Where to find a 250 lb-ft torque wrench to rent?

[BigMike]

I need to replace the pinion seal in the Dana 60. Anyone know of a place that rents torque wrenches?

[slick4x4]

auto zone ?
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/access ... h/_/N-25fw

[ICEMAN6166]

you mean the 4 foot pipe on the end of the breaker bar i use for doing that ?

tool rental shops are the best choice.

[BigMike]

you mean the 4 foot pipe on the end of the breaker bar i use for doing that ?

Tell me more.

[BarnieTrk]

BigMike,

I doubt you'll find anyone willing to rent you a 250lb torque wrench. Any more they are considered more an instrument than a wrench. Their calibration can be screwed up too easily (dropping it on a hard surface, over-torquing it, getting corrosive liquids inside the tool, etc.) and such issues won't show up right away. The more pricey torque wrenches can be cleaned & re-calibrated, but then actually finding someone to do the re-calibration isn't always an easy task either.....

If you do choose to "let your fingers do the walking" and you dial up your local autoparts store or some nearby automotive/truck/farm equipment repair shop who is willing to rent out one, be prepared to plunk down a sizable deposit, which is in an effort to protect them in case the wrench is lost, broken, bent, drove over, etc......

What I have done is ask a trust-worthy auto/truck/farm equipment mechanic friend who let me use his torque wrench overnight or over a weekend, and then on my return of the tool, I'd also slip him a $20 bill, a 12-pak or a free pizza coupon -- just 'cause...
BarnieTrk

[ICEMAN6166]

you mean the 4 foot pipe on the end of the breaker bar i use for doing that ?

Tell me more.

set the brake,block the tire, and use the leverage of the long pipe to tighten the nut.

is it 250 ft lb?
dont know but i have done several that way and never had one leak or come loose.

a friend of mine has big torque wrenches, wont let them out as barnie says they can easily be messed up.

[rickairmedic]

Mike Autozone rents them but be prepared to plunk down $150.00 for the rental fee . You do get most of it back when you return it .


Rick

[pugsly]

At our shop, we mark the pinion, pinion nut and flange/yoke with a chisel (in a straight line). Remove the nut, flange and seal. Replace the seal, install the flange (lining up the chisel marks) Then tighten the nut with an impact gun until the chisel mark on the nut is 1/4" past the original mark. never had a problem this way. Pugsly

[Toyz]

The reasons mentioned by BarnieTRK are exactly why I wouldn't use an Autozone torque wrench. BTW if your spec is 250 lbs/ft, you really need a 300 lbs/ft wrench; but that's probably immaterial on one from Autozone. Rental shops in an industrial area can probably provide a calibrated wrench if you really wanted to do it by the book.
Paul

[BigMike]

At our shop, we mark the pinion, pinion nut and flange/yoke with a chisel (in a straight line). Remove the nut, flange and seal. Replace the seal, install the flange (lining up the chisel marks) Then tighten the nut with an impact gun until the chisel mark on the nut is 1/4" past the original mark. never had a problem this way. Pugsly

This sounds like the way to go.

Red loctite on the nut?

I actually saw some 300 lb-ft torque wrenches on the interwebs for less than a $100. Probably a one time use too that I wouldn't spend the money one. When I worked at a Vermeer dealer, we used to rebuild Dana 44 axles that were in the trenchers and paid $500 for a 300 lb-ft Snap-on torque wrench.

[pugsly]

I guess i forgot the loctite, but i would use blue. Just in case you want to take it off again.

[BigMike]

Does anyone know what size socket is used for the pinion nut on a Dana 60?

[BarnieTrk]

Big Mike,

I think it takes a 1-5/16" socket.

BarnieTrk

[BigMike]

Big Mike,

I think it takes a 1-5/16" socket.

BarnieTrk

That's what I read everywhere, but mine was 1-1/4". My stuff only goes up to 1-1/8" but I did have a 1-5/16" for some reason. Advance Auto had a deep well 1-1/4" for $9.

The new seal is in and the pinion is tightened 1/4 past the original mark. Good to go!

[BarnieTrk]

Must be that the original pinion nut was changed for the 1-1/4" nut sometime during the last 40+years...?

Glad to hear you got it handled, Big Mike!

BarnieTrk