Torque wrench

[Blake]

I'm looking for a good torque wrench. What do you guys recommend? Digital? Old school? What brand? I'm a Craftsman guy. They offer a 3/8 in. manual model for around $26. After that, they jump up in price to about $50-$75, and again around $100 for standard 3/8 and 1/2 models.

My question is, what size will I most likely need in working on bikes?

thanks!

 

[Big R]

I don't have any good advice, but a good little story:

For years I used a crappy torque wrench. 1/2" drive only, unknown brand, and it had an arm coming down from the head pointing at the scale near the handle. I hated that thing so much, I never used it. Then I happened to be in WalMart and saw one on sale for $25. Had an adjustable setting on the handle so whenever you reached the torque setting it clicked. It was 3/8" drive and a ratcheting head.

Point is, get a torque wrench that you are going to ENJOY using.

 

[Aetsh]

Just get a decent craftsman 3/8 inch drive torque wrench, that's all you really need for bikes and cars. You don't really have to spend alot of money either.

I have an inch/pound wrench, but it spends most it's time in the case. Pretty rare to run into inch pound settings.

 

[Blake]

Thanks guys. I'll avoid the cheaper model with the arm measure. I've seen the click stop models. I'll look at those tomorrow. WHat range in the "ft. lbs." dept. do I need to look at? What is the max I'll most likely need?

 

[Big R]

Check the service manual for whatever you are working on - usually the highest torque rating is on the shock mounts, axle nuts, or on the front sprocket nut. But whatever the highest rating is on mine, I haven't come close to needing it yet.

 

[Erch]

Check the service manual for whatever you are working on - usually the highest torque rating is on the shock mounts, axle nuts, or on the front sprocket nut. But whatever the highest rating is on mine, I haven't come close to needing it yet.

Same, most of the stuff I use my torque wrench for is in the 7-30ish ft/lb range. I'd also recommend the click-stop models: very first time I used it I scared the shit out of myself because I had no idea if it'd gone yet. They're more noticable on higher settings and on low (<10 ft/lb) settings it almost goes "mushy" instead of clicking outright. You get used to it though since half the point of a torque wrench is making sure you're not too heavy handed.