dibbons
Well-Known Member
I'm not surprised at the results in the least.
Test: Old School Beam vs Click Torque Wrench Video
- Thread starter dibbons
- Start date
-
I used to do this in the USAF being the avionics shop chief. He did not soak them room temp for 24 hours, you never used the bottom of the scale always started at 20 percent of the scale. How old are the click type, were they ever dropped? Really easy to adjust and he did not click them three times either before testing at each setting, seriously.
Good video though
Quick search look up that TO, be amazed what you are supposed to do using them the right way.
The USAF torque wrench calibration procedure involves using specialized testers (like those from Honeywell/Bendix or Snap-on) to check settings, often via Technical Orders (T.O.s) like 33K6-4-2930-1, by applying known weights or loads at measured distances, adjusting internal screws or settings for accuracy across different ranges (e.g., 20%, 60%, 100% of max), and ensuring readings match specified limits, with adjustments made by technicians in controlled environments, always cycling the wrench and storing it at its lowest setting.
Good video though
Quick search look up that TO, be amazed what you are supposed to do using them the right way.
The USAF torque wrench calibration procedure involves using specialized testers (like those from Honeywell/Bendix or Snap-on) to check settings, often via Technical Orders (T.O.s) like 33K6-4-2930-1, by applying known weights or loads at measured distances, adjusting internal screws or settings for accuracy across different ranges (e.g., 20%, 60%, 100% of max), and ensuring readings match specified limits, with adjustments made by technicians in controlled environments, always cycling the wrench and storing it at its lowest setting.
Interesting video. I didn’t watch all of it, but will later. A couple of things that stood out were the way he held the torque wrenches. Snap-On literature used to show holding the handle at a 90 degree angle to your wrist and making a straight uninterrupted pull. I remember that I could deflect the needle beam several foot-pounds by just torquing my wrist. When I was a Snap-On dealer I sold a lot of their torque wrenches and never had any problems. Sturtevant used to show films of their original beam-type wrench being tested after it was dropped from a Cessna at altitude. I’m sure many of them are still around. Craftsman and others used to sell them, but you tell if it was made by Sturtevant if it had their “chevron” symbol on the back of the torque plate. Snap-On used to guarantee 2% accuracy on their click-type torque wrenches and %1 on their beam wrenches. The beam was enclosed on their 1% wrenches and was connected to a small pinion gear that drove the dial. One of my biggest sales as a dealer was when I sold a Snap-On calibration set-up to McCulloch corporation here in Lake Havasu. They wanted to be able to calibrate their production wrenches on-site instead of sending them to Snap-On’s facility in Arvada, Co. My oldest torque wrench (Craftsman Sturtevant copy) is 57 years old and still works. My oldest Snap-On clicker is about 50 years old. I have five of them from 200 inch pounds to 250 foot-pounds. According to my low-buck digital torque meter they are all accurate.
I had several aircraft mechanics on my route and they all used Snap-On wrenches. One of them told me that his A&P school recommended them and the calibration facility in Arvada. The last time I checked Snap-On closed that place, so I don’t where I get my wrenches worked on now. Thanks for the link. One thing just came into my mind - Arvada used to put a little lead seal melted over the adjustment screw on some of their wrenches. All of my Snap-On wrenches have a manufacture date engraved on them.
Snap on was made By CDI who also made the test equipment we used. You can send the wrenches there for calibration also. We had to do all of the bases wrenches every six months, Easily a few hundred from in oz to the big 8oo ft lbs for the props. Was a full time job for the new guy once we got them certified to do it. Big PIA. Loved the soak time at at least 70 degrees for a day. Then the user used it outside at say 10 degrees. WTF right?
Then get into the calculations for crowfoot and socket extensions. A hell of alot of stuff, that was all aviation driven when it has to be right.
Then get into the calculations for crowfoot and socket extensions. A hell of alot of stuff, that was all aviation driven when it has to be right.
