Talked to an old diesel mechanic at a gas station and he made me rethink how I treat my torque wrench

I was filling up my truck and this old timer next to me saw my Snap-on torque wrench in the back seat. He asked if I ever drop it. I said yeah probably a couple times. He just shook his head and said "yours is probably 50 ft lbs off then." Told me to treat it like a glass ornament because the internal springs are that sensitive. I never really thought about it before. I just figured they were tough. Now I'm wondering how many bolts I've torqued wrong over the years. Anyone else ever check their calibration after a drop?

3 comments

3 Comments

emmawood28d ago

Doesn't dropping a torque wrench once actually throw it off that much?

davis.ruby28d agoMost Upvoted

@emmawood yeah it absolutely can, especially digital ones. They're sensitive.

terryk2820d ago

Not quite though - a single drop usually isn't what messes them up. It's more about repeated hard knocks or hitting the ground on the adjustment knob that does the damage. Most decent digital wrenches can survive a drop or two before the sensor starts drifting.