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Many injuries can be caused by slipping ratchet heads on torque wrenches especially when high torque values are required.  These injuries can be minimised by repairing the wrench as soon as the slipping ratchet is noticed.  The slipping of the ratchet will only increase in frequency the longer it is left in service, increasing the possibility of injury to the user.  Ratchet repair kits are available for most well-known brands of torque wrenches, but be aware that for some of the cheaper brands of torque wrenches, ratchet repair kits are not available.

     Is your torque wrench ratchet head slipping? 

If a Torque wrench is used with an extension i.e. crows foot spanner, this will extend the handle length and the actual torque will be greater than the set torque on the Torque Wrench. If you are using an extension which changes the length of your Torque Wrench here is a simple calculation so you can set your Torque Wrench to accurately achieve the desired torque.

Calculation formula:

Torque wrench setting = desired torque x wrench length / wrench length + extension length

For example:

Avoid using a shifter on adjusting nuts as this will wear the scale of your wrench.  Use a 7/8" socket your wrench will love you for it, and last longer.

A very common complaint with industrial style torque wrenches is that the scale on the adjusting nut is very hard to see and inevitably results in replacement of the adjusting nut.  The best way to adjust an industrial style Torque Wrench is with a socket on a ratchet, this way the scale remains like new.  When a shifter or a spanner is used on the adjusting nut where the scale is, over time it wears the scale and makes it very hard to see the desired setting.  Also, some adjusting nuts have a hole at the base of the nut.  This hole should not be used to put a screwdriver in and turn the adjusting nut as it may damage the threads on the plunger rod and may make the wrench very hard to adjust.  In this case, the wrench will require a new plunger rod and nut.  The photos show examples of how to and how not to adjust your industrial type torque wrench.

The Norbar Professional Torque Wrench has been re-engineered to be even more accurate, durable and easy to use.

The core principles of accuracy, durability and comfort are carried over but every component part is new and improved.

Compared to other torque wrenches, Norbar's 'harmonic drive' scale provides a long scale length for good resolution and accurate setting in both scale units. By contrast, micrometre type scales allow accurate setting in the primary scale unit but relatively poor accuracy of setting in the secondary units because of limited resolution. When this is coupled with Norbar's 60% increased scale size, the new Professional wrench is amongst the easiest wrenches on the market to accurately set.

Check out the new range here.

Thanks for the feedback Simon.

Tom checked 2 torque wrenches for me at short notice (the same day I rang him), one required adjustment which he returned to me the following day.

I was impressed with Tom's informative, friendly & professional manner and the prompt service he provided.

Simon Hanson

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