How not to use a torque wrench

I found out the other day that you're not supposed to make your own settings if they're not on the scale for the torque you need. I was putting an oil pump on a block and I needed to torque it to 90 in/lbs, but my torque wrench started at 120 in/lbs. I thought I would be okay if I I adjusted the wrench to where 90 in/lbs would've been; big mistake. I snapped off one of the oil pump bolts in the block and damn near twisted another one in half. I so lucked out on the broken bolt because enough of it was sticking out of the block that I could back it out with a pair of Vise-grips. So needless to say, I'm going to spring for a torque wrench that has a starting range of much less than 90 in/lbs so I don't have to make my own settings

Been there, done that. Broke off not one, but THREE valve cover bolts into my cylinder heads when I built my 302... those were REAL fun to get out :rollinglaugh:

red9535 said:

Been there, done that. Broke off not one, but THREE valve cover bolts into my cylinder heads when I built my 302... those were REAL fun to get out :rollinglaugh:

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I hope you were using in/lbs tq wrench? I hardly torque anything i guestimate

torquing things to spec is important.

also, using the right torque wrench is. my dad said he nevers uses a torque wrench within like 10% of both ends of the settings. idk something he learned in the military.

330CubeGt said:

I hope you were using in/lbs tq wrench? I hardly torque anything i guestimate

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You just tighten to German specs? Guuden Fuckentite?

:laughing4:

military is +/- 10 yep.

And never use a torque wrench to loosen or break torque.

No more than +/- 6% for the AF

karrarararararar said:

No more than +/- 6% for the AF

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maybe thats what it was, my dad was in the AF and gave me a number but i forgot.

[TxCobrA98 said:

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karrarararararar said:

No more than +/- 6% for the AF

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maybe thats what it was, my dad was in the AF and gave me a number but i forgot.

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yup, that's what it is. I'm a crew chief so I use torque wrenches all the time.

I did not know that... You mean +/- 6 ft pounds on the limit of the torque wrench?

i used my 1st torque wrench to remove my alternator belt =] it worked. Only thing i had with a 1/2 drive LOL

Crone said:

I did not know that... You mean +/- 6 ft pounds on the limit of the torque wrench?

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no, all of our torque wrenches are calibrated and if the accuracy is off by more than 6% we can use it (or at least we're not supposed to, lol)