I know I'm going to be jumped for this, but...... the ones that Harbor Freight work like their supposed to work, every time.
Best part, you can buy a 1/4 in drive, a 3/8 in drive and a 1/2 in drive torque wrench from HF for the same price that you will pay for a "Name" brand torque wrench!

 

Good tools aren't cheap and cheap tools are no good!Harbor freight chinese junk especially.

 

I'm not much of a torque wrench user so didn't want to pay much. Went with Pittsburgh Pro 1/2" drive first, probably from Harbor Freight, and later a Tekton 3/8" I ordered from Amazon when I needed to use inch pounds (goes up to 960 in-lbs, or 80 ft-lbs). I've used it on my Scout's rear wheel axle at 65 ft-lbs.

I didn't get the "click" type wrenches until I added a trailer hitch to my pickup truck 10 years ago. Only had a "beam" type wrench before that, dating back to the time I rebuilt my car engine 35 years ago. It's still someplace around here (wrench, not car).

You should probably get the size you need most, if only one, and consider you will probably need to do some math on the foot-pounds scale for inch-pounds. Or vice versa. I haven't seen a torque wrench with both scales, but maybe they exist. Of course there's always Nm which I think is on every torque wrench, I've just avoided using the metric numbers somehow.

 

Like RB I'm probably going to get smacked for this but I also like HF tools. For your need specifically, if you already have 1/2in drive sockets this might work for you. 1/2 in. Drive Digital Torque Adapter

 

Harborfreight tools are all I buy anymore,if it says snap on or proto,they grow legs and run off.maybe those gremlins grab them.so it's best to have a inexpensive tool then none at all.some of my favorite wrenches I'll soak in muratic acid to take the chrome off and rust up,then when people pick up my wrenches they give then back lol

 

Despite the hate for Harbor Freight, I agree with Ron. A lot of other tool companies are putting out tools that are made in the same factories on the Asian Rim that Harbor Freight tools are. Hitachi is a good example, also Grizzly, some Jet tools, and a lot of hand tools. While I was stationed in China for the furniture industry, I went to a town one weekend that sold tools in a huge fair-like building. Fun trip if you're into tools. One factory had Harbor Freight and Husky side by side at their booth, made on the same line, by the same people, cause I had my interpreter ask.

Good example: My neighbor had this John Deere tractor they use to mow the lawns of the apartments they own around me. They take care of their tools, so they had the blades changed every year. Not sharpened, changed out. They took it to a local Deere to have the blades put on. After about two hours, one came loose.
They brought it to me, knowing I did a lot of around the house repairs. I put on the blades to the proper spec, using my Harbor Freight 1/2" torque wrench. After reattaching the one that came loose, I checked the one that was still tight, and found that it was about 20 lbs under. Did the Deere mechanic use a HF tool? I doubt it, but in any case, his was off, mine was on. They never came loose again until they took them off to replace them the next year, by me.
And they mow about 20 hours a week or more for about nine months of the year down here.

 

Once you decide what/where to buy, you will need "inch lb" and "foot lb" torque wrenches.

 

I've had good luck with my craftsman

 

Now available Lowe's

 

Is there any way to calibrate a tq. wrench? I have a clicker that I've had for prolly 25 years and don't know if I trust its accuracy any more.

As far as a HF tq wrench goes (or the one I have now), if I need to put a steel bolt into an aluminum engine block or other part, I wanna know that the wrench is reading or clicking close to what it's set to.

 

They can be calibrated, the trick is finding someone to do it. Used to be there were calibration services in every city, now not so much. Seems folks just replace things now. Most Snap-On dealers will send torque wrenches out to get calibrated, but some only do their own products. Best thing to do is ask around locally and do a web search for torque wrench calibration. Good luck!!

 

How to Calibrate a Torque Wrench

 

How to Calibrate a Torque Wrench

Thank you RB!!

 

I have a husky 3/8 for low to med. ft/lbs as well as a 1/4 drive for In/lbs and a snap on for higher ft/lbs. they all work just fine. Remember to not bang them around and immediately place them back to the zero setting after each use.

 

Unless you're a professional mechanic wrenching 5 or 6 days a week, harbor freight will get the job done for the average home tinkerer.

 

Im trying to find it but I purchased a 3/8 drive SHORT handle torque wrench for use on my scoot.

Cones in handy in the tight spaces on these bikes.

 

I do 99 % of my maintenance and have for many years I own one torque wrench that rarely comes off the shelf. I know I should torque to specs but honestly it's never been an issue.

