Setting is easy. The turnable ring should be marked from 0 to 12 (possibly as 2 - 4 - 6, etc). Turn the ring until it hits the horizontal line -0 should align with the vertical line- then turn left to right to the single digit that is your goal, i.e., 90 on the cross line then 8 on the ring (8 aligns with the vertical line) gives you 98 ft/lbs.
And as Cor Blmy so wisely states: ALWAYS return it all the way down to zero/zero. It will stay in calibration much, much longer. I check my calibration yearly with hanging (known) weights and a bench vise.

 

i use those tirerack torque wrenches (1/2" drive) that goes
for like $25. works fine for me.

im in the market for a 3/8 drive one to do mostly suspension
work. the 1/2" one is a tad bit too clumsy... want something
with a 15" or less handle. any recommendations? Perferably
less than $100 since i dont use it that often. (15-100lbs/ft
would do)

 

There's a lot of discussion of this topic on other sites....Miata.net is one I watch as they have a specific TOOLS forum.

My 2 cents after YEARS of watching:

• If you didn't use a torq wrnch b4 when putting on your wheels, this might be a significant improvement.
• The HF cheapo seems to consistently check out +/- 10% of very expensive ones. If you drop it...it may be toast however...that's the nature of the beast
• I probably wouldn't use one for engine assembly of an expensive engine....certainly not on a Ferrari (sp?) ... and an aircraft mechanic not to mention an Air Force or Navy mechanic?!?@#?@? Yea, right.... these folks worry about the source of their rags. (I ran a "nautical aiport" for 4 years.....their duct tape is good, ship duct tape is bad... )

I use one on my wheels, spark plugs and similar....makes me feel good.....don't mess it up 4 me

 

Snap-on tools are the best.

 

Snap-On tools may be a little overkill for the average driveway mechanic. A reasonably good 3/8" drive torque wrench can be had for under $50 and give years of service if treated with reasonable care (it ain't a hammer, dude).

 

Very well put

 

Well all these years of making stupid mistakes outta be worth something finally!

 

I am still using the same Craftsman 1/2" torque wrench that I bought 40 years ago. It has a similar torque setting graphic to the 1/4 drive you described. I store mine at 15 ft/lbs per the owners manual....not zero!!
Mine is a ratcheting model that "clicks" when it gets to the dialed torque setting.

Woohoo ..... I am in 4th gear now!!!!!

 

LMAO

That is exactly how I tighten my lug nuts on my 3 cars in my 25 years of driving I have never had a wheel come of from lose nuts

I have the HF 3/8 for plugs and such only goes to 80 ftp

 

jibeho: yeah, I'm pretty much old school, too, what with being old and all, but with the new much thinner rotors that are being used now, I'm more concerned with warping a rotor than having a wheel fall off. One set of pads to one set of rotors (Mini recommended) doesn't leave much room for error.
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