Can Powerbuilt Beam-Type Torque Wrench Be Removed From Bolt/Lug to Reposition for Installation

Published 11/11/2022

Question:

I’m inquiring about the Powerbuilt 1/2” drive beam-type torque wrench. I’ve never used an old school beam-type torque wrench before, but would like to get one just for changing my tires over. I had a couple questions regarding this products. First, what is the accuracy of this torque wrench? I understand that as long as the needle is still pointing at the “0” mark, it is still properly calibrated and that you can just recalibrate it yourself if it needs it just by bending the rod until the needle points at 0 again - is that true? Also, do you have to reach your desired torque in one pull? I mean, if you start to pull on the torque wrench but run out of room before reaching the desired torque, can you take the beam wrench off the lug nut you’re tightening and readjust it to a higher angle to complete the job or will that fowl up the reading on the gauge? Thanks in advance for answering my questions.

asked by: Geoff M

Expert Reply:

The Powerbuilt Beam-Type Torque Wrench # ALL644044 is a great, cost-effective solution for using a torque wrench without dumping a lot of money into it. These are most old-school but still reliable.

If the needle doesn't point at zero when the tool is at rest then you can try maneuvering it back so it's set at that zero location when it isn't being used, but I only recommend doing this if it's for personal use. If you plan on using this in a garage for others it might be worth having a professional reset it just so you can take a hands-off approach to the calibration.

You can definitely remove the socket from the bolt/lug to readjust for a better angle! The torque measurement is just how "tight" or what the resistance of the bolt is. When you remove the tool the bolt will stay in place so you won't be restarting from scratch again.

expert reply by: Jon G