Torque wrench question

[PatricdeBoer]

I have recently decided that the torque wrench is the most godly tool ever. The longer handle makes loosening stuff so much easier. Yesterday a friend told me that I will screw up the wrenches internals by using it to loosen stuff. Its a harbor frieght click style wrench. It doesn't click at any torque when you are loosening something. Does this sound right?

[rrgrassi]

Yes, you can mess up a torque wrench if used for loosening, or due to rust or thread imperfections, it will take more torque to loosen, and the wrench will release, due to torque amount being the same or exceeding what is on the dial. A torque wrench is designed for tightening only. And, ya gotta remember there are left handed threads that do tighten CCW.

[tangofox007]

Originally Posted by PatricdeBoer

Yesterday a friend told me that I will screw up the wrenches internals by using it to loosen stuff.

That's a pretty generally accepted theory.

[MrOnline]

you should never ever use it for anything but tightning to the spesific Torque....

Not only can you damage it, but most likely your will mess up the torque settings so it wont be accurate....

Get urself a "lazy arm" wrench.... not sure if thats the proper translation, in norway it's called latmansarm it's like 50cm wrench just for loosning nuts and stuff...

[Eskimo]

Originally Posted by PatricdeBoer

The longer handle makes loosening stuff so much easier.

I've found that a flex-head 1/2" drive ratchet with a longish handle - something like this - comes in pretty handy .
It's not the equal of a monster breaker bar, but the handle's long enough to provide a little extra "oomph", and the flex head makes it, well, flexible.

With a drive extension, it works great for rotating the OM617 (valve adjustments, accessing the drain plug on the torque converter, etc.).

I save the torque wrench for torquing things to specification.

[dannym]

Get a breaker bar and save your torque wrench.

DAnny

[PatricdeBoer]

Thanks, you guys probably just saved my torque wrench. I guess I'll go and try to find one of those long handled ratchets.

[dannym]

Originally Posted by PatricdeBoer

Thanks, you guys probably just saved my torque wrench. I guess I'll go and try to find one of those long handled ratchets.

You don't want a long handled wratchet, you want a BREAKER BAR.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=37150

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by PatricdeBoer

Thanks, you guys probably just saved my torque wrench. I guess I'll go and try to find one of those long handled ratchets.

Follow what Danny told you.

The 18" bar is fabulous for just about everything, including brake caliper bolts.

[barry123400]

The breaker bar should be a known fairly good brand item. If it lets go when you are using it you might hurt yourself. That does not mean you have to spend a fortune but just use common sense. I would say no taiwan specials for this tool. Lots of pretty good brands out there at reasonable prices.