Too much torque is never enough.

[Tom Werner]

I just did a timing belt job on my '91 200q.  I don't have a 2079 tool, nor 
a torque wrench I trust.  So, I did the next best thing.  I slipped a 5-foot 
cheater pipe over a 1/2 inch Craftsman socked wrench, doused the crankbolt 
with locktite red and jumped up and down on the end of the pipe.  I then 
mig-welded the crank bolt to the harmonic balancer.  You guys can do all the 
mathematical formulas you want, but I figure that with my way, that sucker 
is definitely gonna hold.

Call me paranoid, but I had a 1983 Audi 4000 S crank ruined because some 
prick (not this prick) who did a timing belt job didn't torque that crank 
bolt tight enough.  I was in the middle of an 8-hour drive down I-95 when 
the crank bolt slipped, throwing off the timing.  The exhaust got so hot 
that the back seat started smoking.  A lot.  Normally, I ignore little 
things like this,  but seat cushion foam is noxious stuff -- especially when 
its smoldering at 375 degrees farenheit.  If I didn't have a couple gallons 
of drinking water in the trunk (had to evacuate because of a hurricane two 
weeks earlier) the car would have gone up in flames.

That 1.7L 4 cylinder engine only had a woodruff key to position the crank 
pulley.  The 5-cylinder design seems much sturdier, but still, I ain't 
takin' no chances.

Tom Werner
88 80 q
91 200 q
92 VW Cabriolet (currently the only car not on jackstands)

_________________________________________________________________
Our best dial-up offer is back.  Get MSN Dial-up Internet Service for 6 
months @ $9.95/month now! http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/dialup