Title says it all...

In the market for a torque wrench for an upcoming valve adjustment job.

Thanks.

 

I just bought whatever was most common on Amazon.. It came today.

 

I've been using one of these for ages now:

 

I too use an el-cheap-o harbor freight brand

 

Thanks all for your replies.

After reading some reviews places about inaccuracies regarding torque specs, I'm wondering why use one at all?

 

Because it's still more accurate than your arm.

I have a Harbor Freight torque wrench. I don't expect perfect accuracy from it but reviews place them as decently accurate, especially for the price.

 

Agreed. Mine works great for torquing lug nuts, but if I was building an engine, I would use a quality torque wrench with a digital readout.

 

Fair enough.

I'm shopping for one for a valve adjustment job, hence the assumed need for accuracy.

 

Indeed. I use mine for lug nuts and other things that don't need to be super accurate. If I was doing head/valve gaskets or an engine job that required a very accurate wrench, I'd find one to rent somewhere.

 

I think you guys are over thinking it. Are you building a f1 car? No, it's a commodity four cylinder sohc. Its not like the engine is going to fly apart if you tighten the bolts 2lb ft loose or warp fatally if you get it 3lb too tight. Every fastener is going to be somewhere between screwdriver hand tight and 18-inch bar bicep flex, and the perceived fragility of the bolt is going to give you some idea ... You're probably not going to lean your whole body weight on a 7mm bolt.

I just bought my first torque wrench this week at 38 years old and I've yet to have a car come apart at the seams when I work on it. I DID one time snap the head off a valve cover bolt but I think that had more to do with age and corrosion.

I do think you would be smart to use a torque wrench on the little valve fasteners but getting it down to 0.5lbft ... No need. My two cents 😊

 

I'm kind of with you on this. I've been working on my own vehicles for the past 23 years without a torque wrench. That said, with age comes wisdom And, perhaps it's time to start being a bit "safer".

 

After using a torque wrench over a few years, I've "kind of" got the feeling for specs around 24-32 ft. lbs. and as stated, each wrench can vary. I kind of tighten snug enough to try to keep things in place by past experience but make sure when torquing in aluminum, not to over do it.