how to set torque wrench?
I have been given a harbor freight inexpensive torque wrench that I'm unsure of how to set the LBs.
I think I have it set right now at 35LBs

unsure of what the 0,1,2,3,&4 on the adjuster handle is?could this be like a multiplier of what I have it set to.
like if the 3 is a mulipilr then 3X35 is 105LBs correct I'm doubting this bc this thing is like 18" long don't see it ever tightening any nut down near 105LBs.
my previous torque wrench (lent an never returned) a craftsman was much more self explainitory.

I would like to know how to use this torqure wrench, of course I wouldn't trust a harbor freight for like torqureing down the cars heads this job is for the snapper lawn mowers blown head gasket.please advise and thanks

 

It's like a vernier scale...as come up to the "0" on the 35 vernier scale, that's "35 ft-lb".

If you keep going, you are basically adding that value to the base number, so 1=36 (35+1), 2=37(35+2), until you get to the next "5", then that's 40 (35+5), etc.

So you have it close to 38 ft-lb right there, just a tad more.

 

The above would be true if the graduations on the beam and dial were equal. However, on the wrench in question, the dial has 10 graduations but the beam is segmented in 5 ftlb increments. Normally the 0 on the dial would line up with the x0 increment on the beam and the 5 on the dial lining up with the x5 increment on the beam. In the pic above, I would say that is 43 ftlb. Turning the dial back to 0, I suspect the ridge of the dial would be just below the 40 graduation on the beam. Turning it back to 5 would be just below the 35 graduation. I suggest turning it all the way back to 0 dial on the lowest beam graduation to see the relationship of dial and beam graduations (above/on/below).

 

Definitely 38. You can see he hasn’t even hit 40 yet

 

It seems as if the dial is graduated 0,1,2,3,4,0,1,2,3,4 rather than 0-9 on the HF wrenches, therefor half a rotation of the dial/handle for each graduation on the beam, so I will agree with 38.

 

I was going to mention that some torque wrenches have 0-5 increments vs others have 0-10 increments, but assumed it would be obvious. I have those HF torque wrenches and I believe the 3/8" and 1/2" are 0-5, but their little 1/4" is 0-10? I forgot to check last night too...

And I guess I was wrong about being like a vernier scale, that's something else, LOL. I believe the correct term is micrometer, right?

 

I set the wrench to 6LBs for my 1st pass never felt a click (the storage box says click) so I just snugged 2nd pass set to 12LB never felt a click however on 2 bolts I felt a tiny give so I imatated that preasure. 3rd pass I tightened little more than a 1/4" bolts needs basicely guesstimated 18LBs again felt only one bolt had the give imatated again.

I believe this wrench could have been stowed loaded an the spring spung. anyway I tightened in the correct sequence an the briggs an stranton 12HP riding mower is up an running again. next time I'll get another craftsman.

thanks strutaeng/BigKID/shakenfake/ for excellent advice

 

What is the lowest number on the torque wrench? Like lowest stamped number.

 

5 then I rolled to 1 equating to 6LBs an locked it on the bottom.

 

What I’ve learned is cheap torque wrenches are very unreliable at low torque.
However, I do feel like any torque wrench at low torque is pretty odd to feel the click.