torque wrench recommendations?
 

I'm looking for a wrench that measures in the low inch/lb range for working on bikes and cars. Been reading some reviews of various brands. Just wondering what you all use.
Thanks in advance.

small drive, 1/4", then you can use the socket wrench parts of the sets.

Cars, like engine overhauls, then you need 1/2" drive.

If accuracy matters .. Snap On, has service and recalibration possibilities
after the sale.

I have a 1/2" drive torque wrench that measures lb/ft. I'm looking for an lb/in wrench for bikes, and for tightening things like transmission pans on cars.

sknhgy: I have a 1/4" drive wrench which came in a set with useful sizes of hex and T25 Torx bits, from Bike Nashbar (Item # BN-NBTW.) It's calibrated in 1 to 24 newton-meters but it is simple enough to convert to/from lbf-in. Most bike parts are rated in N-m anhow.

you will need 1/4 and 3/8 for bikes. 0-200 in lb for the small one and 0-75 ft lb for the 3/8. open beam for economics and accuracy. clicker style for ease of use.

If looking for something cheap, but not serviceable, and you can tolerate a variation of about 10 - 15% on torque, and you plan to mistreat it, then Harbor Freight or Walmart have cheap torque wrenches. I work on my cars too, and have a set with supposedly higher precision in a padded case. And then my harbor freight $20 wrench from years ago. I recently tested 95 ft.lbs of torque on lug bolts for alloy wheels for a Toyota minivan. Alternating between the high precision and the el cheapo, there was no difference. Both max'd out and clicked at the same place and swapping with the other did not appear to click sooner or later. But I hear you can have wild variance with some of cheaper ones. To calibrate a torque wrench, I use a quality saltwater spring fishing scale upto 100lbs. I lay everything on a flat surface. I measure from center out to a distance and tape the hook on the scale to the torque wrench. I set the torque wrench to give way at a certain setting, and use the scale to pull sideways at 90 degs until the wrench gives way. The spring scale has a marker that moves and stays at the position of most weight. I read the weight and compute torque and compare to wrench setting. If within 5 - 10% I'm good to go. You may need tor repeat that calibration a few times to get an average for any setting.