I finally gave up on that cheap torque wrench from Harbor Freight

Bought a $25 torque wrench there 2 years ago and just had it snap a bolt on a Cessna control bracket. Cost me 3 hours and a $40 helicoil kit to fix my own mistake. Anyone else had a cheap tool cost them way more than just the price tag?

2 comments

2 Comments

mason_ward1mo ago

Gotta say, that's more on the user error than the tool. A Cessna control bracket isn't something you should be using a Harbor Freight torque wrench on in the first place. That's the kind of job where you want a calibrated unit you trust, not a gamble.

barnes.brian1mo ago

Totally agree with you @mason_ward, "user error" is exactly what it is. I actually read a piece from an old A&P mechanic who said you're better off using a beam style torque wrench on critical stuff like that anyway, since the click type can be off by a lot if it's been dropped even once. He said cheap click wrenches are fine for lug nuts on your truck, but not for flight control bolts where overtorquing can crack a bracket. So yeah, grabbing the HF special for a Cessna part is just asking for trouble, no matter what brand it is.