A'ight, this question seems :rainbow:, but I've checked every resource I can think of: snapon, mac, harbor freight, jc whitney, sears, local auto stores, etc.

No one has a beam style 1/4" drive inch-pound torque wrench. I need one for setting pinion preload.

Snapon and Mac have the 200-300 dollar micrometer type. I'm looking for a cheapola $20 beam style dealio. I was hoping harbor freight would have a "made in Bangladesh" knockoff, but I can't find anything on their website.

Anyone have any clues? Thanks in advance.

cm "at wits end" k

I've got an old old snapon, with the old guage and all. In all my old manuals it's the one they actually have in the pictures. :D Lemme know if you wanna borrow it sometime. It's even been checked for accuracy.

Squash

If I run into ya' again, I would like to borrow it. I'd also like something to add to my own collection.

When are you gonna' be down at the shop again?

cmk

Did you search :flipoff2:

http://www.jlkdirect.com/Search/item.asp?IK=SPR%2D13171

http://www.toolalley.com/Results8.asp?Scodes_Action=Find('Scode','K%2D11')&Scodes_Position=FIL%3A%28Scodedef+LIKE+%27%25torqu e+wrench%25%27%29ORD%3AABS%3A4KEY%3AK%2D11PAR%3A

I got the "el cheapo" version from the latest "semi truck tool sale" here in Carson. I think it work alright?? but at $20 instead of $200.....who cares?

Originally posted by cmk
If I run into ya' again, I would like to borrow it. I'd also like something to add to my own collection.

When are you gonna' be down at the shop again?

cmk

I haven't been hanging out there too much, but if I know you're going to be down I'll make a point of stopping over. If you wanna drive down to Muktown I'd bring it to work, too. Whatever works.

Q

Yeah, I don't think you're gonna find an inch pound torque wrench for under $100.

One thing I noticed that I never knew: they all appear to be 1/4" drive, at least in the links above? So, how do you fit a 1/2" drive socket to go over a pinion nut? I've got an adapter that steps 1/4 to 3/8 (these are kinda rare IME) and then 3/8 up to 1/2.... but wouldn't this affect the accuracy of the torque reading? I mean the adapters would basically act as an extension, and I was always told the use of an extension increases torque and throws off torque readings to some extent....?

Originally posted by D60
Yeah, I don't think you're gonna find an inch pound torque wrench for under $100.

One thing I noticed that I never knew: they all appear to be 1/4" drive, at least in the links above? So, how do you fit a 1/2" drive socket to go over a pinion nut? I've got an adapter that steps 1/4 to 3/8 (these are kinda rare IME) and then 3/8 up to 1/2.... but wouldn't this affect the accuracy of the torque reading? I mean the adapters would basically act as an extension, and I was always told the use of an extension increases torque and throws off torque readings to some extent....?

I would like to point out that my Snap-On device is 3/8" drive and it cost me $5 at a local computer junk swap meet. :D So if CMK breaks it you will all read horror stories about how his Jeep mysteriously rolled in front of a train to commit suiccide. :nuke: :nuke:

Squash

i use a craftsman inch lb for pinion preload but its not a beam style

jdjanda, did you read my original message? I said "beam style," not $150 clicker or dial style.

Squash boy, if i can't find one at Jefferson this weekend, I'll be lookin' your way. I'm debating on even going due to http://image.weather.com/web/common/wxicons/31/12.gif.

I'm gonna' try to be down at the shop wednesday evening/night. I'll drop you a line if I still need the tool. Wanna' trade the tool for a burger? :D

I did manage to find this bugger: http://toolsource.com:888/OstImages/prodimages/71321.jpg at toolsource.com (http://toolsource.com:888/ost/product.asp?sourceid=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch%2Eyahoo%2 Ecom%2Fbin%2Fsearch%253fp%3Dlisle%2Btools&dept%5Fid=500&pf%5Fid=71321&mscssid=UTADV9JGAPSR2PWA00J74979AMFH2EED) and at $34, it's the best deal I've found thus far. I wouldn't mind a smaller one though.

d60, those 1/4" to 1/2" adapters are out there, but again, I haven't a clue where to find them. My buddy has one, but he probably got it on the same "five finger dana discount" that he got the inch-pound torque wrench through.

cmk

Found conversion info for in-lb to ft-lb. This might help in some cases, my ft-lb wrench is no good below 20ft-lb

Approx Approx
Inch Pound Foot Pds Newton Meter
in-lb. ft-lbs. Nm kgf-cm
10 0.83 1.13 8.70
15 1.25 1.69 13.04
20 1.67 2.26 17.39
25 2.08 2.82 21.74
30 2.50 3.39 26.09
35 2.92 3.95 30.43
40 3.33 4.52 34.78
45 3.75 5.08 39.13
50 4.17 5.65 43.48
55 4.58 6.21 47.83
60 5.00 6.78 52.17
65 5.42 7.34 56.52
70 5.83 7.91 60.87
75 6.25 8.47 65.22
80 6.67 9.04 69.57
85 7.08 9.60 73.91
90 7.50 10.17 78.26
95 7.92 10.73 82.61
100 8.33 11.30 86.96
125 10.42 14.12 108.70
150 12.50 16.95 130.43
175 14.58 19.77 152.17
200 16.67 22.60 173.91
225 18.75 25.42 195.65
250 20.83 28.25 217.39
275 22.92 31.07 239.13
300 25.00 33.89 260.87

in-lb = ft-lb / 12
in-lb = Nm / 8.851
in-lb = kgf-cm 1.15

Originally posted by cmk
jdjanda, did you read my original message? I said "beam style," not $150 clicker or dial style.


