Torque wrench miscalibrated?
 

Hello everyone,

I own a Icetoolz Ocarina torque wrench, which is a cheap beam style torque wrench.

https://www.amazon.com/IceToolz-Ocar.../dp/B015DJGECA

After using it a couple of times, I see that the beam has become miscalibrated. It now reads 2Nm when not applying any pressure at all. I think I may have used it to loosen some bolts instead of only tightening.

Is there any way I can recalibrate it, or should I just throw it away to be safe?
If it reads 2Nm when applying no torque, can I just subtract 2Nm from whatever reading it shows?

Thanks!

I'm confused, your link indicates this is a click style wrench that you set the desired torque, then it "clicks" once it reaches the setting.

With a beam style wrench, you must read the torque value while turning the wrench. You cannot take a static torque reading with a beam wrench.

You want it to read 2 lbs. higher when at your desired torque.

No, it is NOT click style. This is actually a beam style wrench in a more compact package. It has a little beam arrow inside of the orange body that indicates the torque while turning.

Really, is it just that simple? Is it just always off by 2Nm in this case?

Or bend the pointer to Zero if it makes you feel better.

Well, I don't even see that particular 'orange handled' torque wrench on their website (at least not under the torque wrench pulldown menu). But, there is one with a black handle...the torque scale is a bit different. And there is a "contact us" on the top menu that says "We will have a specialist at your service." Maybe you can ask them, or even get it replaced. Good luck.

???? - IceToolz********************?Lifu Bicycle Co., Ltd.

Dan

Bend the pointer to zero and go after it.

I have looked at the link for that tool and I have a question. Do you think that loosening or tightening bolts may have exceeded the maximum value for that tool? If so,then you may not still have a useful tool. Inexpensive tools can work very well as long as you do not try to use them for anything beyond what they are supposed to do.If you have gone beyond the limits of what that wrench was designed for, either for tightening or for loosening a bolt, you may have damaged it

Never use a torque wrench to loosen a bolt.

Metric torque is force in Newton (N) times distance in meters (m).

To re-calibrate or check calibration hold the head/square of the wrench in a vice, with the handle parallel to the floor, measure the length of the handle (square to end), hang a known weight from the end of the handle, then read the scale.

Example: Measured length 10"= 25.4cm = 0.254m , weight 1kg = 9.8N

The reading on the scale should now be 0.254m * 9.8M = 2.48N ~ 2.5N

If the scale reads something else then move the scale and re-check with other known weights.

Hope this helps.

I have one of these. You just twist the black shaft and you can zero out the scale. So, looking down at the scale from the top, twist the shaft in a clockwise direction and watch the indicator as it moves to zero. Voila!

Yes, the scale is linear. Just as you would if weighing yourself on a scale that zeroed at 10#s, you can add or subtract the zero error to the actual reading. Or, as pointed out above, reset the zero point with a bit of brute force on the indicator bar.

We use torque wrenches all the time in both directions to check critical fasteners are properly torqued by others.

Just don't exceed the torque wrench capacity in either direction.

This. Dial and beam style tq. wrenches can last decades if not abused. The pointer can be rezeroed as needed, but can indicate that the wrench exceeded it's capacity at some point and may no longer be accurate in either direction. A testing lab can certify accuracy (semi costly).

Brad

You don't need a lab to certify accuracy for a torque wrench in most cases.

All you need is a vise or some other way to support a bolt projecting horizontally a few feet off the ground, the wrench, a ruler some string and a 10# bag potatoes or other known weight.

Simply arrange the setup so the torque wrench handle extends horizontally. It'll probably be necessary to support the wrench in line with the bolt so it doesn't simply flop sideways, but that can be a friend lending his hand. Hang the potatoes a measured distance from the fulcrum to establish the desired torque, ie. at 6" for 60 inch pounds or 5 foot pounds.

Click type wrenches can be calibrated the same way, by dialing in the test torque and gently lowering the weight looking for the click to happen just as you are about to release it. (the actual calibration method varioes with the tool).

This method may not meet Mil Spec, but is good enough for bike related applications. Note that it depends on the spring constant of the tool being unchanged from new, so may be less accurate on tools that were severely abused, but in most cases, the spring constant stays true even when the tool it off. If concerned and wanting greatest accuracy, calibrate at a torque closer to those you actually use.

Yeah I think this particular tool you are NOT supposed to use to loosen bolts at all. So I think that is what caused it.

You are totally correct, I should try this! Thanks a bunch! (I have an engineering degree, should have known this! DOH)

Oh awesome, I didnt know about this. I will try this. Thanks so much!:thumb: