How to Read a Torque Wrench Scale

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Knowing the level of torque you're applying to a nut is essential for the stability of a piece of machinery or construction. If y'all use too little torque, the nut may not be secure, and if yous apply as well much, you could strip the threads forth the bolt. Luckily, several types of wrenches will help you determine how much torque you're applying. The almost common types of these tools are micrometer, beam, dial, and digital torque wrenches. If you use your torque wrench correctly, it should exist elementary to read it.

1. ane

   Rotate the knob on the cease of the handle counter-clockwise. Turning the knob on the terminate of the handle will loosen the torque wrench and allow y'all to rotate it. Loosen the knob before y'all endeavor to adapt the torque settings.^[1]

2. ii

   Find the vertically listed numbers in a higher place the wrench handle. You should see 2 sets of vertical numbers on both sides of your torque wrench. One side of the wrench will be in foot-pounds or ft.-lbs., and the other set of numbers will be in Newton meters or Nm. These are both dissimilar units used to mensurate torque. The vertically listed numbers are usually called the main scale and correspond the amount of torque your wrench is set to, to the nearest x.^[two]

   • The numbers will have horizontal lines running next to them.

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3. iii

   Find the numbers wrapped effectually the wrench'due south handle. The numbers that wrap effectually the wrench'southward handle are usually referred to equally the micrometer. These numbers mensurate the second number in your torque measurement and allow y'all to fix a more than precise torque level.^[3]

4. 4

   Turn the handle on the wrench to adjust the torque setting. Turning the handle clockwise will increase the torque while turning it counterclockwise will reduce it. You'll notice that as you rotate the handle on the wrench, the handle will motility upward and downward while the numbers on the micrometer volition rotate. Turning the handle will bear on both the main scale and the micrometer scale at the same time.^[4]

5. 5

   Set the wrench for the precise torque you're seeking. Line up the vertical line on the handle of your wrench with the vertical line to a higher place each number on the micrometer to reach your desired setting.^[five]

   • For instance, if your main scale is slightly above the 90-ft.-lbs. (122 Nm) horizontal line and the three on the micrometer lines up with the vertical line, it ways that your wrench is set up to 93 feet (28.3 one thousand).-lbs. (126 Nm).

6. 6

   Tighten the knob at the end of the torque wrench. Turn the knob at the end of the wrench handle clockwise. This will tighten the wrench and prepare the level of torque on the wrench. If you need to adjust the torque over again, loosen the knob and turn the handles to the torque that y'all need.^[6]

   • Be careful when tightening the commodities because you could lose the measurement if you lot driblet the wrench.

7. 7

   Listen for the click while y'all work. As y'all use the wrench, you'll hear a click when you lot reach the gear up level of torque. So stop tightening when you hear that click!^[7]

   • Store the wrench on the lowest torque setting so there isn't tension on the mechanism.

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1. 1

   Look at the meter at the lesser of the torque wrench. There should be a meter at the bottom of the wrench with numbers and an arrow. The numbers correspond the amount of torque in either foot-pounds (ft.-lbs.) or Newton meters (Nm). Wherever the arrow is pointed designates the amount of torque that you lot're applying to a lug or nut. In the stationary position, the wrench should read 0.^[eight]

2. 2

   Plow the wrench around a nut or bolt and await at the arrow. As you turn the wrench effectually a nut or bolt, the arrow will move and represent the corporeality of torque you're applying. For example, if y'all turn the wrench effectually the nut and information technology reads xxx lbs.-ft (40.7 Nm), that means you're applying that level of torque to the nut. Utilise strength slowly to avoid damaging the bolt.^[9]

   • Read the arrow from straight in a higher place so you get an authentic reading.
   • Some dial torque wrenches will have a memory arrow that follows the chief pointer and stays at the highest level of torque. This makes it and so that even if you disengage the wrench, you'll know the max torque you were applying to the nut.

3. iii

   Put a piece of tape on your desired torque line to read it more easily. There are a lot of lines and numbers on a beam or dial torque wrench, and so it may exist hard to run across it without the tape. If your wrench doesn't have a memory arrow, you can put a piece of record next to the line of the desired amount of torque. Putting tape near the line will make the wrench easier to read.^[10]

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1. i

   Read the instruction manual that came with the wrench. The instruction manual will tell you how to adjust the torque settings on your wrench and volition explain how to change the units of measure to read in either human foot-pounds (ft.-lbs.) or Newton Meters (Nm).

   • Clean the threads of the commodities you desire to torque without whatever lubricant or tape.
   • Some digital torque wrenches volition besides accept other settings that affect the sounds and vibration levels.^[11]

2. 2

   Use the arrow keys to set a designated amount of torque. Press the up or down arrow to change the torque setting on the wrench. Continue to modify the numbers until yous hit your desired level of torque.^[12]

3. 3

   Gear up the tolerance parameters with the % primal. Some electronic torque wrenches volition have tolerance parameters that will assist you with precision. These parameters allow yous to fix a warning on your wrench before it reaches the desired torque. For example, if you ready the tolerance parameters to 10%, the wrench will showtime lighting upwards and vibrating when you're inside 10% of your desired torque. Set the tolerance parameters past hitting the % key, then using the arrow keys to change the pct.^[xiii]

   • Utilize this setting if you demand precise torque.

4. 4

   Stop turning the wrench when it lights up or makes a dissonance. When you attain the corporeality of torque you need, the wrench will make a sound, light up, or vibrate. Cease turning the nut when this happens.^[14]

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• If you're tightening the bolts on your car's tires, you can refer to the possessor'due south manual to see the torque that's required to tighten them. For other items, cheque product descriptions earlier you effort to tighten a nut so that you know how much torque is required to tighten it.

• Not tightening bolts or lugs enough could crusade your equipment to fall apart and is dangerous.

• Accommodate the torque if you apply any offsets, extensions, or adapters. Use 1 ft-lb (1.36 Nm) per 1 in (2.5 cm) of extension.

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