Broken Halfords Advanced Torque Wrench
Discussion
My Halfords Advanced 200 torque wrench stopped clicking yesterday. It's just over 3 years old and has always been stored at 0 when not in use. I understand Halfords have a lifetime guarantee however I've never read the small print (who does) and you need to be able to produce a calibration certificate every 18 months for them to replace. I also do not have the email receipt but do have the order confirmation number so I am sure if I called they could use that to track it back.
Am I right in thinking that not clicking is a broken mechanism and not a case of recalibrating? Worth finding somewhere to repair or just buy another for £130? It's had average use for a home wrench. I switch to winter wheels on two cars each year and a set of track wheels for another that are switched out and torque checked maybe 5 times a year.
Am I right in thinking that not clicking is a broken mechanism and not a case of recalibrating? Worth finding somewhere to repair or just buy another for £130? It's had average use for a home wrench. I switch to winter wheels on two cars each year and a set of track wheels for another that are switched out and torque checked maybe 5 times a year.
ChocolateFrog said:
Firstly I'd just go in to store and hand it to them and say it's broken.
They won't necessarily be up on the small print either. You might just get a replacement or you might get a new ratchet mechanism, not sure how it works with TW's
They tend not to quibble about most things.
That is probably the best port of call to start with and play dumb on the warranty technicalities. Worth a punt to save £130!They won't necessarily be up on the small print either. You might just get a replacement or you might get a new ratchet mechanism, not sure how it works with TW's
They tend not to quibble about most things.
I got hold of the original email receipt but unfortunately the manager was very clued up and you could tell he was dreading following up the "as long as you have a receipt... and certificate to show it has been calibrated." Looks like it's time to buy a new one.
Edited by Goatwidcoat on Monday 3rd November 15:52
Hmm…worked for this guy: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Unless there’s been a recent policy change I’d be minded to try a different store, maybe at a time when there’s less likely to be a manager around.
Unless there’s been a recent policy change I’d be minded to try a different store, maybe at a time when there’s less likely to be a manager around.
I've never needed a receipt for claiming under the lifetime warranty. If one store isn't playing ball, try another. My local store quibbles like mad around batteries (when the store manager is involved, who quite frankly is the most wilfully unhelpful individual), but the one ten miles up the road is ace.
Sheepshanks said:
Hmm worked for this guy: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Unless there s been a recent policy change I d be minded to try a different store, maybe at a time when there s less likely to be a manager around.
Not Halfords specific but I normally choose a Sunday where there's a disinterested looking teenager doing refunds/exchanges.Unless there s been a recent policy change I d be minded to try a different store, maybe at a time when there s less likely to be a manager around.
itcaptainslow said:
I've never needed a receipt for claiming under the lifetime warranty. If one store isn't playing ball, try another. My local store quibbles like mad around batteries (when the store manager is involved, who quite frankly is the most wilfully unhelpful individual), but the one ten miles up the road is ace.
I did find the original receipt in the end before I went. They did say all Halfords Advanced lifetime warranty items are normally exchanged on the spot, apart from the torque wrenches which specifically state the need a calibration certificate every 18 months and to be fair on the website for the item that requirement is clearly stated. Not that any of us read that far of course.There are a couple of other stores only 15 minutes or so away so I will try both of them too before spending another £100+. I just need to go in when a young lad behind the till doesn't know the rules and just sorts it out there and then!
Edited by Goatwidcoat on Monday 3rd November 17:13
Goatwidcoat said:
itcaptainslow said:
I've never needed a receipt for claiming under the lifetime warranty. If one store isn't playing ball, try another. My local store quibbles like mad around batteries (when the store manager is involved, who quite frankly is the most wilfully unhelpful individual), but the one ten miles up the road is ace.
I did find the original receipt in the end before I went. They did say all Halfords Advanced lifetime warranty items are normally exchanged on the spot, apart from the torque wrenches which specifically state the need a calibration certificate every 18 months and to be fair on the website for the item that requirement is clearly stated. Not that any of us read that far of course.There are a couple of other stores only 15 minutes or so away so I will try both of them too before spending another £100+. I just need to go in when a young lad behind the till doesn't know the rules and just sorts it out there and then!
Edited by Goatwidcoat on Monday 3rd November 17:13
Inbox said:
Could AI mock up a cert? You wonder how far they will go in checking the cert is legit when it is really just a box ticking exercise.
Yes it can, a couple of signatures and you have a 'valid' calibration.Or you could say it broke during calibration so they won't issue a cert.
Goatwidcoat said:
There are a couple of other stores only 15 minutes or so away so I will try both of them too before spending another £100+. I just need to go in when a young lad behind the till doesn't know the rules and just sorts it out there and then!
Gotta be worth a crack.Else as said, open up your own calibration house.
Made up name, printer, signature, job jobbed.
If you really wanted to take the piss you could put your own name on the top and detail that it have been checked for calibration to a really wide tolerance! Plus or minus 50Nm should cover any drift it might have had.
dhutch said:
Gotta be worth a crack.
Else as said, open up your own calibration house.
Made up name, printer, signature, job jobbed.
If you really wanted to take the piss you could put your own name on the top and detail that it have been checked for calibration to a really wide tolerance! Plus or minus 50Nm should cover any drift it might have had.
That would fail is he won't be a "recognised re-calibration service".Else as said, open up your own calibration house.
Made up name, printer, signature, job jobbed.
If you really wanted to take the piss you could put your own name on the top and detail that it have been checked for calibration to a really wide tolerance! Plus or minus 50Nm should cover any drift it might have had.
I know you're (probably) posting in jest, but I wouldn't go creating false documents - it's a serious criminal offence to do that.
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