Need some help understanding how to correctly set the torque on torque wrenches. My torque wrench for each preset of torque has a upper and lower line like a Z shape or zigzag. From what I understand it’s the lower line of the number that you need to set the torque at 0 then increment up from the closest one. So for example in my attached photo I set it to 0 when it was at the lower line of 98nm. I then increased it to 6 so technically is that 104nm? So based on my picture is that the correct place for 104nm?

 

linear scale is a "rough" scale, while the rotating part of the handle with numbers would show precise reading.
6 should indicate that you are at 96. This is how I have been reading mine.

 

I'm with OP, 104Nm.
The lower Z with 0 is the indicated value. Then as you increment past that number, add the value shown.

 

so, how do you read it when it has 0 and the horizontal line shows something ambiguous like 96-ish or 98-ish?

I think it should be 106, since rotating ring indicates least significant digit of the total reading.
I def misread it the first time since we are between 112 and 98, so it cant be 96.

 

I have several and the objective is the same. As you come up on a larger graduation, it is covered 95% so it's matter of knowing that as you approach zero, that large graduation is covered.

Snap-on, 200ft/lb shown at 30 and 35ft/lbs. Notice the 30 is pretty well covered.

 

Yep. Essentially the ring shows exactly the least significant digit, and then you sort of eye ball where you are, like 10 is covered and then the ring shows 2, that means it is 12.

And also, original poster shows 106, then, right? Not 104.

 

I don't think so.

It is 98Nm plus 6Nm which gives 104Nm as the OP suggested.

Have a look here:

 

Exactly this is my thinking too. If the lower part of the Z is the number indicated, then I set it to the lower part of the Z where 0 meets the lower part of the 98 Z line, then from then onwards you increment up. So 98 +6 increment makes 104nm.

 

I guess one way to know what the correct method is to see, when you get to the "98" mark on the vertical scale, what do you see on the ring? Is it 0 or is it 8?
If it is 0, then you are correct in adding 6 to 98 to get to 104.
But if it shows 8 right when you are right on that 98 mark, then you would be incorrect in adding +6 to 98 in order to get to 104.

In order words, that's the difference between the ring being a finer measurement of the vertical scale and its extension, vs the ring being an additional measurement to that vertical scale. Either way, it is easy to figure this out by "walking" through several predetermined values to see what the ring is doing and which vertical mark it is stopping on when it is on its 0.

I am gonna check my torque wrench to see what it is doing

 

the ring is stopping at 0 when it reaches the 98 vertical lower marking of the Z like symbol. The ring then has 13 increments before it comes back to 0 and if I go through this 13 and the 14th which is 0 again it lines up with 112.

 

Then you have been correct. 98 + 6 = 104 is what the total should be.