Craftsman Torque Wrench

[STEVE POLLARD]

I have a Sears 1/2 drive torque wrench that has to be 20 - 25 years old. I went to use it the other day and the square post just spins around in both directions. I was told that the Torque wrenches are not cover by their "Life Time Warranty".  So I pulled up "Sears partsdirect " web site and naturally the repair kit is no longer available. Has anyone on here used a universal repair kit ( if one is available ) ? I know that I can just go out and purchase a new one, but since I had this for a long time, I would like to keep it.

 

Thanks !

 

[Matt Harwood]

Lowe's owns Craftsman now. My old Craftsman torque wrench gave up the ghost a few months ago and Lowe's exchanged it no questions asked. in fact, they no longer had the model I had, so I got a free upgrade. Nice!

[edinmass]

So now you have a new semi accurate tool...........🥸

[Frank DuVal]

Have you taken the ratchet apart to see what's wrong? Maybe just needs cleaning and lubing, since you say it turns easy both ways. That means the switch cam* isn't moving, just stuck between sides.

 

*made up term.😉

[rocketraider]

Assuming it's a clicker? Probably better to go ahead and replace it. 

 

I like a beam type myself, but own 1/2" and 3/8" no-name clickers from some long-ago swap meet. Used to take them to the community college automotive lab every year during summer session and cal them against the school's freshly calibrated Snap-on dial torque wrenches. 

 

Invariably within +-1 lb/ft accuracy.

[CarNucopia]

1 hour ago, STEVE POLLARD said:

I have a Sears 1/2 drive torque wrench that has to be 20 - 25 years old. I went to use it the other day and the square post just spins around in both directions. I was told that the Torque wrenches are not cover by their "Life Time Warranty".  So I pulled up "Sears partsdirect " web site and naturally the repair kit is no longer available. Has anyone on here used a universal repair kit ( if one is available ) ? I know that I can just go out and purchase a new one, but since I had this for a long time, I would like to keep it.

 

Thanks !

 

Try calling them. They replaced mine under similar circumstances.

1 hour ago, Matt Harwood said:

Lowe's owns Craftsman now. My old Craftsman torque wrench gave up the ghost a few months ago and Lowe's exchanged it no questions asked. in fact, they no longer had the model I had, so I got a free upgrade. Nice!

I think Stanley owns them now.

[rocketraider]

Stanley Black & Decker own the names and produce the tools for many well-known tool brands. Lowe's and Ace Hardware have selling rights for Craftsman.

 

I'm glad I got my Craftsman tools before the Lempert era. Since that debacle the majority of my tool buys have been "previously loved" and well-cared-for older US-made tools. After I discovered the Alloy Artifacts website I have found that a lot of the tools I had considered "second-tier" were actually among the best-made and innovative tool brands.

[rocketraider]

18 minutes ago, mike6024 said:

I found this review funny

 

 

 

I bought a used one of these dial type.

 

 

 

Let's hope your Snap-on jobber will handle calibrating it for you when it's needed.

 

Some of them, you don't have a receipt showing you bought it off the truck, they won't have owt to do with it.

[mike6024]

I think I could calibrate it myself if I felt the need.

 

 

[hidden_hunter]

2 hours ago, rocketraider said:

I like a beam type myself, but own 1/2" and 3/8" no-name clickers from some long-ago swap meet

I bought a warren and brown for someone for Christmas and was very impressed with the quality (it would want to be for the price, but it is made here in Melbourne)

 

https://wbtools.com.au/deflecting-beam-torque-wrench-1-2-drive-10-185nm.html

[joe_padavano]

Even if your local C-man emporium will honor the former lifetime warranty (our local Ames Hardware does not, despite the fact that they sell C-man tools), the problem is that exchanging a vintage, US-made tool for a new Chinesium one isn't exactly an upgrade in my book. I've installed a lot of those ratchet rebuild kits in, though I don't own any of the style that the OP has.

[Mark Wetherbee]

I had problems with my Craftsman while working on the main caps in my Pierce, found a good used Snap-on on eBay… best upgrade I ever made!

[rocketraider]

11 hours ago, Frank DuVal said:

Have you taken the ratchet apart to see what's wrong? Maybe just needs cleaning and lubing, since you say it turns easy both ways. That means the switch cam* isn't moving, just stuck between sides.

 

*made up term.😉

"Pawl"

 

Taken many older ratchets apart for a clean and lube. Brake cleaner and q-tips to dislodge old hardened grease, more brake cleaner for a final clean, then a dab of SuperLube synthetic grease does the trick.

 

That's provided the internals aren't badly worn or broken. I have a war years PLOMB WF-21 3/8" ratchet that had been neglected so long its pawl tension springs had rusted to nothing. No such thing as a repair kit for that one, and haven't found a spring that will work. Shame because it's a pretty little ratchet.🙁

 

Repairing the ratchet part of a clicker torque wrench would be pretty straightforward. Would it require calibration after the rebuild?

[JACK M]

14 hours ago, edinmass said:

So now you have a new semi accurate tool...........🥸

I am a semi accurate tool !!

[Frank DuVal]

Thanks Glenn, yes the Pawl gets stuck.

 

Of all my click type torque wrenches, only the Snap-Ons have needed recalibrating! Now I am always the second or more owner of these. Some I buy from the Snap-On truck... People upgrade or pass on and the dealer helps the situation.