Ogoz23

Well I just felt that I needed to share this with you guys. I'm not a mechanic and like most of your guys I'm just trying to do some minor mods on my own. I needed to install a flexplate, oil pan, intake manifold so I needed a torque wrench. I said well I'm only going to use this torque wrench for a month and probably be done with it for a couple of years. so I did some research on the Harbor Freight torque wrench and I told my self l I guess I can live with their +/- 4% vs others better brands that's 1% .. I also told my self well if I need to torque something at 75 lbs. and the harbor freight is off by 10 lbs. ill take my chances.


First project I tackle was my oil pan. It calls for 18 ft/lbs I set my wrench at 18 lbs and I was done, nothing happen nothing broke so I was happy. Second project was my Flexplate it calls for 74ft/lbs and BAMMM broke a bolt. So that day I order a CDI Torque wrench made by Snap On. I torque the flex plate at 74 ft/lbs with the CDI wrench and it felt like night and day. Then I decided to double check the oil pan bolts that I had torque down at 18 ft/lbs with the HB wrench, and what do you know they where actually at 36 ft/lbs 50% off!!!


I'm not saying to get a TDI wrench I'm sure there is similar ones but what I'm saying is DO NOT BUY A HARBOR FREIGHT WRENCH. This wrenches are basically a mental illusion that you torqued something considering that you didn't brake a bolt. If you cant afford a good wrench then rent it. Again I'm not a mechanic or a torque wrench expert but when something is off by 50% with a new wrench that comes with a certificate of calibration with a date and blah blah blah tells you a lot.


Now what I'm wondering is if I need to buy new oil pan bolts as those bolts where torque down 50% more for what they call for. I loosen them and re-torque them at 18 ft/lbs.

volsfan32119

I buy a lot of stuff from HF but I will stay away from anything that requires precision. I just bought a leak down tester from them but after I researched it a little, via Google, I took it back and ordered a good one. I figure I only want to do this job once and I want it to be right!

RockinWs6

I use a HF tq wrench for wheels, when I checked it against a good tq wrench it was very close. This is 1/2inch drive tq w from HB. For smaller engine work I use Snap on.

truckdoug

iTrader: (25)

the HF digital adapter thing is scary accurate for $20

01ssreda4

iTrader: (96)

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/ccrp-...rench-testing/

Ogoz23

Test like that was what made me buy a Hb wrench. Again this wrench was brand new. I guess what I'm saying is yes maybe you get an ok hf wrench but I think your taking a 50/50 chance ... now with that digital adapter maybe it would work ok because at least it will tell you if your over torquing and diminishing your chances of something failing. Im going to buy that adapter tomorrow.

Ogoz23

moekluse

iTrader: (2)

I have that HF one that adds on to the end of the wrachet but I've never used it. I use an eastwood digital torque wrench and I LOVE it. It also does angle measurements for torque to yield bolts.

I'd highly recommend it

JoeNova

I use a harbor freight torque wrench to torque my head bolts/studs on my LS engines.
Tons of boost, no issues, even with chinese headstuds and re-used LS9 gaskets haha.

rybern

iTrader: (5)

Tekton torque wrenches seem to have a decent rep for a lower cost wrench. Amazon has them. I have handled the HF in the store and the Tekton is night and day better quality for just a few dollars more.

Ogoz23

Don't listen to this guy lol j/k

Zanie

"So that day I order a CDI Torque wrench made by Snap On."

You have that backwards: CDI manufactures for Snap-on
http://www.cditorque.com/
I have 4 CDI torque wrenches, they make quality product.

Harbor freight is really coming on strong ( opening a new store every 4 days) and improving their quality with 2 test Labs; one in California and one in China. However, like others have said: I wouldn't go trusting anything that needs precision.

vettenuts

iTrader: (4)

How did you measure the 36 lb-ft? It may be your measurement method and not the wrench itself. If you tried to tighten from 18 lb-ft expecting 18 lb-ft, then the 36 lb-ft you measured is no surprise.

thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

I looked into them but the reviews right there on their own website swayed me away. Seems some of them work great and some have issues never clicking or clicking well past the desired torque.

If you watch you can catch Craftsman wrenches on sale at Sears for $50. The extra $20-25 over the HF is a no brainer to me.

I do buy a **** ton of HF tools even jacks and never had any issues (other than I kill the cheap $12 drills pretty often) so I'd like to think I have an unbiased opinion.

Ogoz23

Well this is how I measure and it might not be a scientific or exact way to measure but my results where enough to convince me . The bolt was torqued at 18 ft/lbs with a hf wrench. Now I grab the CDI wrench and set it at 18 ft/lbs I get a click (24-click) (30-click) (36-click) ( 38- the bolt moved and clicked shortly after) now those this mean it was torqued at 36? Maybe not it was probably 30-36 which still is a 40-50% variance. Enough for me to say hb torque wrench are not worth the surprise... with that being said 50% of my tools are HB and I love them. But for precision torquing I would not recommended. I did the same test with the CDI wrench and as soon as I go 2 lbs up the bolt moves.

Ruffturbo911

Agreed. I ave a 1/4 Tekton as well.