Torque Wrench Calibration | GTAMotorcycle.com

Torque Wrench Calibration

Wheelieboy

Wheelieboy

Well-known member
So I've had my torque wrench over torque and break important bolts in my engine...twice. I think its time for a calibration.

Is it worth paying money to calibrate a torque wrench? To do it DIY? Buy a new one?

I have one of those $100 Mastercraft torque wrenches (That I got on sale for $50)...not exactly top of the line but still costs a bit of money.

Opinions?
 
If its mastercraft, just return it. Lifetime warranty, no questions asked at any canadian tire. Dont pay to have it calibrated.
 
bobjohnson said:
If its mastercraft, just return it. Lifetime warranty, no questions asked at any canadian tire. Dont pay to have it calibrated.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I forgot about that! But do I need the packaging or receipt?
 
Not if its stamped as mastercraft (which all mastercraft tools are).

My favorite story for people who dont realise how awesome the return policy is on mastercraft stuff, i found a 9mm socket at the end of my driveway, obviously there for years, rusty as hell and flat from being hit by a bunch of cars. It was destroyed, and you could only make out "Masterc" and "9m" on the stamping. I took it to CT, and they gave me a brand new one out of the cabinent.

This is why, for sockets at least, id recommend mastercraft (especially the Maximum line) over snapon... good luck getting a snapon guy to even replace a rounded off socket, let alone one thats been run over by a car.
 
Becareful, Mastercraft torque wrench warranties are...

"Lifetime material and workmanship warranty; 90 day calibration warranty"

If you go in and speak to them nicely, they might be able to help you out...
 
Bambaataa said:
Becareful, Mastercraft torque wrench warranties are...

"Lifetime material and workmanship warranty; 90 day calibration warranty"

If you go in and speak to them nicely, they might be able to help you out...
Click to expand...

That's why you must only return the torque wrench when it's ;) broken ;) Not because it's out of calibation
 
Torren said:
That's why you must only return the torque wrench when it's ;) broken ;) Not because it's out of calibation
Click to expand...

Yep exactly. Im sure the warranty on sockets also precludes getting run over by cars, but CT is really good about honoring the lifetime guarantee, ive never had any issue returning any mastercraft item for any reason whatsoever. My dad took back a battery pack from an electric drill after about 5 years because it wouldnt hold a charge anymore, and they gave him a brand new drill with 2 new batteries without him even asking for it.

This is why i always buy mastercraft tools, CT really stands behind them and the maximum series line is almost as nice as tools that cost 10x as much (but have ******** warranties). Some guys will tell you that you have to buy snapon stuff but ive always found that they really hate to replace anything for any reason, the guy will always tell you its not elligble for warranty replacement because its a "wear and tear" issue. Never ever heard that from canadian tire and ive literally taken advantage of that return policy to the point where i almost felt bad (like trying to return a run over socket i found on the street...).
 
If the Mastercraft torque wrenches are the same design as the ones from Princess Auto the design allows the mechanism to go out of whack especially if you totally relax the spring. It can then lock up and just become a power bar. Always try the wrench on something that is despensible before going at the bike.
 
This could also be a lubrication issue. If the threads are clean and lubed you will get a lot more application pressure with the same torque. Bolts going into aluminum threads are a good example of this. The factory manual usually states the required conditions for installation, dry and clean would yield a much different result from lubed.
Probably just the wrench as others have said, do you have another one to compare it to? If the mechanism is locked it will be obvious if you try torquing the same bolt with both wrenches.
 
nobbie48 said:
If the Mastercraft torque wrenches are the same design as the ones from Princess Auto the design allows the mechanism to go out of whack especially if you totally relax the spring. It can then lock up and just become a power bar. Always try the wrench on something that is despensible before going at the bike.
Click to expand...

Isn't that true for most, though? Or at least it's very common, I know I am terribly paranoid about never turning the handle past the end of the scale.

Also, to answer the OP's question, I have had wrenches calibrated before at a place in Weston I think, maybe it was $50 a wrench? I suspect skapan has the answer, though - make sure the threads of the bolts you're torquing are clean.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom