Torque Specs? How to torque properly?

[slepr1]

I overtightened an operating lever on my A833 and now when I tighten the nut up it grabs as usual, then at the top it just spins. I got out my tap and dye set and it made new threads but it still spins at the top. I'm thinking of putting some blue locktight on the threads and call it a day. I'll have to remember to periodically check it when I'm under the car. You don't want loose levers as they will wear out the square cut register.

The specs are 18 lb/ft for the levers. My 1/2" torque wrench doesn't go that low. Do I need to get a 1/4" torque wrench to use on lower torque settings? I never want this to happen again. How do you do it?

 

[TetanusShot]

If you trust your math skills, you can put a crow's foot pointed back toward the torque wrench handle and calculate the new torque setting based on the length of the crow's foot center to center distance and the spec'd 18ftlbs.
Or just buy/borrow one that can do the job and be done with it.

 

[69Bee]

Or you could just tighten it by hand until it feels good, and call it a day.

 

[Mocajava]

I bought a set of two, a 3/8" and 1/2" drive that cover the full spectrum just to keep from doing an overtorque/ strip of threads. Cheap insurance to prevent my own over-muscle mentality. The first time I had a flat on the left rear in my 68 Super Bee in high school, I broke off two wheel studs before my Dad stopped me and informed me of left hand threads! a real DUH moment.
I found that todays torque specs throughout and engine build will call for the varying scale of torque and I wanted to be accurate and not second guessing what I did. JMO...Mocajava

 

[69wedge383]

I have a few torque wrenches, foot lbs.(big and small), and the old bar or beam style, a degree wheel, and am in the market for an inch lbs. torque wrench....a lot of people will say just tighten it "until it feels right" and hardly ever use a torque wrench, the best mechanics I know use a torque wrench everywhere there is a torque rating.....the life you save maybe your own

 

[Funship32]

The specs are 18 lb/ft for the levers. My 1/2" torque wrench doesn't go that low. Do I need to get a 1/4" torque wrench to use on lower torque settings? I never want this to happen again. How do you do it?

I can't speak for others but for anything that low I just use my 3/8ths, clicker, inch pound torque wrench. Just multiply the pounds you want by 12 to come up with the inch pounds. Mine is good up to 250 inch pounds which pretty much fills the gap between 1 and 21 ft pounds.

 

[69Bee]

I have a few torque wrenches, foot lbs.(big and small), and the old bar or beam style, a degree wheel, and am in the market for an inch lbs. torque wrench....a lot of people will say just tighten it "until it feels right" and hardly ever use a torque wrench, the best mechanics I know use a torque wrench everywhere there is a torque rating.....the life you save maybe your own

I am sorry, I assume you mean my comment about "until it feels right". Well, I have 3 Snap-On digital torque/angle wrenches (1/4,3/8,1/2), and use them judiciously. I also had a number of Matco clickers that I gave to my son for his birthday. I haven't used a "beam" torques wrench for probably 2+ decades. I own and operate my own machine shop, and have been turning wrenches for 34 years, so...........I have used them a few times ;)

You will not be able to get to every bolt/nut to use a torque, but an experienced hand can get pretty damn close to the proper tension.