In message <200104191631.JAA00517@blackie.cruzers.com>, TeriAnn Wakeman
<twakeman@cruzers.com> writes
>>> > Tight is tight.
>>Finally, somebody is making sense!
>
>Right-o! Be it a 4-40 bolt holding on a bit of trim, a 1/4 inch bolt
>helping to hold the roof to the roof sides, a 5/8ths bolt holding down a
>cylinder head or a funny looking nut trying to keep the total power
>output from your engine from moving a gear out of place. Tight is tight.
> Finger tight? short wrench tight? breaker bar tight?
>
>Who cares about the elasticity of fittings?
>
>Oh well, if it works for you and you are happy with the results. That is
>all that really matters. Your satisfaction in the methods you use.
>
>Sorry, this is once again just the ranting of an old lady with a torque
>wrench fetish.
>
>TeriAnn Wakeman Marigold Ltd.
>Santa Cruz, California Web design, site updating, testing
>webmaster@overlander.net search engine optimization, graphics
> and more
>
>http://www.overlander.net/Marigold/index.html
>
I agree. Tight can be: not tight enough, just right tight, too tight
and too bl**dy tight! Anything but just right risks either the
component coming adrift. Its a common fallacy that you can't
overtighten. If a thread is overtightened there's a risk of damaging
the thread or stretching the fastener which could result in it failing
with possible dire consequences.
Wherever there's a torque specified I use it. I know some highly
skilled people can judge the torque right by feel. I'm not one of those
and I tend to believe (most of the time at least) that those who
designed & built the vehicle in the first place know more about things
than I do.
I too have the special tool. Genuine VL Churchill bought via Dingocroft
here in the UK in 1994. First gearbox rebuild I did the nut was loose
(barely finger-tight) & was heavily chewed up having apparently been
tightened by means of cold chisel. Fitted new nut & lock washer,
torqued to spec &, when I had to take the 'box out four years later the
nut was still good & tight.
My view: If you can get hold of the tool use it, and where possible use
a torque wrench.
-- Tony Chapman
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Sat Apr 21 2001 - 07:12:22 EDT