You got me there:p

I put up the conversion info you might be able to use that with a beam style ft-lb

Originally posted by cmk
jdjanda, did you read my original message? I said "beam style," not $150 clicker or dial style.

Squash boy, if i can't find one at Jefferson this weekend, I'll be lookin' your way. I'm debating on even going due to http://image.weather.com/web/common/wxicons/31/12.gif.

I'm gonna' try to be down at the shop wednesday evening/night. I'll drop you a line if I still need the tool. Wanna' trade the tool for a burger? :D

I did manage to find this bugger: http://toolsource.com:888/OstImages/prodimages/71321.jpg at toolsource.com (http://toolsource.com:888/ost/product.asp?sourceid=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch%2Eyahoo%2 Ecom%2Fbin%2Fsearch%253fp%3Dlisle%2Btools&dept%5Fid=500&pf%5Fid=71321&mscssid=UTADV9JGAPSR2PWA00J74979AMFH2EED) and at $34, it's the best deal I've found thus far. I wouldn't mind a smaller one though.

d60, those 1/4" to 1/2" adapters are out there, but again, I haven't a clue where to find them. My buddy has one, but he probably got it on the same "five finger dana discount" that he got the inch-pound torque wrench through.

cmk

I'll stop over wednesday night, just make sure you've got the burgers cookin' :) I'm going to Jefferson, I'm hardcore when it come to Jefferson!

Squash

Why a beam type?
Every inch-lb tirque wrench I ever used was a dial type. Set the tattletale to 0, turn the nut a couple of times, check the reading.

I've used 'em on trucks, cars, heavy equipment axles, etc. and it always works for me.

I got mine at Napa. They had to order it, but it was like $50 I think. Beam style

Ian, you're correct. If I could afford a dial type, I would be all over it. But for the 2 or 3 rearends I set up annually, I just can't justify the cost ... unless I find one cheap in Jefferson (local swap meet).

jdjanda, the problem with using a foot-pounds wrench and simply converting the reading to inch pounds is that the resolution just isn't there. My 44's pinion preload specs are like 5-15 inch pounds ... converted to foot-pounds, you're lookin' at 0.42-1.25 foot-pounds. Try reading that on a foot-pounds type torque wrench.

cmk

Originally posted by cmk
jdjanda, the problem with using a foot-pounds wrench and simply converting the reading to inch pounds is that the resolution just isn't there. My 44's pinion preload specs are like 5-15 inch pounds ... converted to foot-pounds, you're lookin' at 0.42-1.25 foot-pounds. Try reading that on a foot-pounds type torque wrench.

cmk

I know but if you were in a bind, better than nothing. I had not found the conversion information until today when I searched. There are enough cheap basssstard here that the information will come in handy.

In a week someone will ask do you know what the conversion is:question: We can all reply "Did you search" :D

Originally posted by jdjanda


I know but if you were in a bind, better than nothing. I had not found the conversion information until today when I searched. There are enough cheap basssstard here that the information will come in handy.

In a week someone will ask do you know what the conversion is:question: We can all reply "Did you search" :D

Actually, it's not because troque wrenches are thier most accurate in the middle 50% of thier range. Same as with gauges. As you get to the lower & upper ends of thier ranges, the accuracy drops tremendously.

Let's not confuse everything with another chart. I hope if we're swift enough to set up gears by .oo1 in. we're swift enough to know that reguardless of what some guys tell their women, there are 12 in. in a foot. Therefore 12 in. lb. = 1 ft. lb. 24 in. lb. = 2ft. lb. etc. Don't make it so complicated the first couple hundred times you try anything are the hardest. After that it gets easier.:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Originally posted by jdjanda


I know but if you were in a bind, better than nothing. I had not found the conversion information until today when I searched. There are enough cheap basssstard here that the information will come in handy.

In a week someone will ask do you know what the conversion is:question: We can all reply "Did you search" :D

Or more like did you pass 3rd grade :rolleyes:

I got a sweet deal on ebay

I checked into this for a friend of mine in the past, you can get a beam-type in-lb wrench from a bicycle repair shop.

Originally posted by Dustball
I checked into this for a friend of mine in the past, you can get a beam-type in-lb wrench from a bicycle repair shop.

That friend would be me. I got one from an online bicycle tool/part supplier. Looks sorta like this:http://toolsource.com:888/OstImages/prodimages/71321.jpg

I think it cost me $25-30 plus some for shipping.

Apparently those mountain bike :rainbow: s are a little particular about how tight they torque their sprockets.... :flipoff2:

I found some links....

Here's what I bought... (http://www.biketoolsetc.com/index.cgi?id=845346783738&d=single&c=Tools&sc=Hand%20Tools&tc=Torque%20Wrenches&item_id=PA-TW1) <-- That's the place I bought mine, but I think the price has gone up a few bucks. It's $32 now.

Here's the company that makes them:
Park Tools (http://www.parktool.com/)

The one I use is a KD tools # 2955
it is a 0-60 inch -lb beam type and works great for pinion preload....
I'm sure you could find one using the part # to search