check your lug nuts + torque wrench madness

[RickB]

Cause I hate having to tear stuff apart to get at a broken bolt and try to extract it... Cause it is always in the absolute worst spot for access etc.

You miss my point. The wrench either is within calibration spec or it isn't. Disassembling the ratchet doesn't affect calibration in the least.

For all the bluster and posturing, some basic understanding of how the tool actually works might benefit some of the participants here.

 

[RoyJackson]

......:thumbsup:

.......:confused2:

........:confused2:

As a guy who claims to be an engineer, I'm quite surprised by your post...

 

[RoyJackson]

You miss my point. The wrench either is within calibration spec or it isn't. Disassembling the ratchet doesn't affect calibration in the least.

For all the bluster and posturing, some basic understanding of how the tool actually works might benefit some of the participants here.

Do you know that, or think that?

Personally, that would be a poor practice to me (and unacceptable at most, if not all companies I've worked at) and I think you're providing bad advice to the guys on TBN. As a former NH service tech, you never torqued fasteners?
However, you do what you want to do with your wrench.

 

[s219]

Having done the work myself, and being a mechanical engineer, I believe that the work done on the ratchet mechanism is independent of the torque performance and calibration of the wrench. The wrench could certainly benefit from a periodic calibration, but not because of the work done on the ratchet head. All the ratchet parts sit within a collar that attaches to the rest of the wrench, and simply transmit the applied torque to the socket. It either works, or doesn't. Whatever effect it has on the applied torque is either going to be to transmit it 100%, or not transmit it at all.

 

[RickB]

Having done the work myself, and being a mechanical engineer, I believe that the work done on the ratchet mechanism is independent of the torque performance and calibration of the wrench. The wrench could certainly benefit from a periodic calibration, but not because of the work done on the ratchet head. All the ratchet parts sit within a collar that attaches to the rest of the wrench, and simply transmit the applied torque to the socket. It either works, or doesn't. Whatever effect it has on the applied torque is either going to be to transmit it 100%, or not transmit it at all.

Thank you.

 

[Lt CHEG]

When I bought my Snap On torque wrench a couple of months ago, I specifically asked about this topic, because the ratchet mechanism has a different warranty than the rest of the wrench. I was told by my Snap On dealer, after he has gone through training on the subject that the ratchet mechanism has nothing to do with the torque sensing mechanism. The ratchet heads are designed to be field serviceable without compromising accuracy or affecting the torque sensing portion of the wrench in any way. That's why if there's a problem with the torque sensing portion of the wrench, it is required to go back to Snap On corporate, while a broken ratchet mechanism is to be fixed by the dealer in the field.

 

[RickB]

Do you know that, or think that?

Personally, that would be a poor practice to me (and unacceptable at most, if not all companies I've worked at) and I think you're providing bad advice to the guys on TBN. As a former NH service tech, you never torqued fasteners?
However, you do what you want to do with your wrench.

I didn't say that it would be "good practice" to weld the ratchet of a torque wrench, I said doing so would not affect the torque sensing mechanism.

If I'm providing bad advise to TBN faithful I have lots of company. Having letters after one's name doesn't guarantee an endless supply of common sense any more than a lack of a professional degree is a certain indication of stupidity.

I don't know how you got the idea that I don't torque fasteners or know how a torque wrench works, but you need to shift down a couple of gears and think about the information contained in this thread.

 

[SPYDERLK]

As a guy who claims to be an engineer, I'm quite surprised by your post...

I understand the interactions of various functions in a torque wrench enuf to establish their interdependence, or lack thereof. Pehaps this has something to do with being an engineer, but I attribute it more to observation of how things work. I am, however sincerely concerned that there might exist engineers of mechanical persuasion that are not able to see how, or not, one thing affects another in a torque wrench.
...larry

 

[RoyJackson]

Having done the work myself, and being a mechanical engineer, I believe that the work done on the ratchet mechanism is independent of the torque performance and calibration of the wrench. The wrench could certainly benefit from a periodic calibration, but not because of the work done on the ratchet head. All the ratchet parts sit within a collar that attaches to the rest of the wrench, and simply transmit the applied torque to the socket. It either works, or doesn't. Whatever effect it has on the applied torque is either going to be to transmit it 100%, or not transmit it at all.

There's a torsion bar or spring and a pawl inside. The fit and alignment of that pawl is what's critical. When apart, the pawl should be measured for wear.
Most torque wrenches (and measuring equipment in general) are cleaned and verified during calibration. This equipment isn't normally disassembled unless there's a error in the tool.

At this point, you're using a device with unknown accuracy. That's a risk...just depends if you can live with that risk.

BTW, I'm a Quality Engineer. Calibration is not the primary focus of what I do, but it has been in that past. I get my torque wrench calibrated every two years (but I'm fortunate enough to have a friend who owns a calibration lab so I get it done at no cost). Two years works for me since I really don't use it very often anymore....just wheel bolts/nuts.

 

[RickB]

There's a torsion bar or spring and a pawl inside. The fit and alignment of that pawl is what's critical. When apart, the pawl should be measured for wear.
Most torque wrenches (and measuring equipment in general) are cleaned and verified during calibration. This equipment isn't normally disassembled unless there's a error in the tool.

At this point, you're using a device with unknown accuracy. That's a risk...just depends if you can live with that risk.

BTW, I'm a Quality Engineer. Calibration is not the primary focus of what I do, but it has been in that past. I get my torque wrench calibrated every two years (but I'm fortunate enough to have a friend who owns a calibration lab so I get it done at no cost). Two years works for me since I really don't use it very often anymore....just wheel bolts/nuts.

The ratchet head of just about any commercially available ratcheting torque wrench is separate and distinct from the torque sensing apparatus. I can't imagine why it is so difficult for you to grasp this fact and accept it.
Enjoy the rest of your day.