Dok,

Thanks for your response.  I can see that the bolts act as a torsion bar and
that they may not all twist the same amount under a give amount of applied
torque.  I still don't see why an accurate clicker set at  22 ft lbs won't
give you the same 22 ft lbs that a beam wrench will give you.

I tend to agree with the policy to follow the engineers recommendations, but
it doesn't cure my curiosity.  By the way, I have torque(d) Vanagon head
bolts with a beam & then applied a clicker only to have it click off right
away.  I have also torque(d) them with a clicker & checked them with a beam
only to find that the beam matches the clicker rating with out turning the
bolt any more.  It makes me wonder if the engineer wasn't just prejudice
towards beam wrenches.

Walt Spak
Pittsburgh PA
b20swalt@attbi.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Doktor Tim" <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, October 14, 2002 5:02 PM
Subject: Re: Torque Wrench

> At 01:12 PM 10/14/2002, you wrote:
>
> >Dok,
> >
> >Can you give me an explanation as to why a clicker is not accurate
enough.
> >You mention the long studs, so I assume that some how affects the clicker
> >wrench.  If a clicker wrench is calibrated correctly, why wouldn't it
click
> >at the proper torque?  The torque reading on a beam wrench can change
just
> >by moving your head a little.
>
> The other issue is the wet sealant under the head nuts. If you use a
torque
> wrench you will see that the flexing of the bolts is much like a torsion
> bar. It makes it impossible to get a clicker to repeat torque at
consistent
> turn. You can work the beam wrench more and less near proper torque to
pull
> it down to an accurate repeatable position. Mine also incorporates a a
> "tale-tell" that follows the indicator pin to show the maximum value
obtained.
>
> Despite all than, don't take my word for it. Listen to the engineers who
> designed it, they say a beam wrench only for this application because you
> will get false readings with a clicker. Don't do it their way and you may
> assume whatever risk that entails. Do it their way and reduce risk. Pick
one.