Kobalt torque wrench issues

Gents,

This is not necessarily a Taco issue, but I need some advice/help with my Kobalt torque wrench.

The damn thing doesn't 'click'.

I've broken off two separate bolts now, at different torque settings, because I never heard a 'click' out of the wrench. I bought it new from Lowe's about a year ago and have had no luck with it. What, if anything, am I doing wrong here?

 

did you turn it on?

 

It's mechanical...no on switch.

I did however create several new 'expressions' after I broke the last bolt. I was damned near breaking the thing into a million pieces.

G

 

Double check your torque wrench to make sure your applying the proper load. I work with a lot of tools (both literally and figuratively). Its a simple mistake to grab a ft lb torque wrench when your looking for in lbs. There are two types of torque wrenches that I know of, the breaking type (the 'click' as you call it) and the constant type (will have a gauge and a needle on it). It is also a possiblity that your torque wrench has been dropped and has lost its calibration. Which is why most companies do not warranty their wrenches. Just as a test, set the torque wrench at 10% above its lowest setting and torque a bolt into a peice of wood. If the wrench doesnt 'break', then your wrench is broken and needs to be recalibrated.

-J

 

Might be obvious, but remember that the 'click' is not always very load. I am not familiar with the Kobalt wrench, but I have two different torque wrenches and both of them are very subtle. It would be easy to miss it - almost just feel like the handle slips a little.
I have heard one at a tire store the other day when I had my tires balanced that sounded like a .22 gun shot when it click - I guess it is necessary in a noisy environment like that, but mine are very quiet. Maybe you are just missing the click.

 

Take it back. Kobalt is lifetime guaranteed.

 

A torque wrench is for finely tuned torque. It doesn't mean that you no longer have to pay attention and "feel" the bolt -- that is what should always prevent you from breaking bolts. Not the torque wrench.

 

^this, I had a cheap air compressor that just went out. It was $250 from lowes and came with a small bs tool kit, walked in talked to the manager. He told me b/c its a kobalt and they dont have that exact one anymore they would give me whats comparable. It happened to be a $500 compressor alone. you shouldn't have any issues.


BTW do you set it back to zero when you are done with it?

 

I don't set it to zero when i'm finished with it... pardon my ignorance, but what does that accomplish?

As of now, I basically have a really shiny breaker bar. I'll try taking it back to Lowe's this weekend. The worst they can say is 'No, you can't get your money back/get a replacement.'

 

True enough. However, in the heat of the moment, I was, frankly, not realizing how much stress I was putting on the bolt. I'd been under the truck, solo, all day replacing the leafs and rear shocks (quick, appreciative recognition of Wheeler's - good people and good customer service) and was just about finished. I had a bad case of get-there-itis.

Also, I am on a bulk cycle, and, experiencing some acne and mood swings. LOL...

 

I had a Kobalt torque wrench and the dial cracked. I took it back and Lowe's said I needed to send it in to Kobalt, they didn't handle warranty issues on Kobalt tools at the stores. I said the hell with it and went and bought a Craftsman. Never had an issue with the Craftsman. I won't waste my money on Kobalt tools again.

 

Take it back--I do believe it is warranted forever.

 

The TW will not always "click", but it will give a movement that you can feel.
Most of my newer wrenches don't seen to give an audible click, but I can feel them in my hand.

Since you don't know that you should back of a TW to it's minimum setting between uses, I'm going to gamble that you don't have a lot of experience with them.

Set a TW to 10ft/lbs, and you can STILL crank them to 100 and break a bolt. The head of the wrench will "pop" a bit and you'll feel it, but it won't release like a ratchet. You still have to stop turning when the wrench informs you that you are at the proper torque.


You re-zero the wrench to release tension from the spring and help the wrench hold it's calibration longer. Keeping the spring compressed 24/7 will lead to it gradually weakening and your "75" will only apply 50 to the bolt before the pop.

 

Correct- I don't have a lot of experience with torque wrenches. Thus, my hopefully, obviously humble, question to the forum.

Nothing in the instructions said anything about resetting the wrench to zero after each use. As well, the instructions clearly stated that there should be an audible 'click'. I do clearly understand that the amount of torque that I apply can be enough to damage/break off a bolt. Ask me how I know this...

All: thanks all for the kind input. I have learned more about my truck in the last 6 months or so of seriously reading this forum than from the prior 12 years of owning it.

 

Hey man, I'm down in Luthersville, just south of Newnan.