Hey Guys Hopefully this is the right spot to ask a question about tools. I'm a bit uhh.. strapped for cash but I don't want to buy cheap crap (eg supacheap or chinese ebay stuff). Where do you reckon I could get a reasonable quality (and priced) torque wrench? A lot of the tool shops I've been to around melbourne are asking a bit more than I was looking to spend (admitting my expectations may not be entirely realistic)... Also I seem to be having trouble finding a set of offset feeler gauges in the right thicknesses. Specs for my bike are: Intake: 0.17-0.27 mm Exhaust: 0.20-0.30 mm Any help would be sweet.
I know where you are coming from, good tools are not cheap. I have been buying a mix of force and Kinchrome tools and are generally pretty happy them, they are sold on-line or through Trade Tools, Bunnings etc, this is my torque wrench https://www.kincrome.com.au/product/MTW150F/micrometer-torque-wrench-1~2-square-drive I bought a Force socket set from Trade Tools and to be honest they are awesome, 5 years on still going strong and I use them a lot. Mine a bigger set than set than this, I cant find mine on their site https://www.tradetools.com/products/3302
As a fitter and turner quality is key for torque wrench seen many break quickly get a warren and brown only a deflect one the twist are garbage this is a tool well worth the money I bet u will spend few dollars replacing a cheap one and never have to replace a w&b http://www.warrenandbrown.com.au/precisiontools/product-details/deflecting-beam/136
warren and brown is the top of the range and costs accordingly. our friend wants quality at an affordable price so there is a trade off.do i have a w and b...yes ..but i also have aldi cr-v tools and jetech which are good quality chinese. the stuff i hate says hardenned steel and is from india. guaranteed to snap.
I understand just my opinion I'm doing a second trade as a refrigeration mechanic and funds are tight but my rule is buy quality and only once there are good cheap brands but won't last and nothing more annoying then a broken tool on a sat arvo and everywhere closed any half decent wrench gonna cost so spending that bit more is worth I think also look on eBay a second hand w&b would be a good thing to Also I have super cheap gold sockets had for 10 years and haven't missed a trick even when thrown across a workshop so there are quality cheap ones but hard to find
I have a W & B torque wrench also ..... for something that has to do a precision job then u have to have something at least mid range ....... Ive had mine for I think 40 years and got it when I was repairing the Landrovers I owned in the day. Guess it depends on your budget and if u just fiddle with your one bike or have a shed full ....horses for courses I guess. My most used and well loved tool is my set of (40 piece?) Sidchrome socket set ..... Id like a dollar back for every time I have used them. A mate here had a patched bikie living next door to him many years back and he has a shed full of hot tools ...... I think they cost me $20 ...only wished Id bought alot more at the time .
I also own the Warren and Brown torque wrench (bought 1978), but mine is 3/8" drive as are most of my sockets. Do not need a 1/2" drive for bikes and most car jobs. I use mainly a 1/4" socket set when working on my bikes, only reaching for 3/8" on tight bolts and the 1/2" for things like swing arm and wheel spindles. I find the 1/4" drive gives better 'feel' when loosening or tightening, and less likely to over tighten. The price of a 3/8" torque wrench will be less than the bigger ones and still have more than needed capacity.
Hmm interesting. Thanks for the thoughts guys. I'll keep having a look around - I'm well aware I can buy "quality" tools but to be honest I've only wanted to reach for a torque wrench a handful of times. If I could borrow one I probably would. Just getting to the stage where I may have to take the cylinders off and look at the rings, wouldn't want to do that without knowing I could torque it back up to spec.
If you get a cheap one then it may not be accurate anyway. Buy the Warren and Brown 321500 to do the job properly.
Actually, I have just changed my mind. I have been using my W&B 321500 for over 30 years and has been excellent. I also have a smaller torque wrench I use for the smaller settings. If you want I will sell you the smaller one and I will replace it in my tool box with another W&B. $25 for a little used X-Tools 2-24NM 1/4" with a ratchet in box. Please check that 24NM is enough. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/au/en/x-tools-torque-wrench-2-24n-m/rp-prod11142
For some stuff I use my arm as the torque setting just wait till my head goes click and I'm good hahahaha
Or do as my brother does. He tightens until the threads strip, then backs it off half a turn. And for a self locking nut he just cross threads it. As a bike mechanic he makes a good electrician (no not really, he's crap at wiring too).
