How To Use a Torque Wrench and How They Work [INSIDE LOOK]

In the 30+ years that I've used a torque wrench, I don't believe that I have ever seen the inside of one. We dig in to see how a torque wrench works. We also give some details on how to use a torque wrench properly.
Using our Sonic Tools torque wrench as our test-bed, we tighten some lugnuts on a Cadillac Escalade to show the proper procedure. Be sure to use smooth pulls or pushes, without being jerky. Once you feel and hear the click, then stop.
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[@niteninja0133]

Awesome finally, I've always wanted to know how they worked

[@Shoptoolreviews]

And now you know, and knowing is half the battle. Thanks for watching and for the comment.

[@PatrickAndrewsMacphee]

Thank you, for this clear explanation.

[@wilsoneashoian5789]

Great educational review.

[@simonlloyd7557]

A genius invention. I would love to know who the man was who designed this.

[@Shoptoolreviews]

The first patent for a torque wrench was filed by John H. Sharp of Chicago in 1931. This wrench was referred to as a torque measuring wrench and would be classified today as an indicating torque wrench. Thanks for watching.

[@sumitrawat2877]

This working of torque wrench has ingruited me for many years, I now finally have clear insight. Thank you

[@Shoptoolreviews]

Right on. Thanks for watching.

[@billj5645]

Yes for car springs! When you get home from work each night you need to jack up the car so none of the weight of the car is on the springs. And similar with the valve springs- if you aren't going to be driving the car for awhile you need to remove the camshafts or back off the rocker arms then remove the valve keepers so the valve springs aren't under constant compression. And last, I don't know why you were talking about metering fig newtons.

[@EZ_shop]

Good video.

[@davidb9166]

Very informative. Thanks.

[@Shoptoolreviews]

Thanks for watching, and I appreciate that kind words.

[@brandonjcollins1062]

Awesome! Thanks for the video..

[@Shoptoolreviews]

You bet. Thank you for watching.

[@scottgrossman5714]

Very well done

[@Shoptoolreviews]

Thank you very much!

[@caspianbell9556]

Great video!

[@Shoptoolreviews]

We appreciate it. Thanks for watching.

[@emmanuelmeyermeyer1083]

Excellent video and explanation of how they work. Good voice, energy and delivery of info on torque wrenches. This is your thing for sure. Looking for more videos. You just earned a new subscriber.👍

[@anthonypeters1797]

i know it might seem simple to you but that's the essence of good engineering. this is a fairly complex

[@Shoptoolreviews]

very true. Thanks for watching.

[@luckyduckydrivingschool3615]

Thanks for the great explanation! But I do have a question: I thought that springs only wear when "in operation" (that is in the act of compressing or expanding), and that when a spring is kept under load (but not a changing load, ie not in movement) it does not wear. A gunsmith told me this, maybe they use different type of springs in firearms, but can somebody please confirm?

[@MecaniculAndrei]

Very interesting, I have a Snap On digital Drive TechAngle, also must always return the lowest value?

[@eosjoe565]

Very interesting. I've been using click-type torque wrenches for 40 years yet never quite understood how they worked. I did know it was important to always turn them to the minimum setting before storage. I have a set of vintage Craftsman 1/2" and 3/8" click torque wrenches. They are the style with the little window that reads the torque settings directly in Ft-Lb and Nm. I've had them checked and after all these years they are still within spec.

[@Shoptoolreviews]

That's awesome that they've stayed calibrated. That says something about manufacturing decades ago.

[@JoeJoe-vd4rt]

Great explanation for people trying to understand. Only problem I see is that when you torque you double click and you aren’t suppose to. Smooth steady force one click your at torque. The extra click will cause an over torque.

[@petethewrist]

You can click the tool as many times as you like, as long as you stop each time at the click you will not put any more torque on the nut. And contrary to what lots believe you can hold the wrench at any point you wish and the torque will still be the same each time. As in this short video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5ycZnlmna2Gabcsi=vdS4hI08-O6Tjshk

[@Xev729]

What does ABW mean on the calibration card?

[@kimchee94112]

You assume the spring is linear across the low setting to the high setting and yet easy to wack it out of specification when left it compressed or even during transportation, sometimes DOA. I think that design requires calibration often. The electronic should be more accurate and remains within specification much longer but expensive when it failed. Mine digital lasted 5 years, was great when working.

[@repairdrive]

Nice! I would have never thought that's how they work. How the hell did they come up with that??!! 😃

[@Shoptoolreviews]

Good question! Thanks for watching

[@cookiebaker8361]

I could not figure out why, when I wound the torque wrench to less torque it got further away from the socket. Common sense told me that would give me more leverage. That is what brought me here. Now I know why. It is the compression on the spring and the whatchamacallit. Thanks a lot. Good video and well spoken and explained. You make me want to take mine apart now. But I won't. Maybe. No I won't. Um.

[@Shoptoolreviews]

Lol. I like your attitude, and I can understand that desire to dismantle yours, but don't. Not unless you're having it calibrated again soon. Thanks for watching.

