Craftsman Torque Wrench

[Bill76]

Nope never had a warranty.

 

[WileE]

Still have, and use regularly, my Craftsman beam torque wrench, as well as all my other Craftsman tools since 1970. All great quality and obviously, endurance.

 

[Runner 68]

Never did trust the beam styles for accuracy within 5 lbs.
Hell the quiver in arm strength at 80 lbs can through it off easily by 5 lbs.

 

[Moparfiend]

These look pretty good
https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-.../12-in-drive-digital-torque-wrench-64916.html
3% accuracy Mac does not even list their spec on their website.....

 

[toolmanmike]

These look pretty good
https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-.../12-in-drive-digital-torque-wrench-64916.html
3% accuracy Mac does not even list their spec on their website.....
View attachment 929871

Their website sucks. We complained to them about it years ago. Most all torque wrenches are accurate to within 2%. I have a local company that repairs wrenches and precision measuring instruments that can calibrate and certify to within 1% or less. Most of the work they do is for John Deere. @HALIFAXHOPS calibrated torque wrenches when he was in the military and he is quite knowledgeable on the subject.

 

[toolmanmike]

1% at 100 ft.lb. is only 1 ft.lb. The user is more inaccurate than that by pulling on the wrench after it clicks. Even torque between the fasteners is more important than being accurite to within 1% for most that we do.

 

[Darter6]

My beam type Craftsman was bought in 1967.Still in use.
My Snap-On ratcheting click type was bought in 1976.Still in use.The local tool truck as a test bench for torque wrenches so I test the Snap-On every so often, still dead on. My 2 cents.
Old saying "they don't make 'um like they used to"

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

They usually hold the calibration unless dropped. The beam style are great and stayed calibrated unless the rod is bent somehow.

 

[dvw]

No torque wrenches have much warrantee. Even Snap on , Matco, Mac etc.
Doug

 

[Billccm]

Article from Mopar Action a few months back.

 

[Billccm]

He claims "laboratory accurate" for ye old beam deflection torque wrench. Dad was right here.

 

[toolmanmike]

No torque wrenches have much warrantee. Even Snap on , Matco, Mac etc.
Doug

Usually just a year. A few of the models I could get ratchet head kits covered for a few years after.

 

[66Satellite47]

My Craftsman 1/2" Micro is almost 45 years old. I always turn it down to 20 ft-lbs after use. I have had a couple times when it seemed not to function correctly. Broke 1 head bolt. This thread convinced me I should get a second quality torque wrench to "calibrate" it with each use. My first engine builder was extreme detail guy. He had 2 Craftsman Micro's which each time used, he coupled them to test the equality of settings. He also required they be turned down to minimum setting after each use.

 

[Daves69]

FWIW, My Craftsman Micro torque 1/2" has a finicky twist lock I need to mess with to locate where it locks. Years ago I had one come out of calibration when the jam nut loosened up on me.

Before Al Gore's amazing internet days came about, you probably had a 50/50 chance to get a Craftsman TW exchanged at stores as many of the younger employees didn't realize what the warranty period on them was.

 

[Bee1971]

A couple of years ago, I purchased 2 Craftsman torque wrenches, one a 3/8 drive, and the other a 1/2. First used them about 6 months ago during a refresh of my rear axle. Both head ratchets spin and will not set without manipulating the clockwise/counter clockwise lever multiple times. The 1st use of the 3/8 drive, snapped off a bolt from apparent improper factory calibration. Anyway, both are the cheapest, most POS tools I’ve ever bought. Warranty on mine was one year. I trashed them both.......Jim

Agree on the one year warranty

Before Sears closed I brought both of mine in

Old guy behind the counter pulls out two brand new rebuild kits for the ratchet assembly

Rebuilds them for free

Have been perfect since - I also had them check calibration through my A@P mechanics at the airport where I work , they send them out - Again perfect

Problem is today , are the rebuild ratchet kits still available ?

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

My Craftsman 1/2" Micro is almost 45 years old. I always turn it down to 20 ft-lbs after use. I have had a couple times when it seemed not to function correctly. Broke 1 head bolt. This thread convinced me I should get a second quality torque wrench to "calibrate" it with each use. My first engine builder was extreme detail guy. He had 2 Craftsman Micro's which each time used, he coupled them to test the equality of settings. He also required they be turned down to minimum setting after each use.

That's the way they should be stored at the lowest setting. They should be broken three timers at the highest needed setting three times before use to free it up.

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

Way overkill but one reference.
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/25811863/to-32b14-3-1-101-robins-air-force-base

 

[66Satellite47]

That's the way they should be stored at the lowest setting. They should be broken three timers at the highest needed setting three times before use to free it up.

I use the method of "clicking" it 2-3 times at the selected setting before use. Although I bet I don't do that when doing step up's like for head bolts. Some thing to pay more attention to in the future.

 

[HALIFAXHOPS]

Makes a real difference seriously like 10%

 

[moparker]

Mine is screwing up as well. Would just spin. I've hardly used it.