Can I torque loader bolts with impact wrench?

[California]

Harbor Freight's torque wrenches are often on sale for $9.95. Anybody with a tractor can afford that. I've checked mine against 3 different beam torque wrenches and there's no variance. Since its HF - just to be sure I verify it at least once per project. So far over 10 years occasional use, it always matches a beam torque wrench.

 

[the old grind]

SM, I bet 30wt (API) would deter corrosion longer that 'electric motor', fishing reel, sewing machine, gun, or spindle oil, but YMMV depending on possible SAE, AGMA, SUS, or ISO confusion.

Yeah, I take meds for BPD, & SADD, but some 'guy stuff' is all psychological. Now that I have CRS too, well .... what were we talking about??

Oh yeah, oil. The best thing I've found to seal up rusty rims against air leaks is that name brand 'original' cooking spray. btw: We were only able to trap canines this season, as nothing else would run on sub-teen nights, but I have a little bit o' coon fat left over from last year that I might could render and we'll have to see how it torques up. :tractor: (How 'm I doin'?)

 

[stuckmotor]

SM, I bet 30wt (API) would deter corrosion longer that 'electric motor', fishing reel, sewing machine, gun, or spindle oil, but YMMV depending on possible SAE, AGMA, SUS, or ISO confusion.

Yeah, I take meds for BPD, & SADD, but some 'guy stuff' is all psychological. Now that I have CRS too, well .... what were we talking about??

Oh yeah, oil. The best thing I've found to seal up rusty rims against air leaks is that name brand 'original' cooking spray. btw: We were only able to trap canines this season, as nothing else would run on sub-teen nights, but I have a little bit o' coon fat left over from last year that I might could render and we'll have to see how it torques up. :tractor: (How 'm I doin'?)

ICDEOWYSTT.

 

[sparc]

A quick search will yield many sites with information on the how and why of torquing.

Here's just one:

How to Use a Torque Wrench - How to Tighten Lug Nuts - Popular Mechanics

This is a topic that sees much discussion and opposing views. Some swear by a particular method and others have
another 'best way'.

In short it depends on the application and mostly on the material makeup of the fasteners.
There are many factors to consider in developing a torque value for a given application.

A pneumatic impact wrench is not a good tool to torque a fastener. it can be used to run the nut down to snug, but then a torque wrench of some type should be used. There are hydraulic and pneumatic nut runners/torque wrenches, they look like but are not impact wrenches. And there are even battery operated torque wrenches such as those made by RadTorque , but they are not a cost effective means for the home shop.

Use a click type or beam torque wrench. if a click type reduce the setting to 20% of the wrench range when not in use (storage), don't leave it set at say 150 Lb/Ft for a couple days in your toolbox. If its a 20-200, that's a range of 180 so 20% is 36 + 20 = a storage setting of ~56. Its better to leave the wrench with a little tension on the spring than to set it to the minimum setting for storage. You can also get digital torque adapters that can be used with any wrench, even HF sells these, Craftsman used to sell one too a few years back, don't know if they still do.

thread lubricants make a big difference in the torque developed. most of the torque applied is used to overcome the frictional resistance of the threads. mis-matched nuts and bolts can be a problem too. the nut is usually spec'd to be slightly softer than the bolt or stud, so that the threads of the nuts will conform to the bolt threads which allows the clamping force to be applied more evenly across all the threads and not just a few.

 

[the old grind]

ICDEOWYSTT.

IKYWBOKWTAAW

I hope we can get to the bottom of this torque thing within a few more pages. If I can count on you to keep 'em in their seats, its above 20^ here for the first time in quite a while. There's some guy living among my stack of pallets and IMO it's time for him to move on so I can give them a proper Spring watering.

IBFBIGGDMC

 

[SPYDERLK]

If your bolts are big enuf and you know your impact wrench. They are hi grade bolts, and if in the 5/8 to 3/4 size range will take 250 to 400 ft lb respectively. There is no such thing as a loader bolt too tight if its w/i the capability of the bolt and has good thread depth engaged.
larry

 

[SPYDERLK]

Use a click type or beam torque wrench. if a click type reduce the setting to 20% of the wrench range when not in use (storage), don't leave it set at say 150 Lb/Ft for a couple days in your toolbox. If its a 20-200, that's a range of 180 so 20% is 36 + 20 = a storage setting of ~56. ----- 1] Its better to leave the wrench with a little tension on the spring than to set it to the minimum setting for storage.----- You can also get digital torque adapters that can be used with any wrench, even HF sells these, Craftsman used to sell one too a few years back, don't know if they still do.

thread lubricants make a big difference in the torque developed. most of the torque applied is used to overcome the frictional resistance of the threads. mis-matched nuts and bolts can be a problem too. -------2] the nut is usually spec'd to be slightly softer than the bolt or stud, so that the threads of the nuts will conform to the bolt threads which allows the clamping force to be applied more evenly across all the threads and not just a few.------

------ 1] Interesting. Do you know why this is? -----

----2] Good info. Never seen this brought up. No reason to ever go beyond a Gr 5 nut for even the strongest bolt. ---
larry

 

[k0ua]

ITEOTWAWKI

(Its The End Of The World As We Know It)

guys I am starting to have trouble keeping up with the acronyms.

 

[RickB]

If your bolts are big enuf and you know your impact wrench. They are hi grade bolts, and if in the 5/8 to 3/4 size range will take 250 to 400 ft lb respectively. There is no such thing as a loader bolt too tight if its w/i the capability of the bolt and has good thread depth engaged.
larry

The problems start when the bolt is too tight and beyond the capability of the bolt. That's going to be anything much beyond the torque spec for that particular fastener. Bolts fail when their tensile strength is exceeded, either by stretching or breaking outright.

 

[SPYDERLK]

The problems start when the bolt is too tight and beyond the capability of the bolt. That's going to be anything much beyond the torque spec for that particular fastener. Bolts fail when their tensile strength is exceeded, either by stretching or breaking outright.

Absolutely! However the safety factor is large. The dry torque rating of a Gr8 7/16 SAE thread is listed as 85 ft-lb. I was trying to see if I could strip out a grade 2 nut and tightened the Gr8 to 92ftlb lubricated with 30wt oil, No damage at all to bolt or nut .. no feel of preferential direction on the nut even [altho I would never reverse load a nut after something like that]. I gave up at that point.
larry