X-AWDriver

My Eclipse had an aluminum valve cover and head and torqueing those to the right specs was crucial since any overtightening would crush the soft metal. The valve cover bolts only used about 10ft lbs of torque which is pretty much just finger snugged and can fool you if you are just guessing with a regular wrench and I've seen alot of damage done with guesstimates.

4RUNR

Since we are on the topic: aren't all torque figures given for 'dry'? i.e. applying lubricants (ex. anti-seize) will lower the torque figure.

platform389

Can't remember when you bought it...?

Then it is long past time for recalibration.

... and are you in for a treat.

First finding someone at Sears that even knows what a recal for a TQ wrench is will raise the blood pressure.

My last Craftsman was gone for SIX MONTHS before someone at UPS stole it. I took the claim money and bought a Snap-On to replace it.

Torque all drain plugs, and lugs nuts among other things.

MTL_4runner

Corey, I can't see any of your links?

SkyRat

That is because his message is a year and a half old and the link has expired...

MTL_4runner

hahahaha......didn't look!
Who brought this thing back from the dead?

Poll was still open too! :wtf:

ALBPM

My wife uses one on me every time I order new stuff

MTL_4runner

Aren't you talking about a BFH.

ALBPM

No, that would kill me.... She still wants me to bring home a paycheck..

MTL_4runner

Don't they all. .....oh well.

sick4runner

Yeah, i never used one until my dad gave me one that my dad took from my grandpa's house after he died. its a veeerry old craftsman but looks brand new and works great. it really helps me feel sure about torquing things down i.e. spark plugs, without fearing i might rip the threads out later.

Mohamed

Well I don't know if I mentioned this in the thread or not, but my father bought me a craftsman tw for my birthday last year. Pretty slick I think, though I wish I would have used it when installing various lines in my mom's Camry last week, I know I stripped one of the top bolts on the a/c compressor, as I knew it was aluminum but didn't think while tightening one of the bolts. I can't just bust it loose either unless I want to have a leak of refrigerant.

kford

never taken anything apart that I really needed one for. i've got about the nicest ratchet and socket set there is with all the extenstions and adapters you coudl think of, and I haven't done any major engine or tranny or susp. modding or repairing that would require one. But i have used one before and they are cool.

Yoter

I use to have a Crew Line TW but when I stopped turning wrenches I sold it. Now I have a Craftsman that is still in the box from Xmas. I need to get in gear and put it to work. I voted for torquing onlyt when need be. I don't go as far as to torque the chrome muffler bearing on. I'm a pro just using the screw driver on that.

AgRunner06

I bought that same one. I used it when I did my front rotors. It seemed to work fine for me. After following the instructions on 4x4wire and using their torque specs, everything seemed to move smoothly and didn't seem overtightened at all. It's supposed to be within 4%.

But yeah, I've got one but I don't use it very much.

boogyman

I just bolt on till it's tight (or appropriate feel)

MAIS0N

GET THE TORQUE WRENCH! Those neoprene oil pan gaskets on the Hondas are very sensitive to proper torque and pattern (torque sequence). Here is another tip: Make sure that all the sealing surfaces that the gasket will contact are well wiped down. I usually use a rag with a little mineral spirits to clean 'em up real good. If there is any oil on there the gasket will keep gishing out of the seam before you can get it tightened down right.

EDIT= I'm an idiot. His post was like 2 years ago. Oh well, hope he didn't bork his gisket.

JSharp

Hmm. I'll have to try this. I always use "tighten it until it gets loose, then back it off 1/4 turn."



Seriously, I have a Snap-On clicker type ft/lb wrench I use on most things, and a Craftsman in/lb beam type wrench for small stuff...

bobzemuda

I have a Craftsman and a Pittsburgh 3/8" torque wrench. I keep the Pittsburgh in my truck and use the Craftsman when at home.

I started buying an extra set of Craftsman tools to keep in the truck, but after buying an extra 3/8" ratchet and metric socket set, I thought to take the trip to Harbor Freight and see what there stuff was going for. The 3/8" torque wrench was $10. A 14 metric wrench set was $13.

I wouldn't want Pittsburgh for my first tier tools when at home, but to avoid keeping an incredibly expensive set in the car, I think they're better then buying one of those crappy car kits.

I can't bring myself to leave the Craftsman's in my car anymore, because my buddy's Jeep XJ got broken into and all of his tools were in it from a run the day before. They stole them all, and I'd rather be out $50 worth of tools then $250 if the same thing ever happened to me.

Bill

L33T35T 4Runner

you consider lug nuts a "minor" thing? wow... imagine going 65mph and not tightening those down with a torque wrench becuase you thought it was a minor thing...

ya.. i use a torque wrench for everything