Neat link for torque (tools) calculators>>>

[ZR1Vette]

Many do not know when you add an extension onto a torque wrench the values change and you need to compensate, so here is a handy tool>>

http://www.belknaptools.com/extcalc.asp

[flyin ryan]

Good one, Micheal. i use Tq. Adapters all the time on the tricky stuff i build, only way to get in places. i know a few guys...first time they use Tq. Adapters they've got 'NO' clue where to start. that's when my phone rings, LOL. thanks for sharing for everybody else:hello:. it's a nice little deal/site.

[tomtom72]

Okay, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer & I admit it.

What exactly am I looking at on that linked page? Where do I go to read up on this stuff & learn something new(to me anyway:o). Is that what you use if you must put an extension on the T/Q wrench to get on the fastener? I'm taking that "drawing" too literally, right? The drawing of the open end wrench is a representation for the extension you are putting between the socket & the T/Q wrenches head?

That tool pictured looks kind of like the "rotational T/Q measuring tool" I have from snap on in my "industrial section" in the lower box. So I know I'm not getting this for sure. TIA!

:redface:
Tom

[ZR1Vette]

Tom,
My error in not clarifying what I was posting about...so hope this helps..
as long as you do not increase the length of the torque wrench, such as by adding a crows foot or other linear extension (such as an extension to the torque wrench handle itself), you will not have a problem in using a particular setting and assuming it is correct (within the accuracy of the torque wrench itself...the 'click' style being the most inaccurate and require recalibration pretty much on an annual basis). A simple extension, 90 degrees to the wrench, will not affect the accuracy (unless you work in the aircraft industry when standards are super critical). Just as a tip..in order to get the correct applied torque you have to grip the wrench where it was designed to be gripped (meaning to make sure your hand axis is on the mid point of the handle and not gripping the very end or opposite being to close to the barrel). To get an accurate torque reading your pull must be perpendicular to the wrench axis.

Hope this helps

[tomtom72]

"Ahhhh, I see" said the blind man...

Okay Got ya Mike. Thanks for the light!:thumbsup:

[8upZR1]

Its early in the morning so I will add this ultra depressing, unfortunately true story to the mix. I worked in an IC engines lab a few years ago and in the back they kept all the ancient engine/component testing euipment. One day I was back there and noticed attached to the wall a torque wrench tester. It was old but really nice. It basically had a weight on an arm connected by a shaft on ball bearings supports to a 1/4" drive female end. A large needle pointer was attached and read off of a gauge, so that when the weighted arm was @ 90 to vertical it showed full torque (arm length X force from weight). The needle would hold the highest recorded torque until reset. I ended up cleaning the thing and putting new bearings in and then proceeded to test my torque wrenches. These were German made professional torque wrenches I had inherited from my father. They had the slider deal to adjust torque. All 3 were between 15-20 ft-lbs off the mark. After my coworkers caw what I was doing they got curious and the next day everyone brought their torque wrenches. We had about 15 wrenches and everyone claimed theirs was spot on, and all but 1 failed. The wrench that was spot on was a $1000 professional deal that had been calibrated just the month before. The others ranged from cheap to expensive so we had a good mix. It was incredibly scary to see. One of the biggest issues with some wrenches was the amount of play in the adjuster and the gauge. After that little contest I decided to use the torque tester to set the wrench before each use and not even look at what the wrench says.

I think being consistent about how you read, set, and pull the wrench is also critical for repeatabilty. Im not saying everyone needs an expensive torque wrench, just that you need to calibrate yours to you somehow.

Even if the wrench is performing with 100% accuracy there is always the issue of inconsistencies with the fastener and threads and if your torque is being converted into clamping load. I know whenever I tighten rod bolts that I do my absolute to ensure clean threads, and I use plenty of moly. I set my torque wrench to spec, and yet the amount of stretch differs from one bolt to the next. In a set of 8 rods I usually have 5 fasteners that stetch to spec when the torque spec is applied and the rest stretch somewhere around .0010 under.

Dont put to much trust into a torque wrench that you dont know is at least relatively accurate.

[Aurora40]

I generally assume a torque wrench is an approximation. But it's a better guesser than I am, so I use them. I'm not building engines or anything with them though...

[gbrtng]

I don't build engines anymore so all I care about is lug nuts being torqued reasonably close to spec. And then I see the clods at Disgusting Tire using a torque wrench, hearing it click, and continuing to twist as hard as they can. But the worst part was putting my wife's 91 on a platform jack like they do with the C5s. Luckily the plastic floor pans were sturdy enough to survive.

[tomtom72]

I haven't assembled a motor since the last iron sbc I did for my little run-about. I guess God does watch out for fools! I always thought that my beam type T/Q wrenches close enough to be good for the task. I must have been lucky.

gbrtng, I hear ya about some of the tire places. I have had cases where they were gonna attack the plactic covers with an impact gun & if I wasn't watching....I had another shop cross thread three lug nuts on one wheel....I just gave up after that. Now I found this small gas station from the old days, this gas station actually uses their bays for mechanic work & not to sell soda pop! He does all my mounting & dismounting and he even knew about the C4's LTPWS sensors and how to do a dismount without breaking the sensors. I found this guy thru TireRack's list of installers.

:cheers:
Tom