Alright,

I will be adjusting my bands after a fluid and filter change for my tranny this weekend.

I am thinking that the GREAT NECK from autozone is not very reliable for that type of delicate and precision job.

How much should a good in/lbs torque wrench cost?

 

Oh my god, do not go cheap on a torque wrench. My cheap torque wrench ended up costing me $1,700 when I adjusted my bands.

 

Well im not too experienced in torque wrenches, but if you have the money I would go craftsman. I have a lot of craftsman tools and I have to give sears props. Every time I broke a craftsman tool I could walk right in and right out with a brand new replacement no questions asked.

 

Snap on........

are you get a tick one or a beam?

 

When it comes to the transmission, i wouldn't skimp. When it comes to other bolts that a ballpark value will due, then I use my cheap-o torque wrench. I bought a torque wrench a couple years ago and I am pretty sure it is messed up. I just caught a sale at harbor freight the other day to replace that one for $9.99 (1/2"). and is +/-4% That isn't bad at all for $10 (plus tax of course), but still. The only gripe I have about click type torque wrenches is after a few years it seems that I can't trust their torque value, with normal use, and even if you bring it back to its lowest torque setting while in storage. I have only messed with low quality torque wrenches, but that is also why I never adjusted my bands lol...

 

Craftsman should be plenty good for ya, yea that snap-on may be a better product but you dont need to spend the money, craftsman are reliable and accurate

Now if you were a mechanic asking on which to have because you were going to be using it everyday at work thats a different story

 

I did a lot of searching and research before I adjusted my bands. There is a couple good write ups where people say you dont need to mess with a torque wrench. I forget how much you're supposed to turn each screw out after it makes contact, but I just tightened up the lock nut and called it a day. Havent had any problems for a few thousand miles! Shifts great!

 

sears, free replacement for life.

 

What is this ???
No Harbor Freight option ???

I'm not much of a fan of the cheap clicky types ... Even the better built ones you still have to get calibrated now and then, and its not cheap getting a reliable calibration.

The old school dial ones are probably the safest. So long as they are zeroed out, you know they are calibrated.
You could get a dial tool, they only cost about $10, rig up some sockets,put it in a vice and do a poor mans calibration yourself with it, just for a little peace of mind.

 

I've got all craftsmen, and I've been happy with them. Have basically the same in a 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and 1" drive and never had a problem with them. They don't get a lot of use except for the 3/4" drive which I use to torque wheels down. Most of the other stuff just gets the "gootentight" method. Except for trans bands.

Never skimp on this tool. You wouldn't skimp on your brakes would you?