Torque Wrench Capacity

[Lionelgee]

G'day General Chat,

What would the be the best capacity Deflecting Beam torque wrench for working on a Series 3 Land Rover?
I have one fitted with either a Land Rover 2.25 litre diesel,
One fitted with an Isuzu 3.6 litre 4BB1?
Another fitted with a Holden 202 motor
I would like to get one (1) torque wrench that would be suitable for all the motors and anything else Land Rover - ish :)

What brand of Deflecting Beam torque wrench do people use and are happy with?

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Tank]

I had 3, all Warren and Brown, some bastard stole my 120ft/lb one, which I had for 30+years, the other is a inch/lbs, I used to use for adjust auto box bands, too small for a Landy, insurance replaced the stolen one with a 220ft/lbs (300nm), bit large but makes head bolts a lot easier to torque, Regards Frank.

[Bigbjorn]

I have a Seekonk 1/4" drive and a Craftsman electronic 1/2" drive. Both are in the precision instrument category, that is inspection grade rather than workshop grade. I also have a Warren & Brown which broke after almost 40 years service. Parts and recalibration would have cost as much as buying the Craftsman in the USA.

[Lionelgee]

I have a Seekonk 1/4" drive and a Craftsman electronic 1/2" drive. Both are in the precision instrument category, that is inspection grade rather than workshop grade. I also have a Warren & Brown which broke after almost 40 years service. Parts and recalibration would have cost as much as buying the Craftsman in the USA.


Hello Brian,

Well that answered one question that I did not write. Whether one should chance getting a second hand - dearer brand torque wrench and getting new parts and recalibration if it needed it?

According to your reply Brian the answer would be a resounding "no" even with an Australian made product.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

I had 3, all Warren and Brown, some bastard stole my 120ft/lb one, which I had for 30+years, the other is a inch/lbs, I used to use for adjust auto box bands, too small for a Landy, insurance replaced the stolen one with a 220ft/lbs (300nm), bit large but makes head bolts a lot easier to torque, Regards Frank.

G'day Tank

Thank you for the reply and for pointing out that there are horses for courses!

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Blknight.aus]

you want something that heads up to 135nm or 100 ftLB that covers 90+% of anything most home mechanics will deal with on a routine basis...

BUT...

ideally you dont use a torque wrench in the lower 30% of its scale so its not really reccomended for bolts under about 50nm or 35 ftlb.

I have 3 1/4 3/8th and 1/2 inch drive. which covers me from about 3nm up to 340NM

the bulk of my work is done with the 3/8th which covers the 10-100ftlb range

[Lionelgee]

you want something that heads up to 135nm or 100 ftLB that covers 90+% of anything most home mechanics will deal with on a routine basis...

BUT...

ideally you dont use a torque wrench in the lower 30% of its scale so its not really reccomended for bolts under about 50nm or 35 ftlb.

I have 3 1/4 3/8th and 1/2 inch drive. which covers me from about 3nm up to 340NM

the bulk of my work is done with the 3/8th which covers the 10-100ftlb range

G'day Dave,

Thank you for the different sizes in drives and their uses.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Bigbjorn]

Hello Brian,

Well that answered one question that I did not write. Whether one should chance getting a second hand - dearer brand torque wrench and getting new parts and recalibration if it needed it?

According to your reply Brian the answer would be a resounding "no" even with an Australian made product.

Kind Regards
Lionel

The parts for the W&B were quoted at $68 plus postage and recalibration was quoted at $30. The parts were three small pieces mostly pot metal. I bought the 1/2" drive electronic Craftsman 20 ft/lb - 250 ft/lb for AU$108 on my Visa Card from Harbor Tool in Long Beach. Freight was f-a as I brought it home in checked luggage.

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

In a couple of days time - depending on Australia Post ... I will be the proud owner of a Warren and Brown Model Number 323500 (20 to 200 ft lbs). Thank you for the tips about what brand and capacity to start off with all the people who sent replies. It is much appreciated. :) Well that was this pay's Land Rover goodies budget expended in one place at one time.

Hopefully its smaller brother will be coming my way in the not too distant future.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Hay Ewe]

Hello All,

In a couple of days time - depending on Australia Post ... I will be the proud owner of a Warren and Brown Model Number 323500 (20 to 200 ft lbs). Thank you for the tips about what brand and capacity to start off with all the people who sent replies. It is much appreciated. :) Well that was this pay's Land Rover goodies budget expended in one place at one time.

Hopefully its smaller brother will be coming my way in the not too distant future.

Kind Regards
Lionel

If I was in the hanger at work, for me that torque wrench would be good for between 50 to 175 ft lbs. Sure it says 20 to 200 but at the upper and lower ends of the scale, they are not so accurate. if I needed to do 200ft lbs, I would looked for a tq wrench 100 to 300 ft lbs.

Hay Ewe

[d2dave]

I have a Warren and Brown 1/4 and 1/2 inch. The 1/2 inch goes to 120 Ft lb and in 40 odd years it has covered every thing that I have needed.

Most 1/4 drive use was for auto band adjustment.