Mud-club
Vehicle & Technical => Discovery => Topic started by: K9Jim on May 16, 2006, 21:21:04
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can anyone recommend a torque wrench. i haven't got one. :oops: i need to buy one for some work i'm gonna start on the cooling system and don't know too much about them . :-k
what sort do i need. reading about them it all gets confusing :oops:
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HI there.
Before you buy a torque wrench, you have to decide what range of settings you will be working with. If they are mostly small fasteners with low torque settings, then you will want a wrench that covers this range.
Britool make great torque wrenches but are very pricey. Teng make good stuff as well and are slightly more reasonable.
Then you have the "budget" end of the market, Clarke, Kamasa and un-branded stuff.
You pays your money and you takes your choice.
Hope this helps.
:roll: :roll:
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Halfords one are good for the money..... esp. if you've got a trade card :wink:
What work are you doing on the cooling system???
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cheers guys,
porny, i've got a severe leak from the p gasket so whilst im replacing it i'm replacing the rad which has a hole the size of my fist in it thanks to a fluke shot from a stray stone. removing my seized viscous fan and replacing with twin rangie fans on thermostat and switch, replace all the hoses oh and the rocker cover gasket again :x
and cleaning the intercooler whilst its all out :lol: gonna take a couple of days nice and slowly with plenty of coffee breaks
so what sort of wrench would cover mostly engine work, nuts and bolts tightening etc. i notice there are different wrenches for different settings.
i know it sounds thick but this is all new to me :oops:
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Are we talking a 300Tdi or a 200Tdi?? (I'd imagine a 300Tdi, but want to check)
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sorry mate yeah 300tdi, :oops:
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'Most' the bolts you’re going to be removing need to be torqued to 25Nm (a couple may be up to 45Nm) and the lowest is about 10Nm.
For normal engine work you would be better off with a 3/8" size torque wrench (the 3/8" is the size of the square fitting in the socket).
A typical 3/8" torque wrench does from 10Nm ish up to 60Nm, e.g. the Halfords one click here :wink: (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&productId=178843&categoryId=31482&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=31482&crumb=33958-33943&varient=&CarSelectorCatalogId=&CarSelectorGroupId=)
Obviously you need 3/8" end sockets to fit the torque wrench, or an adaptor to step down or up from the size of your sockets.
With sockets, you get a few different size of end size (i.e. the size of the square in the end of the socket that you fit to the ratchet) - you get (smallest first) 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4" and 1". The size of the end depends on the size of the bolt your undoing, and the torque that it is done up to.
For most engine work you will need 3/8" mainly, but a 1/4" set is also handy at times if space is limited. For more complicated work (or stuck bolts) a 1/2" set (even part set) is also handy. A selection of these three will do most engine work for you (in fact, that's all I use at home!)
(a 1/4" is handy for undoing Jubilee clips!!)
There are times, for really tight bolt, where you need a longer breaker bar, a 3/4" set is useful, but I just borrow these as and when I need them, which isn't that often.
Without plugging Halfords too much, I don't know what tools you've got had home, but IMHO you can't go wrong with a Halfords professional set.
With one of these you will have all the sockets/spanners you need to do most jobs on your engine.... there decent quality tools (for the money) and they have a lifetime guarantee. click here :wink: (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&productId=173083&categoryId=33931&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=33931&crumb=33958-33943&varient=&CarSelectorCatalogId=&CarSelectorGroupId=) (And they are on special offer at the moment).
The only other tools you need then are a screwdriver set, a set of pliers and cutters etc, and a 1/2†breaker bar is always handy!!
You will also need a viscous fan spanner, to get your fan off.
Sorry if any of this post is teaching you to suck eggs…..
Ian
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ian (the font of knowledge) aka porny
your a star cheers mate :D - so much clearer now :wink:
i got the viscous fan spanner. saw that on special offer a couple of weeks ago.
i've got a couple of socket sets so will check sizes etc. will let you know dude
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I use mac tools but these are expensive.
If you are only going to use it now and again then check out argos (yes in the high steet) or clarks (machine mart).
If its only going to used for this job then you can get a torque bar from any draper tool shop about 12 notes.
Just make sure you get one that fits your sockets. Spending your money on a 1/2 drive is no good if your sockets are 3/8.
Darryl