Torque wrenches

[bsvitale]

I have a new JD 5045e. First time tractor owner. The book suggests checking the torque on various things at 10 hours. Is a torque wrench something your average tractor owner should keep in the toolbox? Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C5ZL12Y/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

thanks guys
Ben

 

[JimRB]

Too small for many tractor bolts. When you read your owners manual, did it not say torque bolt to 200 lb/ft? or 140 lb/ft? You need a 1/2 drive for many bolts. At least I do on my tractor. For little bolts I know hand tight well enough and I can pull out a 3/8" drive torque wrench, but that is used more for engine and injection system bolts, not drive train, roll over cage and other high torque bolts.

 

[JimRB]

TEKTON 24340 1/2-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench, 25-250-Foot/Pound - - Amazon.com

 

[DuckSlayer1017]

Yeah I think a torque wrench is something every home mechanic needs. I have a cheap HF click wrench and it has served me well. The one you picked out is ok but you may want to consider something that also goes up to about 150 lb-ft. There are a lot of things on a tractor that will require the higher torque.

 

[s219]

Yeah, you want the big Tekton JimRB linked to. I have that one and it's a nice tool.

 

[fried1765]

bsvitale:
Torque wrenches are not a buy it, and use forever wrench.
They must be calibrated periodically.
There is no hard rule for how often this is necessary, but it IS necessary if you want accurately torqued fasteners.
Some say every 6 months, but that seems excessive, and probably applies only if you are using the tool every day, for 6 months.
Some say to re-calibrate after 2500 uses. For most of us that too would be never occur.
The real story here is that the settings for a new wrench, when compared to a wrench that has been used, or sitting in an unheated building, or has been dropped, may be very different.

 

[bsvitale]

Yeah my bad on the first link. Meant more like what Jim suggested. My rear disk to hub bolts are supposed to be 406 lb/ft. Similar numbers in the 400s for some of the loader bolts (cap screws). I guess I'm looking at a second wrench for those?

 

[PILOON]

As an aviation mechanic and approved repair facility we needed to calibrate annually.
This was especially important when setting autopilot clutches and adjusting tensions on control cables.
Each torque wrench would have a chart that read + 0r - for every 10# increment.
(Like for 50 read 53, or for 100 read 96)
Oddly enough however only owners were required to use a torque wrench to install spark plugs, not a certified mechanic.

Dang calibration cost close to $100 at an approved facility as every calibration needed to be traceable to national standards. *

I had a surplus WW2 Snapon 'blade type' that calibrated just fine after spending over 50 years in various tool boxes.

Also have more modern 'click type' but still prefer the old dial style as I 'get the feel' and can stop before stripping a thread.
After a while your fingers become as accurate as any torque wrench if you do enough.
I take exception to critical items like engine heads and connecting rods, but for the rest I never bother. (never had a wheel come off or lost any parts.)

* We cheated, had one item calibrated and then transferred to all our other tools.(but in a scientific way. We declared the calibrated unit a 'shop standard')
The 'standard' in fact never got used on a daily basis.

 

[TxDoc]

I have two, as one won't do everything I need.

https://www.suncoasttools.com/

https://www.suncoasttools.com/Pages/Snapon/TorqueWrenchCDI.htm

Warranty/Repair

Made in America.

https://www.suncoasttools.com/Products/CatagoryofTools/HandToolsWrenchTorque.html

https://www.suncoasttools.com/Pages/Snapon/SnaponIndustrialBrandsWarranty.pdf

First: https://www.suncoasttools.com/crm/pdf/1002TORQ.pdf
MICRO-ADJUSTABLE BY 1 ft.lb.
3/8" Drive, 10'-100' Lbs., Suncoast Part #1002MFRPH
$125.39

Second: https://www.suncoasttools.com/crm/pdf/1002TORQ.pdf
TORQUE WRENCH 30-250 ft.lbs.
1/2"DRIVE, MICRO-ADJUSTABLE BY
1 ft.lb,
Suncoast Part #2503MFRPH
$156.13

I went with plastic handles rather than metal. May give up durability, but did not like the feel of the metal when even slightly greasy. When you get thru, always return the setting to zero to try to minimize the affect on going out of calibration. I may be 100% wrong, but Suncoast may do re-calibration with a new certificate. Suncoast carry these wrenches good to 2000 ft.lbs.

Suncoast seemed to not only have the lowest prices, but excellent customer service on the phone and by email.

Good luck on your search.

 

[Wagtail]

I have a new JD 5045e. First time tractor owner. The book suggests checking the torque on various things at 10 hours. Is a torque wrench something your average tractor owner should keep in the toolbox? Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C5ZL12Y/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

thanks guys
Ben

G'day Ben. I was in your situation (new 4105 & first time owner) and, as you've obviously done, read the Owners Manual front to back. Also, TBN had some scary stories about tractors being delivered with loose wheel nuts.

So I drove into town, with my manual, to the local auto parts store and they set me up with the right torque wrench. It always stays in it's protective case in my workshop. Nothing was loose and I've checked every so often, including the FEL.

Because I was just starting out with tractor ownership and maintenance, I asked my JD dealership what tools I needed to maintain... so a lot of my tools & sockets are stamped John Deere. :laughing:

Oh, and welcome to TBN, Mate.