Do you know how to use a beam torque wrench? Here, we are going to teach you everything about this type of torque wrench.
This is one of the handiest tools to have in your collection at home or at your garage.
It is effective at bike and car repair, or any other type of component that uses bolts and nuts for assembly.
A beam type of torque wrench is one of the cheapest wrenches in the market today. It is also precise, so you will always be sure that your bolts are completely tight.
These tools are simple to use. However, beginners might find it hard to use them in the first instance. The learning curve is short though and you can figure things out easily.
How a beam style torque wrench works
This kind of torque wrench is best for light and medium duty torque applications. It is made of two beams – pointer and deflecting beam.
When you start to tighten the fastener, two things happen. The torque lever bends. Secondly, the beam attached to the wrench head and has the other end free moves over a calibrated scale that’s usually on the handle. This is how you measure the torque.
The bending handle has the scale in Nm or other torque-measuring units. As the bending beam deflects when you are tightening the fastener, the indicating beam shows the amount of torque that is being applied at that particular moment.
Today, some advanced beam torque wrenches come with dial gauge. This can give you an indication when you reach the desired torque so that you can stop tightening.
Are beam type torque wrenches accurate?
Compared to the regular click type torque wrenches, beam type torque wrenches are more accurate.
Most of them come with an accuracy rating of +/-2% and others are rated at +/-3%. These wrenches have such a high accuracy rating because they don’t have parts that wear out fast.
The one thing that makes these types of wrenches so good for all users is that they are so easy to calibrate.
You just have to align the zero mark by twisting the beam a bit. That’s all! You can calibrate it whenever you like, so it is always going to be accurate.
Compared to other wrenches such as the digital style torque wrenches, these ones retain a high accuracy level for a long time, because they have few moving parts.
The simple design makes these tools a good choice for beginners. Besides, even with frequent usage, they never lose their accuracy.
If you can see the pointer at zero and there is no bend on the beam, well, accuracy is assured. However, to ensure you get accurate readings all the time, pull on the handle alone. Do not interrupt the pointer beam.
It is important to store the wrench in the right conditions. If it is exposed to high humidity, it is going to rust in the internal parts and this can affect its accuracy. Do not drop the wrench on the floor because that can also affect its accuracy.
For all torque wrench types, calibration period is once in a year or every 5000 cycles, whichever comes earlier.
Since there is not too much involved in calibrating this wrench, just check that the pointer is at zero and that the beam is not twisted.
What is a beam torque wrench used for?
Today, torque wrenches are used for repair and maintenance in the automotive industry. They are also used in home improvement and repairs. Other industries where torque wrenches see a lot of use include oil and construction.
These tools are used for tightening fasteners. To use them in the right way, you first have to find out the torque rating of the fastener that you are tightening.
You can use this torque wrench in the clockwise and anticlockwise directions. Therefore, you might also use it to loosen tight fasteners. This is not recommended. Torque wrenches are used to tighten fasteners rather than for loosening.
When tightening any bolt, it is paramount to apply the right amount of torque. In the engine bay, wheel lugs and other parts of vehicles and motorcycles, fasteners need the right amount of torque.
With accuracy rating of +/-2%, even some of the premium torque wrenches in other styles do not come close to this.
Because of the high accuracy, these wrenches are really good. They do seem a bit bulky, which is an inconvenience but the affordable price and the high accuracy more than compensates for this.
If you need to measure the torque of a fastener from zero to the maximum, this wrench torque is going to help. It also measures torque in Newton-meters and foot-pounds.
How to read a beam torque wrench
When you are using a beam style of torque wrench, it might be a bit hard to read the torque level that you have attained at a particular point.
This happens mostly when the torque level rises to higher numbers and you get to use more strength to tighten the fasteners.
To overcome this problem, take a small piece of tape and place it on the torque numbers that you are aiming for.
Make sure the tape is brightly colored so that you can see it easily. This will make you aware when you attain the torque.
How you read a torque wrench depends on a few things. First, it comes with two types of readings – Ft-lb (foot-pounds), commonly used in the USA. It also has the metric system (Newton-meters/kilograms-meters). You can use the units with which you are most familiar.
Before you start using the beam style torque wrench to tighten your fastener, ensure that the pointer is at 0 (zero). This indicates that the wrench is calibrated.
To actually read the torque wrench, watch the pointer as it will start moving as the deflecting shaft starts to deflect. It deflects when you start applying force.
When you reach the desired torque of the fastener, the pointing beam is going to stop. That is how you will know that you have torqued the fastener to the desired value.
Also, depending on the direction of tightening (some fasteners are tightened in the anticlockwise direction), the pointer will move to the left or to the right.
Can you calibrate a beam torque wrench?
Every torque wrench requires calibration so that it can measure torque precisely. This applies to the beam torque wrenches as well. So, yes, you should calibrate yours to keep it accurate, all the time.
