Torque wrench ?

[G&N Farms]

Question/Poll:

How many use a torque wrench ?

I did not restore our A, the original restorer died. I tried to buy it about 5 years ago and ended up getting it from the family. The original owner was not a professional mechanic but did a really good job.

I am really enjoying working on it and bringing it back to life as she had been sitting for 20+ years after the restore. Some of the bolts are coming off easy and some are not. Some are way over tighten and some were not tight enough.

As a professional mechanic, I own a few torque wrenches and can tighten a fastener very close to torque but still use the wrench when needed.

After a heart problem that caused me to give up my chosen profession, I used a higher education to become an auto tech teacher. The number one challenge with newly trained techs is the ability to properly tighten a bolt. They were either over tightened or under tightened, both cause problems.

How many just tighten or do you use a torque wrench?

Sorry for the long post but I have fixed a lot of over tightened bolts/nuts over the last 45 years.

[V4F]

I use a torque wrench on rods , mains & head

[Y-Blockhead]

Yes, I do use a Torque wrench 'most of the time'. I don't use a torque wrench on small bolts tho because I like to 'feel' how tight it is (if that makes sense...)

[C26Pinelake]

I am anything but a mechanic but I have changed a head gasket. Obviously for this chore it was a necessity. I don't use it on lug nuts but likely should. I figured if it needs a torque wrench it needs a mechanic. Wayne

[inex01]

I use my torque wrench quite often, every oil change I use it to check the four bolts on the intake manifold & wheel lug nuts. Every 5K I pull my rear wheels to grease the wheel bearings and of-course pull out the old torque wrench. Most other Model A important fasteners use a cotter pin to keep them secure.

[Jim Brierley]

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On internal engine parts and lug nuts. The rest I do by feel.

[Pinesdune]

I've got two, but pulled enough wrenches that I don't need it for general repairs, if there's a spec in a book tho, out comes the torque wrench


Looking for the front bumper emblem that has "Ford, Made In Canada"

[Patrick L.]

After some time one acquires [ or should] a calibrated elbow so a torque is not needed for most items.
But, as in almost any endeavor, one is needed in certain places.
I think at last count I had 6 which have been acquired over the decades. As in anything I believe in getting quality anything including these wrenches.
I happen to like beam type wrenches, but, they seem to have fallen out of popularity. The most expensive wrench I have I dislike, a digital Snap-on, that thing eats batteries.

[Dave in MN]

On internal engine parts, head nuts, rear axle nuts, pinion gear nuts, differential bolts and differential pre-loads. The rest I do by feel.
Good Day!

[burner31]

It depends what I'm working on, head of course, intake/exhaust of course, internal engine parts of course.
Most everything else I do by feel.

But luckily, I had my wrists calibrated at a very young age

[JOHN CT]

Tell me is there any way to calibrate a torque wrench ? I use mine quite often for important motor work. Had my 3/8 drive click type sears craftsmen for app. 15 years

[mshmodela]

Originally Posted by G&N Farms

Question/Poll:

How many use a torque wrench ?

I did not restore our A, the original restorer died. I tried to buy it about 5 years ago and ended up getting it from the family. The original owner was not a professional mechanic but did a really good job.

I am really enjoying working on it and bringing it back to life as she had been sitting for 20+ years after the restore. Some of the bolts are coming off easy and some are not. Some are way over tighten and some were not tight enough.

As a professional mechanic, I own a few torque wrenches and can tighten a fastener very close to torque but still use the wrench when needed.

After a heart problem that caused me to give up my chosen profession, I used a higher education to become an auto tech teacher. The number one challenge with newly trained techs is the ability to properly tighten a bolt. They were either over tightened or under tightened, both cause problems.

How many just tighten or do you use a torque wrench?

Sorry for the long post but I have fixed a lot of over tightened bolts/nuts over the last 45 years.

First, if it were not for folks like you, I'd not be were I'm at today. I took electricity as the last two years of high school and the two instructors were old Navy men... I learned more in the last two years than the previous 10. I assure you, you're giving young folks a gift they cannot buy...

As for a torque wrench, yes I use then on anything car or otherwise that I have a spec. for ...

[CarlG]

I use a torque wrench whenever necessary to get consistency. Head nuts, Manifold nuts, lug nuts, etc.

One needs to be careful about using published torque values. They are not always correct and can cause some definite problems if common sense is not followed. (For instance Les Andrews book says to tighten pan bolts to 20 ft lbs, when it should be closer to 20 inch lbs.)

As to tightening by feel: This past weekend I was installing a pressure plate on the flywheel. The book says (and is correct this time) 20 ft lbs. I tightened them all by feel, then checked it with my torque wrench. They were all within ± 1 lb.

[G&N Farms]

Thanks Mike. Most of my ex students still keep in touch with me. One of them is how I got the A. The reason I wanted to become a teacher is because of one that believed in me and kept me out of jail.

By the time I became proficient in removing broken and stripped bolts is about the same time I quit breaking them.

As a car guy , I was lucky to have made a nice living out of something I enjoyed. I have friends that are car guy and some that think they are car guys and a few who want to be car guys. All of my stuff is Snap-on but when some-one ask what to buy, I'll send them to Sears. At school, we used Craftsman Professional and had good luck with them.

Back to work..

[Simonpie]

With all the cotters on the "A" it seems we're fooling ourselves most places. Odds are you'll need to tighten or loosen to get a hole to line up.

[d.j. moordigian]

Originally Posted by JOHN CT

Tell me is there any way to calibrate a torque wrench ? I use mine quite often for important motor work. Had my 3/8 drive click type sears craftsmen for app. 15 years

I used to send my torque wrenches too the Air National Guard base here in
Fresno,...I knew the General, of the base. Now that he's gone, I take them
too the airport to get "certified". Larger airports have repair stations for the
A&P shops. Also, I NEVER use the torque wrench to back-off the fastener.
Dudley

[CarlG]

When I worked in an Aircraft Maintenance Shop, torque wrenches had to be calibrated once a year. There is a local shop that would provide that service (for a price, naturally).

[Pete]

I use a torque wrench on head nuts.
I tighten rods and mains by the stretch method.

Cotter pins and Pal nuts do not belong inside an engine.

[JOHN CT]

Originally Posted by d.j. moordigian

I used to send my torque wrenches too the Air National Guard base here in
Fresno,...I knew the General, of the base. Now that he's gone, I take them
too the airport to get "certified". Larger airports have repair stations for the
A&P shops. Also, I NEVER use the torque wrench to back-off the fastener.
Dudley

Originally Posted by CarlG

When I worked in an Aircraft Maintenance Shop, torque wrenches had to be calibrated once a year. There is a local shop that would provide that service (for a price, naturally).

Thanks for that information!! I'll pursue that path.

[CarlG]

Just google "Calibration Labs in Connecticut". There are several depending where you are.