Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Hi all,

I'm looking at buying a fairly cheap torque wrench, what's the maximum I'll ever need to tighten up a bolt/nut on a bike (or for that instance, car)?

I'd like to get one that doesn't run out of scale.

Any ideas?

TIA!

You are only ever going to buy one, so make it a decent one.

A quick look through my ER-5 manual and the highest value I could find was 125Nm. I am pretty sure most of 'em go to well above that. I think the one we have is a Repco branded one...

Mick
I have 2.. a short one only up to 40ft/lbs (for ratings by 1ft/lb up to 40)
and a normal (long one) up to 220 ft/lb
...both are Warren and Brown.
a long time ago an old mechanic I was working with
( I was doing time in a servo, that served petrol and did repairs)
told me
son, buy the very best you can (you can afford)
because if you need it (a tool) to do a job once
it is very likely you will need it again...
and that is very true
i have bought cheap hand tools over the years
but I don't have them, the good one I stil have and use
so buy sumfing ½decent
repco have a good range of tools (or Bursons or Blackwoods)
don't buy the junk at Kmart or BigW

mate...my 2C

cheers

Smitty1955 wrote:...don't buy the junk at Kmart or BigW

Thanks Ian, I was looking at a unit in Bunnings, but will look at Repco as well.

I couldnt agree more about buying the best quality tools you can afford, I use mostly repco with some sidchrome also. The repco is nearly as good as sidchrome for all intents and purposes but quite a bit cheaper it seems.
That said buying one of those cheap $100 250 odd piece sets from K-mart is not a bad idea if you just need it to get you out of trouble.

I've got 2 sets of tools... Good ones that i've bought, and cheap ones that have been presents...

I use the good ones and lend the cheaper ones out...

I would seriously find a trade tools place, as sometimes their pricing isn't scary like people think. You often get a much better tool for a modest extra cost - sometimes even cheaper - stay away from bunnings and the like for quality tools.

If you need something in a hurry, bunnings are fine, but I have gotten much better prices at times from the independants, and they do deals As an example, I bought an Hitachi drill bit/driver set for $68, and the same set was in bunnies for $120. Actually I bought 2 of them, one for my father (can't resist a bargain!).

My father was fitter/turner - actually that isn't exactly what he was, he was a machinist/fabricator but when he came here they lumped him in the fitter/turner category.

He has always drummed into me the value of quality, especially quality tools. He has some tools dating back over 30 years, still in top working order. When I buy a tool, I buy it thinking "this is the only one I'll ever need to buy"...

supacheap auto have a few on the shelves. there are cheap one and average price one. Shop around and see what u like.

i got mine for 30 and it works ok i guess.

mick,

torque wrenches need to have their calibration checked every now and then... for a regular workshop (car/bike), depending on frequency of use, once a year, twice at the most...

my snap-on torque wrench cost me 500 bucks.. luckily the workshop pays for the re-calibration.

if im right, most brands out there dont offer a long warranty.. i may need to double check but im sure snap-on give a lifetime warranty, probably depending on circumstances.. besides, it might not be worth it for you to get a pricey one if you only need it for basic things and you wouldnt be using it very often (i could be wrong but).

0.02c

...i may need to double check but im sure snap-on give a lifetime warranty...

Not anymore. One of my mates recently had hassles with a torque wrench and was informed "we don't have that policy anymore".

I use a $3k Snap on electronic torque wrench, works ok I guess.....

mat wrote:I use a $3k Snap on electronic torque wrench, works ok I guess.....

pharrrk
for $3 large... it would wanna.......

mat wrote:I use a $3k Snap on electronic torque wrench, works ok I guess.....

mate i would want it to blow me night and day for that price.

Being a Motor mech
i would put it to you like this
buy the best you can afford then spend some of next week wage as well
meaning if you use cheap shit then the job will never be right

my toolbox is about $15k worth maybe more (22 yrs of spending tho) and i have a second set i use for the new job building petrol stations just incase the ute gets pinched


a man can never have to many tools

Ratmick wrote:Thanks Ian, I was looking at a unit in Bunnings, but will look at Repco as well.

Mate, I've worked at bunnings on and off for years. Also spent a few years as a manager for them. This what you need to do.

Got to your local Bunnings, probably Northland or Taylors Lakes, see what they have in the Sidcrome/Proto range aswell as the Kinchrome range. Check their price and then go looking around for the SAME model at a cheaper price.
When/if you find it, get it in writting or similar, go back to Bunnings, and they will beat the price by 15%, usually on the spot.

Can't lose really.