Not too long ago, I grabbed my 1/2" clicker wrench and started putting lug nuts on. After a bit of use, I realized that it seemingly wasn't "clicking"-I had it set to 60ft-lbs, and it certainly felt like I was going well beyond there. I haven't done any formal calibration, but have since tried it enough to know that the "clicker" is dead in it(yes, I'd always stored it loose, but I suppose that's what you get from Harbor Freight torque wrenches).
I had an immediate need to get some front suspension work done where the torque window on everything was pretty wide-40-70 ft-lbs was typical, and all with castle nuts(I think the wide torque window was to allow you to align split pins in the castle nuts). I needed something, though, so bought a $7 beam type from Menards.
I don't have any great expectations of accuracy from this and I don't know if I'd build an engine with it, but it fit my needs at the time.
I had never used a beam wrench before, and even though it's a whole lot less convenient than a clicker I do like it in some ways. For one, I can see when I'm approaching the torque value, while with a clicker experience will tell you when you're close but the wrench itself doesn't give any indication other than clicking when you reach the setpoint. Obviously too it's bulkier and you have to be able to see the scale.
Still, though, it got me wondering. Given how much simpler a beam type is than a clicker, and the fact that the only "moving" part is the bending of the wrench, it seems like they should hold their calibration assuming they're good from the start. I don't know how good that is for a $7 one, but I'd think a quality one would be good.
Does anyone here regularly use a beam type wrench? Obviously I want to replace my clicker and need to research my better-than-HF options, but in the mean time I'm just wondering how safe I am with a beam wrench. I'm not anticipating any engine work any time soon, so its main use is going to be lugnuts, something I don't consider super critical of exact torque.
I had an immediate need to get some front suspension work done where the torque window on everything was pretty wide-40-70 ft-lbs was typical, and all with castle nuts(I think the wide torque window was to allow you to align split pins in the castle nuts). I needed something, though, so bought a $7 beam type from Menards.
I don't have any great expectations of accuracy from this and I don't know if I'd build an engine with it, but it fit my needs at the time.
I had never used a beam wrench before, and even though it's a whole lot less convenient than a clicker I do like it in some ways. For one, I can see when I'm approaching the torque value, while with a clicker experience will tell you when you're close but the wrench itself doesn't give any indication other than clicking when you reach the setpoint. Obviously too it's bulkier and you have to be able to see the scale.
Still, though, it got me wondering. Given how much simpler a beam type is than a clicker, and the fact that the only "moving" part is the bending of the wrench, it seems like they should hold their calibration assuming they're good from the start. I don't know how good that is for a $7 one, but I'd think a quality one would be good.
Does anyone here regularly use a beam type wrench? Obviously I want to replace my clicker and need to research my better-than-HF options, but in the mean time I'm just wondering how safe I am with a beam wrench. I'm not anticipating any engine work any time soon, so its main use is going to be lugnuts, something I don't consider super critical of exact torque.