The good thing is that it is so easy to know when the wrench falls out of calibration. Just place the beam-style torque wrench on a flat surface, facing upwards and then watch the pointer. If it rests at zero, it is calibrated. If it does not, it has fallen out of calibration.
Calibrating the beam style wrenches is also easy, something you can do on your own. First, you need to check whether the pointer beam floats freely on the scale.
If it does not, it could be sticking a bit, which hinders its movement. This can affect your torque readings greatly.
Take a lever and insert it between the two beams (deflecting and pointer beams). Pry the two beams apart gently, while checking the pointer beam all the time so that you can stop when it rests at zero.
If the pointer beam is floating freely but is not pointing at zero, you can check whether the deflecting beam is straight.
If it is twisted, the calibration will be off, and that is going to affect your torque readings. In that case, just twist the deflecting beam in either direction, gently, and check the pointer again.
Different types of beam torque wrenches
Beam types of torque wrenches come in different styles. The design and style of these wrenches is different. The deflecting and pointer beam one is the cheapest, yet one of the most accurate wrenches in the market.
Mostly, in all the past sections, we have been looking at the deflecting and pointer beam type of wrench – the regular one. So, here, we shall look at any others available:
Dual-Signal Deflecting Beam Torque Wrench
Instead of using a coil spring as many other wrenches use, this one uses a deflecting beam, something that ensures the accuracy of the wrench for a long time.
To know when the final torque is reached, there is a visible pointer and you hear a click so you can stop tightening.
This type of beam torque wrench works in the same way as the regular beam wrench that we have been looking at here. It has two beams, a deflecting beam that takes the torque and the second one is the pointer beam.
When you apply pressure/force/torque, the torque beam deflects and the indicating beam travels directly on the scale. The scale is on the deflecting beam.
The deflecting beam also has a wedge, which slides along the scale. This wedge helps to set the torque. A set of pins trigger each other to “fire” and produce a click sound to alert you when you reach the final torque.
Split beam torque wrench
Compared to the regular beam-style torque wrench, this one costs more money. It is super accurate, at +/-2%!
When you have achieved the final torque, it will not allow you to continue applying more force on the fastener even if you force it.
The split beam type of torque wrench works in the same way as the regular beam wrench. It has a deflecting beam, which takes the torque, and a pointer beam that floats and points at the torque scale.
This is a durable wrench and it retains accuracy for a long time. You can also use it for clockwise and anticlockwise tightening needs.
The only disadvantage with this type of torque wrench is that setting torque can be challenging if the value you need does not end with 0 or 5.
Best beam torque wrench
People love these torque wrenches because of their durability, ease of use and high accuracy. In the market, they are available in large numbers. Here are some of the best of them:
TOOLUXE 03703L Beam Style Torque Wrench
Designed with a graduated tip (slanted tip for easier visibility) to remove the parallax error (eye reading incorrectly when viewing from an angle)
Can measure torque from 0 to 150 ft-lb in both directions
It has a mirror chrome finish and a steel body for durability
The shaft is 17 inches long, it comes with ½-inch, and 3/8-inch drives
Stylish grip handle with grooves for more usability
NEIKO 03727A 1/4-inch Drive Beam Torque Wrench
Measures torque for motorcycles, car and bike fasteners in the range of 0 to 80 in-lb
Tightens fasteners in clockwise and anticlockwise directions
Accuracy rating is +/-4%
Ball detent in the fixed square head holds sockets securely with no risk of falling
Scale has large markings so you can read easily from a distance
ARES 70213
It has a torque range of 0 to 80 in-pounds with 2.5in-lb increments
It is available in ¼-inch and 3/8-inch drives at slightly different but affordable prices
Comes with fixed square head and the material of choice is steel
Accuracy rating is +/-4%, does not fall out of calibration easily
Good for delicate parts such as you would find on carbon bikes
Titan 23140
Stands out due to its affordability
Good for delicate tasks such as mounting gun scopes
It has a fixed square head that can work with ¼-inch socket drives
Handle length is 11 inches, perfect for light-duty tasks
GEARWRENCH 2955N
Torque range is 0 to 80 in-lb
Polished alloy steel material is anti-rust and durable
Long handle at 22 inches and ¼-inch fixed square head
Final Thoughts
After reading this post, you now know how to use a beam torque wrench. These are the simplest wrenches by design. Nonetheless, they are very accurate.
If yours falls out of calibration, you can twist the deflection handle back to shape, until the pointer rests at zero.
When the wrench is delivered, place it on a flat surface and check that the pointer points at zero. Some can come with lost calibration, but don’t return it just yet. With a twist of the handle, you can whip it back to calibration easily.
Finally, if the wrench has a 1/2, 1/4, 3/8 fixed square drive, it will work with a socket drive of the same size.