PREC3FR250F Silver 1/2" Drive Split Beam Torque Wrench with Flex Head

This is a great torque wrench, you can tell it’s high quality the first time you use it. I was previously using a crappy harbor freight torque wrench that was hard to see what it was actually set to and it was not accurate at all. I stripped a spark plug from my jet ski even though I set the wrench to the correct spec using the old one, I wish I had this wrench when I was doing that job! You’re able to confidently set the torque and it has cover for the dial that’s spring loaded, so it won’t change when you are torquing a bolt.

Precision Instruments makes the dual beam torque wrenches for Snap-On. In fact this is almost identical to the Snap-On wrench. Other than the ratcheting head with a Snap-On logo and the handle color, they are identical. The Snap-On feels like it might have more teeth. For a 50-150 foot lb torque wrench, I don't really care about teeth. I paid about $150.00 for this and I think the Snap-On version of the same things is about $400 or maybe even more. The nice thing about this is that you flip only a spring loaded latch and adjust a single dial to set the torque. (then flip the protector latch thing back to ensure the setting doesn't change on you) The dial is clear and easy to read. It has Newton Meters and Foot Pounds. It is made in USA. It only works in forward and has no reverse setting. (you shouldn't really take off tough fasteners with a torque wrench anyway) It is calibrated when you get it and has a blown mold case that doesn't take up more room than it needs to. It comes with instructions or kindling for your fireplace if you aren't into that stuff. One of the nicest features of this style torque wrenches is that you do not need to 'unload' it or set it to zero after each use. Some people don't know this but most clicker style torque wrenches should be unloaded prior to storage to keep their calibration. On this one, it doesn't matter either way. If you are always putting on aluminum wheels at 100 foot lbs for example, leave it set to 100 foot lbs. (I do this) For the price, the quality is amazing. The Snap-On one comes in bright green or orange and this one is always blue. It says made in USA just like the Snap-On and works very well. Use the money you save or beer or bandaids for your busted knuckles you get from drinking beer and working on cars.

Works great and acurate compared to my others. Built well. Easier to read #s and set torque.

Fast and easy to adjust. Quality appears to be good and bonus: it’s not made in China or Taiwan.

This thing is basically a carbon copy of a Snap-on. Looks and feels exactly the same. Had it for a very long time now with zero issues. I dont usually do a lot of reviews, but I had some time and I was reviewing some other purchases. I would get it again, but it's not broken so I don't need to. Even checked it against a Snap-on on multiple jobs, and a few other techs got them as backup and for side jobs.

Purchased this after researching the tool and company. American made product. I have owned it for several years now, and haven't had any issues with it. Its well.made and durable. Very accurate. It is used almost daily in my auto repair shop.

I have nothing really bad to say about this torque wrench; it's great, seems to be accurate (was calibrated before shipping, anyway) and the "click" is much more pronounced than on my smaller micrometer-type Snap-On torque wrench. I really only have a few negatives to report about this product. Pros: 1) No need to wind it all the way to zero before storage like a micrometer type wrench. To me this is great. 2) It just works. 3) very easy to adjust torque setting, much more so than a micrometer type. Cons: 1) Only works in clockwise direction, so cannot be used to torque left hand thread fasteners. Probably only a concern to you if you are planning on using it on the lug nuts of an old MoPar or Studebaker. This is a characteristic of the split-beam design; if you need that capability, you're probably better off getting a micrometer type torque wrench. 2) Assuming that it's in calibration, it still is probably not as dead on accurate as a micrometer type as the scale graduations are much closer together, unless you're really good at visually interpolating. Definitely good enough for automotive work though. 3) This one sounds stupid, but it's actually kind of a big deal. The blow-molded plastic case is too long to fit neatly in the top of a standard 26" top chest, and forget about putting it in one of the drawers, it won't fit. So if you have a 26" roll cabinet it'll need to go in front corner to opposite back corner, either in the very top of your top chest or in one of the base cabinet drawers. A big waste of space if you have a lot of tools to organize, so inevitably you'll give up and just stop putting it back in its case (and then it fits fine, even in the drawers) and completely unnecessary as the case is several inches longer than the tool itself. I would prefer to keep it in the case as I keep a small assortment of tools in a 26" top chest that I actually carry around with me to wherever I need to work, either in the back of my Jeep or moving it around a shop on a roll cart, so it could get knocked around if not in the case. This is why I'm giving it four stars and not five... come on, PI! I still think this was a great deal, but knowing what I know now I probably would buy a used Snap-On (either micrometer or split beam - and I'm pretty sure the Snap-On split beams are made by PI) and have it recalibrated by the Snap-On truck guy - and just deal with the PITA of winding it back to zero after every use. That's what I did for a 3/8" torque wrench and it was about $40 for the recal, so a couple years from now when I wonder if it is out of cal (or have reason to believe that it may be) I can get it fixed up again quickly and inexpensively. I don't have any reason to believe that this one will go out of calibration - supposedly split beams are more resilient than micrometers - but I don't know where to get a non-Snap-On torque wrench calibrated locally. If you plan on using this regularly for many years that is something you might want to think about.

Man, I love the quality of this tool. Well worth the price. American made so it says but just by the durability I believe it is. I almost don't want to get it dirty. I ordered another size of the same item and I love them both. Heavy duty. If you want a tool for life this is where you put that extra money. I'm almost tempted and should have bought the 3 piece set instead of 2 separate sizes bought separately. Go with the 3 piece.