Last edited:
I didn’t know who made Snap-On wrenches. I will look CDI up. All of the ratchet heads used Snap housings and gears. Sounds like pretty miserable weather to work on aircraft. I knew some guys who were stationed at Adak and they said it was miserable. A friend of mine’s brother hated it so much he volunteered to be an LRP in Vietnam! Six months sounds right because the A&P’s I knew had me send their wrenches in twice a year. I tried to keep one of what they used on hand as a loaner. When I-40 was built through Kingman, AZ, I sold some big iron 300 foot-lb torque wrenches to their heavy equipment mechanics. The scariest thing was our X-4 torque multiplier. I watched a holding bar for a track wheel nut slip off and hit the dirt one day. The ground literally jumped when it hit. It also trashed the gears in the multiplier. After that I started keeping the repair kits for them on my truck. People have no idea what it takes to keep some of the machines we rely on running.
I would have liked to see testing of a dial reading torque wrench. That Icon wrench looks like a good way to get from the customary "1/2 turn from broke" to "1/4 or 1/8 turn from broke!"
Do you think 6 pounds at 100 is going to make a difference? Consistency is the main factor in my book. I use a Plumb beam on engines. Use the Snap-on clicker on wheels. Inch pound is a Snap-on clicker. Sometimes the torque wrench doesn't fit. Gotta us the muscle memory. More accurate than most people would think.
I have a drawer full of Sturtevants. A little inch-pounder up to a 250 foot-pounder. One is inscribed USAAF, making it at least 78 years old. I gave a dollar for it at a yard sale 45 years ago. Another is a gold colored one that was a prize for winning the Mopar trouble shooting contest back in the day. It looks like it's never been used. But it's cool and I only paid a few bucks for it.
I have a set of Victor dual stage gauges marked USAAF that I took in trade on a dune buggy in 1968. Tools are vastly under appreciated in my opinion. My tools helped put me through college, buy my first house, and kept me from going hungry for many years. My tool box is its’ own history. When I was a tool dealer I used to tell my customers that a real mechanic never sells his tools because as long as he has them he can always make a living. Ideally, my tools will go to a young guy starting out so they can feed him and support him like they did me. I’m paraphrasing, but give someone a handout and you feed them for a day - teach them a skill (and/or give them some tools and teach them how to use them) and you feed them for a lifetime. I have some gold-plated Bonney tools from a Mopar award program that the father of my best friend gave me in 1968. His dad is gone, but we’re still friends after 60 years and he lives only a couple of miles away - 1200 miles from where we met and grew up. For a lot of us, tools tell the story of our lives. They deserve our respect.
I have some Bonney tools too. Not many. Good stuff. One is a broken torque wrench. LOL
moparmat2000
Well-Known Member
I work in aviation mtx. Our company torque wrenches and other calibrated tools have yearly inspection/calibration tags on them. They have to be checked once every year. Heaven forbid you drop one, then it gets tagged right then to get calibrated and goes into quarantine. I have a 35 year old Craftsman ft lb torque wrench I bought new when I was building my first 440. I would always zero it out after use so it's not left under spring tension.
We are not allowed to keep any personal tools on site that require calibration. All that has to be under company control. Out of curiosity though I brought mine in just to have the calibration people check it. After 35 years, it's dead on the money. One of the things I got with management about was the fact that people were not zeroing these things out when returning them to the tool room. Since then zeroing out the torque wrenches has become standard policy over the last 30 years where I work.
We are not allowed to keep any personal tools on site that require calibration. All that has to be under company control. Out of curiosity though I brought mine in just to have the calibration people check it. After 35 years, it's dead on the money. One of the things I got with management about was the fact that people were not zeroing these things out when returning them to the tool room. Since then zeroing out the torque wrenches has become standard policy over the last 30 years where I work.
As for dead on I would say 90% were. Yes dropping them they were right to Cal, do not pass go. Another thing that was a no no was to take it out and use it without breaking it (use it) three times at the set point you needed to free it up. Just the click type that is. Ever in a USAF hanger you might see sockets welded to a I beam somewhere just for doing that. USAF cycle was every six months but the exception was WRM (deployed) ones that were stored. But once you opened it it started the clock on them. Every single part on the aircraft had to be torqued. Even simple screws. I do not miss that at all.
