Low torque wrench?

[dekhelia]

Just been doing cambelt and clutch jobs on my BKD. I'm using a new tensioner stud and nut .... but my torque wrench doesn't go low enough for the bottom idler stud (15Nm) or the tensioner stud and nut (15 and 25Nm respectively). What do people do here - just make a best guess? Or is it worthwhile to actually buy a small-value torque wrench?

[VAG-Abound]

For a lot of parts I use a normal socket and gauge how much force to apply by using the guide that 15Nm is equivalent to applying 10cm along the wrench arm the same effort needed to lift a 15kg bag, or 10kg at 15cm along it. If your unsure you can get a few bags and pop a few 2l bottles of Coke etc in them to get a feel for it, or remember that 20kg is a pretty heavy suitcase, 10kg is a decently packed on-board bag, etc.

For more critical parts I use a torque wrench .

[dekhelia]

For a lot of parts I use a normal socket and gauge how much force to apply by using the guide that 15Nm is equivalent to applying 10cm along the wrench .

Yeah, that sounds a decent rule of thumb - thanks. If I'm tightening up something like, say, a bolt holding down the cam cover or (as I did a few days ago when re-doing the gasket) the sump bolts, I just nip up til I think "enough", and do all the bolts to the same approximate amount. But this tensioner lark seems such a critical process (given the consequences of a snapped stud) that I'd probably get it all wrong out of nerves or overthinking or whatever.

[VAG-Abound]

You can use a luggage or fisherman's "spring balance" at the right position to get a decent approximation too.

[Crasher]

I have a Snap Off 3/8” torque bar (non ratchet) which goes down to a daft low amount I would never use but is ideal for such jobs.

[tditaff]

I use low (3/8" drive) and high (1/2" drive) range torque wrenches, the low goes down to 7NM. I think it was a worthwhile purchase.