Torque wrench question

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 20 Sep 2007, 06:25

I've been looking on ebay to buy a general purpose torque wrench (Draper) for use with the van. However some are listed as 1/2" and some are 3/8". I've no idea what these sizes are referring to (and why in inches?!) and which one I should get. I'd be grateful if anyone could let me know what this is all about!

Here's a couple of the listings:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :IT&ih=007

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :IT&ih=007

Thanks

Tony

Post by **Rozzo** » 20 Sep 2007, 06:36

hi
it refers to the size of the square drive of the sockets you use.. 3.8 drive or 1/2 inch drive. your socket set is probably 1/2 inch drive i would think m8. just measure accross the inside of the square on a socket if you're unsure

cheers
rozzo

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 20 Sep 2007, 06:39

Nice one Rozzo, that was C80-90 rapid response service at its best! Thanks very much!

Tony

Post by **syncrodoug** » 20 Sep 2007, 06:40

It refers to the size of the square 'drive' that goes into the socket. I would go with the 1/2 in as this will the size of the sockets you'll most likely use on the van.
The imperial sizing is probably historical.

Post by **phade** » 20 Sep 2007, 06:50

For most things 1/2" drive would be fine, but Draper are crap !!! I would use something better than those (eg. Norbar, Teng, Birtool).

However for things such as rear axle shaft nuts, always use a good 3/4" drive torque wrench (eg. Norbar 3AR, etc.) that can go up to 360 lb ft (500 Nm).

Post by **VWlewis** » 20 Sep 2007, 07:09

For the rear axle nut, I could not remove it ... the nice man at my local VW garage used a 6 flat socket like this which works even on a nut that is starting to round on the corners!

[img:500:500]http://www.tooled-up.com/Artwork/ProdZoom/SEASX013.jpg[/img]

My multi-flat one like this was hopeless!

[img:500:500]http://www.tooled-up.com/Artwork/ProdZoom/TB32169.jpg[/img]

It is worth spending the extra pennies - trust me (or find a bloke who has already and will lend you his socket!

)

Post by **hi_tower** » 20 Sep 2007, 07:54

There was a test on torque wrenches in Practical Classics not so long ago and the Halfords one came out best buy. Make sure you get an accurate one, I replaced a cylinder head gasket once with a dodgy torque wrench and had to do it all over again when it began to leak a few days after. I always put a mark on hub nuts before I remove them and tighten them back to or beyond the mark on reassembly. Works ok if you havent got a monster torque wrench.

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 21 Sep 2007, 05:59

Thanks very much for all the advice and info, very helpful.

Tony

Post by **HarryMann** » 21 Sep 2007, 07:44

Halfords tools are good and have a lifetime warranty I think

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 21 Sep 2007, 07:47

There's nowt wrong with Draper per say, they make cheap and cheerful DIY tools for working on cars. To work on anything heavier or to use them all the time then the choice of the professional tends to be Snap-on or similar.

Personally I have quite a lot of Teng and Facom tools, the little 1/4 & 3/8 socket set I carry in the van's a Draper Professional though.

As for Torque Wrenches I thought they all came with a test certificate these days ? Obviously not from a boot sale but you wouldn't buy one from there.

Ian.

Post by **DiscoDave** » 21 Sep 2007, 17:33

got mine from argos, £15 does the job!

Post by **Nicola&Tony** » 21 Sep 2007, 22:44

I'm interested in this one because it has a range of 0 - 330Nm:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :IT&ih=020

but I'm not sure about the dial indicator. Does anyone have any experience or thoughts about it?

Tony

Post by **R0B** » 21 Sep 2007, 22:57

that ebay one looks like a cakeslice with a dial glued to it...i would go for one that clicks.reading that dial could be quite difficult.at certain times.

Post by **Rozzo** » 21 Sep 2007, 23:49

tony go for something like this m8 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRITOOL-1-2-DRIVE ... dZViewItem
had one of these for years m8,,, extremely reliable and rugged. tbh the dial ones are a pain in the bum,,, these ones actually "break" with a loud crack as you reach the desired torque.
up to you but britool are the best tools i have ever owned,,, even better than snap-on i reckon and i have both.
cheers
julian

Post by **madmyk** » 22 Sep 2007, 06:59

My two penneth...

I got one of the Argos ones, put it on a torque tester, its close enough!

Agree with the dial thing, don't bother.

Depends on your usage-to-cost perameters as to how much to pay, infrequent use, Argos, fixing cars each week, buy a selection.

You can also talk nicely to any tyre garage type thingy (Kwik-fit) and use their testing rig if you want to check a single setting for some critical work. Should be fine once its there (for a while at least). In military, settings are checked monthly, and these things are in regular use.

Summary, Argos for price to use ratio. Long term regular stuff, spend a bit more. Me, I'm happy with Argos and would happily use it at different settings (since I checked it and found it OK)

Hope this helps,

Myk.