Old comment, but for everyone reading this now: i had the opportunity to test one of these cheap digital torque meters on a very expensive snap on torque calibrater and they were as close as 1% in torque measurements. I would assume if you were to cycle them about 1000 times they would certainly lose some accuracy, but if you buy one and just use it to calibrater your mechanical wrenches you are probably good to go for the rest of your life with these.
The total torque being applied to the socket is the sum of the moment of force applied by your hand and the moment of force of the weight of the wrench applied at the wrench's center of mass. This might be why the adapter's readings are consistently higher than the torque values set on the wrench. One way to eliminate this would be to orient the wrench vertically and pull horizontally.
Very nicely done, with clear, logical narrative and good audio and lighting. Using a digital torque adapter is certainly simpler than buying three torque wrenches for different torque ranges, and having to recalibrate periodically. Using a digital torque adapter to check/calibrate accurately a non-digital torque wrench is certainly quicker and more accurate than mechanical methods. Some questions-- (1) Does the digital torque adapter ever prevent adequate clearance when torquing a nut? Placing the adapter between a wrench and its socket could change clearance when working in tight areas (2) If I do have a clearance problem, and am forced to add a socket extension of say, 12 inches or longer, have you found a socket extension makes your digital torque adapter's indicated value different/inaccurate-- at least, compared to the value indicated without the socket extension? (3) Have you found your digital adapter depletes lithium button batteries too quickly? That is a subjective point, but it might be relevant if fading voltage on a lithium battery gives inaccurate readings. (4) Have you ever dropped the digital adapter?
This is a great review and unit from Harbor Freight. Sent back my Snap On 3/8 torque wrench for rebuilt and once back, checked it against this digital adapter. The digital adapter was spot on.
it's right there with my 250lbs CDI dial torque wrench. I snap it on to the CDI, and when it reads 75, so does the harbor freight. I played around with different torque settings; it was always spot on!
Great video and very helpful! Thanks for doing that! You might want to explain how to zero out the handle with the increments on the wrench after adjusting the spring if need be?
Yet another great and very very helpful video! The included instructions (with HF torque wrench) were never clear; thanks for providing this tutorial. Video also proves that cheap HF torque wrenches ($10 on sale/coupon) are at least as good as the more expensive Craftsman
The 1/2" HF torque wrench is good quality. The 3/8" HF torque wrench can be a hit and miss as some don't give a solid click. I did exchange it once and the second one was good. They do have a lifetime warranty, can't beat that deal.
this is a good video. but one thing ppl should know is. you need to hold wrench head with one head so it sits perfect on lug nut and one hand should be perfectly pushing 90 degrees on the handle. rotating the wrench at angle introduces error percentage reading which makes calibrating accuracies worthless from the beginning.👍🏻
I tried loosening the set screw with the needle nose, but couldn't get it to loosen. Went back to try readjusting the torque wrench and now I can't get it to spin. Any ideas?
You don't have to check it all the time. Only if you drop it, or if you are a mechanic that uses it a lot. Also make sure you wind down the torque setting before storing.
+Brian Ng Yes! I just ditched the cover and take the battery out when I store it for long periods. I also turn it off immediately while using it on a project.
The Pittsburgh torque adapter used small button-type batteries. Harbor Freight has replaced it with a new model ("Quinn" brand) that uses AAA batteries, for much better battery life.
dial2fast I understand that they are both units of measure. I was curious as to why you didn't just leave the tester in Ft/lbs when checking the 3/8" drive. I thought there might be some reason (like the use of the drive size adapter), other than just because you can.
Another excellent tutorial. I got the torque adapter and with your video I hope to check all my torque wrenches if they are within the accepted range. I wish they had one for 1/4 torque wrenches with the in-lb range.
Edmund Mendez I would loved to see an adapter for the general masses that is accurate , not too expensive and completely reliable for all sizes of torque wrenches and for ranges between 0 and 400 foot pounds. Haven't found a single adapter to calibrate my 50-250 torque wrench. Most 1/2" adapters stop at 147ft/lbs.
Edmund you can use this HF digital adapter for that...it even comes with an included adapter for an inch pound wrench. You'll just have to make the conversion from the foot pound reading to inch pound yourself.
Pretty easy because when you set your torque wrench at the poundage and the adapter is within the limit both are working. Most people have more than one torque wrench you don't usually have all the torque wrenches go bad at the same time. Even if you're doing inch pounds easy to convert.
