On May 5, 2007, at 11:22 AM, Jud Jones wrote:
> Geez, I wish I had known this when I started turning wrenches about
> 48 years ago. I have
> been doing it wrong all this time. I'm overdue to strip one if I
> don't change my ways.
Gee, Judd 48 years of wrenching KLRs (VBG)
It is simply amazing how many people get into trouble by over tightening small fasteners and under tightening large ones.
Unless you have a very refined sense of feel and have spent the time to actually check the tightening done to refine the feel as Judd has done, do yourself a big favour and use a torque wrench.
I see examples of home wrenching all the time where someone has pulled past the torque wrench's setting and still stripped or broken....
Buy 250 inch pound torque wrench and use it. A 100 foot pound will cover the remainder of your needs.
47 years in the mechanical trades, Interprovicial Automotive, Marine, Small Engines, Motorcycle certifications. Heavy equipment and welding training. Many years automotive machine shop experience. 10+ years teaching mechanics in colleges. 3rd Class Power Engineering Certificate, advanced training in fasteners, chassis and alignment.
All that and, yes, I broke a 6mm bolt a while ago. It happens to all of us if we are the least bit complacent. Or, in my case, a low IQ (VBG).
Just rambling, better get back to the chores.
Norm
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