Well yes, just using torque wrench correctly will put out the calibration eventually but abusing it as described will put it out sooner. Certainly cheapo Aldi/Screwfix torque wrenches are probabley not worth buying but Halfords tools are generally of better quailty & suitable for home use.
A mechanic's torque wrench in daily use should of course be recalibrated annually but a Halfords tool used occasionally should be ok for a few yrs, I would have thought.
It depends on how they are used and looked after - the caravanner in the street sees them as a magic tool to set their wheel nuts correctly - I wonder how many of them leave them set to the the setting for doing up their wheel nuts.
I suppose buying a cheap torque wrench is akin to buying and a cheap car tyre and fitting it to your van - sure it's cheap and at the end of the day you may get the same result.
Quote:
A mechanic's torque wrench in daily use should of course be recalibrated annually but a Halfords tool used occasionally should be ok for a few yrs, I would have thought.
Your family's lives may depend on that thought!
------------- Caravanning is a way of getting a cheap holiday out of an expensive hobby
Quote: Originally posted by Rune Caster on 14/10/2010Your family's lives may depend on that thought!
Bit melodramtic, Rune. I just use a bar & my judgement. I would certainly trust that more than I would trust a cheap torque wrench.
It's the mornings that do it you know
But is it any more melodramatic than saying the same thing about not loading your caravan correctly & etc., after all wheel nuts are supposed to be set to 88 Nm not the 44 Nm you are more likely to get with a cheap torque wrench - a wheel coming off a trailer is worse than a blow out...
------------- Caravanning is a way of getting a cheap holiday out of an expensive hobby
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: WARNING ALKO WHEEL BRACE!
