What is a good tourque wrench to buy?

Something easy to use and reliable.

 

I just picked up the $75 ones from Sears.

They were inexpensive enough, and worked well yesterday. One in in lbs and one in ft lbs.

 

I just went to the sears site and see Tourque wrenches from $75 to $300.

What is the difference?

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00944593000

 

Pep boys. I got a 3/8 drive inch pounds and a 1/2 inch drive ft pounds for less than JUST an inch pounds at sears.

 

Quality.

The cheaper ones are not quite as accurate, and are good for home mechanic use.
The more expensive ones will hold up to everyday use, and often have certificates of calibration meaning they are much more precise.

The cheapest are just a breaker-bar with a meter on it so you have to watch the indicator as you do your final tightening.

The $75 ones aren't the nicest tool you will own, but they get the job done. Hard plastic handle, plastic rotation switch, no case. They action on the micrometer scale isn't super smooth, but it sure beats spending $250+ for something I wont use everyday. I have friends that have had similar craftsman models for 20+ years with no problems.

Be sure to reset it to minumum setting after you are done with it, or you will have issues.

Oh and being craftsman, the wrench is guaranteed for life. Accuracy for 90 days, but if it can't be recalibrated then its covered under lifetime.

 

Keep your eye on Ebay. I picked up a VERY nice Snap-On 0-75 ft/lbs for $75.00. It does a lot of what you need to get done unless you're tearing down an engine. I also picked up a screwdriver torque instrument in in/lbs for $25.00. I have access to calibration facilities and had them checked. They were both spot on. SCORE!

Kirk

 

I would spend more on the inch pound one, 3/8 in drive, since it needs to be more precise. It will "break" when it hits the dailed-in setting. They cost $70-100. I have 1/2 inch drive ft lb. one I've had for 40 years and it's the cheapest type with the pointer and the bar that simply bends. You have to hold it so you can get a straight-on sight of the pointer and scale for it to be accurate. But the tolerances for ft. lbs. specs on a harley run around + or - 15 lbs so this cheaper wrench is adequate for most home mechanics. Can't go wrong with Craftsman tools with the lifetime guarantee.

 

About $225.00