Car Craft magazine had a calibration company test major torque wrench,s
against each other much to my surprise the harbor freight wrench was with
in the same specifications as the more expensive snapon & craftsman.
so if you are going to have limited use of a torque wrench, the Harbour is a good buy
this is harbor freight #239
harbour freight also has a digital torque adapter for just $30.oo & it is very accurate
this all is in the April 2013 issue on page 26
the harbour torque wrench is on sale with the coupon widely avaiable for $10.oo
Ten dollars is a old seadonkey skinflint price,,I wash my paper plates so I know a bargain
I hate to promote chinese tools but there are many Fiero cheap skates who save GUM & rechew & this tool will save grieve down the road!!Hmmm wunder howsa I a know this??

ALWAYS SET A TORQUE WRENCH TO ZERO AFTER USE ,LEAVING IT ON A SETTING DESTROYS THE CALIBRATION..

Good lookin' out. Thanks!

I hope their electric impact wrench proves to be as reliable. Hard to beat for $49.

quote Originally posted by Raydar: Good lookin' out. Thanks! I hope their electric impact wrench proves to be as reliable. Hard to beat for $49.

Not sure I'd ever buy power tools from HF. I'm on my 2nd tq wrench, the first one snapped at the key when I was loosening my Fiero struts. I think that was 220 ft-lb so I should've used a breaker bar but whatever. Very impressive that the calibration is so close compared to the much more expensive units.

Thanks for the tip about setting it back to zero, never knew but it seems so logical.

I read that article about an hour ago. We don't have a HF here in Omaha so I'll get it online but I am going to pick up one of the digital adapters - looks pretty good and can be used on a 3/8 breaker bar and a 1/4" breaker bar.

I used to work in a calibration facility and there were a couple things I noticed. The click type torque wrenches, no matter what brand, were always the worst. They were the most inconsistent, and held their calibration the worst. The dial torque wrenches were repeatable and held their calibration well, but they were a pain in the butt to calibrate properly. The digital wrenches were great, I never had one out of tolerance but they are expensive. Other than the digital ones my favorites were the simple bending beam type torque wrenches. They're the cheapest and they were always very accurate.

Kent moore J36660 digital torque/angle meter for the win!
(Flea market find for $15 )

I bought the HF electric impact about 9 years ago. I use it mainly to bust lug nuts when rotating my tires. It has always worked great. it's one of the best tool investments I've made. I paid around $49 back then. I've seen it on sale for arond $39 lately.
I also bought the HF table top belt sander/disk sander combo. I got it on sale (used 20% off coupon) and paid around $55. Works great so far. I bought it because it looks like it is large enough to surface Fiero v-6 exhaust manifold flanges.
I also have the HF 12" compound miter saw. I'm not overly impressed with it. It regularly runs around $149. i got it on sale for $119 so I don't worry too much. The lazer is hard to keep in alignment. I do like that it slides and will cut 4x4s completely through.

quote Originally posted by katatak: I read that article about an hour ago. We don't have a HF here in Omaha so I'll get it online but I am going to pick up one of the digital adapters - looks pretty good and can be used on a 3/8 breaker bar and a 1/4" breaker bar.

Psst... 3120 N 90th St, Omaha, NE... I worked there for some time.

quote Originally posted by nitroheadz28: Thanks for the tip about setting it back to zero, never knew but it seems so logical.

2nd that

I bought a HF 1/2" clicker for $10 b4 Xmas, it has performed great so far
may not be the choice for pros, but the home mechanic, yes

...and they don't come much cheaper than me!

do not depend on the sockets .combination wrenches & basic hand tool they are worse crap than nancy pile shiet.the impact wrenches have a good reputation,got one for christmas a few years ago, from a lady I survived our break up,thought she would get the money back she loan me(good luck on that) .

I have a"" Big Red ""floor jack this chinese crap has been phenominal ,I highly recomend this hydraulic jack
it has recieved heavy use ,close to what a shop would do because of leaking tires, helping other fiero owners,
midnight rim & tire accusition,
go to a pawn shop a few times a year & you can buy quality american made wrenches,in a few years these will be unavailable used!! get them now


The small big red jack stands are great for fiero use ..get,m on sale from pep boys !! (china)
if you can get an mobile home, trailer ajustable jack stand they are great for low cars like the FIERO
I got this while you could still but american jacks ,a christmas present from my daughter (never owed her money)
DO NOT WISH ILL FOR YOUR ENEMIES
PLAN IT METICULOUSLY !! seen on USMC walk thru pop up target couese..

You don't need HF in Omaha lol.
i was there a couple weeks ago and saw a Northern tool store,I thought they were catalog only.

I've got the big HF blast cabinet,it's great once you seal it up,drill flash from the gun and change out the lights.
Tranny jack sucks,doesn't like to hold pressure.
Big floor jack is awesome,have beat the hell out of it for years.
I don't buy their hand or power tools,i use Matco etc.. For that stuff.
2nd the pawn shops.
I constantly check pawn shops for good tools and flea markets.
Around here they think they are gold with ggod names on them,but I check when I go out of town and have come across some great deals.

Also craigslist,I got my Tech1 with all cartridges/options from a retiring GM trainer as well as a magtech timing unit and a vibration analyzer for like $350.

[This message has been edited by DefEddie (edited 01-27-2013).]