I don’t think I’d use a cheap tool from the vendor of the cheapest tools in America as a calibration reference for torque wrenches that I use. I’d be more inclined to trust my torque wrenches to determine how far off the HF tool is.
hahaha coupon number plz..:P well currently im using $10 beam torque wrench (150 ft-ib) the good thing is it does not need collaboration but a tricky to use..:) thanks for the video sharing.its informative.
Good video but according to. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Fwfnf06dl84.htmlsi=PS9coWzBQ5TzG685. How can you use a torque tester in this position when the length of a handel changes the amount of torque at the nut?
Using a tool with a +/- 2% margin of error to calibrate wrenches with a +/- 4% error is going to give you bad results. Who's to say the digital isn't high and then your wrench low. No doubt this gets them close, but you could end up with up to a 6% margin of error. That 70 pound measurement had a plus or minus of 2.8 pounds, which it was within range. Torque wrenches don't measure in linear accuracy. Getting it dead on at one point probably moves your accuracy out of spec somewhere else.
Yes torque wrenches are not accurate at either low or upper end of the range. If you have never dropped or abused your torque wrench, there is no reason to ever calibrate it, but for those who has one that is messed up, this is a good way to get it back to working order.
dial2fast A good torque wrench will be accurate between 10% and 100% of scale. You are also talking about the accuracy range - is that +/- 2% of full scale value or indicated value. That makes a huge difference. The accepted formula for calibrating wrenches is simply a 4:1 ratio. If you are calibrating a torque wrench that is +/- 2% you need a torque tester to be at least +/- .5% and you need the resolution to prove that it is infact that accuracy level.
dial2fast When i read "If you have never dropped or abused your torque wrench, there is no reason to ever calibrate it" i almost cracked a "WTF did you just say" type of smile. And I never smile. Also, adding the reducing adapter effectively changes the reliability of accuracy. Not a valid test. Test at three or more torque values with repeated checks. 100%, 60% and 20%. Repeat full checks three times. That is the standard from American Society of Mechanical Engineers, or ASME. Never only test Just High, Just Low and certainly Not Just Mid Range calibration. Should use this method only to give you enough self validation to do it right or buy a new quality wrench, they are so darn cheap nowadays. Don't buy HF or MasterCraft or Craftsman or Husky or whatever El-Cheapo tool unless that is who you are. El-Cheapo is where you put your ego before safety and practicality. The above are the really poor mechanics choice of scrap-n-crap torque wrenches. Get a Proto or a CDI and pass this better quality tool to your son when you pass on from making bad videos. Don't have to buy Snap On. That's just tossing money away. Otherwise a good general informational video.
We are not speaking of centrifugal forces here. Your reply is pure deflection. Please allow me my turn. Testing equipment fitment and device flex is very important. If it wasn't, why not use a universal joint when you test a measuring device for accuracy? Because it should not be used! What is important is that I think you realize the video could have been presented better. And honestly, I think you already got that. I do thank you for doing this video. These types of videos are extremely important. They provide all of us very important knowledge. We need these videos. Keep them coming. But please keep it real. I would say that anyone providing professional expertise and information in a half-masted manor to ensure our family's safety have a true responsibility to be as accurate as possible. Especially if it involves a moving vehicle. I am sure you would feel horrible if a young child was seriously hurt or worse if a fatally occurred due to an improperly maintained vehicle because somebody followed your view or expertise to the letter.
Assumes that the digital torque reader is accurately. All torque wrenches need to go to a testing facility where they will be tested and a graph produced of indicated vs actual and perhaps multiple lines based on temperature.
This device is NOT designed to check the accuracy of click type torque wrenches and should not be used for that purpose. It only has "PEAK" and "TRACE" (aka TRACK) modes. For click wrench calibration, you need FIRST PEAK mode, which the device does not have. For what it's designed to do, it's probably OK. Keep in mind it is ± 2% accurate. Remember when buying tools, you generally get what you pay for. Gary @ Snap-on Tools.
This test is still good enough to give a general accuracy of torque, right? Or can the click bar he used, lets say, really only be 20 ft lbs instead of the 70 ft lbs just because it is not First Peak? How off is the +- accuracy of the test he did?
That digital torque adapter is very accurate! I pitted it against my CDI dial torque wrenches and snap on, proto clicker type. I have mine calibrated at a certified shop.
