New toy

TyraNSX · 15 July 2003

Saw this on HiRev Tuners on Speedvision. Looks handy

EDIT- link not working now. It's a Sears 1/2in. torque meter Item #00944598000. No special wrench & it gives audible alert when you hit the right torque. Check it out on Sears or craftsman.com

4AU4LIFE · 16 July 2003

I saw that also, but I bet it is pretty expensive.

Juice · 16 July 2003

$150 I believe. Too many parts to keep track of and possibly break IMO.

Lud · 16 July 2003

Here is all the info from the Sears website:

Craftsman 1/2 in. Torque Meter - $149.99 Item #00944598000

Includes 1/2 in. sq. dr. rotary torque sensor that fits all standard ratchets. Portable meter, easy viewing, audible signals at preset torque limit. 0.1 lb/ft. resolution, +/- 3 per. accuracy.

Select lb.- ft. or Nm units
Extra long 54 in. cable, built-in stand and hanger tab, low battery indicator
1/2 in. drive rotating shaft, continuous peak or hold values
Preset target with torque alert, automatic power off
Easy 5-button operation, large 3-1/2 in. digit LCD display
Rotary torque sensor is non-contacting, having no brushes to wear out
Sensor snaps into place as a socket extension
Meter requires one 9 volt battery (not included)

nsxtasy · 16 July 2003

It sounds like a neat toy, but how (in what situations) would it be useful?

kgb_agent · 16 July 2003

nsxtasy said:
It sounds like a neat toy, but how (in what situations) would it be useful?

I'm assuming this would turn any rachet into a torque wrench...

Juice · 16 July 2003

kgb_agent said:
I'm assuming this would turn any rachet into a torque wrench...

Wrong. The problem that I see is that you would then have a torque rachet. Not very ideal for high torque applications. Not enough length, and moving parts to possibly damage. If you have a torque wrench, read the warnings sometime. Maybe this new gadget would work better with a breaker bar.

TQ: I was lead to believe that varying lengths from the point of axis could affect percieved amounts of resistance on a torque wrench. I'm guessing this is because a standard torque wrench uses componants in the length of its shaft? Anyhow, this new electronic measurement is somehow able to get around this rule (i.e. it can be used with any length shaft). Is this because the measurement is taken right at the axis?

Bottom line, I saved $70 and didn't have to supply a battery.

Chuck · 17 July 2003

This device doesn't state its accuracy. If it is indeed accurate (because of its electronic makeup) it would be a good way to continually check the accuracy of your torque wench. The only guy I know who sends his wrench back to be calibrated is DanO. When is the last time anyone else has done that?

4AU4LIFE · 17 July 2003

I remember the show stating it was accurate to within 3lbs.

nsxtasy · 17 July 2003

Chuck said:
This device doesn't state its accuracy.

Yes, it does; see the info that Lud copied. It just has a typo because it says +/- 3 per instead of saying +/- 3 ft-lb.

Chuck said:
The only guy I know who sends his wrench back to be calibrated is DanO. When is the last time anyone else has done that?

I have. Our local chapter of BMW CCA periodically has tours of the local ZF transmission facility, and you can bring your torque wrench to be tested and calibrated. My cheap $25 torque wrench was dead on.

I am still waiting to hear how this torque sensor would be useful. Nothing against it, but curious and waiting...

nsxxtreme · 17 July 2003

nsxtasy said:
I am still waiting to hear how this torque sensor would be useful. Nothing against it, but curious and waiting...

You could use any ratchet as a torque wrench. Ever need to torque something and your torque wrench is to long? Only downside is it appears it only goes to 150 foot-lbs. Also if you use long extensions it would be more accurate if this was place on the socket and the extensions and ratchet were plugged into it. This way you wouldn't have to worry about the twisting of the extension.

kgb_agent · 18 July 2003

Juice said:
Wrong.

No, Juice... I was RIGHT

Juice · 18 July 2003

kgb_agent said:
No, Juice... I was RIGHT

My point was that torque wrenches state in their manuals that they are never to be used for anything more than torqueing. With this new toy, you get both options: torque and ratchet. Thus a torque ratchet! Crappy, but that's my sense of humor.

Lud · 18 July 2003

Personally I can think of ways I could come up with to use it, but no actual need for it.

If there were a wireless version I would be more inclinded to buy it just because it's kind of cool and I'm sure I'd use it somewhere. But the cord looks like a pain to work around.

kgb_agent · 18 July 2003

Lud said:
Personally I can think of ways I could come up with to use it, but no actual need for it.

If there were a wireless version I would be more inclinded to buy it just because it's kind of cool and I'm sure I'd use it somewhere. But the cord looks like a pain to work around.

I was thinking the same thing. I can picture being under the car and every time I move the ratchet the digital part would follow...probably sliding across the garage floor and hitting me in the head.

coos · 30 July 2003

I got the new digital tourque wrench from snap-on about 7 months ago..... The best tool I have bought in a few years, I use it all the time and it is always right on the money. It does ft/lb in/lb and NM.

kgb_agent · 31 July 2003

coos said:
I got the new digital tourque wrench from snap-on about 7 months ago..... The best tool I have bought in a few years, I use it all the time and it is always right on the money. It does ft/lb in/lb and NM.

So would you say it turns your regular ratchet into a torque wrench? Does it "cut off" once proper torque has been reached?

coos · 31 July 2003

it is a tourque wrench. But it has a digital display. And when you get to the proper tourque it cuts off.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/pro_...group_ID=17226&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

nsxtasy · 31 July 2003

Coos's tool is an actual torque wrench, not the torque meter that this discussion started with.

BTW...

coos said:
it is a tourque wrench. But it has a digital display. And when you get to the proper tourque it cuts off.

I assume that this torque wrench is like conventional torque wrenches. That means, when you get to the proper torque, it doesn't cut off; it just makes a noise. It's up to the person using it to stop applying pressure when it makes the noise.

coos · 1 August 2003

I was just suggesting something that works better. IMO. I've used it alot for motor work. This tourque wrench digitally displays to the tenth. Unless you are trying to go over the tourque specs it is hard to mess up. It beeps and cuts of your tourque. After it does that i suppose you could keep going.

4AU4LIFE · 2 August 2003

But the cord looks like a pain to work around.

Knowing my luck I would roll over it with my creeper and crush the poor little wires.

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