Recommend me a 1/2" drive torque wrench
 

Time to buy more tools! I need a specific recommendation for a torque wrench:

It needs to be

• 1/2" Drive
• accurate
• durable
• affordable
• goes up to at least 200ft/lbs

Example: Front hub nut 123-159 ft/lbs, rear hub nut 174-235 ft/lbs (According to the FSM)

Tell me what you own, what you have used, what to avoid. Bonus points given for links to specific wrenches. "Affordable" means $100, but I don't mind spending more if its something I can pass on to my kids some day.

I used to have an older "Made in the USA" Craftsman clicker until some cocknose bastard stole it, and the reviews on the newer Craftsman stuff indicate they are now Chinese junk. I currently own a KD Tools in/lb clicker that has served me well, and a (don't laugh) Huskey 100ft/lb 3/8" drive clicker, but I need something I can use to torque giant hub and axle nuts.

I'm not opposed to a beam type wrench. They tend to be quite affordable and the technology has been around forever. I just always seem to be some stupid angle where I can't put consistent pressure on the wrench and see the gauge at the same time.

Thanks gays :bigtu:

My rule of thumb is the bigger the tool, the less need for uber high quality. I would say a Husky would be fine. If you can't bare the thought, get another Craftsman.

Nothing wrong with craftsman, even if the newer stuff is china-made (I don't know, just going off what you posted).

Any time I break any of mine, a quick trip to Sears and I return with a replacement or rebuilt ratchet/etc.

Ok, i'll go look at the Craftsman stuff at Sears or OSH, or pick up another Huskey as the Home Despot is actually closer to me.

Nah, I gotcha, I've done that on more than one occasion. I guess I'm too oldschool, spent too much time wrenching on things with my Grandfather. I work hard for my money and I expect the products I buy to last. Hell I have some of his SK and Craftsman stuff in my toolbox thats probably 40-50 years old at this point and still going strong.

I hate the disposable-ness that everything has today. It used to be that you bought Craftsman for quality, now you buy it for the warranty because you know that no matter where you buy it, that shits gonna break, so you might as well get the one you can exchange. I honestly think this is why Harbor Freight does so well, because everyone has given up on quality.

Ok, so beam or clicker? What do you guys prefer?

WHAT? No Harbor Freight Recommendations?

Harbor Frieght is crap, my friend was using his near it's max for wheel torquing and would skip/jump occasionally after 6 months or so of usage. Would not trust that.

I do like my Craftsman wrench, however like anything it needs maintenance. Get it calibrated every year.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271284712125

I picked this Armstrong / KD 250 ft/lbs one a few months ago. I haven't used it enough to say a lot about it but for then price I don't think it can be beat. You can usually get one for minum bid if you wait and watch a bit. Armstrong and KD are both quality names, USA made, 250 ft/lbs.

Going from memory here so I could be wrong, but I believe torque wrenches are an exception to Sears' warranty policy.

Eeyeah, um, not interested in Harbor Freight torque wrench.

Correct. It appears to be 1 year, but I just read that some models are now 90 days?

druz: your link is broken, can't even get a PN. FAIL

Regardless, great big son-of-a-bitch Husky 1/2 drive torque wrench acquired :
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1380486204
Husky 1/2 in. Click Torque Wrench-H2DTW at The Home Depot

It was $85 and goes to 250ft/lbs so that should cover the 235ft/lb listing on the rear hub nut in the FSM. Packaging clearly states "1 Year Limited Warranty" so I dunno what happened to the super pimpin' "Lifetime Replacement Warranty" HD/Husky loves to advertise, so its no better than Craftsman at this point. If it fails and HD won't replace it, I'll beat the cashier to death with it. Its like 12lbs and 2.5ft long :giggle:

I actually wanted this one because it matches my 3/8 drive torques wrench and I'm crazy like that, but it wasn't in stock.

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Did you mean to say, "Recommend a 1/2" drive torque wrench to me"?

I have a Craftsman.

I have this. Was $100 shipped with case:

Professional Grade Digital Torque Wrench | Brown Line Metalworks, LLC

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1380541625

Sorry, huge fail, cut the last number off. Fixed.

I've heard good things about the "CDI" (made by Snap-on?) wrench linked above. Seems to be a decent deal at ~$130.

Here is the one I recently got ---> http://www.summitracing.com/parts/wmr-m199bg/overview/

It seems to be decently made and of reasonably good quality. I had some "Summit Bucks" to use so that's why I went with this one. I haven't actually used it much yet, but it "seems" to be decent.

Is Snap-On still "the shit" with this kind of stuff? Back when I was working in the machine shop I had a bitchen oldschool Snap-On torque wrench for changing the tool holder turrets in the lathe. It belonged to the shop, but it stayed locked in my toolbox. I may return the Husky and pick up the one DaveC linked.

For anyone thinking the Craftsman lifetime warranty will cover their torque wrenches, think again. They have a very limited warranty; just 1 year.

http://www.craftsman.com/cswarranty/...227082#point3a

Why get four of those "good enough" torque wrenches when you get one that is too expensive to loan to your friends?

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1380807176

(I love mine--I have a shitty one I loan out--it is, naturally, broken because of a borrower)

My understanding (most of which I invent as needed) is that Snap-On tools, or at least some of them, are made by CDI. That's not proof that everything made by CDI is awesome...

The one I linked to is a good piece. I don't think that exact wrench is sold with a Snap-On label, and I don't know if it comes with a life time warranty, but I will say that in my hands it seems life time quality, if you know what I mean.

According to the reviewer comments on that Amazon ad, they don't have a shred of Snap-On labeling anywhere. (doesn't mean they're not good though)