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Everything You Need To Know About Torque Wrenches

What Are Torque Wrenches?

A tool which is utilized to apply a particular torque to a fastener such as a nut or bolt is known as a torque wrench. It would be generally in the form of a socket wrench with special internal mechanisms.

 

The torque wrench would be utilized where the tightness of screws and bolts would be crucial. It would allow the operator to set the torque which has been applied to the fastener so it can be matched to the specifications for a specific application. It would permit proper tension and loading of all parts. A torque wrench would utilize torque as a proxy for bolt tension. The technique would then suffer from inaccuracy due to inconsistent or uncalibrated friction between the fastener and its mating hole. Measuring bolt tension (indirectly via bolt stretch) would be actually what is desired, but often torque would be the only practical measurement which can be made.

Types Of Torque Wrenches

Are you searching for the different types of torque wrenches? Then don’t worry! All you have to do is to have a look below and then all your doubts regarding its types would be cleared.

 

  • Electronic Torque Wrenches
  • Beam
  • Click
  • Hydraulic Torque Wrenches
  • Micrometer Torque Wrenches
  • Dial Torque Wrenches

How Do Torque Wrenches Work?

Are you searching how do the torque wrenches actually work? Then all you have to do is to have a look below and then you will be able to understand everything.

 

These tools would be calibrated to apply a certain amount of torque to a fastener. The amount of torque which would be applied would depend upon the amount of force on the tool’s handle and the length of the wrench. To work out the torque, the torque formula is force x length = torque.

 

There is an internal mechanical indicator in the handle which would connect to a calibrated scale. Now when the indicator would determine the desired torque has been reached, and then it would stop twisting the bolt.

 

To show how much torque would be applied, the tools would generally have an easy-to-read scale or display screen.

 

They might be calibrated to read in lb·ft (pound-feet), lb·in (pound inch), or N·m (newton meter).

Purpose Of Torque Wrenches

The purpose of wrench and force screwdrivers is sort of similar. There are various kinds of torque wrench - Beam, deflecting beam, slipper, click, etc.

 

The torque wrench has maintained standard ISO 6789. The wrench is additionally used for wheel amendment to tighten the nut or bolt. Before you purchase torque, wrench set item, it's vital that you just recognize the proper use of it within the electrical region.

Top Brands For Torque Wrenches

Most of the people have a nature to avoid risk and seek safety. That is the reason why they would go with a familiar auto parts brand than a new one. It would prove to be safe and they know what to expect. Have a look at our top brands for Torque Wrenches which would offer safety and at the same time decrease the risk of disappointment.


Precision Instruments Torque Wrenches

Gear Wrench Torque Wrenches

ATD Torque Wrenches

Proto Torque Wrenches

CDI Torque Products Torque Wrenches

Acdelco Torque Wrenches

Norbar Torque Wrenches

Related Parts Of Torque Wrenches

Willing to know what other parts are linked with your car Torque Wrenches? There is no need to say more! Just have a look below and all your doubts would be cleared.

 

The Ten Things You Should Know About Your Torque Wrench

Torque wrenches are common place across a wide range of industrial processes, commercial garages and even homes wherever there would be a precision assembly process utilising threaded fasteners. Considering their widespread use however, there would remain a number of things that people get wrong or simply don’t know.

 

Have a look at top ten things which should be considered:


  • Storing your torque wrench
  • For accurate results, one click would be enough
  • Your wrench should be used on an anticlockwise thread
  • Converting between torque units
  • Adjusting your torque wrench
  • Using marked loading points for accurate results
  • Using torque wrenches for undoing
  • Adding extensions to the torque wrench handle
  • It should be locked in
  • Applying ‘crows foot’ type fittings to a torque wrench

How To Use A Torque Wrench?

Have a look at some steps of using a torque wrench:


Adjusting the Torque Wrench

 

Step 1

 

Tightener at the end of the wrench’s handle should be loosened up. You should then look up at the end of your wrench’s handle to find the tightener which would lock the settings in place. It would generally be a plastic or metal cap which would be stuck into the end of your wrench. Many a times, it would be of different colour than the rest of your wrench as well. It should then be twisted counter clockwise by hand to loosen the piece so that the settings of the wrench can be changed.

 

  • There is no need to take it off your wrench; you just have to loosen it until you would not feel a ton of resistance.

Step 2

 

Then you should find as well as identify the torque measurements on your wrench. The area near your handle should then be inspected to find the hash marks for the torque setting. There would be 1 set of larger numbers on the body of the wrench and then 1 set of smaller numbers on the handle. The smaller numbers would be the smaller digits, while the larger numbers are the larger units.

