Torque Wrench

[little_pete]

Hi I'm in the market for a torque wrench, thinking of attempting a 940 head conversion in the coming months.

Anyway I won't be using it much, I was going to try to pick up a good brand used one but then I read that they can loose calibration easily if mistreated so is it better to get a cheap new one? I know you get what you pay for.

[lambrettalad]

get the best you can afford ,cheap tools can be dangerous,imagine a cheap socket stripping at 140 foot ponds and your hand goes flying and hits a cross member it hurts I know

if not borrow a good one ,by a decent maker ,good luck

your local club might be able to help you

[simmitc]

You could also check with your local tool hire place. For very occasional use it might be better to hire - they do the regular callibrtation.

[little_pete]

Hiring or local club sounds good, quick google I can't find any hire places that do torque wrenches. I know I should get the best I can afford, the question was more with a limited budget is it better to buy a better quality second hand (with the unknown history that goes with it) or cheaper brand new? I normally go for better quality second hand but I know with these things they do get our of calibration if mistreated. I have one cheap one I foolishly used to undo a stubborn bolt, now it seems way out.

[philthehill]

The Draper 1/2" drive torque wrench model number DRA30357, price 29.95 pounds on line inc VAT provides good value for money and is accurate. I bought one for doing up the crankshaft pulley nut on my Landrover as my Britool torque wrench did not go high enough. You could pay nearly as much as a new Draper one for a S/H one and which may be of an unknown quality.
Always slacken off the adjusting nut after use as this helps retain accuracy as the spring is not held under constant compression between jobs.

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

The one I bought from Lidl for £16 is an absolute cracker, German made in a carry case and even a few (Metric) sockets included.

Forget those Mickey Mouse jobs with a little dial panel and a pointer indicating the torque setting.

[little_pete]

Cool will look out for a cheapy new but treat it carefully and try not to knock it, I imagine they are accurate when new but not as robust as more 'professional' brands RS do one for £21 which has good reviews (on their own site) Lidl stuff tends to come and go, I doubt they still do it, but will take a look. Will only be used once in a blue moon (I hope) when tightening down onto critical gaskets saying critical and 'the cheap one from Lidl' doesn't quite go together. But my budget is shrinking by the day:

Just saw a small puddle developing under the car, top hose is leaking badly and the lower hose is on it's way out, just ordered some silicone ones as I've heard the new rubber ones have questionable longevity. I hope it's just that. At first I thought it was the water pump (water had been dripping on the fan belt and tracked it's way to the pulley I always fear the worse. Though the water pump appears cheaper than the silicone hoses! whats going on with the pricing of these parts, supply and demand?

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

Yes, Lidl's offers change every week so it's important to keep an eye on the store's notice boards, but some quality gear is available at bargain prices.

The general consensus is to forget silicone hoses and use the cheaper, tried-and-tested rubber ones.

[little_pete]

Oh dear I should have researched further, the posts I was reading were saying the new rubber hoses only last 18 months. Whats wrong with the silicone ones (besides being twice the price) hard to fit, don't seal? or just pricey?

[lambrettalad]

Very hard to fit

[simmitc]

Buy a good quality silicone hose from http://www.classicsiliconehoses.com It is a "cottage industry" type company, really nice people; but the most important thing is that the hoses are FAR easier to fit than standard rubber ones, and, so far, are lasting perfectly with no leaks or splits (nearly three years since I did the first car).

Nobody asked for my consensus! Kevlar hoses are rubbish, silicone, or at least the ones that I buy, are excellent.

[lambrettalad]

thanks for the link simmitc

[little_pete]

Hmm I ordered some very similar looking hoses from a well known morris supplier I hope they are just as easy to fit and just as high quality, that other places isn't too far from me either! oh well all ordered now, will see how I get on. I normally research and dilly dally before spending money I don't know what came over me.

[moggiethouable]

The one I bought from Lidl for £16 is an absolute cracker, German made in a carry case and even a few (Metric) sockets included.

Forget those Mickey Mouse jobs with a little dial panel and a pointer indicating the torque setting.

like mine? [frame][/frame]

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

Aye!

I have generally found them to be near useless.

[little_pete]

Good simple engineering that is. I think it suits the Morris Minor very well.

[Alex'n'Ane]

I hate to have to say it, but by far the best i've ever used was the snap-on one, they beep rather than click which is significantly better, and are set to do so ever so slightly under torque, as you always go an extra 1% or so before you realise, so I imagine they must be and stay pretty darn accurate. So if you can find one second-hand i would most certainly recommend them, after all it is a tool for life!

[bmcecosse]

No! These quadrant dial torque wrenches are perfectly fine - provided they start at zero - there is nothing to go wrong. Just don't abuse it by taking the pointer off the dial limits....... But for many many years I managed fine without a torque wrench - just using hand tools (ring key) - it's easy to feel the nut/stud/bolt start to yield - and that's when to stop.

[lambrettalad]

I've got snap on tools from the 70's ,abfab tools

[moggiethouable]

Aye!

I have generally found them to be near useless.

I dunno really, it worked ok, I managed to torque the head down alright.
Having sockets that fit is a bonus, I think thats about the only area of opportunity for damage,unless the dial is innacurate of course, or the nuts are not tightened in sequence.
But a couple of thousand miles later, after an initial additional recommended tighten, she runs well enough.
Maybe I'm just easy pleased.