Torque Wrench Calibration

Do it yourself. I know it's another forum, sorry, but it'd take me too long to do it again on here

https://triumphmotorcycleforum.com/t/calibrate-a-torque-wrench/1445

 

I followed a couple of YouTube videos and checked my Sealy basic wrench myself. It was still within spec

 

When I got into doing the valve clearances on the Ducati I decided that it it was time for a new torque wrench that is calibrated in a lower range than my old Norbar wrench that I bought in the 60s.

Fortunately my new Norbar torque handle is capable of checking torque for both right and left hand threads and there was a fair overlap of the ranges of the two wrenches. So it was easy to check the accuracy of my 50 year old wrench by connecting the two together by using a large sump plug hex bit on one and the appropriate six point socket on the other wrench.

To my surprise the old wrench performed remarkably well which I put down to it being made by one of the most reputable manufacturers of such tools and always winding it back down to it’s minimum setting when finished with.

Sadly, I read recently that Norbar, an hour up the road from me at Banbury, have now been bought by Snap-On.

 

I still use a 1/2" drive Williams Autotorque I bought around 40 yrs ago, plus a more recent 3/8" drive Halfords "Professional" which goes down to 5nm. I also have a huge, brand new 3/4" drive Draper I won on ebay for £15 when a jilted Wife was selling the contents of her husband's garage after he buggered off with a younger model. I've only used the Draper once on some suspension bolts on the SUV torqued up to over 200lb/ft.
I checked the other two with the weight method recently and they were, near as damn it, bang on.
I always store them wound fully back to the stop then back in 1/2 turn. There's no real zero on them as, even wound fully out, there's some light tension on the spring.
If you don't have a TW, a basic rule of thumb is tighten until it strips, then back off 1/2 turn.

 

If you buy another wrench.....how will you know if thats accurate.

I check mine with a digital luggage scale.....very accurate.

 

Where did you send it?

 

Each of my Norbar torque wrenches came with their own calibration certificate. You get what you pay for.