How to Set and Use a Torque Wrench

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Secure nuts and bolts without over-tightening using this simple tool
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Are you worried about damaging nuts and bolts when you’re tightening them? Rather than guessing when to stop tightening, a torque wrench is the perfect tool for the job. Torque wrenches stop when they reach a specified torque setting, so there’s no risk of under- or over-tightening the nut or bolt when you’re doing automotive or machinery repairs. It’s so easy to set and use your torque wrench, and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know. Keep reading to learn how to adjust your wrench and maintain it like a pro.

Things You Should Know

  • Loosen the locking knob at the end of the torque wrench.
  • Turn the handle until its top edge lines up with the nearest torque measurement printed on the wrench.
  • Spin the top dial so the desired number lines up with the vertical line on the wrench. Add the number on the top dial to the one on the wrench for the total torque.
  • ​​Tighten nuts or bolts with your torque wrench until it clicks or stops moving.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Adjusting the Wrench

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  1. Look at the end of your torque wrench ’s handle to find the metal or plastic locking knob. Twist the locking knob counterclockwise by hand so that you can change the wrench’s settings. [1]
    • Typically, the locking knob is a different color than the rest of your wrench so it’s easy to find.
    • You don’t need to screw the knob off of your wrench; just loosen it until the handle spins easily.
  2. Inspect the area just above the handle to find the hash marks printed on the wrench’s main shaft. The horizontal hash marks are usually in increments of 10 or 20 pound force-feet (1.4 or 2.8 kg·m), or foot pounds. Then locate the vertical marks on the top dial of the handle, which go up by 1 lb·ft (0.14 kg·m) increments. [2]
    • Foot pounds or meter kilograms are torque measurements that show how much force is applied over a certain distance. So 1 lb·ft (0.14 kg·m) is the equivalent to 1 pound (0.45 kg) of force over a 1 ft (0.30 m) distance.
    • Most torque wrenches list both foot pounds and meter kilograms on opposite sides of the shaft. If the 2 sets of numbers are listed on the same hash marks, the lower number is the measurement in foot pounds and the larger number is the measurement in meter kilograms.
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  3. Hold the body of the wrench with your nondominant hand so it doesn’t move around. Use your dominant hand to turn the handle clockwise to increase the torque or counterclockwise to lower it. Once the top edge of the handle lines up with the horizontal hash mark closest to the torque you need, stop turning the handle. [3]
    • Example: If you need to set the torque to 145 lb·ft (20.0 kg·m), turn the handle until the top lines up with the hash mark for 140 lb·ft (19 kg·m).
    • Some torque wrenches have handles that slide up and down instead of twisting into place.
    • If you have a digital torque wrench, then just use the arrow buttons to increase or decrease the torque setting. Each torque wrench works a little differently, so check the instructions for your specific model.

    Tip: Refer to your car or bike’s manual to determine how much torque a nut or bolt requires to be safely set. There are no universal rules for torque settings on vehicles.

  4. Once you’re close to the desired number, look at the numbers on the top dial of the handle. [4] Slowly turn the dial clockwise to increase the number or rotate it counterclockwise to lower the number. Once the number you want lines up with the vertical line on the wrench, stop spinning the dial. [5]
    • Example: If you need to set the torque to 145 lb·ft (20.0 kg·m) and already have the handle lining up with the 140 lb·ft (19 kg·m) mark, turn the dial so it’s set to 5 lb·ft (0.69 kg·m).
    • On some wrenches, the dial moves independently of the handle and you can twist it by turning it directly rather than using the handle.
  5. Once you’ve adjusted the handle’s height and twisted the dial, add the numbers together to calculate your total torque and ensure it’s accurately adjusted. To read your torque wrench , find the hash mark that lines up with your handle and add it to the number on the dial lined up with the vertical line. [6]
    • Example: If the handle lines up with the 140 lb·ft (19 kg·m) mark and the dial lines up with the 5 lb·ft (0.69 kg·m) mark, then the total torque setting is 145 lb·ft (20.0 kg·m).
  6. Hold the main body of the wrench with your nondominant hand so you don’t accidentally change the torque setting. Then, use your dominant hand to turn the locking knob clockwise until it won’t move anymore. [7]
    • Once you secure the locking knob, you cannot adjust your torque setting until you loosen it again.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Tightening Nuts and Bolts

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  1. Use a socket that matches the size of your nut or bolt. Slide the end of the socket into the head of your torque wrench until it clicks into place. [8]
    • If you’re tightening a nut or bolt in a hard-to-reach place, attach a socket extender to your wrench first.
    • Torque wrenches come in different sizes, so measure the square head on the end to determine the right socket size.
  2. Hold the nut or bolt against the threadings you’re attaching it to, and start turning it clockwise. Keep turning the nut or bolt until you’re not able to rotate it by hand anymore. [9]

    Warning: Avoid using a torque wrench when you’re first attaching the nut or bolt. Torque wrenches provide a lot of power and if your nut or bolt isn’t perfectly aligned, you could destroy the threadings.

