Why Is My Torque Wrench Not Clicking? 7 Causes and Fixes

Quick answer: Why is my torque wrench not clicking? Usually it’s set below its working range, turning the wrong direction, or clicking so softly at a low setting that you miss it. Less often, the fastener never reaches the set torque, or the mechanism is gummed up or out of calibration after storage at a high setting or a drop. Check the simple causes first.

A torque wrench that won’t click is unnerving. It feels wrong. You’re pulling, the bolt is getting tighter, and the one signal you’re relying on never comes.

Stop pulling first. Seriously. Then work through this list, because both manuals I used point to simple causes long before a broken mechanism: a setting, a direction, or a pull that’s a little too quick for the click to register.

Why It Happens

These are the causes I’d check, starting with the ones that cost nothing. The specifics come from Tekton’s 24330 operator’s manual and Sunex’s click wrench instructions.

1. The setting is below the wrench’s range. Tekton says its 24330 doesn’t measure torque below 10 ft-lb.
2. You’re turning counterclockwise. The 24330’s manual says torque is measured clockwise only.
3. The click is there, but too soft to notice. Tekton warns the click can be subtle at low settings.
4. You’re pulling too fast or holding it wrong. A jerky pull or a grip off the handle confuses the reading.
5. The fastener never reaches the set torque. It keeps turning, so the wrench never releases.
6. The mechanism sat unused or was stored loaded. Lubricant settles and springs fatigue.
7. It’s damaged or out of calibration. A drop or use as a breaker bar can do it.

Why Is My Torque Wrench Not Clicking? Start With the Setting

Look at the scale first. When you ask why is my torque wrench not clicking, the scale is where I’d start. On a micrometer-style click wrench, the setting is the main-scale line plus the number on the rotating handle. Tekton’s example: line the handle up at 50 on the main scale, then turn clockwise to the “3” mark for 53 ft-lb.

Then check two things. Is the setting inside the printed range? And is the lock nut tightened? Both Tekton and Sunex have you unlock the handle by turning the lock nut counterclockwise, set the value, and lock it clockwise before use. I’d always re-check the number after locking it.

Don’t force the handle below the lowest mark. Tekton says not to turn it below the lowest torque setting.

How to Fix a Torque Wrench That Won’t Click

1. Check the Direction

Some click wrenches ratchet both ways but only measure one way. Tekton’s 24330 diagram states torque is measured in the clockwise direction only, so on that model a counterclockwise pull will never click. Not once.

Need to torque a left-hand thread? Check your manual. Sunex says left-hand torquing on its ratchet-head wrenches is done by removing the ratchet wheel and reinserting it so the drive plug comes out on top. Other designs differ.

2. Slow Down at Low Settings

This is the cause I’d check hardest before blaming the wrench. Tekton says the click can be subtle at low settings, recommends using the wrench in a quiet environment, and says to pull slowly at low torque settings to observe the click.

The trick is to feel for it as much as listen. Sunex describes the release as something “felt as well as heard,” and the handle gives a small break when it happens.

3. Fix Your Grip and Pull

Tekton says to grasp the knurled handle only and apply a pulling force for accurate operation. As the bolt snugs up, it says to slow down to a smooth, steady pull, because pulling too fast or too hard can make you miss the exact setting.

If your hand sits up near the head, or you’re pushing in short jerks, you’re changing both the lever length and the timing, and Tekton’s warning is that a pull that’s too quick or too forceful can carry you past the exact setting before you register the release. Move your hand. Pull slowly. Feel for it.

4. Ask Whether the Bolt Is Actually Getting Tight

A click wrench only releases when resistance reaches the setting. No resistance, no click. If the fastener keeps turning without ever building that resistance, it can’t click.

When a bolt just keeps rotating past where it should have stopped, I’d stop immediately. The threads may be stripping, or the bolt may be stretching, and the setting on the wrench may simply be higher than that fastener can hold. Re-check the torque spec in the vehicle or equipment manual before going further.

5. Exercise the Mechanism

Wrenches that sit unused can feel sticky. Tekton says that if the wrench hasn’t been used for a long time, you should operate it several times at a low setting so internal lubricant re-coats the moving parts. Sunex goes further and says to “exercise” its wrench at least three times at 100% of full scale before use.

Follow the method your own manual gives, since the two makers differ. Then try the fastener again. Don’t skip this step after winter storage.

6. Clean It the Right Way

Don’t soak it. Honestly, liquid inside the handle is the one thing both manuals warn against. Sunex says not to submerge its wrench in any fluid, and Tekton says to wipe it with a clean, dry, lint-free cloth because immersing it in liquid or cleaner may damage internal parts. Spraying solvent into the handle to “free it up” can do more harm than good.

7. Send It for Calibration

Still nothing? If it won’t click, or clicks at the wrong value, it needs calibration or repair. Sunex says to send its wrench in once a year or every 5,000 cycles, and again any time it’s dropped or mishandled. Tekton lists a support line in its manual: 888-648-3371.

I wouldn’t open the handle myself. The internal spring and pivot set the calibration, and adjusting them is bench work for a calibration service.

How to Keep It Clicking

• Store it at the lowest setting. Tekton says the lowest setting relieves extra tension on the internal spring, which prevents fatigue that can affect accuracy. Sunex says to avoid keeping the tool set at high loads for long periods.
• Never loosen with it. Both makers say not to use it to break fasteners loose. Our guide to torque wrench vs breaker bar explains why.
• Don’t add a cheater. Sunex says a cheater bar gives inaccurate readings and can damage the wrench.
• Stop at the click. Sunex warns that pulling past the release over-tightens the part.

When to Call a Technician

Send it to the manufacturer or a calibration service if it was dropped, if it never clicks at any setting inside its range, or if you need it for critical fasteners and can’t confirm its accuracy. Wheels, brakes and suspension parts aren’t the place to trust a wrench you’re unsure of, and I think a quick calibration check is a far better use of an afternoon than wondering whether those lug nuts are really at spec.

My take: a torque wrench is cheap compared with a wheel coming loose. Don’t guess.

For more on wrench care, browse wrenches and sockets, or see pipe wrench vs adjustable wrench for the plumbing side of the toolbox.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is My Torque Wrench Not Clicking at a Low Setting?

At low settings the click is quieter and lighter. Tekton recommends a quiet room and a slow pull. Also check that the setting isn’t below the wrench’s minimum, which is 10 ft-lb on the Tekton 24330.

Does a Torque Wrench Click When Loosening?

Not on clockwise-only models. Tekton’s 24330 measures torque clockwise only, and makers say not to loosen fasteners with a torque wrench at all.

How Do You Fix a Torque Wrench That Won’t Click?

If you’re still asking why is my torque wrench not clicking after reading this, check the range, lock nut and direction, then pull slowly by the handle. If that fails, exercise the mechanism as your manual describes. If it still won’t click, send it for calibration or repair.

Can a Torque Wrench Lose Calibration?

Yes. Sunex recommends recalibration once a year or every 5,000 cycles, and after any drop. Storing it at a high setting can also affect accuracy, according to Tekton.

Should a Torque Wrench Be Stored at Zero?

Follow your manual, because makers word this differently. Sunex says to reset its wrench back to zero when finished. Tekton, whose scale starts at 10 ft-lb, says to store at the lowest setting and never turn the handle below it.

Last updated: November 10, 2026. Sources: Tekton 24330 torque wrench operator’s manual (PDF) and Sunex torque wrench operating instructions (PDF).