Using a torque wrench to loosen bolts

[bruceb]

Jules is correct. There are numerous applications where the bolt is Left Hand Thread instead of the normal Right Hand Thread. Probably also quite often on aircraft.

 

[Gillbot]

All I know is the HF torque wrench I bought did not come with a calibration certificate and the CDI torque wrench I just bought did. I feel more confident in the CDI torque wrench.

None of my wrenches came with a cal cert, not even my snap-on. I just took em to work and put em on the checker and to my surprise, the HF ones were more accurate. I used mine to mount a balancer bolt that's reverse threaded and it clicked fine. Granted, mine are somewhat old and some HF stuff has been declining in quality (if it even can!) so YMMV. I just hate the generic "HF IS GARBAGE" assumptions many people always throw out when craftsman (now a days) is just as bad.

EDIT: Oh and to those claiming cheap china tools more easily round off bolt heads, I disagree. I've had more cheap sockets and wrenches round off before the bolt did anymore! I don't know how they can claim this chinese mush metal is "hardened" steel when it's softer than play-doh.

 

[JulesMaximus]

None of my wrenches came with a cal cert, not even my snap-on. I just took em to work and put em on the checker and to my surprise, the HF ones were more accurate. I used mine to mount a balancer bolt that's reverse threaded and it clicked fine. Granted, mine are somewhat old and some HF stuff has been declining in quality (if it even can!) so YMMV. I just hate the generic "HF IS GARBAGE" assumptions many people always throw out when craftsman (now a days) is just as bad.

EDIT: Oh and to those claiming cheap china tools more easily round off bolt heads, I disagree. I've had more cheap sockets and wrenches round off before the bolt did anymore! I don't know how they can claim this chinese mush metal is "hardened" steel when it's softer than play-doh.

I'm not knocking them too much, I just didn't want to trust my motorcycle engine to a cheap torque wrench. I'd rather spend a little more for a quality tool (and yes, my torque wrench did come with a calibration certificate). If nothing else it gives me some peace of mind.

I bought a set of Harbor Freight deep well impact sockets and have been very pleased with them.

This isn't the one my torque wrench shipped with but it was exactly like this.

 

[Gillbot]

I'm not knocking them too much, I just didn't want to trust my motorcycle engine to a cheap torque wrench. I'd rather spend a little more for a quality tool (and yes, my torque wrench did come with a calibration certificate). If nothing else it gives me some peace of mind.

I bought a set of Harbor Freight deep well impact sockets and have been very pleased with them.

This isn't the one my torque wrench shipped with but it was exactly like this.

I did everything on my car with cheap tools and I flogged it mercilessly. D:

 

[JulesMaximus]

I did everything on my car with cheap tools and I flogged it mercilessly. D:

The difference in cost was only $70.