  3. Hold the handle of the torque wrench in your nondominant hand. Use your dominant hand to guide the socket onto the nut or bolt. Make sure the socket fits tightly and doesn’t feel loose. [10]
    • If the socket freely spins without catching on the nut, then use a smaller socket.
  4. Rotate the handle clockwise to begin tightening the nut or bolt. Almost all torque wrenches have automatic return functions so you don’t need to reposition them on the nut or bolt. Simply move the handle counterclockwise back to the starting position. If your wrench doesn’t turn counterclockwise, take the socket off the nut or bolt and reposition the wrench. [11]
    • If you hear a clicking or switching noise when you return the handle counterclockwise, you have an automatically-returning torque wrench.
    • Torque wrenches are only made to tighten nuts and bolts, so turning them counterclockwise won’t loosen the fasteners.
  5. It’s normal for a torque wrench to click if you turn it counterclockwise. If you hear your wrench click loudly when you turn it clockwise, stop turning it since you’ve reached the correct torque setting. [12] On a manual wrench, stop turning it when you feel the wrench resisting. [13]
    • Avoid forcing the wrench any further since you could damage the nut or bolt, or the wrench.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Maintaining Your Wrench

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  1. After you finish tightening the nuts or bolts, turn both dial settings on the handle back to 0. Leaving the dial turned to a torque setting higher than 0 can throw off the wrench’s calibration over time and cause it to be inaccurate. [14]
  2. Clean the loose rust off of each bolt or nut with a towel or rag before attaching your wrench to them. If there's really stubborn rust, scrub them with a wire brush. Rust and grime could build up inside your sockets and damage your wrench over time since it's harder for your wrench to get a good grip. [15]
    • Torque wrenches aren’t meant to be lubricated, so spray your nut or bolt with a product like WD-40 degreaser before attaching the wrench’s socket.
  3. While you can calibrate your torque wrench if you have experience working on cars, it’s best to have a mechanic or torque wrench specialist do it for you instead. Every year or when your torque wrench reaches 5,000 clicks, take it in to have it reset so it takes accurate measurements again. [16]
    • Calibration usually costs between $25-75 USD.
    • If you don’t have your torque wrench calibrated, it may develop a discrepancy between the measurements on your handle and the actual torque of the wrench.

    Tip: The rule of the thumb is that you need a calibration once a year or once per 5,000 clicks. If you work on cars or bikes every single day, you probably reach 5,000 clicks after 8-10 months. If you’re a DIY enthusiast though, you’re unlikely to hit 5,000 clicks before the year is up.

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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I pull out the bits from the torque wrench?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    You should be able to simply pull it out by hand. If you can't, try twisting the bit counterclockwise to see if it loosens. If it doesn't, you may need to use a wrench or channel locks to get the bit off.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 4
  • Question
    I am interested in a torque wrench of 2' for tightening the thread size of M90X 2.6. Will this work?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    The size of your wrench refers to the size of the socket at the end. This is totally independent from the threading on the nut or bolt that you're screwing in. To make sure threading matches, you need to check the threading on the inside of the nut or bolt. To do this, measure the distance between 2 threads with a ruler or measuring tape. This can be kind of hard to do, so you may need to use a magnifying glass.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 2
  • Question
    What is the torque for lug nuts on 2018 Honda CRV?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    The torque for the lug nuts should be 80 pound-feet. Adjust your handle by turning the small dial to 0 and the handle itself to 80.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      Warnings

      • Dropping your wrench can throw the calibration off. Carry it with both hands when you’re walking around the garage to ensure that you don’t drop it. [18]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/Nk_KSRCSokc?t=17
      2. ↑ https://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/61000-61999/61277.pdf
      3. ↑ https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91AsAPusmdS.pdf
      4. ↑ Audra Fordin. Certified Automotive Technician. Expert Interview. 13 January 2022.
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/bx7kUBS_cv0?t=74
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/xg5OK4slpGE?t=184
      7. ↑ https://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/61000-61999/61277.pdf
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/bx7kUBS_cv0?t=132
      9. ↑ https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a6613/torque-wrench-101-how-to-get-the-right-amount-of-force/
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/hv4oUvt3nFk?t=295
      2. ↑ https://www.egamaster.com/products/img/pdf/EGA-Master-Industrial-tools-TORQUE-WRENCHES-62982-M.pdf
      3. ↑ https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91AsAPusmdS.pdf
      4. ↑ Audra Fordin. Certified Automotive Technician. Expert Interview. 13 January 2022.
      5. ↑ https://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/61000-61999/61277.pdf
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/mU6UhtVjz3Q?t=74
      7. ↑ https://www1.snapon.com/display/231/ToolNews/TechRefs/2008/TorqueWrench08.pdf
      8. ↑ https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91AsAPusmdS.pdf
      9. ↑ https://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/61000-61999/61277.pdf

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      A torque wrench is a unique tool that can be adjusted to tighten nuts and bolts to a specific torque level, which is measured in foot-pounds or meters per kilogram. To adjust your torque wrench, loosen the cap on the bottom of the handle by turning it counterclockwise. Once it’s loose, slide the handle up or down the wrench until the tip of the handle rests on the horizontal hash mark closest to your desired setting. The horizontal hash marks on the wrench are in multiples of 10 and are used to measure larger changes in the torque. Next, make minor adjustments by twisting the handle clockwise to increase the torque, or counterclockwise to lower the torque. The vertical hash marks on the handle itself are labeled with single digits and are used to make minor changes. For example, to reach 202 foot pounds (2,660 meters per kilogram), slide the handle up to the 200 hash mark, then twist the handle itself until the 2 is lined up with the hash marks on the handle. Screw the cap on the bottom of the handle clockwise to tighten it and lock your torque setting in at its current level. Keep in mind that a torque wrench can only be used to tighten nuts or bolts. You'll need to use a different tool to loosen them back up in the future. To learn how to use a dial torque wrench, read on!

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        Sep 6, 2019

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