CDI 3/8 Inch Drive Adjustable Click Torque Wrench, Range 5-75 Ft Lbs / 10.2-98.3 Nm (752MFRMH)

First I want to say that I own several different makes of torque wrenches and this is the first CDI torque wrench that I have purchased. After using this torque wrench for several months I feel that I've used it enough to write an educated review. This review is for the 1 inch drive torque wrench and I use it for a specific job. It is used to torque bolts on a forklift attachment to a setting of 720 ft lbs. so it is a pretty hefty task and the torque is near the upper end of this wrenches scale. The wrench comes with a very sturdy (and heavy) metal carrying case which is a major plus. For a wrench of this magnitude and weight I was pleased to see it didn't come with the standard blow molded, and normally wimpy carrying case. It is a two piece torque wrench and once assembled it measures a whopping 70" and weighs around 25 lbs. The weight and length of this wrench make torquing bolts to over 700 lbs quite easy. I weigh in at 160 lbs so I figured I would be hanging on the end of this wrench to reach 720 lbs but with a medium effort two handed pull I can get the proper torque. However, it is quite a workout handling this wrench due to the weight. The torque wrench itself is of exceptional quality. Like I stated earlier I have several makes of torque wrenches and this one, by far, exceeds the rest with its quality and workmanship. The torque adjusting dial has a locking collar so once you select your specified torque you don't need to worry about the dial moving while handling the wrench. It locks in securely and is very easy to unlock and change your specs. Snap-On does it again with an exceptional tool that is aesthetically pleasing, ergonomic and extremely durable. And Amazon comes in with the best price on this product on the planet saving me several hundred dollars. I will never own another brand of torque wrench.

CDI is an old and respected manufacturer of torque measurement products. The fact that Snap-On bought them only makes them better in my opinion. This wrench is an accurate and high quality tool - the build quality is obvious to anyone who has a clue about what a quality tool is. This one is a replacement for my previous one that somehow disappeared in my son's toolbox ;-) I reveived the wrench two days early from Amazon's supplier (BW Direct), it was in a solid plastic protective case and the instructions, warranty AND torque test results were all included. I'm writing this review to not only endorse the manufaturer and the tools they make but to give my opinion on the few negative comments I have read on this page. Here they are: 1. this review is about a 1/2" drive wrench, NOT a 3/8' drive. A 1/2" drive always makes a nice, solid click. A 3/8" does not - all 3/8" torque wrenches I have ever used make light, subtle clicks. If you don't pay attention, you miss it and inevitably over-torque. If you happen to see this complaint in negative reviews, make sure you are looking at the drive size of the wrench being reviewed. 2. the laser markings that indicate the torque setting are crisp, well defined and easy to see. Again, look at the wrench size - markings on 3/8" and 1/4" drives are harder to see simply because they are smaller. 3. the knurling of the handle is well machined and provides sufficient grip, even with greasy hands. At this price, this wrench is a steal and I would definitely recommend it to a friend.

I did quite a bit of research on torque wrenches and came up with the CDI brand as a very good quality, accurate unit for an excellent price. I then searched for where to buy it for a good price and found the best price on Amazon. I ordered it and received it in a couple of days so I am very pleased. A number of pro's for this product: 1. It is a solid, well crafted unit and has a metal handle so will not break readily with the amount of abuse I put them through 2. To set the wrench, one rotation is 10. You would not believe how many wrenches go in 15's; you try to figure out (easily) how to get it to 85; not fun. 3. It has a nice solid click when you get there! 4. It has acurate readings (I verified it on a torque wrench bench tester). Cons: 1. Once I got the wrench I noted that it is not as acurate when you get to the high end or very low end of its range. I was not concerned about the high end but I often do work that requires it to be below 50 ft lbs so I ended up getting another CDI torque wrench (3/8 drive) whose main range is 30-75 to fix that. Keep that in mind when buying this; it works most accurately between 50 and 225. (It is still quite acceptable but I'm a perfectionist when it comes to torque) Please note that to keep the wrench acurate you need to reset it back to the setting it came at from the factory (in this case 30). There was a document inside indicating this; that was good to know as I was always told to set it all the way out. Not following this every time your done using it is one quick way to have your wrench measurements go out of whack. Cheers

I've been looking at torque wrenches for a while. I kicked around whether to go cheap (Harbor Freight) and disposable. Or to pay the money for top quality and durability. It was the Snap-on name that caught my eye. I placed the order and it was delivered three days later. Taking the CDI wrench out of it's plastic case, it looked cleanly machined and very well made. It didn't look like it was carved with a butter knife like the cheaper wrenches. It looked like it was cleanly machined and professional looking. There was a label on the case that said it had been calibrated on 11/12. The first thing I did was flip the ratchet switch left and right. It moved with a solid and satisfying "click". A solid, decisive feel that conveyed confidence. I took it out and torqued the lug nuts on my truck. I had just got home from the tire shop and they used their very expensive Snap-on torque wrench to set the lug nuts at 100 PSI. In this case, it double checked perfectly. This weekend I will be doing some work on my vehicles that will require the torque wrench. I feel confident but will be double checking it against another torque wrench. A possible downside to this wrench is that it's not as long as the picture indicates. You can't get quite as much leverage on it as you can with a longer handle. But since I only need 100 lbs or less, this doesn't hurt me. If I had to torque to 150 or 200+ lbs, I would definitely want a longer handle or get a "cheater bar". Another possible downside is that when it does release, there is not a loud, distinct "click". It's almost a muffled click. But I depend more on feeling the release and I can definitely feel that so I'm not concerned. I'm very satisfied.

Excellent product

This is a quality piece of hardware. It makes my Harbor Freight $20 torque wrench look like garbage. Compared to the HF wrench, this one is much more easily rotated to the desired torque level. The HF tool takes tremendous effort, particularly approaching its upper limits. The machine work and chroming are like jewelry. The only complaint I have is that when torqueing the wrench, there is a tendency to push down the release ring and then the handle turns and you're changing torque values. This happens a lot especially when you're at strange angles like working on a vehicle. If I was CDI, I would engineer some type of additional locking mechanism that you would have to snap/unsnap to allow you to pull on the ring. My other high end wrench is a Precision Instruments that uses a dial to adjust the torque - when you are done, a metal latch covers the adjustment knob so you don't accidently change the value.

I bought this torque wrench after breaking a small bolt while replacing a strut mount with a cheap, box store, torque wrench. Once you have to remove a bolt that you just broke the head off of, you quickly realize that you get what you pay for. The CDI torque wrench is a quality tool. It came with a calibration certificate and a nice plastic case. The tool itself feels solid and the markings are easy to read. The knurling on the handle gives plenty of grip, even when your hands are covered in grime. I have used it several times since I received it and it works flawlessly. It gives a nice audible and tactile click when you reach the set torque. This is a great tool and is very affordable for the home mechanic. I would highly recommend this product to anyone.

This CDI torque wrench is the best tool I have ever owned! Built in the same plant as Snap On! Only difference? No Snap On logo!!!! And the price was considerably less as well! The CDI 250# torque wrenches are by far the most reliable and durable wrenches available! It also arrived in a nice sturdy case as well!