Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Normal
Lud - 5. You can't properly "check" the torque of a bolt with a torque wrench. I know I'm going to piss someone off by saying this, because they and all kinds of "experts" they know have "done it for years," but it's a fact. Try it - tighten a lug to 75 with your wrench, drive around a little, then set the wrench to 80 and torque it again. Most of the time the wrench will hit 80 before the lug will move. A torque wrench is designed to measure as you progressively build to a given torque spec. This means you need to start with a bolt well below the torque setting on the wrench for it to work well, such as Soichiro's suggestion of impact wrenching it to 60 and then hand-torquing to 80.Lud, you are correct about certain parts not reaching full torque value before the wrench will “Click” and even after you think you have reached torque, try tapping on the bolt you have just torqued and put the wrench to it one one time. You may have to do this many times before actually reaching Torque value. In the case of a wheel lug, driving would simulate the “Torque,Tap,Torque” method. I’ll call it the “Torque, Drive and then torque again” You do this procedure until torque value has been accomplished. You would think that most nuts on any rotating part would need this type of torque sequence, but this is true with non-rotating parts as well. Not claiming to be an “Expert” but I do wrench every day and “Tap-Torque” Is something we must do with certain parts of the engine, our maintenance manuals call out for torquing everything, even a clamp to a wiring harness. So, Lud I have to disagree with you when you say… “You can't properly "check" the torque of a bolt with a torque wrench.” If that were the case why own one? Too low of torque and you could have a part come loose, break and cause fretting between parts, too high of torque and you can cause stress risers in that part… up to failure. Unless you have calibrated hands… a torque wrench is a necessity when wrenching. There are reasons for everything I guess.
Lud - 5. You can't properly "check" the torque of a bolt with a torque wrench. I know I'm going to piss someone off by saying this, because they and all kinds of "experts" they know have "done it for years," but it's a fact. Try it - tighten a lug to 75 with your wrench, drive around a little, then set the wrench to 80 and torque it again. Most of the time the wrench will hit 80 before the lug will move. A torque wrench is designed to measure as you progressively build to a given torque spec. This means you need to start with a bolt well below the torque setting on the wrench for it to work well, such as Soichiro's suggestion of impact wrenching it to 60 and then hand-torquing to 80.
Lud, you are correct about certain parts not reaching full torque value before the wrench will “Click” and even after you think you have reached torque, try tapping on the bolt you have just torqued and put the wrench to it one one time. You may have to do this many times before actually reaching Torque value. In the case of a wheel lug, driving would simulate the “Torque,Tap,Torque” method. I’ll call it the “Torque, Drive and then torque again” You do this procedure until torque value has been accomplished. You would think that most nuts on any rotating part would need this type of torque sequence, but this is true with non-rotating parts as well. Not claiming to be an “Expert” but I do wrench every day and “Tap-Torque” Is something we must do with certain parts of the engine, our maintenance manuals call out for torquing everything, even a clamp to a wiring harness. So, Lud I have to disagree with you when you say… “You can't properly "check" the torque of a bolt with a torque wrench.” If that were the case why own one? Too low of torque and you could have a part come loose, break and cause fretting between parts, too high of torque and you can cause stress risers in that part… up to failure. Unless you have calibrated hands… a torque wrench is a necessity when wrenching. There are reasons for everything I guess.