 

I have gotten quite a few things from Harbor Freight. It all depends on what you are getting. For precision I always stay with a quality name brand. Micrometers and torque wrenches fit that bill. I got Snap On, Craftsman, and Harbor Freight all in my tool boxes. I got a cheap set of wrenches and sockets in my box on the truck in case I need them. The good stuff is in the shop. Lately I have been fairly impressed by the Kobalt tools at Lowes. Good finish, accurate, and reasonably priced. Best of all is a life time warranty and Lowes are just about everywhere. Since working more on cars and bikes I got a complete set of metrics in Kobalt and have been happy on how they have held up and performed. Dean

 

Hello all,

I’m looking for a recommendation for a decent torque wrench. I’m getting more and more into doing my own work on my bike.

Thanks

JamiePT

Please don't tell me you are looking for a ft/lbs torque wrench for torquing your oil drain plug! D

 

I’ve been wrenching on my bikes for easy 40 plus yrs. I have about half craftsman more harbor freight these days. I do top ends and tranny work amongst other work on Harleys never had a tool fail. Not for a living I’m just a descent back alley mechanic. I don’t use them everyday for a living but never had an issue. If it’s a living you earn by these tools I can see top of the line. Otherwise just pissing money away. Or maybe you like saying I own the best ! Lol whatever works for you. HF never an issue

 

High quality tools to make a difference but I admit to some Harbor Freight tools as well.....in more limited situations they are ok........a lot of HF stuff is in the junk category but not all it.....some items make tons of sense to save money on.

 

JM2C...if you're a weekend wrenching warrior, tools from HF, Lowes, Craftsman, & Home Depot are fine. They're probably all made in the same Chinese factory. HF has really upped their game over the past few years and I find their tools equavalent to Lowes, etc.

 

snap on

 

I chose the eTORK inch lb wrench from Amazon. I liked so much I picked up the ft lb wrench to replace my 30 year old Craftsman. They are warranted for life and reasonably priced.

A Division of Eco4us

 

I use Snap-On electronic torque wrenches, Series TECH2FR and TECH3FR (1/4", 3/8", and 1/2"). I purchased them many years ago from eBay for very good prices. I check their accuracy ever so often with the routine reference on this thread.

I also have a Chinese adjustable torque screwdriver from .5-3NM for torquing clamps and screws that I purchased new on eBay. The screwdriver works perfect.

Though I can hand tighten most fasteners to very close to specs, I like the accuracy that a torque wrench provides. I also have a complete set of snap-on clicker's that a friend gave me though I do not use those (have not checked the calibration yet).

I've had Harbor Freight Torque wrenches in the past, but had issues with the in-lb wrench. For good quality, reasonable priced new, I have purchased the digital version from Eastwood and found it to be as accurate as my Snap-on Digitals. They offer regular versions and for a little more ones with angle measurement .

 

I have a 3/8" drive NAPA ft\lb torque wrench that I bought on sale probably 20+ years ago. I also have a Chinese made 1/4" drive in\lb torque wrench that I picked up 4 to 5 years ago at a swap meet.

Edit: IDK what I was thinking. My NAPA torque wrench is a 1/2" drive.

 

Iv had good luck with harbour freight tools but honestly if I felt like I really needed to torque every fastner I touched I'd buy better. And just FYI, Craftsman tools are as bad or worse than harbour freight now days.

 

Thank God I got an oldie when the quality was great

 

I have a boat load of tools that were my fathers. Lots and lots of Craftsman sockets and open/closed end wrenches, old Vise Grips, Channel Locks, yada yada. I've used some of the sockets on air impacts and breaker bars that they prolly should not have been used on. Most of the tools look and are "well used" but still quite functional. Also have a various sets and one off HF wrenches. I use them as the beaters and they've actually held up to the abuse well. I feel kind of guilty buying the cheap chi-com HF tools, but I think most of the other more common brands are also likely to be chi-com.

 

Harbor freight is fine, depending on what you’re buying.

I’ve bought some junk from their and other stuff that was just fine (I do a lot of wrenching)

 

Craftsman and SK also make good torque wrenches.You can get the one that clicks when you achieve your torque spec or one that uses a Pointer.Myself,I have the Craftsman in a 1/2"drive ,which clicks when you hit your torque spec,and a 3/8" drive,which uses a pointer,for the smaller bolts/nuts and tight spots.But the Snap On is the Cadillac or the way to go "IF" you can afford it as their prices are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay outta sight.