Teach me about torque wrenches, please

Teach me about torque wrenches, please

06-13-2006, 08:37 AM

#1 (permalink)

Radshooter

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Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: In an RV somewhere out West Posts: 498 Old Reader's Rigs Gallery

Teach me about torque wrenches, please

I was in Sears the other day looking at the Craftsman stuff. I am getting the hankering for a torque wrench, but don't know much about them.

What do I need for basic maintenance on the trucks and RV? I don't plan on doing any engine rebuilds, so I don't want anythng expensive or fancy. Sears had some on sale for about $60.

Would I get more good out of a 3/8" or 1/2" drive? I have basic sockets for each size. What about torque range? I can't remember the exact numbers, but some of them went from like 10 to 85 ft/lbs. Others went from 50 to 150. Still others went up to 250 lbs. These all were the micrometer style adjustments. What about the kind that just have a bar and a gage to look at? I can see a drawback to the gage type in that you have to be in a position to see the gage, compared to a clickable one not being position dependant.

What do you guys use for basic tinkering?

Thanks........Steve

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