A hydraulic torque wrench

A hydraulic torque wrench for applying a rotational force to an object, the torque wrench comprising:

• a body;
• an object engaging portion for engaging an object to which rotational force is to be applied, the engaging portion having an engaging aperture having internal surfaces arranged to engage the object and a plurality of first ratchet teeth on an external surface thereof;
• a support member for retaining the object engaging portion, the support member movable relative to said body and said object engaging portion;
• at least one ratchet mechanism cooperating with said first ratchet teeth to facilitate the application of a rotational force to said object engaging portion in a first rotational direction in response to a force being applied to said support member in a first substantially linear direction and said ratchet mechanism preventing the application of a rotational force in a second rotational direction, opposite to said first rotational direction;
• and
• side plates extending from said body at least partially covering a junction between said object engaging portion and said support member, said side plates comprising an aperture through which said object can extend when the wrench is in use, wherein said aperture is noncircular.