Well there was a bit of a tool sale on in Adelaide today so I picked myself up a torque wrench finally. I dont know much about them so I thought I would see if I got what I needed? Its a KC one, and measures up to 250 ft-lb, and cost me about 120. What worries me is that when I got home I realised that it has been calibrated to within + or - 4% which I would have thought was fairly inaccurate. What do you all think a good deal or not?

i saw a $15 torque wrench and it was a long needle that would measure how much flexion there was in the actual handle shaft

i thought that was hilarious and didnt buy it

a mate uses a torque wrench you adjust the readings at the base and when you hit the torque it clicks
said it was only about $40
he says it does the job

thats price comparison matt, sorry dont know about accuracy

_________________
Inconspicuously Conspicuous
Appreciation without Depreciation
forever chasing clearer skies...

Dont know the brand of mine, but it has a micrometer-style adjusment handle.... and cost 40 bucks too.

Seems pretty accurate, I connected it to a Snap On wrench at the same torque level, and they both clicked at the same time.

So yeah. For 120 you'd want it to be REALLY good.

_________________
[NATHAN] -- Sold everything mini related and am back in big beautiful BMWs

I bought one of those years ago. I used it for 20 years. They are not too bad, probably more accurate than a cheapo `clicky' one. I've got one of these too..

If buying a `clicky', be aware that the Supertool and the Kincrome ones look identical but the Kincrome is a lot dearer. According to the distributors this is because the mechanism in the head is much better quality. So, I bought the Kincrome.....

`Warren & Brown' ones (were Oz made) are among the best, but they are over $250 now I think. I've got a baby one bought years ago for auto tranny work. They use a torsion bar with a clicky reset plunger.

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I won't use anything else..

Got two of those, they measure withing 5lb/ft of each other..

Also have two of the 'clicky' ones - a $120 kingchrome, and a $300 sidchrome, and they're both completely useless.. A 70lb/ft setting on the kingchrome is actually about 20, and a 30lb/ft setting on the big sidchrome is actually about 90!

_________________
_-DG-_
'73 Mini Clubman S

Hmmm... I better check my Kincrome one then!
I'll use the old torsion one to check it...

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Ah yes, my old man has one of those. It's a big mutha too. I've seen him torque down the heads on 16L diesels with it.

I have a cheap kinchrome job. But would trust a small needle type over the lower range of the kinchrome.

The worry about the clicky types is that you have to remember to unwind the dial otherwise if you leave it, it will get out of calibration.

_________________
"Life is not like a box of chocolates... it's more like a jar of jalapenos. Whatever you do today, may burn your arse tomorrow."

big brother has a warren and brown one, and you can send it back for re-calibration whereas the cheapies you can't. he uses it for race engines though, so the tolerances are tighter, you need better accuracy.

for some of the torque settings that are too low for it, or when putting my mini bits together i use a repco ratchet clicky one. i doubt its very accurate, but is only about $40

_________________
the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates

Kev. I'd be very interested in your test results as I've got the big Kincrome one too and at first it seemed inaccurate (that or I just wasn;t using it properly).

For example on what manufacturers claim - I've got a sidcrome rathchet wrench (you know the spaner with a ratcheting mechanism). Supposed to require only 5deg of movement space - yea right. I've actualy measured the minimal distance for it to click and its atleast 15deg. Still a life saver with bottom rad. mounts and such though.

I've got one of them, company discount at blackwoods - it's lovely to use. I don't trust the clicky ones, had a couple of bad experiences with them....

When I got my Kinchrome one, it came with a `test' certificate...
But now 2 years later after a bit of use, it reads 7 lbs before the spring starts to compress....
I'll check them this arvo...

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

oooh looks like i was laughing at something thats quite trustworthy

_________________
Inconspicuously Conspicuous
Appreciation without Depreciation
forever chasing clearer skies...

I had a look at the Warren & Brown one while i was there at the time didnt know much about the brand so i didnt get that one cause it had a lower range and was around 270 bucks. There was also a Kinchrome for $75 but that looked cheap as in not very accurate, so i decided to go with the KC (kingchrome) one as they are normally about $180. I would have thought that most of you guys would have had accurate ones as you are constantly rebuilding engines .

OK so if I want one what should I buy?

_________________
Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

I've have a torsion bar type like the Docs and felt 30 odd years of abuse I better get a new one. Bought a chepo micrometer from Supercrap when they had a 20% sale. After all this discussion I better check one against the other

_________________
David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!