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Bad torque multiplier tool
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bensolo
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2025 2:12 pm    Post subject: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

I purchased a Torquemeister look-alike from Amazon. The drive gear does not engage the flywheel enough to do the job. Can anyone recommend a retailer that sells a good one. They all look the same in the ads.
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2025 2:16 pm    Post subject: Re: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

I would say they are all generic and the only name brand would be EMPI.

I have no personal experience with any of them.

FYI, the EMPI one is $150 and the cheaper ones are $95, so maybe the EMPI one is better made???
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2025 3:44 pm    Post subject: Re: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

Glenn wrote:
...

FYI, the EMPI one is $150 and the cheaper ones are $95, so maybe the EMPI one is better made???


well isn't that just sad!?
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2025 3:55 pm    Post subject: Re: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

Bought the EMPI one years back and it's fine. Overbuilt and heavy, gears line up fine.

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PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2025 4:16 pm    Post subject: Re: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

bensolo wrote:
I purchased a Torquemeister look-alike from Amazon. The drive gear does not engage the flywheel enough to do the job. Can anyone recommend a retailer that sells a good one. They all look the same in the ads.

It must have been a bad day in the east Asian mud hut they all come out of.

Either that, or somebody is buying EMPI seconds. Think about that for a moment...
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2025 4:27 pm    Post subject: Re: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

OP, the drive gear (the little one) is reversible on the TorqueMeister tool.
Pull the clevis pin and switch the gear to the opposite side of the tool and try it again.
You have to swap it around when you use it for removing axle nuts versus flywheel gland nuts.
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2025 4:59 pm    Post subject: Re: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

67rustavenger wrote:
OP, the drive gear (the little one) is reversible on the TorqueMeister tool.
Pull the clevis pin and switch the gear to the opposite side of the tool and try it again.
You have to swap it around when you use it for removing axle nuts versus flywheel gland nuts.


I have used one before and am familiar with it’s operation. Switching gears around or flipping the tool won’t help. The drive gears are not the right pitch to engage the flywheel. The gear also barely touches the flywheel. Standard flywheel. 36mm nut. I already returned it.
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2025 11:42 pm    Post subject: Re: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

The genuine full kit comes with both two drive gears a 6 volt and a 12 volt pitch drive gear for the two different starter rings..

Probably just the usual Amazon junk dealers.
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bensolo
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 3:09 pm    Post subject: Re: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

I purchased the Empi branded tool. It comes in the same box and same packaging as the Amazon tool. Obviously it’s also made in China. The fit was marginally better, but there was very little gear tooth engagement and the tool would slip when pressure was applied. I was able to make it work by angling the tool slightly to get better gear engagement. I guess that counts as a win. I just expected better fit and finish for 50% more money.
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 3:10 pm    Post subject: Re: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

Sorry, but most aftermarket parts/tools are crap.
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 3:42 pm    Post subject: Re: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

I bought the cheaper one from CIP and didn't have any issues with it on the gland nut or brake drums.
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 3:59 pm    Post subject: Re: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

Mine was home made 30 years ago and never failed. I bet I used it over 200 times.

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PostPosted: Thu Apr 10, 2025 10:24 am    Post subject: Re: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

So Glenn, that works on flywheel, what do use on rear drums?
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 10, 2025 1:08 pm    Post subject: Re: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

calvinater wrote:
So Glenn, that works on flywheel, what do use on rear drums?

