VB Torque

[xFatcatx]

I bought a 3/8" drive in./lb. torque wrench from sears yesterday for my VB. When i took it out of the package i messed with it a little bit and noticed the digits starting rubbing off. I scratched at the CRAFSTMAN label and it came right off. I'm a little po'd considering it costs $60 so i am going to take it back. My freind has a 1/4" drive that he would let me borrow, anyone know if this will work instead of the 3/8". I think it goes up to 100in./lb. I just dont want to start the job and have the wrong tools. thank you

 

[Glacier991]

the drive size is not as important as the range. I do not know of any inch pound torque wrench that limits itself to 100 in lbs. In any event that is enough.

A good rule of thumb is that a torque wrench is most accurate between 40 to 60 percent of range. (highly expenseive strain gauge models excepted). You are looking for 80-95 inch lbs... so the ideal wrench wold be 150 inch lbs or so. I bet your friend's 1/4 inch model fits the bill perfectly.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Harbor Freight sells a nice In/LB torque wrench which is 1/4" drive. It's a very good deal under ($30) compared to some other brands of wrenches which cost many times more. They are about $20 on sale.

 

[xFatcatx]

I saw the 1/4" one at Harbor Freight on sale right now for $22.99, but the diary says 3/8" so I didnt want to be wrong. Ill take sears one back and just buy the one from Harbor. Thanks for your help.

 

[Glacier991]

In the Diary I used one of my inch lb torque wrenches that happened to be 3/8's drive. And dial indicator as I recall. The Harbor freight one is perfectly acceptable drive size is not the critical factor - inch lb readings and range is. Someone has noted that the accuracy of the HF ones is about + or - upwards of 10% by their measure, but in the greater scheme of things that is ok. I send the HF torque wrenches with the VB's I rebuild. I now test them against my better quality models. I've only tested one so far and they varied 5%, but I have no known calibration standard to be sure my "good one" is "right on".

 

[BrooklynBay]

Here's a link with additional information on the Harbor Freight 1/4" drive torque wrench: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1436179&postcount=3