Can We Trust "free" Rental Tools (i.e. torque wrench)?

[Dibbons]

Need to torque the 4.0 liter cylinder head of our '92 Jeep Cherokee XJ to 22, 45, 110 (100 on one bolt that penetrates water jacket). With a $2,499 Mexican Peso deposit (about $125.00 USD) I brought home a new-looking OEM brand click-type 1/2" drive torque wrench good for 25-250 ft. lbs.

Could not set at 22 per factory specs so used 25 to start. Seemed not much more than finger tight. Upgraded to 45 and it clicked right away almost the same point as 25. When adjusting the wrench to the final spec at 110, the plastic end cap in the handle shot off. It would not snap back on (later found the innner thread of the wrench was now sticking out, causing the cap to fly off and preventing the cap from being replaced.

Tried to torque the bolts with the little cap removed, and the wrench moved just a little and clicked. No way that was 110. Going to return the wrench and bust the bank a little by replacing my own torque wrench I lost years ago.

 

[GTXDAN]

I would rather borrow one from someone than get one from a rental place. Could have been used as a hammer for all you know. That's a tool you need to spend money to buy a good one, and don't loan it out unless you absolutely trust the person you're loaning it to.

 

[Dibbons]

I went back to Autozone and was actually tempted to purchase what I used back in the 1970's--the "old-fashioned" but reliable bent bar type for about twenty bucks.

They had one combo wrench for sale with 1/2" and 3/8" drive on either side of the head of the tool, but makes it impossible to use in tight spaces.

The other 1/2" for sale was still too thick on the end for it to fit on the Cherokee head bolt adjacent to the firewall on the driver's side. So I picked out another rental tool that was not broken with a thinner head and took that home and finished up the torquing to specs.

I did purchase a new 3/8" drive torque wrench while I was there to torque the rocker arms and intake/exhaust manifold.

 

[radical rob]

Harbor freight has a selection of them

 

[toolmanmike]

Harbor freight has a selection of them

Are there Harbor Freight stores in Mexico?

 

[Mopar Hunter]

Does Harbor Freight deliver to Mexico?

 

[Dibbons]

Are there Harbor Freight stores in Mexico?

Does Harbor Freight deliver to Mexico?

I don't see any stores in my state, there are some private delivery services that list Harbor Freight after an internet search.

 

[69Bee]

The 22 FT/LBS is not absolute. What you did going to 25 FT/LBS was fine, hell you could have just done 30/60/90/110 and 100 on bolt 11. Hope you used some Teflon thread sealer on bolt 11 too. The sequence is so that the head is tightened evenly and in 3 or 4 steps.

 

[WileE]

I went back to Autozone and was actually tempted to purchase what I used back in the 1970's--the "old-fashioned" but reliable bent bar type for about twenty bucks.

There's nothing wrong with a quality torque wrench like this

 

[toolmanmike]

There's nothing wrong with a quality torque wrench like this View attachment 1811500

And it does everything. Try doing a rolling torque check on a pinion nut with a clicker type wrench.

 

[vance.dykes]

how much did you spend on your engine ??? BUY YOUR OWN TOOLS FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT THING........ THE MONEY YOU SPENT ON YOUR ENGINE why would not want to be 1000% sure your getting it done right. there some things you do not cheep out on.

 

[moparx]

And it does everything. Try doing a rolling torque check on a pinion nut with a clicker type wrench.

those type torque wrenches are the most accurate in my opinion.
too much "over-torque" can be had on the clicker types if one hears and feels the click, then goes "just a tad" more".........

 

[Photon440]

You could always ask, when picking up a rental tool, if they have a calibration machine for it. They probably do.

 

[kiwigtx]

Are there Harbor Freight stores in Mexico?

One on the border of southern Texas by the looks of Google maps....

Tienda de herramientas de carga portuaria

 

[kiwigtx]

One on the border of southern Texas by the looks of Google maps....

Tienda de herramientas de carga portuaria

They probably do run-out specials on shovels, picks, wire-cutters and portable grinders.

 

[Black_Sheep]

I would trust gas station sushi before I would trust a loaner torque wrench...

 

[kiwigtx]

I would trust gas station sushi before I would trust a loaner torque wrench...