Digital Torque Wrench Recommendations

Hey,

I'm in the market for a new Torque wrench and considering going digital.

Does anyone have one they'd recommend for working on bikes and covers the range of torque settings needed?

Pro's and Con's of mechanical vs digital?

 

Harbor Freight seems to be just as accurate and repeaable as Snap-On (for the hobbiest).

Digital is easy to read, easy to set, but needs batteries and the display could break if handled roughly.

Mechanical is robust, but the spring (if using a clicker) can take a set if you don't retun it to zero when you're done. Beam type can be difficult to see the gauge on in some situations.

 

I do not have a digital, but from my investigations, a digital may offer a wider range of torque measurements, but you still may have to get more than one to span the needed torques. Most give an audible alert (beep or buzz) when the dialed in torque is reached. The torque setting is easier to set too, as you can change units easily.

I had to get 3 different mechanical torque wrenches in order to span the ranges needed.; 1/4" drive, 3/8", and 1/2". They are difficult to set, and I often have to convert ft-lbs to in-lbs, or convert kg to lbs, etc. It took a while to figure out how to read the scale, and if not in the right light, my aging eyes have difficulty seeing it. It seems each wrench has a different scale, (one is in in-lbs and another is in ft-lbs) but they weren't expensive. An advantage that a mechanical may have, is that it won't let you overtorque, as once the dialed in torque is met, the torque wrench clicks and stops turning, where a digital, you have to stop at the tone. A minor disadvantage that is easily overcome.

 

As Kmoe mentioned the mechanical click types can sometimes mis-read/ hang up, even if set to zero, if you don't use it frequently you should exercise it prior to using it.
I'm a fan of the beam/ pointer style.

 

Thanks - does anyone have a digital one that they would recommend?

 

what's the NM range requirement we need here for working on these bikes?

which of these would you pick:
https://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-ARM6...4728506&sr=8-5&keywords=torque+wrench+digital

https://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-ARM6...4728506&sr=8-3&keywords=torque+wrench+digital

 

In looking at the Torque specs chart for my 750SECA, the lowest is 4 ft-lbs and the maximum is 87 Ft-lb on a middle gear drive shaft nut.

 

I got 2 torque wrenches. One calibrated in inch pounds for the delicate stuff and another in foot pounds for the heavy jobs. #2 comes in handy when it's time to switch rims on the car for that other season. Canadian Tire brand MasterCraft sells them as a 2 pack, not that I got it. I was lucky to inherit my dad's Snap On from his days as a professional wrench. It's older than me, and works harder too.

 

Keep in mind that the upper 10% and the lower 10% of the range of any given torque wrench is essentially useless (as in; inaccurate as heck). I suppos that's another advantage of a good digital torque wrench; accuracy across the measurement range should be better.

 

@k-moe which of those two digital ones I linked do you think would be best for this?

 

For the money? Neither, but I'm a tightwad.
I would want to see test reports of the second one to see if it's accurate at either end of the range, and get it if it is.

 

lol - fair enough! I'm putting it on my list for Santa so I'll ask for a test report from the elves..