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[CaptainZok]

Never come across these before.
I take it I torque all bolts to initial value then turn bolt by x degrees (all bolts) then by y degrees etc.
Anyone got any tips on working the angles out without knicking the kids protractor?

[Markjay]

Niether of these will break the bank:


http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=040211423




http://www.drapertools-online.com/b2c/b2citmdsp.pgm?pp_skmno=13698




Make sure you get the right dial for your drive though, e.g. 1/2" or 3/8" or 3/4" etc.

[Matchless]

Either buy an angle tightening gauge or cut a circle of card, say 6" dia, mark off the angles you want using the kids protractor then make a hole through the centre so its a snug fit on one of your socket extensions.

Tighten all bolts to the initial torque setting then switch to your bit of cardboard, line up the 0 deg mark with a convenient bolt or something you can see easily then tighten until the correct angle lines up with the same feature.

If it says 20Nm + 30 deg +30 deg + 30 deg  then you first tighten all bolts to 20Nm, then turn all bolts through 30 deg, then turn all bolts through a further 30deg etc.

Be quite accurate with your angle measuring especially on bolts that are intended to stretch.

[theolodian]

Wouldn't those be fiddly to the point of exasperation?  Looks like the kind of thing that would be last seen flying at high speed towards a brick wall if I was using it.  Guestimation shouldn't be too difficult.  Of course, I've been known to torque things according to the gutenteit process.  But then I torque my wheel lugs . . .

[Markjay]

Wouldn't those be fiddly to the point of exasperation?  Looks like the kind of thing that would be last seen flying at high speed towards a brick wall if I was using it.  Guestimation shouldn't be too difficult.  Of course, I've been known to torque things according to the gutenteit process.  But then I torque my wheel lugs . . .

You buy a, say, 8 years old Omega with 100k on the clock. The car has been extensively 'serviced' through out its life by various garages. Now how many of these bolts on the car were torqued by the book....? I always suggest to torque things properly were possible and feasible, but other then critical items such had cylinder head etc I wouldn't go OTT trying to get things done by the book.

[RonaldMcBurger]

ALWAYS tighten to correct torque regardless of what the previous mechanics have done. Always replace bolts where recommended and always use an angle guage where suggested. The angles are critical, especially with head bolts which require a precice pressure on the head gasket to be uniform. Any short cuts here will cost!

Biggest one missed is the rocker covers. I would say that 99% of the ones I have done have been so tight before I start, that the reason for leaking is right there. A low range torque wrench from Ebay will cost aroud £15. One set of rocker gaskets will cost double that! Point made.

[theolodian]

Yeah, I'm torqueing the cam covers.  I agree about being anal with head bolts.  However the stretch bolts that I have used were XX ft-lbs + 90 degrees.  That was easy to do without a guage.  Maybe if I was rebuilding an engine with a lot of Nm + Deg + Deg torque specs I would get one of those, but not for normal repairs.

Wish I'd known about the low-range torque wrench on e-bay.  I had to really chase round to find one.  I found a regular one at Argos for 15 quid.  At least I'll be able to torque my wheel lugs with that.

[theolodian]

I've been looking through the V6 torque list while getting ready for tomorrow, and it shows angular settings on the accessory belt pulleys!  Does anyone actually follow those?  It wasn't covered in the DVD.

If you guys really think these things are important, please tell me.  I'm doing this tomorrow.

[Martin_1962]

90% is easy - done this before - just line up bar before the 90 and take it through a quarter turn.

[Matchless]

The scene: A hangar at RAF Odiham, a fitter is replacing the engine subframe mounting bolts on a Wessex helicopter, a shout rings out:

" Hey Skip....how tight are these bolts?"

" Two Grunts"

" OK"


I wonder what it actually said in the manual.

[CaptainZok]

Thanks for the advice guys, spot on as ever.
Matchless' tip has got me thinking I could knock some throw away guages up on a drawing package, and print em onto card then we have a free source of throwaway angle guages. I'll post em when Ive done em.

[CaptainZok]

Hope I've got the right idea.
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m302/CaptainZok/halfinchtorqueguage-1.jpg
should print out on a full page.

[Markjay]

Hope I've got the right idea.
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m302/CaptainZok/halfinchtorqueguage-1.jpg
should print out on a full page.

The ones in the shop seems to go clockwise, yours is going anti-clockwise, not sure if it actually matters though, as you can work out the angle anyway....

[Allenm]

If the gauge is moving with the socket, then anti-clockwise would be correct.  I suspect that the bought ones have a needle or inner-ring that moves independently of the actual gauge.

[CaptainZok]

If the gauge is moving with the socket, then anti-clockwise would be correct.  I suspect that the bought ones have a needle or inner-ring that moves independently of the actual gauge.

That was my thinking when I made the gauge.

[CaptainZok]

Smaller 3/8 version.
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m302/CaptainZok/threeeighthstorquegauge.jpg