 

  • The torque would be measured in foot-pounds or meter-kilograms (ft-lb or m-kg). Your torque wrench would set 2 sets of numbers on the wrench’s hash marks. The lower number would be measured in foot-pounds and the larger number in meter-kilograms.
  • The vertical location of the edge of the handle would decide the baseline while the rotation of the handle determines the smaller digits. There would be a centerline on the wrench to show where the handle would be set.
  • Let us understand this with the help of an example, if the edge of the handle would be on the hash mark for 100, and the smaller number on the handle itself would be turned to 5, the torque setting for the wrench is 105 ft-lb (1397 m-kg).

Step 3

 

The dial should then be turned to raise or lower the torque setting on the wrench. Now when the tightener would be loosened, brace the body of the wrench with your non dominant hand. The hand should then be turned clockwise to raise it, or counter clockwise to lower it. Now once you would reach the desired hash mark, then you should stop turning the handle.


  • If there would be a need to reach a particular number, raise the handle to the hash mark that is within 5 ft-lb (200 m-kg) of your number. So if you know you need to reach 140 ft-lb (1860 m kg), then you should raise the handle to the hash mark between 135-145 ft-lb (1795-1928 m-kg).
  • There would be some torque wrench handles which would be slid up and down instead of twisting into place.

Step 4

 

The dial on the handle should then be twisted to make minor adjustments. Now once you would be close to the desired number, then you should turn your attention from the height of the handle to the dial itself. Make sure to follow the readings as you would turn the handle slowly. Now as you would turn clockwise, the number goes up. Now when you would turn counter clockwise, the number goes down.


  • There would be a few negative numbers after 0 so that you would move down a little as well.
  • On some wrenches, the dial would move independently of the handle and you would twist it by turning the dial, not the handle.

Step 5

 

A smaller digit should then be added to the handle to the number on the larger hash mark to determine total torque. Now once you have adjusted the handle’s height and twisted the dial, then the total torque should be calculated to ensure that it’s accurately adjusted by adding the numbers together. A hash mark should then be taken on your handle and add the number marked on the dial to get your torque. So now if the dial would read 4 and the handle would read 50, your total torque is 54 ft-lb (718 m-kg).


  • Negative numbers can also be added as well. Let us understand this with the help of an example, if your hash mark is 120 and the dial is -2, you add 120 to -2 to get 118 ft-lb (1569 m-kg).

Step 6

 

The tightener should be screwed back into the end of the wrench by hand to lock it. If you want to lock a torque setting into the wrench, then you can always flip it back over to the handle.

 

Tightening Nuts and Bolts

 

Your socket should be put on the head of your wrench. To utilize your torque wrench, you should start by sliding a socket which would match your nut or bolt into the head of your torque wrench. If you will have an extender or adaptor that you would be utilizing, you can slide into the opening at the head instead.

 

The torque wrenches are available in many sizes, but the sockets are almost always interchangeable. The torque wrenches would be expensive, so they would rarely come in a single size.

 

The nut or bolt should then be turned by hand until it would catch the threading on the screw. Take the nut or bolt which you would be going to tighten and place it over the threading for the screw or opening on your vehicle by hand. The automobiles nut or bolt should be turned clockwise with your fingers until the threading would catch the threading on the screw. You should then turn the nut or bolt until it won’t turn by hand anymore.

 

The socket should then be fitted on the top of the nut or bolt that you’re tightening. Now with the nut or bolt set on the threading, hold the handle of the torque wrench in your non dominant hand. The dominant hand should then be used to guide the socket, adaptor, or extender on to the nut or bolt. The wrench should then be slid over the nut or bolt until the 2 pieces are flush.

 

The hand should then be turned clockwise to tighten the nut or bolt. The handle should then be rotated clockwise to begin tightening the nut or bolt. Almost all the torque wrenches would have an automatic return functions so there would be no need to reposition them on the nut or bolt.

 

Now for this type of wrench, you should simply move it counter clockwise to reset it. If you have a manual wrench, reposition it on the nut or bolt to continue torquing it down.

 

If you hear a clicking or switching noise when you return the handle counter clockwise, then you would have an automatically-returning torque wrench.

 

You should stop turning the wrench when it would start clicking or stops moving. If your automatic wrench would click when you would be returning it, then you should keep on tightening the nut or bolt.

 

If it would start clicking when you turn it clockwise though, then you should stop tightening the nut or bolt. The clicking noise while tightening would indicate that you have reached your desired torque level. On a manual wrench, you should stop turning it when you feel the wrench resisting.

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John Framigllia
Technical Writer
Our technical writer is known for simplifying automotive parts and services. Intuitive with various vehicles and manufacturers, he knows how to simplify complicated problems.