re:Torque settings/probs?

[Bernie Strub <bstrub@silverlink.net>]

Daniel Hussey sed:
>         I have been having problems properly torquing small bolts and have ove
>rtorqued things a few times.  I have been using a rather large Craftsman torque
>wrench.  It seems to work well for bigger things like lug nuts, but it doesn't
>seem to work well on the smaller objects.  I broke one of my caliper guide pin
>bolts when it failed to tell me when to stop turning it.  Classic overtorquing.
>I was just wondering what y'all use for these smaller things?  Are there smalle
>r or more precise torque wrenches out there, or am I just not being careful eno
>ugh?  Any advice appreciated.  Maybee it's just me.  I dunno.

Torque wrenches are designed to be most accurate from 25% to 75% of their
highest reading.  Settings beyond these levels, particularly at the low end,
will be more inaccurate.  Torque wrenches come in a dizzying arrray of
ranges and types.  I personally use a 0-125lb "clicker" type for most tasks,
but also use a 0-25lb dial type for those lower values.  Important note:
Clicker type wrenches should be released to the zero setting for storage
between uses.  Dial types benefit from "exercise" prior to use, eg. using
the wrench on a fixed bolt (in vise, etc) through at least half range
several (4-8) times before actual torquing use.  
>
>        Well, I was planning on pulling off my valve cover and timming belt cov
>ers and repainting them, but I have been putting this off because of this.  I h
>ave a new valve cover gasket but I just don't want to have any problems with pr
>operly torquing down the valve cover bolts.  I know it is important for them to
>be properly torqued down, and I really can't just guess here, like I have been
>doing a lot.  Also, how hard is it to get the valve cover off?  Do I have to ta
>ke a lot off the get it out, or can I get around a lot of the stuff there?
>
Ummm, having said all of that, the last time I took the valve cover off my
I5, to replace the gasket with one of the cool rubber ones, I didn't have
the 0-25 around, so I evenly torqued the bolts to a completely arbitrary
level that felt like enough, by hand.  No leaks yet...
HTH!
>>>>>Bernie
QCUSA #1765
Member #47 NW Region AQC