Torque Multipliers, Advice Sought

Ok, I recently saw an article about a particularly stubborn axle nut:
http://thegarage.jalopnik.com/this-guy-went-through-hell-to-remove-one-nut-from-his-h-1783617628


I've had similar problems with axle nuts, and thought that the torque multiplier could be a nifty tool to have. However, they look pretty expensive. Is the $200 northern tool version worth it, or am I wasting my money?

So, does anyone here have experience with them? Are they worth the investment?

Thanks!

 

There are a lot of threads about these at Garage Journal site:garagejournal.com torque multiplier - Bing

In the attached article, I suspect that the poster could have used a better quality (ie more expensive) 3/4" breaker bar and gotten similar results. Tekton is not top of the line ... It would be interesting to see if a SnapOn 1/2" breaker bar broke in the same place as HF and Craftsman.

 

I'm a mechanic by trade and purchased one 20+ years ago when working on big trucks. Maybe used it twice. As Tim said, a quality 3/4 breaker bar would have done the job. I wouldn't buy one if it was only for home use.

 

We use torque multipliers all the time at work, I torque really really big bolts to levels nearing ridiculous.. They work great, but for average daily use, if a big ol breaker bar don't get it, it's time for the fire ax..

 

Here's how to build one for under $50, using a slack adjuster for truck brakes. I can't vouch fo the results.

MANUAL SLACK ADJUSTER - 1.5" 28 SPLINE - 5", 6", 7" OFFSET - HD

 

I carry a Two and four foot piece of pipe in my service van for stubborn oil pan drain bolts on semis and class 8 type trucks. One time I had my 3/4 breaker with a 36mm on a drain bolt with the four foot cheater for a large caterpillar motor and I didn't think it was going to come but it did.

I have also used an 7 foot piece of pipe as a cheater bar for my subaru motor crank bolt.

In the above case I wonder if quality 3/4 drive and pipe would have done it? That one might have needed the torque multiplier.

Archimedes said it best, "give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world"

 

One of my most favoritist tools is a Peavey. A friend calls it "a lever with a fulcrum attached."
Pretty much true. A great tool.

 

You probably would not need a multiplier to remove a nut or bolt, but to torque the nut or bolt back, it comes in handy to use with torque wrench when you have a high torque value. I needed a high value torque wrench or a multiplier. I purchased the torque multiplier for about the same as a high value torque wrench. I watched ebay till I found a good deal on one. I have used it about four times and have loaned it out several times also,

 

I carry a Two and four foot piece of pipe in my service van for stubborn oil pan drain bolts on semis and class 8 type trucks. One time I had my 3/4 breaker with a 36mm on a drain bolt with the four foot cheater for a large caterpillar motor and I didn't think it was going to come but it did.

Damn IDIOTS no need to be that tight......

BTDT.........

 

But you have to have a way to undo farmer tight.

 

I have a pinion nut on so tight I used a 6' pipe on a 3/4 breaker bar and socket with a 3' pipe wrench holding the yoke with heat and 3 days of penetrating oil. Nothing doing. The 1/2 impact wrench didnt do a thing.

Same axle has hubs on so tight I bent the special hub puller. I had it under pressure and hit it with a a 4lb sledge. no movement. I think the whole thing is going to the scrapyard.

Got a detroit in it....

 

Die grinder to grind the nut away. Split it with a chisel when it's thin enough.

 

I have one but I prefer my 3/4" 18v Milwaukee impact gun. I use it a whole lot more than the torque multiplier. The multiplier I have is from northern tool. For the $ it works fine. I have another one I got on eBay I like a little better. I also have a couple slugger wrenches that are good.

 

Other Tool Models - Hydraulic Torque Wrench

This is what we use up to a point.. anything out of the range of this we go to heat stretching which is a whole different process..

 

I have a Proto on my service truck A couple times a year I have to torque two socket head cap screws to 850 ft lbs it works great but it takes a few minutes to set up if it slips at all at that kind of torque it usually wrecks the Allen bit the input is 1/2 in the output is 3/4 it does the job smoothly , an Impact gun usually breaks the bolts

 

No experience with them, but I recently saw an auction with a CAT version of one well used in decent condition go for almost $1000