I’ve learned a lot here, and I thought I was pretty familiar with these things. Zeroing out your torque wrench is important and I used to stress it when I sold them to first-time users. Also, breaking torque three times is something i have pretty much always done, but have been criticized for. It’s interesting. A guy I know in the performance business says that torquing fasteners in engines is pretty much obsolete. Measuring stretch and other methods are used today. That may be, but I built a lot of engines and torqued a lot of fasteners in the last sixty years, with pretty good results. There is always room for progress, I guess.
Want your brain to explode go through that USAF manual I posted a link for. Crazy amounts of things in there to use them that I did not even know before doing calibration.. We had to 100% follow this book.
6.6 CALCULATIONS WHEN EXTENSIONS ARE USED.Calculations applicable to use of extension are as follows:NOTEAfter determining correct torque, round decimals to the nearest whole number. Round up when 0.50 or higher.Round down when 0.49 or lower.a. When wrenches are used similar to Figure 6-1 the equations is:S equalsT x BB+Ab. When extensions are perpendicular to wrench handles, similar to Figure 6-2, then:S equals Tc. When wrenches are attached similar to Figure 6-3, the equation is:S equalsT x BB-A6.7 TORQUE WRENCHADAPTER.• When using wrench extensions along with above equations, torque forces exerted must be perpendicular towrench handles.• These torque wrench adapters must have their calibrated torque loads either etched onto them or shown onlabel stick-on tape applied to them and they must not be subjected to compressive forces while they are beingused.Use of torque wrench adapters similar to Belknap, Part Number (PN) 38A, and X-4 Corp., PN 38A1 (National Stoc
TO 32B14-3-1-101
6.6 CALCULATIONS WHEN EXTENSIONS ARE USED.Calculations applicable to use of extension are as follows:NOTEAfter determining correct torque, round decimals to the nearest whole number. Round up when 0.50 or higher.Round down when 0.49 or lower.a. When wrenches are used similar to Figure 6-1 the equations is:S equalsT x BB+Ab. When extensions are perpendicular to wrench handles, similar to Figure 6-2, then:S equals Tc. When wrenches are attached similar to Figure 6-3, the equation is:S equalsT x BB-A6.7 TORQUE WRENCHADAPTER.• When using wrench extensions along with above equations, torque forces exerted must be perpendicular towrench handles.• These torque wrench adapters must have their calibrated torque loads either etched onto them or shown onlabel stick-on tape applied to them and they must not be subjected to compressive forces while they are beingused.Use of torque wrench adapters similar to Belknap, Part Number (PN) 38A, and X-4 Corp., PN 38A1 (National Stoc
Last edited:
Hyper_pak
Old School Chrysler Fan
I got a craftsman click wrench back in the 70's.
First time I used it on my 440 I snapped one off the shorter head bolts.
I took it my Cal Lab where I worked and it was WAY off, low.
They melted the Lead out and made it right.
I have always zeroed it since then.
But last year I didn't like the way it was acting, so I have gone back to my beam wrench.
First time I used it on my 440 I snapped one off the shorter head bolts.
I took it my Cal Lab where I worked and it was WAY off, low.
They melted the Lead out and made it right.
I have always zeroed it since then.
But last year I didn't like the way it was acting, so I have gone back to my beam wrench.
Last edited:
Kind of funny that the beam wrenches almost never off. Forget the calibration cycle on them was I think two years and never a issue. Another big thing is never use the first 20% of the range, it is almost always off thats why the cal starts at 20%
We did a lot of personal ones for guys. Believe it or not the $20 Harbor freight were always as good as the snapon ones out of the box.
Last edited:
33IMP
Well-Known Member
I've got a beam wrench still in good shape. I just wish the scale wasn't missing. It's a breaker bar now.
Guess I'll have to keep using my harbor frieght clicker.
(And I ALWAYS dial the tension off after use.)
Guess I'll have to keep using my harbor frieght clicker.
(And I ALWAYS dial the tension off after use.)
I worked in the calibration lab for a while, going to school at night getting my degree. Never saw a bad calibration on a beam torque wrench. We scrapped a lot of clickers, all makes.
Last edited:
-
Similar threads
- Locked
