Don't forget to torque those wheels!

frank_f15 · Oct 1, 2003

Re: Don\'t forget to torque those wheels!

HAVE TO AGREE with u also! when is the last time anyone picked up a new car and went home and checked the torque on the wheels? know that tractors and cars are different, but should not have to do that all the time. i do however check all the bolts and nuts on the tractor .

prosperity · Oct 1, 2003

Re: Don\'t forget to torque those wheels!

Just thought I'd update on my original thread:
We have a very rigorous preventive maintenance system at work. When heavy trucks wheels are pulled, they are brought back in around 200 miles later for wheel re-torque. This backhoe seemed to fall through the cracks somehow though. The wheel re-torque will come up as standard procedure after equipment has been in the shop for wheel pull. This backhoe was brought in new, so it wasn't in the "system" yet I guess. I questioned our mechanic about this, and he replied "I know they need re-torqued". The problem is that his supervisor doesn't like him taking things on his own and doing them. Kind of a power struggle of sorts I guess. As operators of our equipment, we are required to do a "pre-trip" on anything we move each day. That "pre-trip" calls for a visual and hand check of the lug nuts/wheel bolts. Well, with 15,000lbs resting on those wheels, you aren't moving them by hand, or can you see anything wrong. Luckily someone was using it in the yard one day, and when he raised up the rear end with the outriggers, a "bystander" saw the wheels flop as he lifted. Actually someone could have been really hurt here.

So....who's to blame? I don't know. One of those things that sometimes fall through the cracks in a large operation I guess. Just like the dump truck I was operating yesterday - a state trooper needed to point out to me that my trucks inspection sticker was running out that day!

Junkman · Oct 1, 2003

Re: Don\'t forget to torque those wheels!

Every time that I get the car back from having service where the wheels were removed, I check to see if I can remove the lug nut on each of the wheels.... If I can't, back it goes to the shop for them to loosen them up..... if they use a air gun, they often times just make them so tight that you can't get them off when you are on the road and don't have the heavy duty tools to do it.... With the newer alloy wheels, a torque wrench is a must.... over tighten and they will stress crack...

mikemac · Oct 22, 2003

Re: Don\'t forget to torque those wheels!

Thanks everyone, I was reading your posts and remembered when I bought my new dump trailer about 400 miles ago they said to check the lug nuts after 50 miles, well I forgot until I read your posts and ran out in the dark, sure enough most were loose and a couple were ready to come off. Thanks for saving me from a disaster. If ever in Seattle the beers on me! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

dos_perros · Oct 22, 2003

Re: Don\'t forget to torque those wheels!

I had a similar problem with loose left rear wheel. Rim to dish bolts loose, two fell out. Dealer replaced bolt set, but provided lock washers instead of OEM flat washers. He suggested that lock washers less likely to loosen. Are lock washers better and if so why not provided initially on new tractor?

DavidJ · Oct 22, 2003

Re: Don\'t forget to torque those wheels!

If you ever attend a locktite seminar (I've been to many) you'll see that lock washers are not designed to prevent fasteners from loosening. They just prevent them from falling out once they loosen.

Wheel flanges are designed to provide the friction needed to hold the fastener at torque but since this is not a perfect world things happen to overcome this and we get wheels falling off.

If you really want to keep the nuts from loosening use some form of thread locking compound. The major drawback to this is that every time you need to move (loosen or tighten) the fastener you MUST clean both threaded parts(the outer and inner threads) before retorquing.