Last year I purchased the 1/2" HF clicker torque wrench, got tired of trying to use my Sears beam style torque wrench in compromising positions. Before I started using the HF one for real I tested it against the Sears on some lug nuts at 100 ft/lb. Must say, the HF one was spot on at 100ft/lbs, who knows if the Sears beam was. Anyway I have used the HF wrench on many jobs now and occassionally will check it with the Sears, it still checks fine. It also ratchets which helps with leverage once in a while. Not saying the HF wrench is great, just that it appears to be a good value for a wrench you don't need to make a living with. It easily kept up with my 30 year old Sears beam style.

On another note, if you look at the torque wrenches many of the major auto parts stores sell you will be surprised how many look identical to the HF one, just different packaging. One has to suspect that there's a Chinesse manufacturer out there with a great sales force. Amazing what they sell for $10 retail, wonder what the whole sale price is, .50?

Also just purchased a medium duty Chicago Pneumatic air hammer w/ bits. Worked great today, who knows about tomarrow. $12.00

[This message has been edited by Kevin87FieroGT (edited 01-27-2013).]

quote Originally posted by nitroheadz28: I'm on my 2nd tq wrench, the first one snapped at the key when I was loosening my Fiero struts. I think that was 220 ft-lb so I should've used a breaker bar but whatever.

Why in the world would you use a torque wrench as a breaker bar? No wonder it broke! LOL I'd hate to see what you do to your 1/4 & 3/8ths drive ratchets!

quote Originally posted by BV MotorSports: Why in the world would you use a torque wrench as a breaker bar? No wonder it broke! LOL I'd hate to see what you do to your 1/4 & 3/8ths drive ratchets!

Don't own a breaker bar and my 1/2" Crafstman ratchet was too thin to get a section of pipe on it for leverage. Street college student mechanic here , walked into HF and took a new wrench off the shelf in exchange no questions asked.

Well, you now know their warranty is good!

turning a torque wrench back to zero is more of a myth than anything.... With some designs it may hurt but its unlikely it would effect it much.

quote Originally posted by Raydar: Good lookin' out. Thanks! I hope their electric impact wrench proves to be as reliable. Hard to beat for $49.

Bought one of these a couple of years ago with a coupon for $29 and it works great. Use it all the time in my garage, saved me the other day when I had to pull a rusted wheel off of a 60 year old tractor. I did by an HF impact socket set when I bought the wrench, thoughs have worked well also.

quote Originally posted by darkhorizon: turning a torque wrench back to zero is more of a myth than anything.... With some designs it may hurt but its unlikely it would effect it much.

Wish I new the answer to this. The HF torque wrench instructions tell you to zero it prior to storage. Both the 1/2" and 1/4" wrenches have the same in their instructions. Maybe some wrenches are different, but hey, these only cost $10 when on sale. Maybe HF is hoping you will be back for another.

I was taught in the Navy that micrometer style torque wrenches should ALWAYS be placed back to zero when done so you don't weaken the spring inside and hasten the tool going out of calibration. Anything that can help keep the calibration is worth the extra five seconds it takes to put it back to zero. Is it overkill for us Fiero fiends? Probably. But hey, it's an extra five seconds, what could be the harm?

Buddy of mine got a craftsman torque wrench, one of the Chinese microclicker ones. Hangle literally fell off after its second use, a plastic part inside the handle failed. The USA made one has been I'm good service for over ten years..just
sayin'

quote Originally posted by Fiero_Fan_88: Psst... 3120 N 90th St, Omaha, NE... I worked there for some time.

Shows you how thorough I am at searching for a store - I asked a co woarker and he told that there were none here in Omaja! Lying Bast$#@! I've been without a HF fix for 6 months!

Been meaning to check out the Northern Tool place.

[This message has been edited by katatak (edited 01-28-2013).]

I broke the business end of a HF 1/2 inch breaker bar, without a cheater on it. I bought a set of C clamps years ago and I don't think it took a year to break all three sizes. I don't wish to discuss the vise. I do see in their catalog some stuff that seems OK, but I'm not looking Chinese unless I have to.

quote Originally posted by weaselbeak: I broke the business end of a HF 1/2 inch breaker bar, without a cheater on it. I bought a set of C clamps years ago and I don't think it took a year to break all three sizes. I don't wish to discuss the vise. I do see in their catalog some stuff that seems OK, but I'm not looking Chinese unless I have to.

There are definitely certain tools you don't buy from Harbor Freight if dependability and long term use is important. I wouldn't dare intrust my knuckles to a Harbor Freight breaker bar, you may as well slam it across your hand first before using it. I understand now why my father a devout Christian nearly cussed when as a beginner I set my Made In China socket set too close to his name brand tools.

quote Originally posted by Raydar: Good lookin' out. Thanks! I hope their electric impact wrench proves to be as reliable. Hard to beat for $49.

I bought a Craftsman battery impact wrench that's supposed to be 125 ft-lbs, but it can't loosen lug nuts torqued to 100 ft-lbs. It seems to have only about 50 ft-lbs. Useful for loosening rusted parts and saving time.

quote Originally posted by darkhorizon: turning a torque wrench back to zero is more of a myth than anything.... With some designs it may hurt but its unlikely it would effect it much.

Absolutely not a myth. Did you even bother to read what Zac88GT posted above? I too have calibrated many a torque wrench and the customers I hated the most were those with your mentality. Their torque wrenches were never in Cal and needed adjustment and when they got so far off the scale that they couldn't be certified they would always blame everything but their own actions.