Where to buy in-lb torque wrench

benmack1

benmack1

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2010
Location
USA
Is there anywhere local (Burlington/GSO/Durham) that one can buy an in-lb torque wrench. I need to set the pre-load on a pinion. I need something to read the 15-35 range, not the 0-600 models. Optimally something like a 0-60 range overall.
Also, any recommendations on a model/brand to buy. This is INCH-LB I need, not the big ones. Please, I am not interested in the 'go to sears' kind of responses, these are hard to find thus the reason I am asking!!
 
Harbor Freight. Yes, Harbor Freight. I had to get one to do a composite manifold on a Ford. Searched and searched. The only other local place I could find was Fastenal, I think, and they wanted well over $100. Horrible Fright wanted around $20. And it seems to work fine. No, it's not NIST certified, but it'll do. I couldn't find a local place for a beam-type, which would probably work better for preload, but I think you can get by with a clicker.
 
Thanks for all the comments and the offer. I'm a bit away from Mooresville.

I also should have mentioned, I am looking for a beam type or dial type, not the clicker. I did see the clickers at various places. I can probably also do this is a bracket across the yoke and a fish scale but really want a beam style that can measure decent in the 10-35 in-lb territory. I'll probably end up online and ordering one. Always nicer to go look at it and support the locals if I can.
 
I can help u out on a snapon if you would like to give me the chance, I can price on out with the nc4x4 dicount on Monday.
 
snappy said:
I can help u out on a snapon if you would like to give me the chance, I can price on out with the nc4x4 dicount on Monday.
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Thanks. Drop me a PM if you have the time. I've been doing some online looking and see there is one from Park Tool called TW-1. It's about $35 from amazon. If you can't come close to that, I'll probably go with that one. From my looking around, these kind of tools are HIGH DOLLAR. I am just setting the pinion preload and carrier preload on an old dana 30 and 44 from a 72 CJ5 so I don't want to spend a fortune for top quality stuff. I was shocked that I couldn't walk into any number of places locally and pick one off a shelf. I see alot of bicycle shops seem to come up when I google this kind of thing. I guess the bicycle folks must have precision torque things. I'm a fat middle aged guy interested in jeeps so not too familiar with bicycles :lol:
This forum is awesome, so many kind folks offering help. Again thanks to everyone. Of course if any more folks have ideas please do post up.
 
I'm pretty sure I got mine from Sears, but it has been many years ago.
 
benmack1 said:
Thanks. Drop me a PM if you have the time. I've been doing some online looking and see there is one from Park Tool called TW-1. It's about $35 from amazon. If you can't come close to that, I'll probably go with that one. From my looking around, these kind of tools are HIGH DOLLAR. I am just setting the pinion preload and carrier preload on an old dana 30 and 44 from a 72 CJ5 so I don't want to spend a fortune for top quality stuff. I was shocked that I couldn't walk into any number of places locally and pick one off a shelf. I see alot of bicycle shops seem to come up when I google this kind of thing. I guess the bicycle folks must have precision torque things. I'm a fat middle aged guy interested in jeeps so not too familiar with bicycles :lol:
This forum is awesome, so many kind folks offering help. Again thanks to everyone. Of course if any more folks have ideas please do post up.
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No way to come close at all to $35. Just watch how accurate the really cheap ones are, I have seem them as bad a 25%+- rating, at this rate why bother???
 
snappy said:
No way to come close at all to $35. Just watch how accurate the really cheap ones are, I have seem them as bad a 25%+- rating, at this rate why bother???
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Yeah, I figured that. I've seen some of the brand name prices so your response is not at all a surprise. I'm just in shell shock on the cost of these things since I started looking. I had $25-50 in my head before I looked and that doesn't even seem to buy the box them come in. Someone mentioned you get what you pay for, damn I thought $35 for one wrench should get me somewhere but after I started looking I am not sure it does.:lol:
You make a point about accuracy (I appreciate the advice). This is my first differential rebuild and I'm not sure how accurate of a tool I actually need. I'd like to get within spec, but the spec range seems quite broad (15-25 in lb) or something like that. Seems 25% accuracy concerns could be tolerated vs. cost for this application. I guess for this first one, I can try both methods with the TW and a fish scale to try and calibrate a bit. I'm a total novice at this rebuild stuff too (doing a total frame off restoration of this CJ5), so I am also not sure if there are 10 other applications for a wrench like this that I'll need to think about either.
Thanks again for your time.
 
witchdoctor said:
you get what you pay for in this world.
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I would have agreed with you until about noon today. This is a bit off topic now, but I just went to Wendy's today with my father and my 9 and 8 year old. For the 4 of us it was almost $22. Geezus! I don't feel I got what I paid for there, hell I was still hungry when I left. Not exactly fine dining. I then filled a 5 gallon can with diesel for my tractor on the way home from lunch, another $20. Out $42, still was hungry and the stupid tractor is only at a half tank!:shaking:
 
if its as broad as 15-25 in-lb you could get away with a low range beam type ft-lb wrench (1ftlb=12inlbs) in my automotive classes at tech we have a 0-120ish inlb wrench and a 0-50 ftlb wrench some if you get a spec for 150inlbs you just convert it to ftlbs and torque it down. o and you can get beam style ftlb wrenches for around $30 at sears
 
Look up a "Park Tools TW-1"

That's what I've got. Should be a beam-type, $30-40 in-lb wrench. Park Tools is a bicycle tools company.

Dunno if you can find one locally. I ordered mine from Amazon or something.
 
Got my beam style from NAPA model 2955. It was made by KD. Been a few years ago probably about 55 bucks. It was USA made, goes up to 60 in. lbs which is a good range for pinion bearings.
 
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