wheel bolts

[gordon]

Now Bird you know that Matco tools are a little less expensive than Snap-on but as far as using one for tightening tractor lugs---I admit I don't use one I get out the impact. The only lugs that I use the torque wrench are trailer wheels at work if you get carried away with the impact you can strech them and weaken them without even knowing it.
Some other rims to be careful are the aluminum truck rims with the impact gun but the tractor rim lugs get the impact gun.
Gordon

 

[Bird]

Yep, Gordon, I agree completely; Snap-on tools are overpriced./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif And of course you're right about alloy wheels and some trailer wheels, too.

Bird

 

[gordon]

All depends on where you buy them my wife has bought many a snap-on at yard sales for next to nothing. I told her a long time ago if it say's snapon and it's a dollar buy it.
Once she gets complete sets I trade them in for a hefty profit. Another good spot is pawn shops and I've bought quite a few off the internet.
But your right tools off any tooltruck are overpriced your paying the weekly payment and for convience. My snap on dealer calls me a cheapskate I've been called much worse.
My truck account balance is $18.49 he just stopped by the shop today.
Gordon

 

[Bird]

Once again, I agree completely with everything you said. In my brother's territory, he and the Snap-on distributor are friendly competitors, and in fact, the Snap-on distributor also sends me air tools to repair for him.

Bird

 

[fredoroberts]

Re: torquing wheel bolts

I just bought an impact wrench because I couldn't muscle my wheel bolts off, and I have a slow leak. I will take the tire in for repair, and wonder if there is some way to adjust the wrench to a rough torque setting to put it back on. I think the wrench has a couple of settings but it is like ..low, medium, and high. Is this something you get a sense for or is there a method? I think the wrench's max ft-lbs is around 600, but that is in reverse, I know not much help.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Bird]

Re: torquing wheel bolts

fredoroberts, I'd be afraid to even try to tell you where to set it. In the first place I don't know what make and model you bought, and in the second place, you probably got a manual with it that tells you those adjustments are not an exact torque setting; it depends to a considerable extent on how long you hold the trigger. I may get an argument, but in my experience, it's very rare for a mechanic to turn that adjustment down from anything except maximum power. You just get off the trigger when you think it's tight enough when you're well acquainted with your impact wrench. On an assembly line where they would like everything torqued the same, they can use that adjustment. They have things like an air supply that only runs the tool for 5 seconds and the air shuts off, an instrument to test the torque (actually tension) on the tool about once a week, etc. But that equipment is far too expensive for most individuals. Practice and experience./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bird

 

[gordon]

Re: torquing wheel bolts

Bird the only time I turn my gun down at work is to run up lugs on trailers then get out the torque wrench. Any other time its wide open.
As far as where to set the stop on any impact wrench with any real accuracy in the field is impossibe. Not only air pressure going to it but volume of air as well will vary the end torque at the same setting. If the gun is well oiled and taken care of is another consideration.
Bird I agree with you 100% on this one no arguement from me on this one. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Gordon

 

[RobertN]

If you buy from auto or hardware store, make very sure the bolts are the correct grade for the job!

One thing about going to the dealer and getting specific replacements; they should be correct...

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[fredoroberts]

Re: torquing wheel bolts

Thank you Bird for your insight. The bolts were a ***** to get off (that impact wrench really had to work hard) so my conclusion is that they were torqued pretty tight. Unfortunately Kubota can not seem to deliver the owners manual for my used B2150 (so I'm not even sure what the target torque is) so I will have to use my intuition and let the wrench bang away until it feels right. Practice, pay attention, and experience is good advice. Thanks!

 

[Bird]

Re: torquing wheel bolts

You're welcome. Of course I failed to mention the air pressure and volume (yours at home will probably stay fairly consistent, assuming you have a compressor than puts out enough volume to keep with the consumption by the wrench), and how clean and well lubricated the impact wrench is, but those are additional variables that Gordon correctly added to the equation.

Bird