Switched from a click-torque wrench to a dial type for head bolts

I used to always use a standard click-style torque wrench for cylinder head work on my Cummins 8.3. Then I read a post from a guy in Tulsa who said the click type can be off by 15 ft-lbs after enough drops. Now I use a dial torque wrench from Precision Instruments and check it against a calibration bar every 3 months. Has anyone else had issues with click wrenches giving inconsistent readings on critical fasteners?

2 comments

2 Comments

dixon.rose14d ago

Nope. Buddy snapped a head bolt on a 6.7 Powerstroke with a click wrench last month.

patricia38514d ago

Hang on, is this really that serious? Sure, head bolts are tough, but snapping one with a click wrench sounds more like user error than a tool problem. You think your buddy didn't maybe just lean on it a bit too hard or miss a torque spec? Click wrenches are pretty straightforward unless you're going way past the click or the wrench is ancient and not calibrated. I’m not buying that a simple click wrench is the real culprit here.