Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

The garage I go to has a torque stick - different colors for different torques. They normally use a grey colored one for 100 ft-lbs. They are for use with airguns, otherwise they would just be a ten inch extension.

Actually the "self tightening" idea only works on wheels with one center nut/bolt

Want to think about that statement a bit further?



Thought about it and yep - only is applicable to a center nut

Thought about it and yep - only is applicable to a center nut

OK, try this if you have a lathe with a 4-jaw chuck. Chuck a threaded rod off-center, simulating one of the lug bolts. Put on a loose-fitting nut and carefully mark it's position by the # of threads from the end, or any other way that doesn't add friction. Then run the lathe thru a series of abrupt accelerations and modest slow-downs (or visa-versa), and recheck the position of the nut.

I think the whole idea of left handed threads be them lug bolts or lug nuts is silly. If it was all that necessary all cars today would have them. And yes there were many makes that had left handed lug nuts/bolts on one side in the 50's.

Quote:

Don't like them. I think you can still over torque using one of those and an impact wrench.

I watched a guy at Wheel Works here in California misuse a break type torque wrench. He would push on the wrench handle till it snapped or broke then give it one more hard crank. He really leaned into it. Went way past the torque set on the wrench. So much for torque wrenches. Seems a better use of it at that store would have been to hit the tire changer over the head with it.

Bob51 u're SO CORREcT!!!

Many make constant reference to "trained, certified, proffesional installation " seems to be the modern trend of the last decade. It's a buyer beware market in the service industry just as much as any other market.

Remeber the theft proof wheel covers of the 80's???? Needed a key to get them off. SOOOOOOOOooo many of those keys wound up on the floor or in trash can of nearly all tire shops. And there sits the owner out on the side of the road with no way to get the wheel cover off. I sure don't trust any of them.

Lets face it, people working in tire stores or road side assistance are not exactly rocket scientists or master mechanics. Most of them were most likely flipping burgers last week or a telemarketer selling extended warranties.

Now, onto safety glasses. I expect any day now to open up a roll of toilet tissueand have a pair of safety glasses fall out with a set of instructions for use along with a privacy act notice.

Bob, you misunderstood me - I think. It is not a torque wrench. It looks like an extension, about ten inches long, and must be used with an air gun. It will not overtighten lug nuts no matter the air setting. If used as a regular extension with a breaker bar, all bets are off. It must be used with an air gun. There are several different sticks (extensions) depending on the desired torque.

A friend of mine owned a small tire shop and one day we tested those torque sticks against a real torque wrench. The torque sticks were not very consistent and some of them were 10-20% off from their rated torque. He always used a real torque wrench from then on.

Quote:

I know what they are and I understand the principal behind them. I just think, in the hands of most of these so called mechanics, they too can be mis-used.