Harbor Freight: Pittsburgh Pro Click Torque Wrench (1/4", 3/8" or 1/2")

BrightCrib972

May 22, 2023 04:35 PM

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BrightCrib972May 22, 2023 04:35 PM

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I have one of these Pittsburgh torque wrenches, it kind of sucks. The click is so light that the first several times I tried to use it, I didn't recognize the click and overtightened. I regretted not spending more money for quality. Just a sample size of 1 of course.

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dealsareprettygood

May 22, 2023 04:42 PM

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dealsareprettygoodMay 22, 2023 04:42 PM

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Coming from a huge HF fan, don't do this to yourself. These used to be OK but I've anecdotally noticed a reduction in quality the last couple of years, and my last one just exploded the ratchet mechanism while torquing a suspension bolt. I warrantied it, but finally went out and got a slightly better wrench. These are still OK for lugnuts and stuff like that, but if you actually care about torquing to spec, just spend a little more

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jeff34270

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May 22, 2023 05:20 PM

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jeff34270

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Quote from BrightCrib972

:

I have one of these Pittsburgh torque wrenches, it kind of sucks. The click is so light that the first several times I tried to use it, I didn't recognize the click and overtightened. I regretted not spending more money for quality. Just a sample size of 1 of course.

It's not just you. The clicks on mine are often darn near unnoticeable and I have read numerous accounts of people blowing right past the click and breaking things. I am much happier with the higher quality wrenches that I've replaced the Pittsburgs with.

However, they are reasonably accurate and probably safe enough to use on things like lug nuts.

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Texfinn

May 22, 2023 05:35 PM

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Joined Dec 2004

TexfinnMay 22, 2023 05:35 PM

2,422 Posts

Agreed with above statements. Works okay for stuff like lug nuts where a few ft.lbs. isn't that big of a deal.

You get what you pay for and for me a torque wrench isn't something I want to skimp on. And yes, I had one of these and ever since I figured out the issues, it was sitting idle in the back of the drawer of my toolbox.

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cabos

May 22, 2023 06:02 PM

587 Posts

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cabosMay 22, 2023 06:02 PM

587 Posts

My question is why the manufacturer hasn't corrected the problem since lots of complains for many years.

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scsiguru

May 22, 2023 06:58 PM

3,902 Posts

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scsiguruMay 22, 2023 06:58 PM

3,902 Posts

Quote from dealsareprettygood

:

Coming from a huge HF fan, don't do this to yourself. These used to be OK but I've anecdotally noticed a reduction in quality the last couple of years, and my last one just exploded the ratchet mechanism while torquing a suspension bolt. I warrantied it, but finally went out and got a slightly better wrench. These are still OK for lugnuts and stuff like that, but if you actually care about torquing to spec, just spend a little more

Sad that the quality has gone down. This used to be one of the highest rated torque wrenches.

Which brand do you recommend ? Sub $50

Last edited by scsiguru May 22, 2023 at 12:24 PM.

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SuperAkuma

May 22, 2023 09:57 PM

539 Posts

Joined Nov 2004

SuperAkumaMay 22, 2023 09:57 PM

539 Posts

The 1/2" for lug nut is fine and maybe the 3/8 for the higher range TQ number. I would not get the 1/4 because those bolts are usually softer and snap more easier.

I have the HF 1/2 TQW and use it mainly for lug nuts. The only thing that I don't like about it is the numbers are hard to see. Since I only use it for lug nuts, I colored in the numbers to make it easier to see when I set it.

I am a huge fan of Tekton hand tools and have the 1/4 and 3/8 from them. The numbers are easier to see when adjusting.

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Timless

May 22, 2023 10:06 PM

2,615 Posts

Joined May 2018

TimlessMay 22, 2023 10:06 PM

2,615 Posts

Quote from cabos

:

My question is why the manufacturer hasn't corrected the problem since lots of complains for many years.

because it's the 1/4" issue.

other brands will also be light but not as bad as the HF one.

conan1201

May 23, 2023 03:07 AM

258 Posts

Joined Jan 2017

conan1201May 23, 2023 03:07 AM

258 Posts

I have a 1/2" torque wrench in the trunk of each of my cars along with a deep socket that's the right size for the lug nuts. That way I can properly torque the lug nuts on my tires. Better than guessing and even though it's not perfect like more expensive torque wrenches it's better than my guessing how many ugga Duggas to give her when I'm putting lug nuts on.

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wwjrd

May 23, 2023 03:36 AM

6,172 Posts

Joined Dec 2009

wwjrdMay 23, 2023 03:36 AM

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Can some people please name drop alternatives? Obviously the price is right here, but the reviews sold me on this about a week or 2 ago and I was gonna pick this up... but now.... my people are coming down on it!

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hyuken

May 23, 2023 07:20 AM

150 Posts

Joined Mar 2012

hyukenMay 23, 2023 07:20 AM

150 Posts

I've also used this torque wrench a few times and never got it to click properly. Over tightened once and can't get it to click on another. Happy to hear suggestions for a replacement.

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ChorizoGrande

May 23, 2023 11:04 AM

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ChorizoGrandeMay 23, 2023 11:04 AM

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Quote from wwjrd

:

Can some people please name drop alternatives? Obviously the price is right here, but the reviews sold me on this about a week or 2 ago and I was gonna pick this up... but now.... my people are coming down on it!

Tekton is a pretty good alternative. Slightly more expensive but you get what you pay for. I've had a 3/8 and a 1/2 for almost a decade now with no issues. Never had to calibrate them either (I have a small calibrator and both still fall within the acceptable range). If you're just a weekend mechanic there's no point on throwing away money on Snap-On and the like.

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jeff34270

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May 23, 2023 12:25 PM

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jeff34270

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May 23, 2023 12:25 PM

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Quote from hyuken

:

I've also used this torque wrench a few times and never got it to click properly. Over tightened once and can't get it to click on another. Happy to hear suggestions for a replacement.

I've picked up Masterforce (Menards) and Husky (Home Depot) as I've seen them on sale for $40-80. Not the best available, but a huge step up from Harbor Freight.

A lot of people have bought the Lexivon which was heavily promoted here on Slickdeals, but the Project Farm review shows it to be pretty inconsistent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP4uECoH8cc

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DavidD6012

May 23, 2023 12:26 PM

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DavidD6012May 23, 2023 12:26 PM

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Quote from wwjrd

:

Can some people please name drop alternatives? Obviously the price is right here, but the reviews sold me on this about a week or 2 ago and I was gonna pick this up... but now.... my people are coming down on it!

Aside from the suggestions ChorizoGrande made and the depths at which his name made me hungry, you can also try to look at ProjectFarm's torque wrench discoveries on Youtube, just to educate yourself on the matter and//or learn which brands prowess their quality.

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Vanquished

May 23, 2023 01:01 PM

5,730 Posts

Joined Dec 2014

VanquishedMay 23, 2023 01:01 PM

5,730 Posts

These are good for casual use. I wouldn't trust it too much at the extremes (low/high on the operating range) but it served me well for a while. I got lazy and stopped storing it as instructed (maybe 25 lb-ft?) and it lost its accuracy. The click is audible (at least it was for me) on the 1/2 inch device model.

I ended up replacing mine with a Tekton but I've barely used it since I no longer do my own maintenance on my cars and I pretty much only used these for wheel lugs and strut tower braces.

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Harbor Freight: Pittsburgh Pro Click Torque Wrench (1/4", 3/8" or 1/2")

$12

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