Review on 🔧 Park Tool Click Type Ratcheting Torque Wrench with Enhanced SEO by Shawn Jimenez

Update 2017 In early March 2015, I learned that Park Tools contracted to manufacture the TW-5 torque wrench with a supplier in Taiwan who uses the same factory in China as Tekton. . After doing a little research, I found that the same factory that makes this Park Tools TW-5 also makes the Tekton 24320 (Park Tools TW-5 is around $104-$118 and Tekton 24320 is around $41 -Dollar). big difference). Of course being suspicious, I ordered a Tekton 24320 and tested it on my Park Tools TW-5. To test accuracy, I set the TW-5 and Tekton 24320 to 4 Newton-meters (35.4 in-lbs) of torque (Easton's recommended torque for an EC90 SL riser when used with a Thomson stem with connected by four screws). horizontally in my heavy duty vise and attached a weight (of known mass) to the end of the rope and began to back off the locking ring to 4 Nm until the weight clicked. I then measured the distance (from the center of the drive to the center of the handle where the rope with the weight was attached) x the weight I was using and then converted to newton meters and compared to the setting where it clicked. It turns out that TW-5 has an accuracy of 7.1% and Tekton 24320 0.9%. However, this type of torque wrench is more accurate with the internal spring loaded than with the spring relaxed, so an additional 1% or 2% correction may be necessary in either case. For a torque wrench in this range, this is a poor result for the TW-5, falling short of Park Tools' 4% claim. (There is a way to bring the wrench back to full accuracy, but it would take too long to describe here). The TW-5 also uses a 1/4" jack, so you will need to purchase a 3/8" to ¼" adapter to use many common plug heads. The Tekton 24320 (no, I don't work for the company) also has some nice features that the TW-5 lacks. The scale printed on the handle is easier to read than the small viewing window on the TW-5. The knurled handle feels better in the hand and is made of vanadium steel and not plastic like the Park Tools TW-5. Additionally, the feel of the Tekton 24320 is much more intuitive, and when you hit the torque limit you set, the head clicks and twists are much sharper, louder, and easier to notice. This is a useful feature when you are quickly loosening and tightening multiple fasteners. Overall, the Tekton 24320 feels better and also has a higher build quality with more steel. The only thing I don't like about the Tekton is that it only measures torque in the right direction, while the Park Tool TW-5 measures torque in both directions. But fortunately, on most modern bicycles, left-hand threads are only found in three places: the left pedal, the right bottom bracket shell, and the drive-side cone. (The left pedal and bottom bracket shell are outside of the TW-5 torque range anyway). And finally the price. The Park Tools TW-5 currently costs between $104 and $118, while the Tekton 24320 averages around $41. It's just a huge difference, and when you combine that with the fact that the TW-5 is less accurate, it becomes almost ridiculous. some great products (like my 5 star TS-2.2 professional hair straightener). It's just not one of them. If you really like the Park Tool brand (and so do I) check out their vintage TW-1 torque wrench up to 6.8Nm. You can still find it for sale here on Revain. And if you're looking for a really high-quality professional torque wrench, you've come to the right place at CDI Wrenches. They make snap-on tools and are about the same price as this TW-5, but you get much higher quality. I would also like to mention that Park Tools has a brand new facility in Minnesota and I'm not sure why this TW-5 couldn't be made there? I don't mind good people in Taiwan, but in this particular case I spent extra money on Park Tools hoping for a higher level of quality control and craftsmanship (and hoping to support American workers). even if the price is higher). Outsourcing labor to China and Taiwan and then charging "Made in the USA" prices is bad for advertising. Specifically for educated customers who can afford high quality carbon fiber mountain bikes and road bikes and would purchase a TW-5 for home use on sensitive carbon fiber components. Overall, this TW-5 torque wrench easily outperforms the much cheaper and more accurate Tekton 24320 in every category. Ultimately, I just can't recommend this key.