anyone ever use a harbor freight torque wrench

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05 Feb 2012 11:52 #502206 by ramtough_63
It's time to start torquing all my swingarm parts. I am nearly broke so I can go buy a cheap torque wrench or borrow a good one. sometime next week

Some tools I dont mind buying on the cheap a torque wrench isn't really one of em.

I lost all of my tools several years ago in a messy divorce and until this build havent really accumulated any of them back.

If anyone has used one with I'd appreciate some input.

1978 KZ1000 A2
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  • Motor Head
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05 Feb 2012 12:10 #502212 by Motor Head
Replied by Motor Head on topic anyone ever use a harbor freight torque wrench
Yes I have, and I'm sure many others have too. Is it perfect in its calibration? No most likely not, but its probably within 5%. So the biggest benefit of using a torque wrench is still the same, all bolts torqued evenly, and not over torqued. It would be much better than no torque wrench.

1982 KZ1000LTD K2 Vance & Hines 4-1 ACCEL COILS Added Vetter fairing & Bags. FOX Racing rear Shocks, Braced Swing-arm, Fork Brace, Progressive Fork Springs RT Gold Emulators, APE Valve Springs, 1166 Big Bore kit, RS34's, GPZ cams.
1980 KZ550LTD C1 Stock SOLD Miss it
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05 Feb 2012 12:39 #502221 by ramtough_63
Replied by ramtough_63 on topic anyone ever use a harbor freight torque wrench
Thanks Motor head I really need one and I was thinking if I wait to buy an expensive one I may never buy it. To easy to get a bolt tight and forget about it.

1978 KZ1000 A2
Thrown Together To Ride Til Winter
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1982/83 750R/GPZ
1984 Goldwing 1200 Interstate
1982 Yamahopper QT50
Previous
2 79 HD sporty XLH
02 HD FLSTS Heritage
60's HD Hummer
70's Honda 550 Four
70 Yamaha 100
and various enduros dirtbikes minibikes...

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06 Feb 2012 15:44 #502397 by jonnybravo
Replied by jonnybravo on topic anyone ever use a harbor freight torque wrench
I got 2, I checked one of them and it was off, how I did it was clamped it in a vise and took a 20 llb weight and attached it to the end, it turned out being 3 lbs off, but knowing that i could still use it just adjusting with a little math

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06 Feb 2012 16:44 - 06 Feb 2012 16:45 #502410 by Mcdroid
I have two Harbor Freight wrenches also, one in inch/lbs and the other in foot/lbs. I have had both calibrated against expensive torque wrenches that were correct and mine were very close to the expensive wrenches...enough so that I didn't make any changes. Both wrenches are the 'clicker' type and when not in use, I keep them completely turned out.

Michael
Victoria, Texas

1982 GPz750
1977 KZ1000A
1978 KZ1000A
1982 GPz1100
1975 Z2A

Last edit: 06 Feb 2012 16:45 by Mcdroid. Reason: clarity

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09 Feb 2012 15:55 #503020 by david1050
Replied by david1050 on topic anyone ever use a harbor freight torque wrench
I have one and like others have said it's not perfect but close. I would buy one again.

David

2009 Vulcan 900 Custom
1975 Z1B 900 Mod/Resto project (91 KZ1000P forks and wheels)
1976 KZ900 Cafe bought to flip
1982 KZ750R1/GPZ750 project (95 ZX7 forks, 03 ZX636 swingarm)

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09 Feb 2012 17:04 #503036 by ramtough_63
Replied by ramtough_63 on topic anyone ever use a harbor freight torque wrench
I have always went with the theory "fully seated, not stripped" as my reference but really think torquing to spec's will help ease my mind. especially the way this KZ vibrates. lost the nut off my brake pedal within 100 miles of the maiden voyage lol

1978 KZ1000 A2
Thrown Together To Ride Til Winter
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1982/83 750R/GPZ
1984 Goldwing 1200 Interstate
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70's Honda 550 Four
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  • DoubleDub
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09 Feb 2012 18:05 #503043 by DoubleDub
Replied by DoubleDub on topic anyone ever use a harbor freight torque wrench
Locking nuts are your friend... :)

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09 Feb 2012 18:28 #503047 by ramtough_63
Replied by ramtough_63 on topic anyone ever use a harbor freight torque wrench
and locktite lol

1978 KZ1000 A2
Thrown Together To Ride Til Winter
Facebook Page
Free Range Custom Art


1982/83 750R/GPZ
1984 Goldwing 1200 Interstate
1982 Yamahopper QT50
Previous
2 79 HD sporty XLH
02 HD FLSTS Heritage
60's HD Hummer
70's Honda 550 Four
70 Yamaha 100
and various enduros dirtbikes minibikes...

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12 Feb 2012 18:42 #503539 by Murphyau
Replied by Murphyau on topic anyone ever use a harbor freight torque wrench

jonnybravo wrote: <snip> I did it was clamped it in a vice and took a 20 lb weight and attached it to the end, it turned out being 3 lbs off <snip>


I did the same, but I checked it with a number of different weights (20, 40, 60, lbs).

From my experience, and what I have read elsewhere on the web, the "cheaper" clicker type torque wrench are reasonably accurate in the middle of their range, but can be way off at either end of their range, so I try and stay in the middle 80% of the range.

My 1/2" drive torque wrench is 10 ft/lbs to 150 ft/lbs, then I try and use it in the 30 ft/lb to 120 ft/lb range.

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12 Feb 2012 19:30 #503547 by 650ed

Murphyau wrote:

jonnybravo wrote: <snip> I did it was clamped it in a vice and took a 20 lb weight and attached it to the end, it turned out being 3 lbs off <snip>


I did the same, but I checked it with a number of different weights (20, 40, 60, lbs).

From my experience, and what I have read elsewhere on the web, the "cheaper" clicker type torque wrench are reasonably accurate in the middle of their range, but can be way off at either end of their range, so I try and stay in the middle 80% of the range.
My 1/2" drive torque wrench is 10 ft/lbs to 150 ft/lbs, then I try and use it in the 30 ft/lb to 120 ft/lb range.


Good point! Especially on the low end of the scale; this is true of even the finest torque wrenches. Here's an excerpt from the CDI torque wrench site (CDI is a Snap-On company that manufactures torque wrenches):

Attachment CDIClip.jpg not found


1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
Attachments:

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02 Mar 2012 13:47 #507389 by saltfuture
Replied by saltfuture on topic anyone ever use a harbor freight torque wrench
Best $10 torque wrench I ever bought.

"The idea that God is an oversized white male with a flowing beard, who sits in the sky and tallies the fall of every sparrow is ludicrous. But if by 'God,' one means the set of physical laws that govern the universe, then clearly there is such a God. This God is emotionally unsatisfying... it does...

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