There are a number of automotive fasteners that require accurate torque while they’re being tightened during assembly. Common ones include cylinder head bolts, ring gear bolts, and front wheel unit bearing bolts. These assemblies are designed to be clamped under a certain pressure using the fastener. Too loose a torque can result in poor sealing or retention of the assembly. Too tight a torque can overstress and damage fasteners or other parts. This can lead to reduced life of the assembly. Snap-on (www.snapon.com) recently released a document detailing proper use and maintenance procedures for torque wrenches to ensure their readings remain consistent and accurate. A torque wrench is a precision tool, so the specific practices described here can help ensure it delivers the proper readings you need. Keeping torque wrenches stored in their plastic containers will help protect them from damage. A dropped wrench may damage its internal components and cause unreliable torque readings. Torque wrenches should not be exposed to fluid immersion or corrosive materials that could enter and damage the internal mechanisms.Keeping torque wrenches stored in their plastic containers will help protect them from dam Additionally, when torquing fasteners, some are specified to be tightened with lubricant applied and some without. Other fasteners may be spec’d to be tightened in stages or with tighten/release cycles. In general, a mechanical torque wrench is designed to operate accurately in a range from 20 to 100 percent of its full-scale torque rating. An electronic one can typically operate accurately in a range from 10 to 100 percent of full scale. You should never exceed the 100 rating. To maintain torque accuracy, only use accessories or handle extensions as allowed by the wrench instructions. Click-type torque wrenches, which use a calibrated clutch mechanism, should always be stored with the gauge dial set at its lowest setting. This preserves calibration of the tool the longest. Avoid using a torque wrench for initial assembly or for disassembly to maximize calibration longevity. Tighten to final torque setting with a slow, steady motion. Once the tool clicks to signal it has reached the selected torque setting, release tension on the tool immediately.Click-type torque wrenches, which use a calibrated clutch mechanism, should always be stor Beam-type torque wrenches are simple torque wrenches where a deflecting rod displays the torque level on a scale as the wrench is pulled. They are not as convenient to use as a click-type torque wrench. It can be harder to read the scale in tight or awkward places. However, beam torque wrenches typically don’t require periodic calibration as long as they are not exposed to extreme heat or physically damaged.Beam-type torque wrenches are simple torque wrenches where a deflecting rod displays the t Grip the handle of a torque wrench in the center with your hand. On wrenches that have a handle that pivots on a pin, position your hand so the handle is balanced on the pin and is not jammed up against the body of the tool in either direction. Snap-on recommends most of their torque wrenches be checked for calibration after 5,000 use cycles or one year of use.Grip the handle of a torque wrench in the center with your hand. On wrenches that have a h By Jay Kopycinski Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
