Central Torque Wrench

[BillyP]

I was at this little junk store this morning and saw a Central 1/2" drive torque wrench (0-250 ft-lbs), model 96353. It was marked $50 but could probably get it for $40. Looks to be in good shape but you never know.

My question is, is it worth 40?

 

[Junkman]

If it is a click type torque wrench it probably is a good buy. I would rather pay about $25 for something such as that because you don't know how exact it is going to be, but for the average personal use, it shouldn't matter if it is off a few pounds of adjustment. Give $25 a try and see if they bite. You have nothing to loose. I think that a new one at Sears is about $100 and they guaranty them for 90 days for accuracy. Guess that they know how well they are made.

 

[shvl73]

Is Central a Harbor Freight brand? They currently have a 1/2" clicker wrench for $9.99 under the Pittsburg name.
See if there is a country of orgin on it, Harbor Freight has a lot of Chinese stuff.

 

[BillyP]

Junkman

Yes, it's the clicker type. I went back the other day and gave it a real good looking over and it looks brand new (except for a little grease on the handle. I talked him down to 35. Also found a place on the net that will recalibrate it for 17.50.


shvl73

It's made by Central that make a lot of precision tools. It's also Made in the USA.

Thanks guys

 

[Inspector507]

Different model, but..........
Torque Wrench

 

[BillyP]

Specs seem the same but the adjustment is different. This one has a locking collar above the handle that you slide down, then twist the handle to the setting you need.

The closest one I could find was the 97353 (mine is 96353), which sounds like the newer model. It sells for 160.

Anyway, I bought it. Whether it was worth it or not, it's mine now /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[shvl73]

That seems like a pretty nice deal for a USA made tool.

 

[Inspector507]

If the 97 series is a newer model and $160, you may have done real good in buying that one.

 

[Junkman]

Please tell me where to get it calibrated for $17.50. I have a older (1960's) Craftsman that came with a lifetime warranty that is out of adjustment and they won't do anything for me except to replace it with a cheap beam type unit. Said that they no longer offer a lifetime warranty on the torque wrenches except for the beam units. I will no longer purchase any Craftsman (I now refer to as Crapsman) tools because of this "policy change". I believe that if it came with a lifetime warranty, that they should continue to honor it. Getting back to the original question... where can I find this company to do the re calibration?? thanks

 

[BillyP]

Junkman

This is what I'm going by. I haven't check into it myself so I really don't know.
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