Torque Wrench

[chatyak]

I know you're not supposed to leave a torque wrench "engaged" in strength while being stored. I left mine on accident at 85 ft/lbs for a few weeks. Do you think this damaged it's proper ability for the right torque or it should be okay?

Thanks!

[Hyperion]

Hit and miss per brand.

[staax]

I think you'll be okay. Make a habit out of it and yeah you'll start to ruin it.

[SomeGuy]

Won't make a big difference over a couple weeks. If you're worried, find someone else with a torque wrench and do some comparisons between the two. If it's a good one, send it out to be calibrated again.

[chatyak]

It's from Canadian Tire - this one (http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/tools-hardware/hand-tools/wrenches/specialty-wrenches/mastercraft-1-2-in-drive-torque-wrench-0588558p.html#.VT2u0JOMGJ0) to be exact.... It seemed to be ok when I retorqued today but I have no way of an exact measurement.

[chatyak]

It's from Canadian Tire - this one (http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/tools-hardware/hand-tools/wrenches/specialty-wrenches/mastercraft-1-2-in-drive-torque-wrench-0588558p.html#.VT2u0JOMGJ0) to be exact.... It seemed to be ok when I retorqued today but I have no way of an exact measurement.

Found this online - true or not?

If, for some reason, you have a click-type torque wrench that goes all the way down to zero, leave the wrench set to 10 or 20 pounds. You always want to keep a minimum amount of pressure on the spring so that the ball can’t fall all the way out of the detent.

[shift8]

My torque wrench also suggests leaving it set to min tension, which in my case is 20ft/lbs.

[staax]

Yeah I have the Master craft cheapie too and you should leave it at 20 ft lbs... You can go lower than that which risks making the little ball slip out of the detent which will cause it to jam.

Always set it to the lowest setting the wrench is rated for... 20 ft lbs. Just don't max out the wrench to its minimum (if that makes sense, I worded it a bit like an oxymoron Lol).

[chatyak]

Ahhh I see.... well sh*t... I kept it at 0 Ft/Lbs all winter... than 85 ft/lbs for 2-3 weeks (no idea how that happened :( ).... maybe I should go get a new one to be safe.

[mParsonz]

I used the Mastercraft Maximum for quite some time at work, always spun it down 1 spin past 20 ft lbs, never had any issues. Never left it engaged for long periods of time so not sure as much about that, but I checked it often enough and it was always okay, so honestly I wouldn't be that worried.