]

Most are plus/3 or 4 %. That seems insanely accurate

 

[2ndgen]

demonstrating good technique... cause if it works it works...

 

[2ndAmend]

Some things are indeed severely overrated.

After enough years on working on things (many/most?) people simply get a feel for what works and what doesn't. Yes, there are indeed places where torque values are critical, but lug nuts....?

With any vehicle that has ever been to a dealer or tire store it's anybody's guess how overstretched those studs have been. Heck, I've found everything between finger tight and over torqued on new vehicles.

I bought my first torque wrench about the time I bought my first HC. Before that, hit it with the 40y old HF impact and when you see the socket suddenly not turning quickly, done! Never had a loose wheel ever!

I learned that technique in my father's shop in the late 60's. Never had a wheel fall off then, ever!

But, I treat the HC differently. Especially when I approach 200! I use an entirely different technique now. Seems like the older you get, the more effort you make to not die!

 

[Jimmy N.]

There was a time when I could torque 1/2-inch lug nuts to within +/- 2 ft.-lbs. with my ratchet wrench, because I did it so often.

These days, with many different vehicles, I have to rely on torque wrenches. The 111 the 'Cat calls for is about the lowest value now. And in reality I go with 110 since there's no way to unstretch a fastener.

 

[The Englishman]

When I started messing around with cars in the mid ‘70’s we only ever used a torque wrench,borrowed from a mates dad,to tighten head bolts.

 

[DGatzby]

On those wheel lugs my #2 setting on the Milwaukee impact allowing 2-3 “taps” tight gets that sucker damn close to the 115-120 ft-lb I always check for especially when we road course it. Otherwise the few bolt/nuts I regularly touch; the brakes and front BMR sway bar, changes and maintenance respectively, my old right hand and my favorite 14” breaker are calibrated pretty damn good. About the only time I get out the smart bar is to check the wheel lugs.

 

[Jimmy N.]

Yep, setting 2 takes the flanged nuts on my Ram 3500 to just shy of the 130 it wants. That Milwaukee can be a real timesaver.

If I understand it correctly, the One Key 3/4" version I recently got can be programmed to provide max torque values, which would be great. One for the Ram, one for the RePete, one for the little 18' gooseneck, and one for the 35-footer.