Torque Wrench

[Sev]

Maybe there's a way to fabricate one with a normal wrench and a kitchen food scale.

If you had a spring pull scale you could just hook it to the end of the wrench, then pull at 90 degrees:

so ________ is the wrench and
|
|
|
| is the spring scale.

Though there would be some figuring to determine what the force at the socket would be...

Probably better off spending the $80.

[Social Distortion]

thanks guys
I'll check out a couple of stores this weekend and see what they got.
While i am at it, i'll look for a MC Jack.
Saw one on sale for $60!
I think i need to look under my MC to see how far apart my the metal forks/frame are...seems all of the MC lifts are really narrow....

Let you gus know if i find any bargains!

[Sev]

What're you planning on wrenching?

[froldt]

I went out and bought a torque wrench Friday evening. Paid just over $25 (plus taxes) for it. Craftsman, bar type wrench. It goes from 0-75 ft-lbs. All of the numbers on my bike are like, 5-7 lbs, and I couldn't find any other wrench that went that small, they all started at 10 lbs, unless I wanted to order a wrench.
No, it's not professional grade, but it's got a lifetime warranty, comes with instructions in English, fit my needs and pocketbook...

[Social Distortion]

thats awsome
i saw a torque wrench ( the kind that look like a socket wrench) for about $30 at a local Farm and Fleet. It had the twisty measurement device on the bottom so i could calibrate the torque for my project. I dont know how acurate this one is, but i am assuming it cant be that far off

I simply plan to make sure my nuts and bolts are torqued correctly on my Motorcycle. I think most of the torque measures for the wrench was 0-70 or 80 lbs.

I'm going to Sears this holiday weekend and asides from hoping i dont get trampled by holiday shoppers on Black Friday, i hope they have some tools on sale

[Skier]

Maybe there's a way to fabricate one with a normal wrench and a kitchen food scale.

If you had a spring pull scale you could just hook it to the end of the wrench, then pull at 90 degrees:

Yes, that'd be an easy, inexpensive way to make a torque wrench. Measuring from the center of the socket or wrench end to the point the scale is attached to would give you an accurate reading.

That said, shell out $80 for an inexpensive torque wrench.

[Social Distortion]

saw a torque wrench @ Sears for $35 this past friday @ Sears...
lets just say i hope a family member bought it for me....
i hope its not one of the wrenches that start off at like 50 lbs or anything.
I think all i need is like the 0-80 lbs....

[noobie mcnooberson]

Hi there, so I picked up a torque wrench for 20 dollars from an autosupply store, so I of course took it right out and changed the oil and filter on my bike. I turned the wrench to the specified torque, but lo and behold the oil leaked out so I had to tighten the bolt further. So it turns out 14.5 ft/lbs is really 18 ft./lbs on this torque wrench. Can I trust that that is constant? How important is getting torque exactly? I mean, things rattle loose anyways right? It's kind of important to me to know because I want to change out my brake pads, so I'm going to be taking my wheels off .....
And I don't want them to roll off as I'm going down the highway. Thanks!

[Sev]

Was it a used wrench? They need to be callibrated every so often.

Also, if it was the drain bolt, did you put a new washer in? That might have leaked if you didn't put in a new one.

As for it being a constant, somehow I don't think that it will be out a consistant amount as the settings are changed.

[storysunfolding]

Can I trust that that is constant? How important is getting torque exactly?

I don't think that you can trust that to be constant, but you could always measure it however you measured it the first time over it's ranges. However, if you just bought it and it's that out of wack then I'd return it.

Getting torque exactly isn't so much of an issue as getting it in the right range. Too loose and you don't have the desired effect (wheel staying on). Too tight and you have adverse effects (stripping threads, cracking cases ["fudge" you jiffy lube but thanks for the new transmission], and making things harder for yourself when you have to take them off again.

I'd second sev on the washer. that seems more likely than the bolt being too loose. You really only need to snug it down on a washer to prevent a leak but it is better for longevity/peace of mind to have it on right