[@BinleyClan]

I recently purchased a Craftsman torque wrench. Upon reading the instructions it specifically stated not to use it as a "breaker bar" for busting rusted nuts loose. "Ok" I thought, "no big deal". Then reading further it says not to use it to loosen and tighten nuts. "Hmmmm, that can't be right" I thought. Maybe you can explain this coded language? If the wrench is not under load, and the spring is completely returned to a "more relaxed" state, how would using this as a regular wrench cause damage to it's internals? Any thoughts?

[@philorr1590]

There's no reason it cant be used as a normal wrench, but you'd possibly need to set a more compressed state before using rather than minum / relaxed. Maybe they mean that the minimum torque setting on some wrenches might be low enough to easily allow the metal block to skip in regular use (loosen and tighten) causing premature wear?

[@Soniccues]

Excellent video good work. One small correction for you from a certified torque wrench repair guy. The block does not roll, it simply tips causing the tapered length to tap the side of the tube and then tips back flat when force is relaxed. The blocks are not all square, most have a thousands of an inch variable side and you change them to correct the 100% scale reading of the wrench. The handle is adjusted to set the 20% value. Also, torque wrenches are calibrated from 20% to 100% of the max scale reading and are are not considered fully reliable below the 20%. Just some info for you.

[@Allen-bm6tz]

Tim - I've always spun my torque wrench down after use but I did it slightly below the zero mark. Is that bad? Does it stretch the spring at that point?

[@Soniccues]

@@Allen-bm6tz No, that is not a problem, the looser the spring the less likely it will loose its tension value. In this case looser is petter😀

[@truckdirty]

This is the type info that I'm most interested in Tim! Knowing exactly how precision instruments are best used by lay people. Thanks 👍🏿

[@Soniccues]

@@truckdirty I have a much more detailed description of how to calibrate at another video if you want to read it.. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpLUc3Rjrbh6mMU. Glad I could help and Thanks.

[@AndrewBrowner]

the spring force being applied to the click mechanism wouldnt be 140lbs for the 140lb setting, they are not proportionate.. cheaper torque wrenches can work fine, theres a test here on youtube i cant remember the channel but tested a amazon unit vs snapon and they were both almost identical and the amazon was actually more accurate by a lb or so on a couple tests

[@AndrewBrowner]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZzCgGiLZrmssJo found the video it was real tool reviews and it was a harbour freight vs a snap on.. i kinda think this guy might shill for HF a bit but regardless it seems like a legitimate test.. only thing they could of done to alter the results was have the HF calibrated before hand

[@Shoptoolreviews]

Yes, you are correct. We caught that in editing, but we really didn't feel like it was misleading...except for the detail-oriented and technical people like yourself (joking). Seriously though, like you mentioned, the forces are not linear; however, the point is that more and more pressure is applied to the spring and you can't just leave it in it's compressed form. Thanks for catching that. Btw, I've seen that vid before. I don't have a problem at all with less-expensive tools, but just make sure your torque wrench has been calibrated and you have the card to show it. --I've received brand new torque wrenches that were WAY off. Thanks again.

[@sef2273]

Slip to torque wrench. Amazing ... wonder how many people could guess the mechanism without knowing how they work .

[@Shoptoolreviews]

Thanks for watching.

[@tasdau]

8:24 to get right to the teardown.

[@Shoptoolreviews]

Thanks for watching.

[@matthewnicholas6365]

I recently invested in a torque wrench to do some work on my car. I needed a lot of effort to get the wheels off (not fitted by me) then found the spec for tightening was 140nm I was shocked at how not tight that is. And in turn how the hell tight do the poxy tyre shops do them up with their impact drivers 🤬 Might take the wheels off myself for the next tyre change

[@Shoptoolreviews]

Many times the tire (tyre) shops overtighten them with their air impact wrenches. Thanks for watching.

[@TaurusGX49MM]

I bought a cheap one on Amazon, I’m going to return it for a better one , dial is very hard to turn and your seems easier to turn..

[@lucifchristo]

If you wish to see the internals and the breakdown skip to 8 minutes and 30 seconds into the video

[@Shoptoolreviews]

Thanks for the help. I should probably put some time markers in the description. Thanks for watching.

[@petethewrist]

Yes as with any spring type air gun after time or if left loaded for any long time the spring will get weaker. This in a torque wrench mean a wrong out put. Now what about hand postion when useing the tool. Does it matter? Short video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5ycZnlmna2Gabcsi=vdS4hI08-O6Tjshk

[@JoyfulJapaneseMaples-us7on]

Absolutely no help at all. I Absolutely cannot get the torque set, i spin the bottom thing one way and then the middle part turns until it doesn't. One way to loosen itnis to turn it clockwise but then it gets slack so out of nowhere then best way is counterclockwise but also counterclockwise at the bottom. Blah blah blah

[@dustbustr91]

you love to hear yourself talk dont ya!?

[@Shoptoolreviews]

Exactly. Thanks for watching.

[@dawx3044]

This fool repeats himself for an entire 2 mins and 19 seconds. Literally skip until 2:19 to get to anything remotely valuable. We don’t need a monologue next time.