buying suggestions torque wrenches

[ducatiz]

i think so.

the small ones with inch/lbs on them are usually 3/8" drive and about a foot long.  perfect for general work.

[clubhousemotorsports]

You will ultimately want one in the range you listed for things like oil changes as well as front end work. If you are going to change your rear wheel or the large front sprocket nut you will want a 1/2 inch drive that goes up to at least 150 ft lbs

[Scooter Montgomery]

I have the $10 1/2 drive Pittsburgh torque wrench that, I think, Harbor Freight sells now.

This has worked well for me for years.  I've built a few engines with it with no issues after the fact.

While my wrench may not really be giving me 60 foot pounds like the CDI wrenches definitely would, I can say that it's not off by 20 ft/lbs or anything like that.

Torque was accurate when I used a different wrench to double check it.

YMMV

I have the 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" wrenches. People on Jeepforum.com have had a lot of luck with them.

[TiAvenger]

My harbor freight clicker is accurate according to my craftsmen beam wrench 

Most of the time I use the tried and true "tendons on the wrist popping out measurement" 

I

[clubhousemotorsports]

As a "professional" I use the tendon method more than most, after a while you do learn what is right. There have been times when using a torque wrench and you get that funny feeling like something is wrong. I have felt problems not caught by the torque wrench, feel is very important.

once a bolt was stretching and you could see is with the tech wrench (digital strain gauge) as the torque number climbed and then fell as the bolt started to fail. A click type never would have shown this.

[dlearl476]

The same as the guy that spends $30k in mods on a $10k STREET bike.
And yes, you do get what you pay for.

I'll admit my Snap-On tourque wrench was just shy of 4 bills, but it's a precision digital instrument that reads in Nm, in/lbs, and ft/lbs. I liken it to the Ohlins of tourque wrenches. Do I really need it? Probably not. Will a $50 craftsman get the job done? Most likely.
But when that tool truck comes to my shop, I get weak in the knees. Just like I do when I see a full Ohlins with billet radial Brembos and ceramic composite rotors.

I agree, but when it comes to torque wrenchs, I think I think the money's better spent on better hand tools, and MORE tools.  Craftsman are fine. 

FWIW, if you know anyone who works at Sears, twice a year they have a "friends and family" sale, and you can save a boat-load of money.  Last time replaced my two 10+ year old Craftsmans with a 3/8' ft/lb and a 1/4 in/lb and got something like 30% off.  The new ones are nice, and calibrate-able.

I have the 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" wrenches. People on Jeepforum.com have had a lot of luck with them.

I bought a 1/4 torque wrench from HF and it never passed the "touchy-feely" test.  The adjustment dial sucked on it and constantly locked, and I just never trusted the meausurements.  Before I replaced it with the Craftsman, I started using the "tendon" method for anything under 20 Nm.

[Michael Moore]

I'm gonna buck the trend here and recomend that you take a look at CDI Torque Products.

I have three and can telll you that they are exceptionally well made and very accurate.  They come with NIST traceable certifications, a nice case, and cost about $120 for the one that spans 5 ftlbs to 75 ftlbs. Less for the inch pound version and slightly more for the 50 to 250 ftlb version.

I think I'll have these tools for a lifetime and they are fully rebuildable and can be calibrated as needed.

Add to that the fact they are built by Snap-On (I actually think that this company builds all the Snap On torque wrenches) I can notice virtually no difference in a side by side comparison with the exception of the laser etching.

Awesome product - Higly recomended

Here is where I bought mine:
http://www.emaxaction.com/cdiclickwrenchatemax.aspx

http://www.cditorque.com/

Thanks for posting this. I found it in a search and have ordered one of the big 1/2" wrenches for my axle nut.

[gage]

Thanks for posting this. I found it in a search and have ordered one of the big 1/2" wrenches for my axle nut.

My pleasure 

The big one is cool but it is too long for my tool box 

[Michael Moore]

Ya, I had to get one that could handle 230nm, so that means 24" - also too big. But I need the damn thing.