I have a 3/4" beam torque wrench.
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 11, 2025 2:15 am    Post subject: Re: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

I wonder whether the multipliers that I see advertised on ebay as Ford Ecoboost and Ecodiesel torque multiplier tools would work better for most users? E.g. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/387322862558?_skw=torqu...BM7tfDv8Rl

They're under £90 (just under US $120 at today's exchange rate), which is cheaper than the single-purpose 'Mr Torque'-type flywheel tool and I reckon it could be used for flywheels, hub nuts (and other useful tasks around the home Laughing )

Rationale: -

I got lucky several years ago and picked up a Sykes Pickavant Motorq torque mulitplier (TM) that was misdescribed on ebay, so I got it ridiculously cheap. It's an utter monster and OTT for my application, but it works brilliantly for accurately torquing flywheels and rear axle nuts. https://sykes-pickavant.com/products/80060000-a-mo...q-input-dr

My TM is the 'traditional' style, designed for multiple purposes. The head contains the multiplier gearbox. It comes with two different reaction arms that attach to the head. One is a straight, round reaction bar, the other an offset/angled reaction 'foot'.

For flywheels, I use the foot in combination with a piece of angle iron bolted across a couple of clutch bolts. It's basically the Muir approach, but the TM avoids having to use some dodgy scaffold pole to extend a breaker bar or torque wrench to gain the extra leverage. The reaction foot engages with the angle iron (pics below).

For hub nuts, I just use the straight reaction bar.

The Ford ecoboost/ecodiesel tool linked above appears to be a similar arrangement to the traditional TM that I have, but the casting of the head is extended. It effectively has the straight reaction arm built in to the head, which should work for hub nuts. The kit comes with a bolt-on arm that attaches at 90-degrees to the built-in arm, effectively creating a reaction 'foot'. That could be bolted to the angle-iron for flywheels, effectively achieving the same result as below.

I don't need another TM, so I'm not going to experiment on anyone's behalf, but it occurs to me that tool should work in just the same way as my traditional TM.

This is what my TM arrangement looks like for torquing a flywheel. Mine's a monster, s I have to support the head with blocks of wood or bricks. The ecoboost/ecodiesel tool looks lighter, but still gives a 5:1 advantage. I reckon it would be easier to use.

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Ford tool...

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PostPosted: Wed Apr 16, 2025 12:41 pm    Post subject: Re: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

TorqueMister was a bad idea - Laughing

There is nothing my 3/4" torque wrench cannot do. It is big enough for forklifts.
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 16, 2025 4:15 pm    Post subject: Re: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

I have one like pictured in this web site, it is a 4:1 with a input range of up to 250 ft-lbs, and output of up to 1000 ft-lbs....

Works with whatever I have a socket to fit output (3/4 inch drive) to nut/bolt (flywheels, axle nuts, assorted things on micro ranch, gold mining equipment, etc.).....

What makes it nice if I want to go to say 300 ft-lbs on axle nut all I have to do it take torque wrench to 75 ft-lbs...

https://www.maxprocorp.com/blog/what-is-a-torque-multiplier-and-how-does-it-work/

When buying this sort of tool, I believe I would go more along the generic tool than with something adapted or designed along a specific design for a specific purpose, application as the EcoBoost...
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 18, 2025 2:23 am    Post subject: Re: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

Dale M. wrote:

When buying this sort of tool, I believe I would go more along the generic tool than with something adapted or designed along a specific design for a specific purpose, application as the EcoBoost...


The problem is the price of a traditional, generic TM versus the amount of times a hobbyist would use it.

The EcoBoost tool looks like it's basically a traditional TM, but for half or a third of the price (and slightly cheaper than the TorqueMeister which can only do one job).
It looks like it might be good value for a hobbyist.
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 18, 2025 10:12 am    Post subject: Re: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

The torque multipliers like dale listed are super nice, but super expensive. Like $500 to 1000.
Another simple alternative is a torque extender. Basically a bar, 2 feet long is good, with socket or adaptor in each end. Your 150 ft lb torque wrench attaches to it.

Here is a calculator

http://www.rv7.us/a_u-torquewrenchsetting.htm
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 4:00 pm    Post subject: Re: Bad torque multiplier tool Reply with quote

The retailer was kind enough to warranty the defective tool. I had to provide proof of destruction. I sent a pic and received a refund.

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….and then I welded the tool back together 1mm shorter. Obviously I am not a professional welder. It works fine now.


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