Aha!  The first time I have some understanding of why to use the "needle
type" torque wrench.  It is either the rubber sealant's resistance fading or
the air being compressed inside the nuts and slowly getting out.  I wonder
if one could wait a day for the sealant to harden up a bit after it was
torqued to 7.  May not be a bad idea.
Zoltan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Knight" <vwdormer@hotmail.com>
To: <zolo@foxinternet.net>; <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 6:54 AM
Subject: Re: Re: Heads gasket sealant.......( my version)

> >From: "Zoltan"
>
>>I did not get it.  What was the reason not to use the clicker?
>
>
>>>I was and I practiced with a "Dry" run before doing them. I now
>>>understand
>>>the "don't use the clicker tourque wrench" philosophy. Good thing I had
>>>my
>>>old trusty needle wrench.
>
>
> When placing the setting for the torque say at 30 after your initial 7.
> You begin to go around the head in order setting each nut to 30 by the
> click. Turn turn turn turn turn turn click...next. What the clicker does
> not pick up is the release of the torque on the nut possibly due to the
> sealant. But if you hold a needle type wrench on there and turn turn turn
> turn turn 30 .....okay ooops wait hold it it is going back down 29 28 27
> 26 25 24. Keep going turn turn turn turn 30 holding 30. Houston we have
> 30! Okay knucklehead now go to the next one. This might also be why the
> Bentley procedure has you torque the nuts down to 7 then 30 then 37 then
> 37 again, there might be an additional one after that can't remember it
> was late.
>
> I guess you could say that the needle torque wrench gives torque in "real
> time", as long as you hold it there. You can watch the needle lower even
> after you have achieved the desired torque the first time.
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> Michael Knight
> '77 Westy Deluxe, "el Verde"
> '85 Vanagon GL, nameless
>
>
>