anyone else ever do this???

[Doc Sprocket]

Arlo- I see your point, but I have to counter with;

"How many of those $150 engines do you need to crucify before that torque wrench begins to look like a sound purchase?"

Bear in mind fellas, that torque wrenches can be borrowed or rented to eliminate the cost factor.

 

[oldbikerarlo]

Toystory, The OP said he broke a rocker stud off trying to remove his rocker arm. He asked if a Tourqe wrench was needed to replace the stud. Some one jumped in and said that a tourqe wrench was needed to work on a engine. I say that is being way too anal. A tourqe wrench is not realy needed to rebuild one of these clones. It does have have its plus side of the issue, but it is not required, to build a dependable engine.

 

[dave1701]

Where did the $200 number come from anyway? Torque wrenches don't cost nearly that much.

 

[devino246]

Where did the $200 number come from anyway? Torque wrenches don't cost nearly that much.

A really good one does but hf sells them for cheap.

 

[fowler]

a really good one is more like $300

a normal one is one $200

ok russ sorry i only scim read it and came up with that

what i said still applys though

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Well, we all are entitled to our opinions, aren't we? Sure enough, much work can be successfully done without the aid of the "right" tool. But if the option exists, why cut corners? Now, in this case, the OP is replacing a rocker stud. There's a good chance he'll get away without using a torque wrench, no argument there. But - really must dispute the line, "it is not required to build a dependable engine". Build? As in total build? Dependable? As in pretty much nothing will fall off/break/warp/come loose/otherwise fail? I would not make that statement so confidently. Especially when many of our fine membership are young budding mechanics-in-training, who have not had sufficient experience to learn a feel for these things. Nor have they yet learned the "right" way to do things. Just my own opinion, take it for what it's worth...

 

[r97]

go to craftsman.com

beam style torque wrench 0-150ft lbs, about $27

3/8" ratcheting micro torque wrench 25-250 in lbs $79 (I own this one, very nice, used it many times, considering getting the one above for bolts that must be tighter)

i know $79 seems expensive, but it pays for itself after working on a few engines.

note that small engine torque values are usually measured in in-lbs, so the most accurate way is to torque them in in-lbs. although the closest .5 ft lb could work ok

 

[brandongeiger2]

well i went out and got a micro torque craftsman wrench and my friends dad said he'd give me his old snap-on! so im good now thanks for the help

 

[devino246]

I just use an inch lb torque wrench for small engine work. Its a crappy HF wrench, but its accurate to within a few inch lbs which is perfectly fine. FYI, 1 foot lb equals 12 inch lbs.

 

[Russ2251]

Some one jumped in and said that a tourqe wrench was needed to work on a engine. I say that is being way too anal.

If doing things right makes me anal, then I'm anal.

 

[KieranM]

Christ, if I ever done work on an engine without a torque wrench on hand, I would have to sent to the special house.

If nothing else its a sense of security, I have seen some people that have worked on quads and not torque down a flywheel nut to the specified torque, and lets just say it didn't end well.

 

[oldbikerarlo]

Hey if you feel that you need a certaine tool to get the job done, then by all means use it.

All i'm saying is if you use reasonable care and judgment in your assembly of a small engine. It can be done without worry of blowing up or flywheel failure, without a torque wrench.