Hi All, I'm starting to play more and more with my 2012 GSA but I realize that to do things right I need a torque wrench. Do you have any suggestion on the optimal specific torque range that I should look at for a GSA? Also, any specific brand that you trust? Thank you!
I have a Neiko that I got from Amazon, and here's something that's odd: It's calibrated in both English and Metric, but the metric units are kilogram-meters, and yet torques given by both BMW and aftermarket farkle-makers are in newton-meters! :huh And unlike a lot of metric units, kilograms (mass) and newtons (force) aren't a direct, easy conversion. So, if you can find (or anyone can recommend) a torque wrench calibrated in N.m, I'd like to hear about it.
Craftsman torque wrenches measure in n-m. OP, you'll can get away with the "medium" one for awhile (15-75 ft-lb), but eventually you'll need all three, small, medium, and large. Dammit, I love tools. It's a sickness, I tell ya. Wanna see my new impact gun?
Thanks Jim! Yes, tools are a sickness, and since I discovered some of the shows on DIY Network, it's getting expensive! :eek1
Look at the torque specs page in your shop manual and you'll figure out what range you need to cover. Generally torques wrenches have optimum accuracy in their mid range so expect less accuracy at either the low or max range. If accuracy is important for the entire range of what you might need you'll most likely buy two wrenches. I have a 3/8" drive low end that reads in inch-lb for the small sruff and a 1/2 drive that reads in ft-lb for the bigger stuff.
Kg-m is a N-m. The Chinese manufacturer engineering writer was probably being literal in translating the spec. A Newton is a kgxm/s2. Sam Ting.
You can get away with a small and large one as long as the range crosses over. For home use any non harbor freight quality one will work, and that one might too. I love my fancy pants snap-on, but my craftsman from umpteen years ago still gets used more often than not. I was a tech for a long time and don't really check most of the small bolts as I'm confident with my feel gauge on most everything and have not had an issue with it in many years. But without experience I would torque most everything until u get a feel for where it should be. And always do power train bolts and brakes no matter what. And note if thread locker was used on original bolts and replace as needed.
http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-...p-00913918000P?prdNo=5&blockNo=5&blockType=G5 I have this Craftsman and used it this morning. It has a range from 5 to 80 foot pounds and toggles through ft lbs, N-m and 2 or 3 other units at the push of a button. The extended warranty is a few dollars more but I am using this wrench for most of my work even though I have one smaller and one larger. I have both this digital and mechanical wrenches. I like both. Both types have advantages and disadvantages. Most of the time I will reach for the one above to work on my bikes, however. Keep in mind all torque ratings are less accurate at the extreme high and low and more accurate in the middle, just like pump performance.
I've got a Proxxon. http://www.altrider.com/proxxon-micro-click-100-s-3-8-torque-wrench/pid/64 I've also got the two Proxxon tool kits. Good, inexpensive tools.
I have a split beam and micro from precision instruments. I figure if I am saving some money performing basic maintenance myself, I can splurge on a torque wrench. http://www.torqwrench.com/
My neighbor, who is one of those guys who can wrench ANYTHING replaced the clutch in my KIA yesterday. His garage is a magnificent array of Snap On, MAC, and Craftsman. When I mentioned I still use my old, needle style torque wrench he recommended the torque wrenches at Harbor Freight. You can pick up a 1/2 inch unit for the heavy stuff and a 1/4 inch for the smalls and get out for under $45!! He feels the quality is on par with anything else on the market at any price. Good enough for me!
1 kg-m is equal to 9.80665 newton meter so basically move the decimal point one spot for for whatever conversion you want. 20 N-m = 2.0 kg-m and 3.5 kg-m = 35 N-m. Isn't quite exact but I ride a KLR. 1 N-m = 1 joule.
Just buy the best you can afford. Something serviceable...Craftsman or SK, MAC or Snap-on (yeah...spendy). Don't rule out flea bay for snap-on deals. You want something that will be robust to stay within spec for many years. No offense to the harbor freight suggestions, but leave HF for the cheap tools you use one time every other year...anything else, just buy quality and be done with it...come on folks...our lives are inundated with cheap, chinese $hit everywhere we turn. Tools are one category you can buy 'merican and get great quality. I just bought a 12 piece set of Snap-on Torx for 1/4 and 3/8 ratchet for over 50% off through flea-bay. Smoking deals out there if you look and are patient...
I wanted this gadget http://www.eastwood.com/electronic-torque-angle-adapter.html but shipping to Europe was to expensive for me so found similar but without angle function and ordered from China for 45$ shipped to me. They are cheap, small, light so easy to carry anywhere and should be more precise (1%) than any click type torque wrench (mostly 4%).