Where to get a good cheap torque wrench?

[IHateMyJob2004]

I need a torque wrench that goes to 200 foot pounds.

Preferably something I can get at a big box store like Sears or Home Depot.

I only need this for a special case and I already have a good one that goes up to 150 foot pounds.

So, what are my options for an inexpensive torque wrench that will be used sparingly and go up to 200 foot pounds?

 

[Gillbot]

http://search.harborfreight.co...?keyword=torque+wrench

I got my 1/2" drive one there on sale for $9.99 and took it to work to put on our tester. It was surprisingly accurate for the price so I bought another.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

The one i think you are talking about only goes to 150 foot pounds. I need 200 foot pounds

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

HOme Depot has one for $70. Not bad:
http://www.homedepot.com/webap...st&storeCity=Waterford

Lowes is $85:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn...-1074-22505&lpage=none

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
The one i think you are talking about only goes to 150 foot pounds. I need 200 foot pounds

http://www.harborfreight.com/c...em.taf?Itemnumber=2696 this one goes to 200lbft for 20bucks.

 

[Elstupido]

Leeme guess, for your oil filter? lol

 

[Numenorean]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
The one i think you are talking about only goes to 150 foot pounds. I need 200 foot pounds

http://www.harborfreight.com/c...em.taf?Itemnumber=2696 this one goes to 200lbft for 20bucks.

1/4" drive and 200 ft lbs? That just doesn't sound right. I think it would be best to be at least 1/2" drive. Usually anything that requires 200 ft lb is going to need a larger socket.

OP are you working on a pittman arm or something?

 

[Turin39789]

grabbed mine at sears

 

[MrSpock53]

Originally posted by: Numenorean

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
The one i think you are talking about only goes to 150 foot pounds. I need 200 foot pounds

http://www.harborfreight.com/c...em.taf?Itemnumber=2696 this one goes to 200lbft for 20bucks.

1/4" drive and 200 ft lbs? That just doesn't sound right. I think it would be best to be at least 1/2" drive. Usually anything that requires 200 ft lb is going to need a larger socket.

OP are you working on a pittman arm or something?

That's 200 inch-pounds, which is about 17 foot pounds.

Perhaps something like this would work:

http://www.northerntool.com/we...70_200343055_200343055

Edit: Cheaper option: http://www.toolsource.com/clic...250-ftlbs-p-96590.html

Another for $30

 

[drnickriviera]

Are you sure that oil filter thing needs 200 ft-lbs and not in-lbs? 200 ft is a hell of a lot of force. I can't think of a single thing i've ever had to torque to 200.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: drnickriviera
Are you sure that oil filter thing needs 200 ft-lbs and not in-lbs? 200 ft is a hell of a lot of force. I can't think of a single thing i've ever had to torque to 200.

Spindle nuts usually take around there or more, but that is not exactly a common nut to pull off.

 

[PottedMeat]

Originally posted by: drnickriviera
Are you sure that oil filter thing needs 200 ft-lbs and not in-lbs? 200 ft is a hell of a lot of force. I can't think of a single thing i've ever had to torque to 200.

With a mistake like that could you strip the threads on the engine block?

 

[ehhhh]

At the very least get a craftsman Tq wrench. There's no point in buying those cheap Harbor freight wrenches when they are going to be way off...

Originally posted by: PottedMeat

Originally posted by: drnickriviera
Are you sure that oil filter thing needs 200 ft-lbs and not in-lbs? 200 ft is a hell of a lot of force. I can't think of a single thing i've ever had to torque to 200.

With a mistake like that could you strip the threads on the engine block?

Almost definitely especially with an aluminum block/housing.

 

[drnickriviera]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: drnickriviera
Are you sure that oil filter thing needs 200 ft-lbs and not in-lbs? 200 ft is a hell of a lot of force. I can't think of a single thing i've ever had to torque to 200.

Spindle nuts usually take around there or more, but that is not exactly a common nut to pull off.

Usually when I get to those, I just take a breaker bar, a long pipe, go as much as I can and say 'ehh close enough' I don't even bother with my 18" long snapon wrench

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Numenorean

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
The one i think you are talking about only goes to 150 foot pounds. I need 200 foot pounds

http://www.harborfreight.com/c...em.taf?Itemnumber=2696 this one goes to 200lbft for 20bucks.

1/4" drive and 200 ft lbs? That just doesn't sound right. I think it would be best to be at least 1/2" drive. Usually anything that requires 200 ft lb is going to need a larger socket.

OP are you working on a pittman arm or something?

it's in lbs...not foot lbs.

 

[alkemyst]

A beam type is going to be your best bet for 'cheap' and accurate. Sears I think has a reasonable beam type that goes to 200 ft lbs (I think 250). Usually on a higher rated torque wrench your lower level is still pretty high like 75 ft lbs....

amazon is a good source too.

I'd expect it to be around $30-50....I have Craftsman DigiTorq in in-lb, 5-75 ft lb and then one up to 150-200 or so ft-lb.

I get them on sale at about $90 a pop.

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
The one i think you are talking about only goes to 150 foot pounds. I need 200 foot pounds

They have many models, that was a quick search.

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
A beam type is going to be your best bet for 'cheap' and accurate. Sears I think has a reasonable beam type that goes to 200 ft lbs (I think 250). Usually on a higher rated torque wrench your lower level is still pretty high like 75 ft lbs....

amazon is a good source too.

I'd expect it to be around $30-50....I have Craftsman DigiTorq in in-lb, 5-75 ft lb and then one up to 150-200 or so ft-lb.

I get them on sale at about $90 a pop.

Hard to look at the needle and get it right when you're using the wrench though

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

Hard to look at the needle and get it right when you're using the wrench though

You shouldn't have to look at the fastener. I don't know why people think that way.

The biggest problem you usually run into with a beam type is if the head is not reversible.