I have 3 Craftsmen Microtork Torque wrenches (yes... I know... I know... I'll invests in something like Snap On if I have to get new ones). I've had them for about 8 years. I did a recent back-end build on my car and noticed that the torques felt a little low (used torque ranges from 35 - 120 Nm). A friend of mine reminded me that coil spring torque wrenches like these will go out of spec over usage. I tried calling Sears and they basically told me that I was on my own. Does anyone know of a place locally (Seattle metro area) where I can get these calibrated? Thanks.

 

im also dealing with the same problem... this week i have snapped two studs on newer cars at work with my snap on torque wrench... my snap on guy comes by every thursday so i havent had the chance to ask him yet but ill let ya know if he has the ability to or if someone hin the area can help out with this...

im snapping studs on trucks that require 115 ft lbs and the wrench is only set at 90 hmm

 

Nothing wrong with Craftsman.....do a Yahoo! search for metrology or calibration.

Don't forget to recalculate your torque settings if/when you're using an extension such as a crows foot or anything that does not share the wrench drive centerline.

Also, you must remove tension from torque wrenches when not in use or the internal mechanisms will get stressed and lose accuracy over time.

I see guys at work dropping torque wrenches and using them to remove nuts.....

 

our snap on guy didnt know of any locals to calibrate torque wrenches. He took my torque wrench to send out and have it tested at a snap on dealer or something. He is also letting me barrow a digi until mine comes back... i might not take mine back because this thing is awesome!

 

This makes for a good (and relatively cheap) calibrator and will even serve as a torque wrench in a pinch.

http://www.amazon.com/Alltrade-94075...6239121&sr=8-9

 

^ Nice. I like that idea.

I think I'll be abandoning the Craftsmen. I did a little looking and looks like they can't easily be "set to display" re-calibrated settings. From what I can tell, there are no external calibration ****/screw/etc. From what I've found so far the best method for living w/ one of these is to determine how much the wrench is off by and use the two calculated coefficients for ft-lbs and N-m when you set your torque settings.

http://redlegsrides.blogspot.com/200...-wrenches.html

Dunno if I could live w/ having to keep a calculator on hand every time I need to dial in torques on these wrenches.

 

so aparently snap on does make a 3/8 to 3/8 female to female sort of extension deal as well as 1/2 to 1/2.... and im told by a co worker depending on how much you love your wrench you can use that and a vice on a bench to wedge it against the bench and use more trusted digi torque wrench to measure the tightness... so basically when your wrench clicks you can read what it is with the digi if that makes any sense at all.... sounds VERY ghetto but i guess he has seen that done before? imo not something i would want to try but it sounded ghetto interesting

 

How do you do this...do you just dial back the torque setting to zero after each use?

 

yes... or you buy this one


and snap on claims you can leave it at whatever and it wont hurt it... plus its nice because it only spins one way... so even if you were to lend it our or something a ruh tard wouldnt have the ability to tighten anything with it

 

Discount Tire has a PMEL calibrated checker in the back room and my craftsman performs very accuratetly after over 10 years. Check with a friend and use Discount tire!!!!!!!!!!!!