Torque Wrenches

[neko]

What kind of torque wrenches do people use?
There are some nice one's out there and I'd like to get one of these Warren & Brown (http://www.warrenandbrown.com.au/HandToolsCatl2/WBT_CAT2001_05.pdf) deflecting arm wrench like my dad's got but they cost about $250.

So I'd like to hear from people who actually use them. Is it worth the outlay for a good one which'll last me my whole life time and probably my grand kids too or just get an $80 one that'll probably do the job?

[GrubNut]

I use one that cost $5 at the local flea market. Seems to work well.

[CHEWY]

yea basically you get what you pay for with tools..
I never buy the top end stuff cause I never have enough money but the middle quality stuff seems to last me a fair while.
Kinchrome does some pretty decent stuff for not rediculous amounts of money..
And make sure you get one that soes smaller torque settings, mine only goes to 16nm. And those deflecting arm ones are the shit, I love em, go to cash converters or somewhere if you want to pick up a decent second hand one.

[dunk]

I use one of these, one of the best tools I've bought. It's surprising how easily you can overtighten parts. :shock:
http://www.parktool.com/images/tools/TW_1.jpg

I also have another larger torque wrench for higher loads, but the Park torque wrench is great for most bike parts.

[shan75]

How much are the Park Torque wrenches?

[dunk]

I think I paid about US$25, when I was in the States ages ago.

[bazza]

i tried listneing to tourque recommendations but they always seemed to play it safe. and nothing very tightened properly. so now i just guess. not always the best for parts but it works.

[floody]

Is it worth the outlay for a good one which'll last me my whole life time and probably my grand kids too ?

Yes. A torque wrench is probably the one tool that you shouldn't skimp on - my reasons being that a) a lot of the situations where you use it may be very sensitive and over or under tightening stuff due to inaccuracy will be nasty, and b) absolutely the last tool you want to snap under some big torque loading :shock:

[danv]

lol I just posted this exact post on another forum, but anyway:

I have to say that Warren and Brown wrenches are very good. Im not sure how old mine is, but it must be at least 10 - 15 years old and it stlll looks and works like new, save for some rust specs on the counter lever thing. (and it has spent the past 10-15 years on the coast). The only problem I had was with that little pin which pops out when the specified toruqe is reached. The bolt that held it in kept coming loose, and one day it fell out and was lost. New one was $20.
oh yeah, they are distributed by Repco.

[Grip]

Have to agree totally with Floody and Davitime... get a good one. I've got the Warren and Brown (pop-out pin model) and it's over 30 years old. The problem with the "deflecting" type is the level of accuracy and consistency achievable.

[creepyjoe]

I've never seen a bike shop use a torque wrench before or have one hanging up in the store.

[Grip]

I've never seen a bike shop use a torque wrench before or have one hanging up in the store.

And to be honest, Creepy, I can't remember the last time I did anything on a bike that I needed one for either... BUT until you get the feel for tightening nuts and bolts you're likely to strip/break a fair few things as you learn and a torque wrench certainly teaches the "right" way as well as saving many problems.