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MG MGF Technical - Torque Wrench Advice

As part of the planned shocker-bushes upgrade, I've been reading the archives. Considering the gear I need for the job, the question has arisen as to whether I should replace my 10 year old Halfords el cheapo torque wrench.

The wrench is set by turning the handle to line up the top with a Nm or llb/ft scale. Do I need something more accurate to get 37 Nm and 45 Nm?

Someone mentioned having their torque wrench re-calibrated every year. Mine has been doing wheel nuts and sparks and probably been dropped a few times. Will it be accurate?

If I am going to replace it, which brand should I buy and from where? By the way, does anyone know of a single TW that covers the whole range (most that go down to 7 Nm seem to stop at 45 Nm and ones that can do wheel nuts at 70 Nm can't so brake bolts at 7 Nm).

Thanks

Chaz
C Golvala

New tools is of course always the best option BUT if you know someone with a calibrated one (garage,mech- tech.university ,etc) you can always do a quick check by joining the 2 together and check 3 or 4 points along the scale. Click them against each other at equal arm distance from the joint. If too much difference - get a new one !
PS. Often there is much more diff. on torque in greasing / oiling / cleaning the bolt and nut threads than percentage of missaligment on the wrench itself even if old and well used!

BR, Carl.
Carl Blom

accuracy can be affected by how you store it as well as use it. Do you always return it to a zero setting after use ? If not the mechanism will be left under tension and will weaken over time. Two wrenches for different ranges has the advantage that a lower quality product can be chosen in the knowledge that each one's use will be half that of one to cover the whole range needed....
David

Thanks for the tips. I'll remember to clean up the nuts first and slacken my (new) wrench. I found a nice Teng Tools item that reads from 20-100 Nm and locks the setting, which my Halfords one does not. So new tools this weekend (and I think I feel a TT socket set coming on as well!!)

Chaz
C Golvala

Where did you get the Teng wrench from?
L Reid

http://catalog.teamvise.co.uk/webspeed/katalog/kat_produkt.p?bid=T01&kat_bid=T01&katnr=1&katsektnr=93&dokid=12236

Stockists @ http://www.tengtools.co.uk/
Dieter K.

L Reid: Halfords sell the 40-210 NM version for £60. I wanted the 20-100 Nm and found it at the stockist listed in the teanwise/tengtools website that was local to me (J&B Car & Leisure in Tonbridge if anyone is interested) for £48. They also sold me the MR3839 socket set (3/8ths inch rachet and 39 sockets) for £60 which is £20 less than the Halfords price for the same.

Chaz
C Golvala

Is there any way of altering the calibration of a torque wrench? Or is the only way to replace it if found to be inaccurate?

Any recommendations for makes of Torque wrench? Have an old Halfords one that I don't especially like, and I doubt is all that accurate :o(
Rob Bell

Chaz,
Want to get jelous?
My cousin had a deal with Teng for tools @10%, thats not 10% discount, thats 10%!! I now have a few new tools!

Will
Will Munns

Will

Your gain is Halfords loss
JohnP

Machine mart also had a range of torque wrenches for around £20, however I note that they only currently have ones in stock which are a bar and a needle with guage.

They did have them in a 1/2" drive however, which is a bit more meaty, and you could still use your 3/8" sockets if you got a 1/2" to 3/8" adapter.

Leigh
Leigh

Rob, the Teng Tools wrench I bought (3/8th drive and 20-100 Nm) has an aperture for a calibration tool (don't ask what you do with it) and recommends calibration every 100,000 uses or 12 months whichever is sooner. They are certified to be accurate to within =/-4% and come with a certificate showing the results of a test at the factory at three readings.

My old Halfords TW did not lock in place, which the Teng Tools one does, so you had to hold your hand very steady and not rotate the handle. The scale was also stuck on whereas the TT wrench is engraved. I'd definitely recommend this brand and even Halfords' £60 seems a reasonable price for a good torque wrench.

Chaz
C Golvala

This thread was discussed between 02/04/2003 and 07/04/2003

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