How to use a torque wrench

[muminiasty]

HEy there. I'm slowly getting ready for valve cover gasket replacement. I wanted to hear what you guys have to say about using torque wrench? Any tricks, tips , techniques? I never used one beffore. I'm guessing when you adjust the torque and when it gets tight enough wrench will stop tightening?

[Dave's]

Depends on the type of torque wrench. Some have a dial you have to watch. Others can be set to a specific torque and it signals you when it's reached. Tighten in an even pattern and in stages. Keep hand only on the handle. Don't use anything which will change the length. (Crows-foot, etc.) Straight extensions and adapters should be OK.

[PhatRoyale]

Depends.... what type do you have?

[judge34411]

Originally Posted by PhatRoyale

Depends.... what type do you have?

To add to PhatRoyale:

You have 2 basic types. One is a dial and you have to look at it (or a needle on a long arm). The next type and one of the most common is a click type. You set the torque and it will click(break) when torque is set.

My suggestion is to torque all bolts in a cross pattern and start low. On final torque set it to the middle range of torque settings. Never just torque each bolt to its range one at a time.

The reason it was stated about using a crow foot (an offset extension, is it changes the torque you see on the gauge). I doubt you need to do that. If so read this link. Direct extensions (vertical) do not make changes only length. http://www.engineersedge.com/manufac...e_wrench_1.htm

[Kenny_McCormic]

You want a good clicker style wrench and you MUST go EXACTLY by the service manual procedure.

[muminiasty]

Do you use torque wrenches only for tightening or you can loosen as well? Is loosening what do you adjust it to?

[judge34411]

Originally Posted by muminiasty

Do you use torque wrenches only for tightening or you can loosen as well? Is loosening what do you adjust it to?

You should never really loosen bolts or nuts with a torque wrench. If the bolt/nut is seized you could damage the wrench calibration or worse.

In a very rough sense just think of a torque wrench as an adjustable spring with a metering device on the end. Take a spring out of a cheap pen and stretch it and you will get the idea.
edit: and again it depends on the type, a click style once it breaks (clicks) is just a pull bar (to a point) and a dial style just keeps loading up the pressure and is sensitive to overloading.